The extension of social security benefits for people living with disabilities announced in the Budget has been declared a big win by Kerry Ann Ifill, president of the Barbados Council for the Disabled.

But the delay in implementing education reforms by at least another year also found support from the disabled community’s main spokeswoman, to give the government time to beef up education for children with disabilities.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley told the House of Assembly on Monday that current regulations limit access to non-contributory old age pensions for only “blind” and “deaf-mute” individuals over 18. She has proposed expanding these categories from October 1 to include conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and autism, extending support to minors as well.

A grant provided for disabled minors will be 50 per cent of a non-contributory pension with a full pension for adults.

In welcoming the news, Ifill told Barbados TODAY: “I would like to say that the Barbados Council for the Disabled, we are extremely excited and pleased to learn of the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Budget statement in this way. An expansion of the benefits has been something that we have been advocating for for some time, from the point of view that persons with a disability are an added expense, both to the persons to themselves [and] their family.

“Of course, we would want to see benefits continue to expand, as they see the impact and what it can do. We remain committed to supporting the government in its efforts, to ensure that persons with disabilities become more included across the board.”

Ifill also welcomed the announcement of six new buses over the next three years for the National Disabilities Unit, given the challenges that people with disabilities face in trying to arrange transport.

“At the Barbados Council for the Disabled, we provide heavily subsidised transportation for children to get to school. If our bus is off the road for a day or two, that has implications on the family because the bus breaks down, the child can’t go to school, childcare arrangements have to be made, [and] it’s not always easy to arrange it for children with different types of disabilities.

“When government expands its transportation programme, it means that more people with disabilities can have active participation in the community; they can have a life, the service can go beyond just taking you to medical appointments…. Our disability is not defined by only health considerations. There are many factors and aspects to our life,” Ifill said.

The council president added that while the Ministry of Education’s planned education reform has recently been pushed back to 2026 rather than 2025, she expressed hope that the extra time will be used to strengthen the relative teaching support needed in the education system for people with disabilities.

“There is no point putting a child with a disability into mainstream education and then they don’t have the relevant support,” she said. “So setting up learning support units in schools, teacher’s assistants, teacher’s aid, all of those considerations need to be part of a modern education system, as well as special education in of itself as is currently provided.”

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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C O Williams on Wednesday mobilised salvage and demolition teams on The Pierhead in Bridgetown to pave the way for the multimillion-dollar Pierhead Project.

The company has been on site since September 2023 undertaking site preparation works such as the erection of construction hoarding and protective shielding for the Blackwoods Screw Dock. Some important timber salvage work commenced earlier in March.

This marks the start of a number of years of phased development activity at this location, following a full planning permission grant from the Barbados Ministry of Planning in late 2023. This government approval includes all necessary heritage protections for this important UNESCO World Heritage site.

The planning permission provides for the construction of three main buildings which will continue to be named the Steel Building, the House of Pillars and Bridge House. The project is designed around the themes of ‘live, work and play’ in a mixed use development that will combine apartment living on the upper floors with a number of food and beverage offerings plus retail and a first class visitor attraction that can incorporate the conserved Blackwoods Screw Dock. In addition a Beach Club located on the Pointe will operate to open up Carlisle Beach and Bay for all.

The developer is Neville Isdell, former Chair and CEO of Coca-Cola who has been a resident of Barbados for more than twenty years and the advisory team is led by Sir Paul Altman of Altman Real Estate. (PR)

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Today, on World Down Syndrome Day, people across Barbados participated in the Rock Your Socks campaign for another year, and the support was welcomed by president of the Barbados Down Syndrome Association Asha Alleyne-Renwick. Here, she joins students and teachers of the Erdiston Special School, where a special event was held, rocking their colourful socks.

(Photo by Shamar Blunt)

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The Rock Your Socks campaign to encourage the wearing of multicoloured socks continues to be successful in raising awareness about Down Syndrome, but businesses have been warned not to capitalise on World Down Syndrome Day merely for commercial benefit.

President of the Barbados Down Syndrome Association, Asha Alleyne-Renwick said the campaign has helped to raise funds for the association and its activities while gaining the attention of “the entire society” about life for people living with Down Syndrome.

But, she told Barbados TODAY at a Rock Your Socks event at The Erdiston Special School, Pine Hill, St Michael that merchants – individuals and business places – still sell socks for the campaign without donating proceeds to the cause.

“We want to appeal to them once again this year that this is not a fashion show, it is a United Nations Day dedicated to people with Down Syndrome. So we are wearing the socks and merchants are making sales because of our members with Down Syndrome. Members are speaking out and want to see that support from business places in terms of giving back to the association on this day,” she said.

Alleyne-Renwick stressed that the funds are used to assist many of the association’s members who often suffer from a multitude of health problems.

