Residents of Vauxhall, Christ Church, are reeling after 43-year-old Rommell Cadell became the island’s eighth homicide victim this year in a fatal shooting early Wednesday morning.

Two other men were injured in the attack, which has sparked urgent calls for action against escalating gun crime in the typically peaceful district.

Cadell’s cousin, Julian Trotman, was shocked by the unexpected violence. He recounted hearing gunshots around 1:15 a.m., but didn’t see or hear any vehicles or commotion until one of the victims called for help.

He said: “This morning about 1:15/1:30 I heard about six shots, and I said the way how these sound they sound very close to me so when I made my checks, I didn’t see or hear any vehicle or any movement about the place or anything so, and after I came out, then I heard one of the guys saying, ‘somebody help me, I get hit. I get shoot in my back.’ The police were called and everything but I didn’t see any vehicles around, I didn’t hear any kind of movement, it was very quiet until I hear the shots ring out.”

Trotman, who last saw Cadell alive last weekend, said his relative was mouthy, but he was not an aggressive person.

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described Cadell as a fun-loving person and expressed deep concern about the rise of gun violence.

“I am very concerned about people with guns actually,” the resident said. “We haven’t had anything like this in a very long time about here, it is a shock to us and it is very devastating to the whole family. He was a very fun-loving person, he used to walk and talk to himself a little bit, but he was a fun loving person. Last time I saw him was Saturday night. This shocked me a whole lot.”

Deanzer Roberts, another Vauxhall resident, lamented the loss of Cadell’s warmth, kindness, and carefree spirit. She emphasised that Cadell was not a violent person and enjoyed socialising and sharing laughter with others.

“Today, we mourn Rommel Cadell—a friend, a neighbour, a gem. To know Rommel was to know warmth, kindness, and a deep love for life. He had a way of making people feel seen, calling me a queen and speaking with admiration. But above all, he had a love for his mother that was unwavering—he would do anything for her. That kind of love, that kind of devotion, is rare. Vauxhall will never be the same without him. His laughter, his energy, and his carefree spirit brought joy to all who knew him. Pin Head, as we called him, was never one to look for trouble. He would enjoy his drink, share a laugh, talk his talk, and walk away from anything else. He was not a man of violence—yet violence found him.”

Roberts condemned gun violence, highlighting its devastating impact on families and communities. She stressed the need for accountability and emphasised that every life lost to gun violence diminishes society as a whole.

She said: “Gun violence is not just a problem for those who pull the trigger or those who fall victim to it—it is a crisis that affects us all. It breeds fear, disrupts peace, and robs communities of their sense of security. Children are growing up witnessing senseless deaths, learning to expect tragedy instead of hope. This is not the future we want for them.

“We need stronger community programmes that provide support and guidance to those at risk of turning to violence. We need more intervention, education, and opportunities for young people to choose a different path. We need accountability for those who bring harm to our communities.

“Every time a life is lost, a piece of our society is lost with it. Every gunshot fired echoes through the hearts of families, through the walls of homes, and through the streets where children should be playing, not dodging bullets.” (SD)

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A student at Barbados Community College (BCC) is fighting for his life after being repeatedly stabbed on campus, prompting a lockdown and sparking concerns over security measures.

The incident, of a kind unprecedented in the campus’ history, has left the college community in shock and raised questions about safety protocols.

According to officials, the seriously injured male student, aged 19, was involved in an altercation with another male around 2:05 p.m.

Students told Barbados TODAY that the traumatising incident left many in shock as ear-piercing screams echoed throughout the main campus when “the motionless body” was seen lying on the ground.

In a press statement, police said the injured student was in a serious condition at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being transported by ambulance. He received several stab wounds to his torso.

The incident resulted in the suspension of all daytime classes at the Howells Cross Road, St Michael campus, and the school was on temporary lockdown to allow police to carry out investigations.

In a statement, the BCC said that a college nurse and a doctor from one of the nursing programmes responded to the injured student until the emergency medical technicians arrived at the scene.

