Caribbean Airlines’ (CAL) launch of direct flights between Tobago and Barbados will satisfy an apparent interest in travel to Trinidad’s sister isle.
At a press conference hosted by the Tobago Tourism Association Limited (TTAL) in partnership with CAL on Monday, a day before Barbados hosts the 41st edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace, officials said the twice-weekly flights will make travel between the two Caribbean islands easier, with flight times of just one hour from Grantley Adams International Airport to A.N.R. Robinson International Airport.
The flights will depart Barbados on Wednesdays and Sundays and return on the same days.
“Our research shows that the number one regional web searches for Tobago come from Barbados. Clearly, there is interest there,” said TTAL’s executive chairman Alicia Edwards who emphasised the importance of inter-island travel for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.
“Increased travel between our two islands not only helps support our tourism industries but it also helps to forge personal relationships that can lead to more trade across all sectors. Now that we have direct air service, we look forward to welcoming Barbadians to Tobago, and vice versa.”
Edwards noted that while Barbadians already enjoy beautiful beaches and great weather, Tobago also had a lot to offer.
“Our slogan is ‘unspoilt, untouched and undiscovered’. We offer a fabulous product for outdoor enthusiasts and eco-tourists with everything from hiking to bird watching, diving, waterfalls, and more. We have a great food culture; friendly, locally-run hotels; and dramatic villas. Our currency, the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, makes Tobago an affordable option for Barbadians looking for an experience beyond the ordinary,” she said.
Vice President of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association Maria Yip-John who represented the island’s hotel industry at the press conference said she was looking forward to building relations with local hoteliers and welcoming Barbadians to properties in Tobago.
“Yours is a mature industry with an international reputation for excellence, and we look forward to exchanging ideas with local hoteliers in Barbados during this week’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace,” she said.
“We have everything from small guest houses to eco-lodges in the trees to luxury hotels. The main thing they all have in common is the sense of heartfelt welcome. Tobagonians are friendly and would love to meet more Barbadians thanks to this new direct flight.”
The TTAL also hosted a reception for Barbados-based travel agents and tour operators, who will be participating in Caribbean Travel Marketplace, as part of the celebrations to launch the service.
(BT/PR)

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Barbados now has a commission in place, tasked with reviewing the processes and procedures of Parliament to make them more relevant to a modern society.

On Monday, eight members of the Parliamentary Reform Commission were sworn in at State House by acting President The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey Gibson.

Former President of the Senate Sir Richard Cheltenham, King’s Counsel, heads the panel as chairman and his deputy is veteran trade unionist Sir Roy Trotman. The other members are Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson; noted cardiologist Dr Richard Ishmael; historian and attorney-at-law Professor Velma Newton; columnist Dr William Chandler Jr; former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade under the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Maxine McClean and

Corey Beckles of the former Opposition People’s Party for Democracy and Development.

After the oaths were administered, deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw acknowledged the importance of the development.

“This is the culmination of several discussions which we’ve had as a government in being able to appoint these individuals to be able to undertake some very important work for the government, which is the reform of Parliament. I think the last time that we would have had any significant reforms was back in the early 1970’s, when we would have made a transition to  single-member constituencies.

“I think we all recognise that in this age, where persons want to perhaps understand and appreciate more of what we’re doing in Parliament, the institutions which would have served us several decades ago can no longer serve this country as such,” she said. “They’ve already started some of their work. We’re hoping that within the next few months, that work will be concluded.”

She explained, “Their work will entail looking essentially at all aspects of reform of Parliament; being able to help us with a number of procedures and processes; being able to make Parliament more relevant to the people of this country; being able to look at the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Barbadians and to educate the public in the exercise as they go through this process over the course of the next few months.”

Bradshaw said some of the commissioners had experience in parliamentary processes and this was a plus as they would not only be able to understand the concerns of the public but also address some of the issues based on their own lived experiences.

Bradshaw said she was not aware of any challenges so far in the process.

“I think the work is ongoing and I believe that all of these individuals are up to the task of what lays ahead. Obviously, the engagement with the public is going to be very significant and I think that they have started that process and that will continue over the course of the next few months.”

The Deputy Prime Minister added it was time for a major overhaul of the existing parliamentary system.

“I think that the time has come for the overhaul of the current system. Sometimes when I look at the public gallery, we don’t see the numbers that we saw and yes, we have the technology nowadays to be able to allow persons to come in on social media to be able to see what is happening.

“I think that we have to go a step further, particularly when we have a 30-seat government, as well to be able to ensure that people understand the business that we are doing on a day-to-day basis and we can’t take anything for granted. We have to give more opportunities for persons to participate, hence the reason why the House (of Assembly) would have approved the Standing Orders committees – one is on governance, one is on economic policy and one on social and environmental matters.

“We’ve set up those three committees essentially to do a further deep dive into a number of legislative matters. [We] don’t want to just go to Parliament, pass laws and the general public does not fully understand or appreciate the extent of how these policies will impact on them . . . We owe it to the people because that is why we were sent here in the first place – to ensure that we engage with them in a meaningful way.”

Bradshaw added that in six months a document should be in place to present to Cabinet on the proposed reform. 

In February, Attorney General Dale Marshall announced at a post-Cabinet media conference that a Parliamentary Reform Commission will provide recommendations on how the legislature could be transformed to better suit the country’s needs.

(SZB)

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The soon-to-be established Criminal Justice Reform Committee is expected to make Barbados’ overburdened judicial system more efficient, says Attorney General Dale Marshall.

Speaking to the media on Monday at the Hilton Barbados as deliberations in the second Criminal Justice Symposium continued into the evening, Marshall said one of the major deliverables is the establishment of the committee which will monitor the implementation of decisions coming out of this symposium and the first one held earlier in April.

“In addition to the committee being set up to oversee the entire process of criminal justice reform, we expect to be able to come away with some decisions on important legislative items that we want to enact,” said the AG who expects to co-chair the committee with Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham.

“The kind of things that are currently being considered by the committee would be such things as judge-alone trials, amendments to the Evidence Act, and amendments to the Juries Act.”

Marshall stressed that the committee would go beyond just clearing the backlog of criminal cases and would be part of the landscape of Barbados’ justice system for years to come.

“It is a committee that is being set up for the foreseeable future. This is not going to be a committee with a life of one year or two years or three years, because there will always be a need for criminal justice reform.