She said: “Half of babies born with Down Syndrome do have a heart defect, people with Down Syndrome are more prone to early-onset leukaemia to childhood leukaemia, Alzheimer’s disease; they deal with thyroid conditions [and] skin conditions. So there are many challenges involved when it comes to Down Syndrome.

“That said, with the adequate support we can achieve what we are trying to achieve which is allowing individuals with Down Syndrome to live their best possible lives and fulfil their potential.”

The association president expressed satisfaction with the support of the public and parents of children with Down Syndrome.

“We see people coming out rocking their socks, and of course they are talking about Down Syndrome and they want to become aware of the condition. We are very happy for the support because advocacy is key. We want to congratulate our parents this year for really speaking up and advocating on behalf of their children, because through advocacy comes change, and change is what we need to see if we want the lives of people with Down Syndrome to really improve in Barbados,” she said.

Alleyne-Renwick also described as a “huge victory” the Ministry of People Empowerment’s confirmation that it had added people with disabilities to the list of people eligible for non-contributory pensions.

“This year’s theme for the Month of the Disabled [is] One Community – United in Action, and we need to see the community come together, advocate together, and receive the benefits together. So we are very happy, us here in the Down Syndrome Association, to hear Down Syndrome listed as one of the disabilities that will indeed receive government assistance,” she said.

The principal of the Erdiston Special School, Donna Holder, who expressed delight in seeing children wear the special socks for the day, disclosed that the school had recently added a young person with Down Syndrome to assist the teachers.

“I found Alyssa to be such an endearing young lady. She had a beautiful skill set, she was really good with arts and craft, and I found she was very responsible. So I had a conversation with the mom [and said] when the school term starts, let’s see what we can do in terms of getting her to come over and help.

“She started to come [for] a couple days; she wanted to be here every day, and we welcomed her with open arms. So now she is one of our school assistants. Everyone loves her and she works very well with the younger children,” the principal said.

She added: “I think that Alyssa should be an inspiration to others to get out there, and let people know that they are capable and they want to be involved.” (SB)

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Gregory Adams died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

That was the finding of consultant pathologist Dr David Gaskin as he gave evidence in the trial of Shonette Vanessa Williams and Calvin Osbort Osbourne, who are accused of murdering 44-year-old Adams on October 18, 2020.

Giving evidence before the No 4 Supreme Court, the doctor told the 12-member jury and Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell that he found 22 injuries to Adams’ body. These wounds were discovered along his face, head, neck, right shoulder, arms, chest, left side and lower back, with the injury to the neck the most severe.
Also giving evidence in the case was Shieana Geoffroy, the daughter and sister of the accused duo.

Geoffroy recalled that on the morning of the incident, her mother arrived at their Lower Bridge Gap, Cave Hill, St Michael home, woke her and told her to come outside and bring her cell phone.

When she followed her, she saw a man in a vehicle who told her that he had found Williams walking along the road, crying and complaining that someone had hit her. Geoffroy’s mother asked her to take the man’s number in case she made a police report, and she did so.

Her mother then went back into the house, woke her brother Osbourne and went into the kitchen to ice her face which was “a bit swollen”. Williams then spoke to her son and headed into her bedroom.

Geoffroy said she subsequently heard her mother and Adams arguing, and when she went into the bedroom to check, she found Williams standing near the door while Adams was sitting on the bed, bleeding from his face.

She took her mother back to the kitchen and Adams came out of the bedroom, shouting that he had not done anything to her and that she had come home to make trouble over nothing.

“My mother said, ‘You hit me in the car, and then yall made me get out and walk home’ and he kept saying, ‘I ain’t do nothing to you’ and she said he was lying,” the witness said.

She said her mother then picked up two bottles and threw them in Adams’ direction but she could not recall them hitting him.

Geoffroy said Adams told her mother, “I will deal with you like how Pointer deal with you.”

“He went back into the bedroom and came back out and had a knife, a white-handled knife. They continued arguing, and he kept coming towards us . . . .I stepped forward, intending to stop him from coming forward. I tried to hold him back, and he pushed me out of the way, and my brother stepped in front of my mother to prevent Adams from getting to her, and that’s when the struggle started,” she testified.

However, the witness said she could not see what was happening because Adams was blocking her, and after realising her younger sister was in the hallway, she took her back into the bedroom so she could not see what was happening.

Five minutes later, she said, she walked towards the backdoor and found Adams on the ground, “gasping for air”. Her mother told her to call the ambulance and she did that and also called the police. When the paramedics arrived, they said there was no sign of life in Adams’ body.

Questioned by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC whether she saw either her mother or brother with a weapon, she replied, “No, please.”

Under cross-examination by Osbourne’s attorney Sian Lange, Geoffroy said her brother was not a violent person.

She said during the incident, she was scared as Adams was being “very aggressive” in walking towards them, adding that she believed her brother’s and mother’s lives were in danger.

During questioning by Williams’ attorney Peta-Gay Lee-Brace, Geoffroy explained that Pointer who Adams had mentioned was her mother’s ex-boyfriend who had burned down her house.

She also testified that the police had been called to their home several times due to Adams being violent towards her mother, as he was “controlling” and got “jealous easily”. She described the couple’s relationship as “toxic”.

Several other witnesses also gave evidence, including Adams’ son Nathan Wiltshire-Adams, Nicholas Walkes, who had picked Williams up and dropped her home that morning, Constable Stacia Spencer and Sergeant Roger Bullard.

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After a week of listening to submissions in favour of and against a High Court judge’s ruling that deemed part of the Bail Act unconstitutional, the Court of Appeal has reserved its decision and will make its ruling on the matter later.

Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham along with Justices of Appeal Margaret Reifer and William Chandler made the announcement shortly after Senior Counsel Leslie Haynes, who, along with the legal team of Sir Elliot Mottley, Deputy Solicitor General Marsha Lougheed and attorneys Noah Haynes and Kashawn Wood, represent the Attorney General’s Office, made final submissions.

The State has appealed the 2021 decision by Madam Justice Shona Griffith in the case of Lamar Antonio Jones vs the Attorney General challenging the constitutionality of Section 5(a) of the Bail (Amendment) Act 2019 which forced the courts to remand persons charged with murder or serious firearm offences for 24 months before they could qualify for bail.

After being released on bail following 17 months of remand at Dodds in connection with matters under the Firearms Act, Jones, of Rock Avenue, Wildey, St Michael, had approached the High Court claiming that the amendment to the Bail Act was unconstitutional and infringed on six of his rights as an accused person.

According to that section of the legislation, a person charged with murder, treason, high treason or an offence under the Firearms Act, Cap. 179, which is punishable with imprisonment for ten years or more, shall not be granted bail unless a period of 24 months has expired after that person was charged.

In her ruling, Justice Griffith said the restriction on the right of persons charged with a firearm offence to apply for bail was unconstitutional.

“…. It is not proportionate to a legitimate end to the maintenance of law and order, and the court is unable to find any rational connection between the restrictions and the measure that is imposed…. The court finds that the restrictions are, in fact, disproportionate, and so those restrictions are unconstitutional and void,” she had said.

Senior Counsel Larry Smith led Jones’ team of attorneys, including Jamar Bourne and Brent Chandler, throughout the submissions to the appellate court.

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Dario Devon Drayton will be behind bars for nine more years as punishment for committing several offences, including aggravated burglary, theft and assault.

The Turton Gap, Gittens Road, Government Hill, St Michael resident was sentenced when he appeared in the No. 2 Supreme Court before Justice Randall Worrell recently.
He had previously admitted to stealing a motorcycle belonging to Jamal Moseley between August 30 and 31, 2009; robbing Leon Weekes of a chain and a cell phone belonging to him, and robbing Asif Padmore of two chains on November 20, 2012;  robbing Junior Clarke of two chains and two pendants belonging to him and causing serious bodily harm to Clarke with intent to maim, injure or disable him, on January 17, 2013; robbing Danielle Bullen of her motorcar, a handbag, cell phone, Barbados identification card, a purse and $1 500 belonging to her, all valued at $33 093, on July 7, 2017; and assaulting Julian Lashley with intent to rob him on July 7, 2017.

Calling all the offences serious, Justice Worrell pointed in particular to the injuries inflicted on Clarke, whom Drayton had shot during the robbery, and imposed a starting sentence of 20 years for the offence. The judge increased that to 25 years after taking into consideration the use of a firearm in the incident, the fact that the gun was not recovered and that the complainant suffered was now “virtually paralysed”.

Though noting the convicted man’s age at the time of the offence and his expression of remorse, Justice Worrell pointed to his 21 previous convictions and his “very bad” pre-sentence report which deemed him as posing a high risk of re-offending.

“You seem to have been bent on theft and burglary, especially taking stuff from people. I can’t find any mitigating features which would cause me to move the starting point downward from 25 years,” the judge said.

However, he gave Drayton a discount for his early guilty plea and the delay in the matter going to trial and also deducted the 1 661 days he had spent on remand.

He now has to serve nine more years for the serious bodily harm offence.

A starting point of 12 years was given for the robbery and after various discounts, Drayton has 119 days left to serve for that crime.

Meanwhile, starting sentences of 12 years each were given for the robberies of Weekes and Padmore and after the relevant deductions, Drayton was ordered to serve a remaining 117 days on each count.

Concerning the car and motorcycle theft, the judge outlined that appropriate starting points were nine years and six years, respectively.

However, he told Drayton that after the deductions, the time he spent on remand would be subsumed in the sentences.

All of the sentences will run concurrently.

Drayton was represented by attorney Fay Burke, while Principal State Counsel Oliver Thomas and State Counsel Dr Zoe King appeared for the prosecution.

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St Philip North MP Dr Sonia Browne has not only doubled down on her position against “grossly unfair” land tax calculations by the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) but has now called for a forensic audit to shed light on the situation that has resulted in people being asked to pay significantly more this year.