“Hopefully, we will lick the backlog problem. But then there are going to be other issues that will arise. Sometimes it may just be a question of efficiency. We may shift our focus from the courts to the police at another time. So I don’t see an end to the life of this committee. I think that how the criminal justice system works, it is something that always has to be under review. So certainly, for as long as I am in this office, I expect to see that committee working. I can’t speak for who comes after me,” he added.

Marshall said the composition of the rest of the committee is yet to be determined.

(JB)

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Police were called to attend a reported stabbing incident, which occurred about 6:55 a.m. this morning, 9th May 2023, in the area of Queen’s Park and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital playing field, St. Michael.

According to Police spokesman Inspector Stephen Griffith, a young male was the victim of a stabbing. He was immediately transported to the QEH by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

The Barbados Police Service is appealing to anyone who can provide any information about the incident to contact Police emergency at 211, 430-7100, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or the nearest Police Station.

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Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard is appealing to residents and business owners to clean around their properties to avoid disaster.
He made the plea on Monday as he returned to the location where a house fire occurred at Passage Road, St Michael the day before. Next to the site are an abandoned vehicle, deteriorating wood, bird droppings and a bond that houses various chemicals.
Noting that this was a concern for the Barbados Fire Service, Maynard also highlighted that there was another bond nearby that contained unknown items.
“These items, as they deteriorate, with the old wood, card boxes, bird dung, all that…can cause a fire,” he said.
The Chief Fire Officer further warned that should a fire start at any of those abandoned structures which have combustibles, it would pose a challenge for the Barbados Fire Service.
“Therefore, I want to encourage all Barbadians to clean up your place, whether government-owned or privately-owned,” he said, adding that failure to do so creates a significant hazard to the lives and livelihoods of those within range.
Divisional Officer Marlon Small explained that fire officers discovered chemicals were housed in the bond next door to the burning house in Passage Road after being forced to cut the locks in their efforts to extinguish the blaze on Sunday.
He added that in the event there was a fire in the bond, firemen would be challenged with access because of how drums and other items were being stored.
Small said what compounded the situation was that there were other “significant properties” which could be impacted if the situation was not addressed urgently.
(BT/BGIS)

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Over 500 people journeyed mostly from St Michael North West to Farley Hill National Park in St Peter on Sunday for a day of family, food and fun.

Scores of people in seven buses and private vehicles faithfully answered the call of the event host Ryan Walters whose poster to constituents simply said: Turn Down De Pot and Come.

Walters, the former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for the area, marshalled the troops and led them to a day full of activities. Under his trademark “Walters – We Linking Up” slogan, which has become synonymous with his political events, constituents enjoyed lunch and snacks throughout the day, a karaoke competition, a domino competition and a kids’ zone.

As the buses and vehicles offloaded at a sunny Farley Hill, a mixture of old and young made their way to secure their spot. The event was inclusive and catered to all; some used walking canes to head up the hill, while the wheelchair-bound and blind were assisted in true community spirit.

Walters, who is known for consistently staging such events, told Barbados TODAY that the picnic was the constituency’s first major activity since the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he was glad to be back among the people.

“It feels great to be doing this again and on such a bigger scale. This is what I love because my passion is people. Today is about bringing the different neighborhoods and people from across the constituency together. We have been able to accomplish that today.
We have persons of all ages here today. It is really an ole time Bajan excursion type of vibe and feel we have created.”

He added: “I am very pleased with the turnout. While walking through and chatting, people are happy and having a good time. It is heartening too when they repeatedly express their love and appreciation. It’s humbling to receive that type of admiration and respect among the people I hope to serve.”

But, while he admitted that the idea was his, he credited and thanked the planning committee, which comprised not only the DLP St Michael North West Branch but also included residents from within the constituency.

“The St Michael North West DLP branch executive continues to work tirelessly in our community. Like all of our other events we’ve done, it was all hands on deck for today’s event. I thank the branch for always rallying around me, my ideas and my vision for the constituency.

“I am more than pleased also to have included in our planning committee persons who are not officially affiliated with any political party but who have the community at heart. This is the sort of team I want to build on because everything is not about a vote,” the politician said.

Although the event was largely attended by residents of St Michael North West, Walters, who is a DLP vice-president, also received the support of his family, friends, colleagues, members and supporters from across the island.

“Some friends were just joking and said to me they don’t know how I do it. Truth is, a leader is only as good as the team he leads.
I am able to pull this off because a group of people believed in me, the idea, and worked with me to execute it. This is not the result of a one-man show,” the business executive said.

Present were DLP comrades former president Verla De Peiza, stalwart former general secretary Dr. Derek Alleyne, former candidates Nicholas Alleyne, Kemar Stuart, Oldwin Skeete, Paul Gibson, Rasheed Belgrave. Spotted were folks from Christ Church, St Philip, St George and St Michael branches, including The City.

When asked if he thinks other constituencies should follow suit Walters said: “We have a saying among branch members, ‘we do it Best in St Michael North West’, and every initiative that we embark on I always see it as an opportunity for other branches and my other comrades to get involved in.

“Yes, as a party, I believe we need more of this at a constituency to constituency level as we rebuild our party with fresh and energised personalities. We must not concentrate all our efforts on in-house activities. We are social beings and we lost about two years due to the pandemic.”

Walters continued: “We need to reconnect, share ideas, draw from each other and build meaningful and lasting relationships. That is how we start to repair our society. I stand ready as I have always stood to work with my colleagues to make sure other communities and constituencies can benefit from this level of comradery.” (IMC)

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A crew from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources (MTWW) will commence repairs to a storm water grille on River Road in The City, which had been covered by a metal sheet for some time.

That section of road will be cordoned off for approximately twenty-one to twenty eight days to facilitate the repairs and to allow the concrete that will be cast, to cure.

While the road will remain open, motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to exercise caution while traversing through the work site.

MTWW has been repairing manholes, culverts and drains within The City over the past few months. Earlier this week, a team from Richmond Depot repaired a damaged storm water grille near Nassco Limited on River Road. Work was also done at Bay Street, Broad Street, Marhill Street, Constitution Road and other areas.

MTWW thanks the public for its cooperation and apologizes for anyinconvenience. (PR/MTWW)

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A child molester from St Lucia was handed over to immigration officers on Tuesday after he was sentenced to time served for his crime.

The order was given by Madam Justice Pamela Beckles after she sentenced the first-time offender for rubbing his penis on a little girl’s privates a year and a half ago.

Handing down her decision in the No. 5 Supreme Court, the judge had started with a sentence of five years in prison. However, after deductions were made, what remained was the time he had already spent at Dodds.