On Wednesday, a week after appealing during the Estimates debate for authorities to look into her exorbitant land tax bill – and sharing that some of her constituents had similar concerns – Dr Browne reiterated her calls during the Budget debate.

Last Tuesday, she told the House of Assembly that her bill had almost tripled from $3 300 for 2022 to $8 300 for tax year 2023-2024, and said other rural constituents were facing similar increases as they were being taxed for non-residential property. Barbados TODAY subsequently learned that Barbadians who own properties two-acres or larger, which was classified as agricultural land by the Development Planning Office, were being asked to pay significantly higher land tax rates.

Dr Browne said while she has a small agriculture operation on her property, she made no profit from it; however, she said, it was the livelihood for several of her neighbours, one of whom saw his land tax bill increase from $475 to $4 512.

The government MP said while she had been accused of taking her “personal business” to Parliament, “it was more than my personal business”.

“It had to do with the residents that live around me and beyond with respect to this land tax issue. I think it is grossly unfair for those of us who have to rake up that money. It is grossly unfair. It needs to be looked into. I dare say it needs a forensic audit,” said the MP who in January resigned from her position as Minister of State in the Ministry of Health.

“There is information out there, whether true or false – it doesn’t have to be true, but it needs to be looked into.”

While she did not specify what information she was referring to, claims have recently surfaced on social media of irregularities at BRA with respect to land valuations.

Dr Browne made it clear that she did not believe land tax should be abolished as “taxes are there for a reason” but she was adamant it had to be calculated fairly.

She said the current situation did not encourage farmers to work their land.

“Those with agricultural land, that’s no incentive at all to do anything on it. Or maybe that’s the incentive to do more on it that you can pay the land tax – which leaves no profit for you. But I am begging, begging … somebody with good sense to look into it,” the government backbencher appealed.

In the meantime, she said, she would pay some of the taxes demanded of her, even as she pointed to another concern.

“The danger with paying the land tax is that you can’t owe the government; the government can owe you but you wait with bated breath to get back your money from the government. We all know this with taxes. We all know this with land tax. So, I will see for the next five years, ‘oh you have a credit’ but I will still be asked to pay…. I will be asked to pay interest rates on land tax if I’m late but if the government owes me, no interest will be placed on that. And these are the things that we really, really, really, really need to look into,” she said.

“I am sorry if I make some people uncomfortable. I was told lately that I make some members in here uncomfortable and I apologise for that but these are things that affect my constituents – or maybe I don’t apologise for it; let’s leave it there.” (DP)

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Similar to last year, Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered her version of the Budget immediately after the Estimates and with the country in the second Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Once again, the Prime Minister missed the opportunity to explain the connection between the Budget, the BERT programme, and the Estimates.

It is accepted that a budget is an important instrument of fiscal and economic management by the Government. Hence, the budget should be contextualised within the social, economic, and financial realities of the country. Also, the motivation for the measures included in the budget, and their impact, should be clearly articulated.

The impact of the measures may be assessed in relation to key economic variables such as employment, growth, balance of payments, debt, prices, and the fiscal deficit. Also, the impact of the measures on specific groups (businesses, consumers, vulnerable families) should be detailed.

Further, it is imperative that the budget includes quantitative information on the revenue-raising measures and the expenditure items. In the event that the expenditure items are not to be financed by new taxes and fees, borrowing will have to be undertaken.

One of the major failures of the presentation by the prime minister is the absence of quantitative information on the many initiatives contemplated. As a result, the exercise was more reflective of a manifesto presentation than a budget. Barbadians are left to wonder, similar to previous years, if the proposed initiatives are statements of intent or commitments that will be actualised.

There is a deficit of BDS$1.05 billion on a cash basis in the Estimates for the next financial year. The mix of borrowing to finance this large deficit is as follows: BDS$628 million from local sources and BDS$422 million from foreign sources, including the IMF.

With no information on the funds anticipated from the upward adjustment in existing taxes and fees (despite the pledge of no new taxes), the Barbadian public may have to accept a significant increase in the fiscal deficit in order to accommodate some of the items from the Prime Minister’s wish list.

It is expected that the Government will experience challenges in raising the anticipated BDS$628 million locally as a result of the lingering effect of the unexpected, hypocritical debt restructuring/debt repudiation (default) exercise in 2018. Thus, we can expect greater reliance on foreign financing to meet the spending requirements of the new expenditure items from the Budget.

During the presentation, the Prime Minister suggested that the economic and fiscal affairs of the country are healthy. She alluded to eleven successive quarters of growth and a manageable debt situation.

The persistent high prices and inflationary conditions have contributed to the growth in nominal gross domestic product (GDP) during the post-COVID period. Despite the size of the economy increasing to BDS$12.8 billion in nominal output at the end of 2023, the reality is that the size of the economy in 2023 was similar to 2019 in real terms.