“I do recognise that this is the maximum sentence for such an offence but consider that it is justifiable based on the circumstances of this particular case,” Justice Beckles said. “This was a serious crime committed against a very minor child.”

The man, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the child since they resided in the same building when the offence was committed, pleaded guilty after a trial had commenced to indecently assaulting the girl on November 7, 2020.

The judge pointed out that the sexual nature and gravity of the offence were aggravating. She also noted the disparity in age between the offender and the victim as well as the breach of trust on the part of the man and the effect the offence has had on the lives of the girl and family members.

“You were not a stranger to the complainant. In fact, you were viewed as part of the family. You would have, therefore, been expected to protect the complainant and not expose her to any harm. You failed miserably in that regard,” Justice Beckles stated.

She then imposed the five-year starting sentence but decreased it by one year, given that the convict had pleaded guilty, albeit when a trial had already started; his clean criminal record; and his remorse.

The 909 days that he spent on remand at Dodds were then deducted from the four-year sentence, and a 20 per cent credit was given for his guilty plea, resulting in time served.

The St Lucian was then released into the custody of two immigration officers who were present in court “for the appropriate action”.

“Because we know that you are a non-national. Therefore, they will determine how best you can get back where you came from,” Justice Beckles said.

Principal State Counsel Krystal Delaney and Senior State Counsel Joyann Catwell were the prosecutors in the case in which defence attorney Simon Clarke represented the accused.

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Benjamin Cardozo, a great justice of the US Supreme Court, averred that for lawyers, “membership of the bar is a privilege burdened with conditions. A fair private and professional character is one of them”.

This was his answer in the case of a crooked lawyer named Jacob Rouss who, after turning State’s witness and receiving immunity from prosecution for his part in a bid to obstruct justice over a bribery scheme, appealed against his later disbarment.

Cardozo, then a New York Appeals Court judge in 1917, further said: “Compliance with that condition is essential at the moment of admission; but it is equally essential afterwards. Whenever the condition is broken; the privilege is lost.”

Cardozo reached back in time and beyond the sea for support in his view that disbarment was not retribution. He went back to Lord Mansfield, the English jurist who famously ruled that slavery was illegal in England of 1772, a full six decades before Emancipation.

“The question is,” said Mansfield, “whether, after the conduct of this man, it is proper that he should continue a member of a profession which should stand free from all suspicion. It is not by way of punishment; but the court, on such cases, exercise their discretion whether a man whom they have formerly admitted, is a proper person to be continued on the roll or not.”

Mansfield, Cardozo and countless jurists since have had to consider the fitness of members of the legal profession if it is to remain a cornerstone of a fair and just society. Lawyers are entrusted with upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights of all individuals, and ensuring that justice is served, even when they appear in adversarial roles.

The reputation of the legal profession is therefore of the utmost significance, not merely in the dispensing of criminal justice but in public administration, civil and family matters, property and commercial law, and in every endeavour which relies on the faithful application of the law for the good order of our society. Yet, recent events in Barbados have cast a dark shadow over the profession, with several high-profile cases of lawyers being prosecuted for theft and other malfeasance. This has not only tarnished the reputation of individual lawyers but brings shame to the legal profession; these things are not in dispute.

The Barbados Bar Association on Tuesday reminded us of a legal technicality. While bar associations in many jurisdictions are legally empowered to regulate the profession, ours is not. The BBA takes its historical queue from the Law Society of old, the English guild that dates back to the bygone era of barristers and solicitors. There is a Legal Profession Act that sets down the rules for the conduct of today’s attorneys-at-law; this is the law that 50 years ago ended the distinction between barristers and solicitors.

That law has been cited again with last week’s appearance of convicted felon Vonda Pile as a presiding attorney-at-law in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court. Pile was first sent down in 2019 for stealing her client’s money. After appealing the decision, the court’s verdict was upheld and she went back to prison to serve out her sentence.

Certainly, there is a Disciplinary Committee which has a duty to report recommendations to the High Court and Court of Appeal but it is now three years since the Attorney General first indicated that changes were coming to the Legal Profession Act to make it easier to punish attorneys-at-law who misappropriate their client’s funds.

Yet, the association must go beyond its “buyer beware” caveat in prompting members of the public on approaching attorneys for legal services. It must work to restore public trust in the legal profession by promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct among its members.

It is time for the government to create an independent Bar Standards Board to regulate the profession in the public interest and enforce the highest standards. The practice of law in this country is sufficiently mature and is easily the oldest legitimate profession in our nearly 400 years of history. Such a board would doubtless also be a boon to our standing in the international financial services industry and for scrutineers of commercial law for would-be investors.

The Barbados Bar Association simply does not have the necessary resources to educate the public on the standards of quality to which it has a right to be accustomed. A quick glance at the association’s website draws a blank under the link marked “Code of Ethics”. Its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on “Complaints Against Attorneys-At-Law” are left unanswered.

It is essential that the people be educated about their rights and the role of lawyers in upholding the rule of law. An independent bar standards agency would be required to promote awareness of the legal profession and its functions, as well as the importance of ethical conduct in the practice of law.

The government must take a proactive approach to address issues of professional misconduct and the bar association, as a professional body, must provide support to those who may be struggling with personal or professional issues that could lead to misconduct. The law – as Justice Cardozo suggested – must regard disbarment not as an act of retribution; convicted criminals who pay their debt to society should not be forced to wear an eternal scarlet letter. Nonetheless, it is entirely in the public interest and for the good of the whole profession that by law, a lawyer who is convicted of serious felonious conduct in the course of duty be summarily struck from the roll.

We believe that it is only by taking such measures that the legal profession can hold the privilege of public trust and continue to serve justice and good order if our nation is to be world-class in more than slogan.

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MARSHALL REJECTS JUDGE’S LABEL OF POLICE DETAINMENT OF TRINI BUSINESSMAN

By Emmanuel Joseph

Attorney General Dale Marshall has conceded that the actions of the Barbados Police Service (BPS) in the controversial arrest of a Trinidad and Tobago firearms dealer were illegal.
But, he has rejected the language that described the arrest of Brent Thomas as an “abduction” or a “kidnapping”.
In an 11-minute ministerial statement in Parliament on Tuesday, Marshall declared: “I am satisfied that the actions of the Barbados Police Service have fallen somewhat short of applicable legal norms such as acting under an extradition request.” Trinidad and Tobago judge Devindra Rampersad in an April 25 constitutional review judgment described the arrest and detention of 61-year-old Brent Thomas as an “international abduction” executed in cahoots with the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service last October.
“I however cannot associate myself with the description of the actions of the Barbados Police officers as an abduction or as has been elsewhere described as a kidnapping. It is evident, Mr Speaker, that the Barbados Police Service sought to assist a sister police service in a matter which appeared to them to be of a grave and important nature, and especially so, given the scourge of firearm violence that is now a feature in Barbados and across the Caribbean,” Marshall contended.
“It is my view, Mr Speaker, that they rendered that assistance without any mental element of criminality that would be associated with an abduction,” the government’s chief legal advisor asserted.
Marshall gave the assurance that his government would be willing to abide by the law.
“To the extent that there may be any legal liability attaching to the actions of the Barbados police officers, I can assure you that the Government of Barbados would abide by the law and fully respect any decisions of the law courts,” he assured.
Marshall also stoutly defended the Government against any prior knowledge of, or involvement in the events.
“The Prime Minister and myself, indeed, the Government of Barbados welcome a full distillation and ventilation of all the facts surrounding this matter. We reject fully, any implication of involvement and collusion in this matter, so as to deny any citizen of CARICOM or anywhere else, their rights to due process,” he stressed.
In tracing the events that led to him asking Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce for a full report in response to Justice Rampersad’s accusations against the local cops, Marshall told the House of Assembly that he had received the report, along with others from the two regional entities which were involved in the matter.
He named the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS), and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). He said he also received a report from the Ministry of National Security in Barbados.
Outlining the ‘facts”, the Attorney General said: “First, let me make it clear that at no time, no time, until just over a week ago, was either the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados or myself informed of, or in any way made aware of any matter relating to Mr Brent Thomas. Neither of us was consulted by anyone prior to, or at the time when Mr Thomas was taken from Barbados in October of 2022,” the AG began.
He explained that the first time either of them became aware of the events relating to Thomas, the owner of Specialists Shooters Training Centre, an authorised importer and dealer of firearms and ammunition, was after the news broke in the Trinidadian press just over a week ago.
“We simply had no knowledge or involvement in this matter,’ he added.
The Government’s chief legal advisor said this is not unusual because issues of this type are operational; and requests for surveillance by another law enforcement arm, or for arrests of individuals, do not fall within the ministers’ purview.
Marshall recalled that the official reports received by him indicate that on October 4, 2022, an approach was made by the Transnational Organised Crime Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to IMPACS, a CARICOM specialist law enforcement agency.
“As a result of that approach, IMPACS contacted a gazetted officer of the Barbados Police Service. That gazetted officer was informed by IMPACS that Mr Thomas was a person of interest to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), and asked if he would speak with a senior member of that service.
“The gazetted member of the Barbados Police Service was then contacted directly by a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service who provided information that Mr Thomas was the subject of several police warrants,” the AG reported.
He informed the House of Assembly that the senior Barbados police officer was told that Thomas had eluded the surveillance of the T&T Transnational Organised Crime Unit and was believed to have travelled to Bridgetown and Guyana.
“The Barbados Police Service was further informed by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service that the subject, Mr Thomas, was believed to be involved in a significant way, in trafficking in illicit firearms and explosives in Trinidad and in the region,” he told Parliament.
Marshall reported that the local constabulary was initially asked to locate the Port of Spain businessman and to keep him under surveillance.
He pointed out that before acting on the request, the matter was discussed with the Acting Commissioner of Police, who gave certain advice and instructions.
The Lower Chamber also heard from the Attorney General that the Barbados Police Service asked to see the warrants under which Thomas was wanted in Trinidad and Tobago. “These,” he added, “were duly provided.”
“Investigations by the Barbados Police Service revealed that the subject of the warrants of arrest, Mr Thomas had traveled to Barbados and had checked into a hotel. During the early morning of the 5 October, 2022, plain-clothed members of the Barbados Police Service, but who also wore ballistic vests with the word ‘Police’ emblazoned thereon, went to the hotel and proceeded to Mr Thomas’ room and knocked several times.
“Mr Thomas came to the door and the senior police officer present identified himself and the other persons present as police officers and showed him his police certificate of appointment. On entering the room, a search warrant was executed. Nothing of an illegal nature was found.”
He recalled that the businessman was informed of the arrest warrant for him in Trinidad and that he was being apprehended here.
“Mr Thomas was then cautioned. Mr Thomas then said and I quote: ‘If Trinidad has a warrant for me, I will go back with you all.’ Mr Thomas was then arrested and informed of his right to an attorney,” Marshall added.
He said later that day, the T&T firearms dealer was taken to the Grantley Adams International Airport by local policemen and handed over to the waiting members of the TTPS.
In reference to the reports of the two regional security bodies, Marshall said that on October 5, 2022, the RSS received a request from IMPACS to transport four Trinidad police officers from Port of Spain to Barbados that evening.
“A further request was made to transport the same four police officers and a Trinidadian national back to Trinidad that same evening,” Marshall said, adding that the T&T national and the officers were flown back to Port of Spain aboard the RSS aircraft.
He disclosed that the coordination of the travel to Barbados of the TTPS and their return with Thomas to Trinidad “was fully coordinated by CARICOM IMPACS”.
Attorney General Marshall also addressed the issue of extradition, which was of concern to the Trinidad judge in his 97-page ruling. The jurist stated that Barbados had failed to follow the rule of law and due process when it did not comply with the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act Chapter 12:04.
“Mr Speaker, Barbados has an Extradition Act Chapter 189 of the Laws of Barbados which applies to a large number of criminal offences, including firearms and other offences for which the warrants of arrest for Mr Thomas were issued,” he pointed out.
“I can confirm that no request was made for the extradition of Mr Thomas. The Trinidad and Tobago High Court has described what transpired in Barbados on October 5 last year in relation to Mr Thomas as an abduction. That is unfortunate language,” the AG declared.
Just before concluding his ministerial statement, the Barbados Attorney General urged CARICOM countries to act to prevent a repeat of similar incidents in future.
“Going forward, sir, it would be vital for the region to fully implement the terms of the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty which was agreed to and adopted by CARICOM Heads in July of 2017 and which was ratified by Barbados in April of 2018. All of CARICOM needs to bring this treaty into full operation in the shortest possible time so that the recurrence of incidents of this kind may be eliminated,” the Attorney General suggested.
On his return to Trinidad, Thomas was charged with illegal possession of weapons, including grenades and rifles. But the judge found that the matter involved serious breaches of Thomas’ constitutional rights to the extent that all criminal charges against him were stayed.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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POWER TO SANCTION LAWYERS WITH DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE, COURT OF APPEAL