There are underlying structural weaknesses in the economy which negate the claim that the economy is buzzing. These include unbalanced growth with the economy over-reliant on the vulnerable tourism industry, weak productive capacity, ineffective diversification efforts, low private sector investment, low labour force participation rates, especially among females, high trade deficit, and a high tax regime.

The view that the debt situation is under control must be challenged. The debt restructuring/debt repudiation programme undertaken by the administration in late 2018 resulted in a reduction in the public debt by about BDS$4 billion, taking the debt to under BDS$12 billion, a figure which existed in the first half of the financial year 2014/2015.

With the administration’s insatiable appetite for borrowing, the projected public debt (net of amortisation) at the end of the current financial year is about BDS$15 billion. With amortisation payments in excess of BDS$2 billion over the past five years, it is projected that by March 31, 2024, gross borrowing by the government since coming to office in May 2018 will exceed the saving of BDS$4 billion achieved in the debt restructuring/debt default exercise.

The escalating debt situation is imposing a heavy debt service obligation on the country. Amortisation and interest payments are estimated at a staggering BDS$1.37 billion in the current financial year. This figure is projected to increase to a record level of BDS$1.6 billion in the next financial year.

There is an inextricable link between public policy and the well-being of society. Good public policy, underpinned by a sound philosophy and knowledge of changing social and economic realities, will redound to the betterment of society.

The presentation by the prime minister was oblivious to the social conditions of Barbados. There was no response to the increasing level of dispossession and poverty as families buckle under the weight of high food prices and the high cost of living. The presentation also failed to address the lack of meaningful opportunities, especially for the youth. This situation contributes, to some extent, to their involvement in drugs, gangs, and other forms of anti-social behaviour. The more certified young persons are opting to seek employment opportunities overseas, thereby denying the country valuable human resources.

The prime minister mentioned 16 initiatives aimed at stimulating growth in the economy. These initiatives resemble a wish list since information on the costs, plans and time frames for operationalising the initiatives were not provided.

Most of the initiatives were heard in the past, including reviewing/modernising the tax system, digitising business processes, creating new investment funds, increasing access to financing by firms, increasing public and private sector partnerships, unlocking renewable energy investment, exporting capital to diversify investment opportunities, incentivizing a vibrant creative industry and film industry, addressing the island’s demographic challenges, establishing a pharmaceutical industry, and executing capital projects.

A new initiative is the establishment of Business Barbados, a commercial, state-owned enterprise (SOE) focused on transforming small business operations in the country. However, given the imperative in the BERT programme to reform the SOEs, it is rather confusing for the administration to consider another bureaucratic structure.

The implementation record of the administration is unimpressive. For example, only 20 per cent of the initiatives announced in the 2023 budget were undertaken during the last year. It is therefore likely that the success rate with the list of new initiatives will be very low.

A budget should not be an opportunity for rehashed rhetoric and vague, meaningless talk. Unlike a manifesto, a budget should not be about a wish list and handouts (Howard, 2024). Rather, its focus should be on the sources of funds, that is, the revenue-raising measures (with clear justification) and uses of funds, that is, the expenditure items (and their likely social and economic impact). At a minimum, quantitative information on the sources and uses of funds should be included in the budget.

While we thank the prime minister for the presentation, it is clear that the presentation did not meet the requirements of a fiscal budget. It can more appropriately be viewed as a political manifesto with a wish list of things to be undertaken. The prime minister is encouraged to revert to the methodology employed in the mini-budget of July 2018.

Anthony Wood is a senior economist, former Cabinet minister in the Owen Arthur administration and former lecturer in economics, banking and finance at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

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The Prince Road Depot of the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) will be dismantling a dilapidated retaining wall along Collymore Rock, St. Michael, opposite the Collymore Rock Church of the Nazarene, on Sunday, March 24, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Due to the nature of the work, the road will be reduced to one-lane to ensure safety of workers and road users.
Motorists and pedestrians are advised to be cautious, slow down and follow the directions of the traffic wardens when travelling through the area.

MTW apologies for the inconvenience and thanks the public for its patience and cooperation. (KS/PR/MTWW)

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Pine East-West Boulevard in The Pine, St. Michael will be resurfaced under the Ministry of Transport and Work’s (MTW) Accelerated Mill and Pave Programme.

C.O. Williams Construction Ltd will commence milling tonight, Thursday, March 21, and will work nightly between 7:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. for approximately one week, pending weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Local and emergency access will be allowed. Signage and traffic wardens will be in place to provide directions. Motorists are asked to proceed with caution if they need to traverse the construction site; otherwise road users are encouraged to use other routes where possible.