By Emmanuel Joseph

The Barbados Bar Association (BBA) wants a complete revamp of the Legal Profession Act that would
require the automatic or “very swift” suspension or disbarment of convicted attorneys-at-law.
The recommendation is contained in a statement issued by the Bar on Tuesday on the heels of last week’s
return to practice by convicted lawyer Vonda Pile after she had served a three-year prison sentence for stealing a client’s funds.
The association, which has taken steps to have Pile sanctioned, is also pushing for similar action against three other convicted attorneys – Ernest Jackman, Norman Leroy Lynch and Cheraine Parris who are serving seven, five and four years in jail respectively for theft of clients’ money and money laundering.
“The BBA is calling for a complete revamp of the Legal Profession Act which would see convicted attorneys facing either automatic, or very swift sanction by the Disciplinary Committee and the Court of Appeal, whether that sanction is suspension or disbarment, is up to them. We have made detailed recommendations to Government.
“The Chairman of the Law Reform Commission has assured us they are working on it,” the BBA stated.
The Bar acknowleged that criminal convictions related to the theft of clients’ funds are deemed professional misconduct, pursuant to the Legal Profession Act. It said that the organisation does not condone, sanction or protect attorneys-at-law convicted of such offences or who are found guilty of professional misconduct. However, the BBA contended that it cannot be held responsible for clients who continue to engage lawyers convicted of offences relating to clients’ funds.
“The BBA is dissatisfied with the complex process involved under the current Legal Profession Act for sanctioning attorneys for professional misconduct. In 2017, the association called on government to act on recommendations made to modernize the Act. The BBA is aware that the Law Reform Commission is making progress on this, and a Bill will soon be produced for comments,” the association added.
The association complained that the current lengthy process has caused a lot of “disquiet” within the legal profession. It explained that the power to sanction attorneys found guilty of professional misconduct under the Legal Profession Act lies with the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar and the Court of Appeal, not with the BBA. The Bar, however, gave the assurance that it is actively doing its part.
“Following the conviction of Ms. Vonda Pile and Ms. Cheraine Parris, the BBA wrote to the then Registrar, asking for the record and conviction Order to file a complaint with the Disciplinary Committee. It took an inordinate length of time for that official record to be issued,” the BBA recalled. “As soon as it was received and once all appeals were exhausted in Ms. Pile’s case (Ms. Parris opted not to appeal), the BBA last year – before Ms. Pile was released – applied to the Disciplinary Committee for leave to lodge complaints with a view to sanctioning Ms. Vonda Pile and Ms Cheraine Parris,” the statement continued.
“It should be noted that, aggrieved clients, the trial Judge and the Registrar, can lodge a complaint as of right…The association cannot lodge a complaint as of right but must apply for leave to do so,” the representative body stated. It pointed out that since then, the BBA’s legal team of Barry Gale K.C., Andrew Thornhill K.C. and Laura Harvey Read has been attending hearings before the Disciplinary Committee.
“The BBA can confirm that its legal team has hearings set before the Disciplinary Committee on May 25th for Ms. Pile and May 16th for Ms. Parris. The BBA has applied to have its complaint heard and to have sanctions applied,” the statement outlined.
“Apart from that we cannot comment on the nature of the application or make any further statement as it is before the Disciplinary Committee and ultimately the Court of Appeal,” the association said.
The Bar gave the assurance that once the Disciplinary Committee concludes its hearings and investigations, the Committee has to produce a report to the Court of Appeal within 21 days, recommending what disciplinary measures should be taken. The Court of Appeal would then fix a date for a hearing, and apply the sanction it deems fit.
“The BBA has submitted detailed recommendations
for reform of the Legal Profession Act, which includes automatic or very swift sanctions to be applied by the
Court of Appeal to Attorneys on conviction. These detailed recommendations were made five years ago.
“They have been re-sent to the Office of the Attorney General and also to the Law Reform Commission. The
BBA has been informed by the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Sir David Simmons, that it is actively working on a new Legal Profession Bill for circulation and consultation with the Attorney-General and
the BBA,” the body announced.
Addressing the public perception that lawyers can commit crimes and walk back into a court of law, the association questioned whether there should be a suspension period until the disbarment proceedings are concluded.
“Based on the communication we have received, the public is incensed, as are members of legal profession and rightfully so. The process to sanction an attorney is not done instantly, and must abide by all rules of natural justice. On the other hand, when it becomes a lengthy process, the result creates a perception that the commission of a crime occurred without penalty.”
The BBA explained that since last year it requested the conviction orders for Jackman and Lynch. The orders are still being awaited and are needed to support the applications for leave to apply.
The statement disclosed that the association has already prepared the necessary documents to file complaints to the Disciplinary Committee against Jackman and Lynch. “The status of the process for Mr Jackman and Mr Lynch underscores what the association is saying about the need for reform and the inordinate length of time for this process.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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The Barbados Fire Service is concerned that Barbadians are not taking fire safety seriously.
Acting leading fire officer and research officer Natasha Forde said that it appeared that Barbadians did not see the significance of fire prevention and this was a major concern as there has been an increase in house fires over the past year.
“People are not paying enough attention to what is being said,” Forde said.
Speaking to the media during a press briefing at Ace H&B Hardware in Six Roads, St Philip on Tuesday, to announce the business’ partnership with the private sector in a fire prevention initiative, the fire official said it is alarming that figures have moved from 21 to 31 house fires, over the January to May 9 corresponding period. Forde said there is reason to be concerned since it appears people are not taking fire safety seriously enough.
“It means that we as an organisation, although with limited resources, need to get the messages out there more.
“A lot of young people do not understand the significance of fire safety. They don’t think about it in terms of it happening to them. So I am peeved to see the numbers, when we are trying to have them decreasing by ten per cent each year, have gone up during this period. It means we need to do more in the department to get these numbers back down,” she said.
Forde said there were four fatalities from the 31 house fires this year and “they were things you can do to protect yourself”.
She urged members of the public to invest in smoke detectors as they could save lives.
“There is not a price that we can put on one’s life realistically and I don’t think $20 is too much to invest when it comes to your safety.”
She added that though officers were trained, discovering bodies while outing a blaze was a heart-wrenching exercise.
“Yesterday was an emotional one, a mother and her eight year-old daughter. At the end of the day fire officers also have families . . . and when you see things like that you relate it back to your own. It is not an easy task, it is quite emotional.”
There have been three house fires in three consecutive days.
A fire on Sunday in Passage Road, St Michael left a family of six homeless. On Monday, firemen discovered the charred remains of 43-year-old Kim-Marie Greenidge and her eight-year-old daughter Nazariah Greenidge while battling a blaze in Heddings Development, St Philip. On Tuesday, at least six people were left homeless after a fire gutted their home at Mayers Road, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael.
During the briefing, chief executive officer of Haigh Communications Joy-Ann Haigh said she wanted to partner with Ace H&B Hardware to assist the fire service as she felt the need to do something to help people understand the importance of fire prevention.
With the help of the hardware store, Haigh Communications will be donating 51 pieces of fire prevention equipment including audible and light smoke detectors and fire blankets.
The items will be distributed by the fire service who will also assist with installation. The items will be donated to people ages 70 and up, with a focus on those who live alone.
Haigh also called on insurance companies to get involved in the fire prevention programme stating that they had an important role to play in this regard.
Hardware manager Al Roach noted that they welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the project.
He said the team at Ace H&B was disheartened over Monday’s fire and felt compelled to help the fire service in any way they could.
(SZB)