MTW and C.O. Williams Construction Ltd apologize for the inconvenience and any thank residents and road users for their cooperation and patience. (PR/MTW)

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The body of man that was discovered on the shoreline of Welch’s Beach, Christ Church last Sunday is yet to be identified and police are again appealing to public for assistance.
They are asking anyone who can identify the bicycle in the photographs to please to do so to help identify the deceased.
The public can contact the Oistins Police Station at 418-2612 or police emergency at 211 with any information about this bicycle.

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Police are seeking the public’s to help identify and locate the person of interest in this photograph. He is wanted for questioning in connection with a criminal matter, which occurred on Monday, March 18,  2024 at Gemswick, Saint Philip.
Anyone who can identify him should contact the Criminal Investigation Department (South) at 418-2609, Oistins Police Station 418-2612, Crime Stoppers at 1 800-TIPS (8477) or Police Emergency at 211.

Members of the public are also reminded that it is a serious offence to harbour or assist wanted persons. Any person caught committing this offence can be prosecuted.

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Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing teenager.

She is Aaliyah Price, 15, of Colleton, St John, who was last seen around 7:30 p.m. om Sunday, March 17. At the time, she was wearing a blue dress, black, white and red Jordan sneakers. She is know to frequent the areas of Silver Sands, Christ Church and Carrington Village, St. Michael.

Price is about five feet, six inches tall, slim and has a brown complexion. She also has thick eyebrows, a small, long face, and her ears are pierced twice. She walks erect and has a pleasant manner.
Anyone knowing her whereabouts is asked to contact the District ‘C’ Police Station at 416-8200, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or any police station.

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A raft of community-based programmes will be launched next week to help steer the nation’s youth away from crime and other lawless activity, Minister of State in the Office of the Attorney General with responsibility for Crime Prevention Corey Lane disclosed on Friday.

He said now that funding is available after a few hiccups, the public can look forward to Elevate the Peace, a national parenting programme, the Live Wise Media Campaign and the National Jockey Academy, among others.

“I don’t even know how we’re going to keep up, but I know we will. We have Elevate the Peace that’s coming out where we’re going in all 11 parishes – two communities in each parish, where the change agents will be doing a number of direct intervention clubs,” he explained.

“There are too many unattached youth in unstructured programmes in Barbados and the devil finds work for idle hands. These are the ones that are not in Boy Scouts,  not in church, not in piano lessons, not in swimming lessons, but they are on the blocks and they are finding a lot of nefarious and negative things to do.”

Lane said participants would be able to engage in fun, challenging, adventurous activities, including fishing, and hiking. The youth will also have to attend personal development programmes like Higher Heights and Flip the Script.

Lane said he was particularly happy with the pending rollout of a national parenting programme across all parishes.

“It’s gonna be online, it’s gonna be on radio, it’s gonna be in person. It is going to be massive, it is going to be good and it’s not being done by us alone; it’s being done with organisations like PAREDOS  which has been doing this for over 50 years, MENS [Men’s Empowerment Network Support], the Social Workers Association, people with experience, and they are finally for the first time being given the resources to do the programme in a big way. So I’m very, very excited about that,” the minister said.

Youth will also be targeted to join the National Jockey Academy and Live Wise Media Campaign aimed at encouraging youth to make wise choices.

“It has nine different series of programmes with mini web series and so on which talk about the consequences of crime. Working in the prison, one of the things I recognised is that people don’t understand the true consequences of crime until they get into prison. They only know about losing their freedom. They don’t think about losing loved ones, the pain it has on the mother and grandmother to have the mortgage, the house, or sell the house to pay the lawyer…. They don’t know about all the other consequences,” he said. “This programme, by giving you a sneak peek, is actually going to let you speak to a number of survivors. It  is gonna let you speak to a number of persons who have turned their life around .”

Earlier this week, the ministry launched in St Joseph, the Love and Unity T20 series which has had successful outcomes in other communities.

“We started with Love and Unity in the New Orleans that went beyond measure and then we had the other One Love that was done in the Bank Hall area, where we had, in one night, 6 000 patrons coming from all communities. Not one single incident of violence… and now we’re up in St Joseph because we plan to take this programme from the north to the south, to the east, to the west and central areas across Barbados,” Lane explained.

The programme will next be launched in St Lucy and St Peter.

Questioned on whether the ministry’s programmes were having a significant impact on crime, Lane reiterated that he would let the public be the judge, pointing to statistics.

“You can look at the numbers and see that over the years, you were averaging in the 40s in homicides and you would have noticed that we were doing about 15 in every 100 000 – that’s how it is measured globally in terms of the homicide rate. You will see that at the end of last year… we were at 21 murders, which puts us at seven in every 100 000. So, for me,  I don’t want to give the analysis, I would like for people to look at the numbers and judge for themselves,” he said.
(SD)

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Government’s budgetary measures to unlock business in the stalled renewable energy sector will come under the scrutiny of the Barbados Renewable Energy Association (BREA) when it meets next week.

BREA’s Vice President Stephen Worme told Barbados TODAY: “We’ll be looking at the next steps that we can take to be able to support the effort that government is making.”

During the presentation of the Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals on Monday, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said growth in the sector was being constrained by regulatory lag, namely the long-awaited decision by the Fair Trading Commission on the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) Clean Energy Transition Rider (CETR) application.

The CETR would allow the power company to have 90 megawatts of battery energy storage systems to accommodate more photovoltaic systems onto the grid. Currently, BLPC can only absorb 100 megawatts without adding storage.

Insisting that getting storage into the system was a matter of urgent national security, Prime Minister Mottley announced that the government would engage in direct negotiations with international suppliers of storage systems to determine what is available and most affordable. She added that local interests would be invited to participate in the provision of battery storage in the coming weeks.

Worme noted that BREA would support anything that could move the sector forward, but stressed the need for more details.  

“We would like more information on exactly how this process works, but if it’s something that can help to fast forward the transition process and if we can achieve it at the lowest possible cost, we would definitely welcome it,” he said.

He noted that while the government’s move is an attempt to try to fast forward the supply of batteries, the country must ensure that the transition is manageable in terms of costs and infrastructure. Worme said BREA would continue to work with the government, BLPC and other stakeholders to achieve this.

“So there are two paths that are going right now as we understand it. One is Light and Power – they have actually gone to market and are waiting for the conclusion of the Clean Energy Transition Rider application – and the second one is government following this path. How these two are going to work together,  we need more information on it,” said the BREA official. “The important thing is at the end of the day, we get the best solution for Barbados.”

The trained engineer who has more than 30 years of experience in the local energy sector, advised that the solutions for the renewable energy sector do not lie solely in the purchase of the batteries but in the operation of the batteries and the related costs.

“So what we want to do – and that’s what we have been advocating for – is to find the right balance between ownership of batteries between the private sector and between Light and Power and all the different players in the game,” he said.

“We want to find the right balance both in terms of upfront costs, which is the investment costs, as well as the operating cost of the batteries. And we have to look at it holistically to be able to determine what the best solution is for Barbados. Those are the things that we have been advocating for to try to find the right solutions for Barbados.”

Like PM Mottley, the BREA executive is looking forward to the FTC ruling on the CETR application, pointing out that the association has provided written submissions to the regulatory agency.

He said: “We are looking forward to the decision soon and once that decision is made, that’s only part of what is going to be required. There is a further discussion that’s going to be needed. So I think there’s still some information that would be helpful and we are working with the Ministry of Energy to try to find the best way forward for Barbados.” 

(SD)

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No decision has been taken on whether there will be water prohibition this year, marketing officer at the Barbados Water Authority Yvette Harris-Griffith said on Friday.

But she has urged Barbadians to practise water conservation, even in the absence of restrictions on water usage.

The last water prohibition notice was issued by the BWA in April last year for a period of just over two months but that was then extended until the end of August. During the period, residents were banned from using potable water for the irrigation of gardens, lawns by hose or by sprinkler systems; using hoses to wash roadways, pavements, paths, garages and vehicles; and filling supply tanks, ponds and swimming pools, among other measures. 

Speaking to the media after a team from the BWA, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Climate Resilience Wastewater Systems in Barbados (3R-CReWS) and Pinehill Dairy visited Cuthbert Moore Primary School for World Water Day, Harris-Griffith said officials have not yet made any determination on water restrictions.

“Usually, that decision is reached between the Barbados Water Authority, of course, the Government of Barbados in conjunction with the Barbados Meteorological Services, in terms of what they expect the weather patterns to be like. A decision has not been made on that as yet for 2024,” she said.

However, the BWA official stressed that Barbadians should not be irresponsible with their water usage in the absence of a prohibition notice.

“It is always prudent for us to keep water conservation top of mind because we are suffering from climate change, there’s no doubt about it, and it is best for us to just observe some wise water use habits,” she said.

“In small ways, we can all contribute to just using the water we need and not wasting it. Within our homes, we need to start inculcating some of those habits where, whether we’re brushing our teeth, soaping in the shower or shaving, we remember to turn off the tap. Little things like if you’re thawing meat or peeling vegetables or fruit, you don’t have to do it under running water, you can use a bowl of water.

“There are small ways that we can all practice wise water use habits and we’re trying to do that not only this week, but we will continue spreading the word and sharing the messages as we go forward so that people keep water conservation top of mind. Water is life. It’s crucial that we do our best to use it wisely and not waste it so that we each can have some and our generations to come as well,” Harris-Griffith added.

Meanwhile, she said BWA continues its efforts to resolve water outages and discoloured water supply problems affecting some customers.

“Those works continue and the Authority will speak to those in short order,” she said. (DP)

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City of Bridgetown MP Corey Lane has disclosed that his constituents are set to secure 1 200 jobs and several other benefits when the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup comes to town in a few months.

The news on Friday came a week and a half after he publicly complained that he and his constituents had been left out of planning for the highly anticipated tournament.