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Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader says she has called on Prime Minister Mia Mottley to launch a full inquiry into the controversy surrounding the so-called abduction of a businessman from the twin-island republic on Barbadian soil.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar disclosed at a public meeting of the United National Congress (UNC) on Monday night that, in her capacity as Opposition Leader, she had written to Mottley on the matter of grave concern.
She said the “abduction” of firearms dealer Brent Thomas, as ruled by a judge in Trinidad and Tobago last month, is “a shameful blot on our democracy”.
Sharing parts of the correspondence with party supporters, Persad-Bissessar said she told Mottley that the evidence and Justice Rampersad’s judgment represented “a very dark day in both our islands’ proud jurisprudence and subscription to the rule of law”.
“The illegal abduction of a person between our Caribbean island states is a very serious matter which warrants urgent investigation in both countries. In this regard, in the interest of the people of our two nations, I respectfully call upon you, as Prime Minister of Barbados, to initiate a full public inquiry into this matter,” the UNC leader further wrote.
She said she had decided to go that route because of the lack of answers from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds on the issue.
However, Rowley said at a press conference on Tuesday that he and Mottley were still waiting to hear what officials in their respective countries had learned.
“My understanding is that she is in the same position that I am in and we await what our departments come up with, contrary to what you are being told in Trinidad and Tobago that ‘X’ knows why and ‘A’ knows ‘B’,” he said.
“I am sure along the way we will find out what really went on. If there are operational issues to be dealt with, we will deal with it. But this is an evolving situation and we see what comes up,” he added.
Rowley told reporters that he was not bothered by Persad-Bissessar writing to his Barbadian counterpart on the matter.
“This is a matter for the Opposition Leader and the Prime Minister of Barbados,” he said. “I have no thoughts on that and it matters not to me. If the Opposition Leader wants to talk with a Prime Minister of a Caribbean country she is free to do so.”
In his ruling in a constitutional review case brought against the Trinidad government by 61-year-old Thomas, Justice Rampersad said Barbados police had taken the businessman from his hotel room last October and handed him over to some members of the Trinidad and Tobago police who took him back to the twin-island republic to face criminal charges.
The judge criticised the police and said that Thomas’ constitutional rights had been breached.
(BT/CMC)

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Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ryan Straughn, has defended the Government’s handling of the island’s debt, stressing that significant progress has been made in steadying the economic outlook of the country.
“To even suggest that there is anything even close to incompetence when it comes to this government, I reject that completely. I want to say to citizens of this country, do not allow people to fool you. We are not saying everything is done, and we have said so from the beginning, but we have made significant progress since coming to office five years ago,” he told the House of Assembly on Tuesday..
Straughn, told the debate on the Barbados Optional Savings Bonds Plus (Offer to the Public) (Amendment) Bill 2023, that despite the outcry from the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), the country remains on a steady economic growth rate, and to suggest otherwise would be to ‘fool’ citizens.
“This government was able to arrest the ills that were facing this country when we came to office. Such that Barbadians in this country can feel a measure of pride, that if they leave here and go to any part of the Caribbean or any part of the world, people now feel a sense of pride that Barbados is on its way back.”
His comments come in response to statements made by former DLP Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr David Estwick, who spoke at his party’s recent joint zonal meeting and said that the country’s debt service and debt stock will continue to rise “dangerously,” and could become an “albatross” around taxpayers’ necks.
Straughn however pushed back on the notion that the country’s debt was approaching a dangerous level.
“Let me make it clear, we inherited $18 billion in debt. We restructured the debt – $18 billion represents 176 GDP at the time – March 2020 just before COVID. We reduced that debt to 119 GDP, $12.5 billion approximately. When those airplanes stopped flying, we all saw what happened in Barbados… the economy stalled, not because of anything the Barbados Labour Party did, but because we were protecting the lives of ordinary Barbadians in this country.”
The economist added: “Now I can’t advise them what to do, but I would respectfully tell them to check themselves, because the record of this government when it comes to the management of this economy, is without comparison.”
Straughn said that given the DLP’s track record on the economy, the party lacked the “credibility” to give an accurate view of the current situation.
“So when the Democratic Labour Party talking, let them understand that no time in the 10 years that they had the stewardship of this country, was anybody asking them to come and talk about anything [or] to come and contribute to anything. What did they see happening in Barbados? Downgrade after downgrade… the Democratic Labour Party cannot come to the public of this country with any credibility, or representatives of the Democratic Labour Party, masquerading as economists, coming to the country to bring smoke and mirrors with respect to the management of the public debt.”
(SB)