“I’m excited about and I’m very happy now with the organisation of World Cup and their communication with the City of Bridgetown, I’m a very happy MP,” he said.

The declaration follows Lane’s meeting with the National Organising Committee for the June 1-29 tournament at Caribbean cricket’s famed mecca, Kensington Oval, in the heart of his constituency.

“Corey Alexander Lane JP, MP is a happy MP this morning as it relates to World Cup. I said a few weeks ago it was disappointing and the fact is I was disappointed…. But the fact of the matter is right after making those statements, the National Organising Committee reached out to me, had a number of meetings and I am happy that over 1 200 jobs will be provided for persons in the area,” he declared.

And that’s not all. Residents in Bridgetown and its environs will benefit from improved roads and signage. But Lane noted that while households would not benefit from upgrades to their houses as they did during the 2007  Cricket World, there are plans for a spruce-up competition that would see residents receiving supplies to make the improvements.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a presentation at the St Stephen’s Primary School this morning, Lane said the biggest score for the people of The City are several legacy projects that will continue beyond the mega sporting event.

“So, when the last ball is bowled at the finals, it doesn’t end there for the City of Bridgetown and all those that are in the environs. There’s a vendors’ village that will be established that we will work with the NCF [National Cultural Foundation] to have something . . . with the persons coming out of cruise ships, chipping down the road, where they chip down to the vendors’ area. There are going to be food courts,” he explained.

In addition, the City MP said, Pelican Village is to be transformed into a Fan Zone during the World Cup, which will remain and be expanded.

“It is said that it will rival Oistins when we are finished with it. So Oistins, watch out. We’ll be selling the fish, we’ll be selling craft. I had the honour of opening one of the grill and bars there and I can tell you down there is going to be a place to be when the Friday and Saturday nights come as well,” he said.

Lane however made clear that new projects would not displace current vendors in the area. He explained that more stalls would be erected at the location and the intention is to bring more foot traffic to vendors to boost their revenue.

“So we are talking about from  [the traffic lights] at Westbury, we talk about President Kennedy Drive, we talk about there by the beginning of the Mighty Grynner Highway. So it would be a walking zone and that’s what vendors like – foot traffic, because foot traffic brings the market.

“It’s just that a lot of the persons from The City, we’ve been able to negotiate that they’ll get some prime spots because, for goodness sake, you have to make sure that the persons  in the area benefit. So they get the front line, they get to have the first call for the stalls inside of Kensington as well,” he added.

However, Lane pointed out that this would be managed by the ICC which is slated to take over the operations at Kensington Oval from around next month.

“But the communication is through the National Organising Committee. They are making that representation so that they can get those types of things as well. So there’s no displacement, there’s just addition and enhancement,” he said.

Kensington Oval will host five preliminary matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, three Super 8 matches and the June 29 final.

sandydeane@barbadostoday.bb

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On World Water Day today, representatives of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Climate Resilience Wastewater Systems in Barbados (3R-CReWS) and Pinehill Dairy visited the Cuthbert Moore Primary School where they gave students some important lessons about water and the use and conservation of the precious resource. Here, students place stickers on new water tanks at the school.

(Photo by Haroon Greenidge)

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Crime scene manager Inspector Wayne Griffith testified in the murder trial of a mother and son, that when he saw the dead body of the accused woman’s common-law husband there was a knife in his hand.

The policeman said 44-year-old Gregory Adams was lying on his back in the yard of the woman’s home.

Shonette Vanessa Williams and Calvin Osbort Osbourne, both of Lower Bridge Gap, Cave Hill, St Michael are accused of killing Adams on October 18, 2020.

As the trial continued in the No. 4 Supreme Court, the police witness gave his findings of the crime scene, indicating that the incident began in the front bedroom of Williams’ residence and extended into the backyard.

He said there were blood stains on the bed, on the bedroom floor and mats, and on the washing machine in the yard. Blood droplets were seen along the floor of the home, along with pieces of a broken bottle. Griffith said there was also a cutlass on the ground near Adams’ body.

He said a wooden knife handle, a stainless steel knife blade and a white-handled knife in Adams’ hand were also taken from the scene.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC asked Griffith whether he observed any blood on the white-handled knife and he replied, “No”.

Referring to the picture taken of the knife in Adams’ hand, Seale asked, “Is it not a reasonable conclusion that a man with blood on his hand holding a white-handled knife, that that blood would be transferred?”

The police inspector replied in the affirmative.

During her cross-examination, defence attorney Sian Lange, who is representing Williams, asked Griffith whether he instructed anyone to carry out fingerprint analysis on the items recovered from the scene. He said he did not.

The officer admitted that while several swabs had been taken from the weapons, none had been analysed as the Forensics Lab was – and still is – closed.

“Would it not have been helpful for an analysis to be done on the white-handled knife to prove whether it had on blood or not?” she asked.

“Yes ma’am,” Inspector Griffith replied.

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