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Thirty-seven-year-old Rashida Yearwood was in a state of shock on Tuesday morning as she watched her Mayers Road, My Lords Hill, St Michael home burn to the ground.
She cried and screamed, asking what she and the five of her six children who lived with her would do now that their three-bedroom concrete and timber home and all of its contents had been destroyed.
The sobbing Yearwood, who was barely able to stand on her own, eventually had to be rushed to a nearby doctor to get medical attention. She later returned to the scene more composed.
The mother recounted to Barbados TODAY that she was on her way to work when she realised she had forgotten her name badge and returned home to get it. It was then she saw the fire that, according to fire officials, started just after 8 a.m.
Her children had left for school just minutes earlier.
“I have been living here all of my life; this is my mother’s house. I don’t know what started the fire. I just turned back for my name badge and I just see the smoke and then I realise the house was burning,” she said.
Yearwood, whose six children are between the ages of one and 15 years old, said she welcomed whatever assistance the family could get at this time.
“We don’t have anything, we lost everything. We would be grateful for whatever help we could get at this time because we have lost everything,” she said, adding that she had to collect the children from school and break the news to them.
Yearwood’s niece, Che Yearwood, who was raised in the house which belonged to her grandmother who is now in a nursing home, said she was at work when she got a call informing her that her childhood home was on fire.
“The house is gone but I am so glad nobody was in there. Luckily, all the children had just left. I rushed here from work and my main concern on my way here is that the children ain’t in the house,” she said.
Neighbours who watched fire officers extinguish the blaze that occurred a day after a woman and her eight-year-old daughter died in a fire in Heddings, St Philip, said while they were sorry the house was destroyed, they were glad no life was lost.
“I am so thankful and I am singing praises that those children had already left for school, and Rashida was not in that house when that fire started because I am going to tell you the truth, it would have been difficult for anyone to enter that house when it was burning saying them try to save anybody,” an elderly female resident said.
“I was so happy when the mother said all the children were already at school. The first thing people out here were asking was, ‘where are the children?’”
Member of Parliament for St Michael East Trevor Prescod, in whose constituency the fire happened, said he has known the Yearwood family for many years and the current situation was unfortunate.
He gave the assurance that he would be working with state-owned agencies and the private sector to get assistance to the family.
“What I have actually indicated to them, even without having the approval of the Welfare Department or the Minister, is if they can find a house during the course of today or tomorrow, I will make sure that the Welfare Department covers the cost of the house for the next six months, hopefully within the limits of
$800 a month,” Prescod said.
“My secretary has already made the required arrangements to see if we can get some welfare assistance so that we can restore them to normal living.”
Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard said the Barbados Fire Service received the call to respond to the house fire around 8:11 a.m. He said two tenders from the Bridgetown Fire Station responded and found the house fully engulfed in flames.
Maynard expressed concern that there have been fires daily since Sunday.
“The number of fires we have had thus far for the year way exceeds those for last year and this is of significant concern for us. As a matter of fact, it exceeds what we had in the same period for the last five to ten years. It means that this year is somewhat of an anomaly. We are pleading with all Barbadians to be a bit more careful and vigilant,” he said.
“If you are using small appliances, we ask you to turn them off when you are leaving home. Things like fans, you need to plug them out when you are leaving home. And if you are going to be using things like kerosene oil lamps which have open flames, keep them away from things like curtains that would blow on them and cause a fire,” Maynard advised.
(AH)

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PM WANTS TO SEE START UP OF CARIBBEAN TOUR OPERATOR

By Jenique Belgrave

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has challenged Caribbean tourism stakeholders to establish a regional tour agency to not only keep more of the profits here but to be a “shaper” and not just a receiver in the industry.
Lamenting that some hoteliers are losing as much as a quarter of what guests pay for rooms to tour operators overseas, the Barbadian leader insisted on Tuesday that the Caribbean has the capacity to reach potential travellers worldwide and drive business here on its own.
She suggested to the local, regional and international tourism stakeholders attending the opening session of the Caribbean Travel Forum that the region had to exercise the will to do that.
“Nothing should stop you from leaving this country without agreeing to form a major tour operator that is capable of managing our resources and managing flows to the Caribbean immediately,” the Prime Minister said in her keynote address, earning the applause of those gathered in the ballroom at Sandals Royal.
Adamant that the region must not simply be a “taker” of what is offered by international agencies, Mottley said the region must hold its own reins going forward.
“When other cruise lines open up, nobody says that Carnival or Royal can’t get business…. If we as a Caribbean region, the most mature tourism region and the most heavily dependent tourism region in the world, seek to do what China is doing for itself in national strategic security, what the US is doing with the Chips Act, what other countries are doing in Europe to protect their energy security, if this is vital to our lifeblood, how do we allow others to control whether the tap is turned on or off with respect to the flow of people to this region?” she said.
Prime Minister Mottley told the travel forum participants that a national conversation is expected to be held later this month to thrash out issues facing the hospitality industry.
One major challenge is the shortage of hospitality workers post-COVID, as many experienced workers in Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean were simply not returning to their previous jobs.
She suggested that circumstances had changed for many of them since the height of the pandemic.
“You used to work in the hospitality sector but your mother who used to keep the children passed away with COVID and there is no one else to keep them, and when you do the numbers, on the daycare to transport and there are three children you have, it doesn’t make any sense to be working unsociable hours because there is nobody to keep the child.
“If you felt that you weren’t being valued, are you going to risk yourself in something again? I have asked for a national conversation, this month actually, between labour and capital with respect to tourism and hospitality workers,” Mottley said, adding that a wider regional discussion was also needed.
jeniquebelgrave @barbadostoday.bb

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Barbadians are being urged not to shirk their responsibility to pay their contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA).
Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn said on Tuesday that those statutory contributions remain a vital revenue stream used to support much of the country’s social services.
“This is not the time to be running from the BRA or the NIS. The stark reality is that all of us send our children to school, all of us drive on the roads – no matter how good or bad the roads may be –, all of us at some point have to utilise some type of healthcare facility, whether it’s the polyclinic, whether it’s the QEH, whether it’s a district hospital or some [other] facility. All of us have a responsibility in it,” he said during debate in the Lower House on the Barbados Optional Savings Bonds Plus (Offer to the Public) (Amendment) Bill 2023.
Straughn noted that the monies and information collected by the NIS and BRA form a critical piece in the Government’s plan to effectively shape economic policy.
He stressed that accurate information must be collected from citizens and businesses to better bolster the country’s resilience to economic shocks.
“If I am aware [and] have all the right information about the business that you are engaged in, then . . . I can actually craft policy that is going to help you make more money. I can’t be guessing all the time every year as to what the lay of the land is. As part of that civic responsibility, everybody has to put piece in the pot because everybody putting piece in the pot means that we can respond faster when things go wrong,” Straughn said.
“That is why the reforms that are being contemplated are going to be critically important for determining where you allocate resources in the future. In all of what we are doing, it will have a significant impact on how resilient we can build this country,” he added.
(SB)

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Special Advisor to the Government on Climate Change Professor Avinash Persaud says the Bridgetown Initiative is proving to be successful in putting funds into the hands of the poorer nations impacted heavily by climate change.
In a virtual address to Tuesday’s Caribbean Travel Forum at the Sandals Royal, he said “I know many of the people assembled in this room will be skeptical of government policy from your own experience and skeptical that combined government policy could be effective.
“But in these 12 months since ‘Bridgetown One’ – and it has not been the only contributing factor, but the primary factor – $100 billion of special drawing rights have been re-channelled to some of the poorest countries. Royal Bank lending is scheduled to rise from $30 billion a year to $35 billion a year, a 15 per cent plus increase. We’ve got a lot further to go, but there is momentum.”
The initiative seeks to raise US $2 trillion a year to assist vulnerable states affected by climatic events through the establishment of a global fund that mobilises private finance and financial reserves of rich nations to mitigate climate change shocks. It also suggests restructuring sovereign debt to free up finances and prevent fiscal crises in small island developing states and other low and middle income countries.
“Bridgetown One says we need $2 trillion a year to deal with loss of damage, to deal with adaptations and the climate change already baked in and to mitigate the climate so we can limit the damage and limit the need for greater resilience,” he explained.
Saying the initiative has received tremendous global support and is gaining traction, he outlined plans for ‘Bridgetown Two’, which will seek to address the risks of private investors seeking to get involved in green energy revenue-earning endeavours in developing countries.
“One of the biggest risks probably, is currency risk, so one of the things we are doing in Bridgetown Two is coming up with a foreign exchange (FX) guarantee system. It does not guarantee you all the FX risk, but it guarantees you the amount that proves to be excessive, that is the amount that overpayment people do to try and hedge themselves against currency risk, especially in times like this when interest rates are rising,” he added.
(JB)

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There are great opportunities for multiple airline hubs to develop throughout the region, says executive chairman of the Tobago Tourism Association Limited (TTAL) Alicia Edwards.
She told a press conference hosted by TTAL and Caribbean Airlines (CAL) on Monday that because of the unique structure and location of the Caribbean, multiple hubs for travel remain a high possibility.
“Barbados in its own unique location is a hub, but the other thing that we are realising about Trinidad and Tobago is that because we are the most southerly islands of the Caribbean chain, we are now a gateway to Guyana, to Brazil, and South and Latin American. So it is not one over the other, it’s just that geographically there are the opportunities for hubs to develop in different parts of the region depending on where people are moving to,” she explained.
The media event was called to announce the official launch of direct flights between Tobago and Barbados and was held a day before Barbados hosts the 41st edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace.
New flights between Barbados and Tobago will run twice-weekly, with flight times of just one hour from Grantley Adams International Airport to A.N.R. Robinson International Airport.
Though there is expected to be an increase in travellers between the two islands, Edwards noted that the high cost of regional travel still remained a hindrance to potential visitors.
“A huge cost component of the ticket is the taxes and the charges that have not been waived by our governments. There have been quite a bit of discussions and agreements on paper at the level of CARICOM to reduce the level of taxes so that it would allow the cost of moving in the region to be cheaper…that has not happened.
“Part of the issue and challenge of LIAT, is that because you are really subsidising taxes that should not be there in the first place, it makes it difficult,” she said.
(SB)

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MOTHER WANTS ANSWERS IN SON’S STABBING DEATH

By Anesta Henry

While doctors in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) were working to save the life of stabbing victim Antonio Ryan Miller on Tuesday morning, his mother was fulfilling her housekeeping duties in another section of the hospital.
Little did Jessica Miller know, her 30-year-old son had taken his last breath after 7 a.m.
However, after multiple missed calls and messages, she heard the tragic news in a voice note from another son that Antonio had been stabbed.
“I run to the front of A&E and security said the ambulance did not bring anybody. Then when I went around to the other side of A&E and a guard friend of mine told me to come and put me inside a room and told me to hold on. A doctor then came to me a couple seconds later and told me he [Antonio] did not make it,” a composed Miller recalled as she spoke about the loss of her son just five days before Mother’s Day.
“I [was] at work and my son in the same building fighting for his life and I did not know,” she added as she spoke to Barbados TODAY in the living room of her Carrington Village, St Michael home.
Police Inspector Stephen Griffith said that around 6:55 a.m., lawmen received a report of a stabbing incident that happened in the area of Queen’s Park and the QEH playing field.
He said when officers arrived at the scene, they saw the injured Antonio. The young man was immediately transported by ambulance to the QEH where he died.
Struggling to come to grips with the tragedy, Miller said when she was finally allowed to see her son, it was painful to watch his lifeless body with multiple stab wounds, including one to the chest.
The mother of four said she had heard multiple stories from various sources regarding the circumstances surrounding the killing of her third-born child but she was hoping and praying police find answers.
Miller said she was told that her son was stabbed when he disembarked a ZR after leaving his girlfriend’s house at Bush Hall, St Michael, where he slept the night before.
“The girl say Antonio made breakfast for her, [her] children and himself, and he kissed her on her jaw and said ‘babes, I will call you when I get down the road’, which is here at Carrington Village,” she said.
“The girl say she was saying he taking very long to call and say he get down the road. Then she said some man call she and tell she that Antonio now get two stabs. She said she asked ‘who is this, what prank you calling me with?’ but the person put down the phone.
“So, I really don’t know, I looking for answers too. Police asking questions out there and people saying them ain’t see. But I did not hear Antonio complaining that he had beef with anybody or nothing so,” the grieving 49-year-old mother added.
Miller said the fatal stabbing would have taken place minutes after she passed the area. She explained that while she usually walks along Martindale’s Road on her way to work, she had decided to make her way across the playing field, close to where the incident happened.
“People say he was rolling on the pasture and the only person that ran to his assistance was this brown skin lady who work on a Pine van and she tried to put pressure on the wound,” she shared about what she learned about the aftermath of the shooting.
Miller said her son, who worked with the Govermment’s ash cleanup programme, was not perfect but following the death of his father several years ago he had started to make the effort to walk the right path.
“And he was doing it, he was getting it do well. Sometimes you would have to speak to him, yes, but otherwise, he was trying really hard to change some of his ways,” she said of the former student of Carrington’s Primary School, St George Secondary School and Metropolitan High School.
“This thing got me so good that I don’t know how to feel. I just don’t know how to feel. He killed my son. As they say, a bad boy is better than no boy at all. He killed my child, he stabbed him right in the heart,” Miller said, shaking her head as she stared into the distance.
Speaking to members of the media at the scene, Inspector Griffith appealed to anyone with information on the incident to call 211, 430-7100, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS, or the nearest police station.
“Especially with many of the things that are happening in this country, we would want young people to [engage in] more dialogue rather than finding themselves in a situation where it has to come to a tragic end,” the police officer said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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