One student said: “I was sitting down in class and heard everybody screaming. When I got up I saw a girl pulling away a boy. I saw that he was holding something. I said it was a fight but then I realised that the boy on the ground was not getting up. Someone said that the boy with the knife stabbed him until he dropped down and when he was on the ground he stabbed him some more. We didn’t know if he was still alive because he was on the ground real long.”

Another said: “This is absolute nonsense. With all the checking of bags and scanning they do when you come through the front gate how did they not see him? How did he get through the gate?”

The campus reopened to allow 5 p.m. evening classes to continue as scheduled and classes will resume on Thursday as usual.

The college said that it was in touch with the injured student’s mother and will continue to provide any support that is needed.

The college’s counsellors were also pressed into action, offering counselling services to the students and staff. That service will resume from Thursday.

Chairman of the school’s board, Dr  Allyson Leacock, said the incident was a saddening occasion and every effort was being made to ensure the campus was a safe environment.

“The college is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff,” she said. “The college is working very closely with the authorities and providing support to all those affected and has given the assurance that all measures are strengthened to address scenarios like this.

“Violence has no place in our community and the college will continue to take all necessary steps to reinforce a culture of respect, provide tools for managing and resolving conflict, and continually enhance our security at the college. On behalf of the board, I extend our thanks to the principal for her leadership in managing this situation and to her team, especially the student health nurse and the lecturing doctor on location for their swift intervention. Our collective support and action will make a positive difference at this time because both families and the entire BCC community will be impacted.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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A High Court judge has rejected an animal rights group’s bid for a judicial review of the sentence given to a man who admitted to abusing his dog.

Justice Patrick Wells on Wednesday ruled against the application filed by Be Their Voice Inc., saying the group “has no standing” in the case.

In 2022, Davino Shakell Howard was charged after a video of him allegedly drowning his dog, Sparky, at Pebbles Beach went viral on social media. The then 28-year-old admitted to charges of animal cruelty, failing to license a dog, and withholding information and he was sentenced to 12 months probation and mandated counselling.

Seeking a tougher penalty for Howard, Be Their Voice, represented by attorney-at-law Lalu Hanuman, filed a request for judicial review. However, speaking from the bench in the No. 10 Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Wells said the group had no grounds for the review, as it was not a party in the matter.

“What we have here is a group which was not the person before the court, a group that was not sentenced by the court, coming and saying ‘we want you to make a decision on the magistrate because we do not think the punishment was harsh enough’. That is not what a judicial review is about because I cannot disturb anything about the findings unless these were not supported by facts,” the judge said.

He further ruled that the group had no legal standing since the magistrate’s sentence did not impact them directly or indirectly.

“The only interests which arose were the interests of the accused person because they were being punished. The accused person got the punishment, took the punishment, did not appeal the punishment and went about their merry way. That does not concern the group which is now making this application because that sentence does not impact them. All it is, is that they disagree with the penalty which was applied. It is not because the case affects them directly or indirectly. It doesn’t!” the judge contended.

“The ruling of the court is that the application is dismissed. It has no standing. There are no legal requirements of the law.”

Awarding costs to the defendant, Justice Wells said the application “had no business before the court”.

“On the face of it, it is an application that is futile. That is the view of this court. Some other court may disagree and that is fine,” he said.

Earlier, in his submissions, Hanuman argued that animal maltreatment had economic implications for Barbados, citing letters from concerned tourists. However, he was unable to provide statistical evidence when requested by the judge.

Justice Wells stated, “If you are saying it has an economic impact on the country, I want you to demonstrate from the proper sources — the planning institute, the statistical institute, the Ministry of Finance, whichever other public interest group that deals with the economy —… that those actions by any court impact the economy. It is not about letters. Those cannot assist me. I want to hear about GDP [Gross Domestic Product] and GNP [Gross National Product].”

Hanuman replied, “We live in a tourist economy and these tourists are saying they are so appalled by the situation that they will not come back to Barbados because of the failure to implement protection legislation, so clearly there is an economic issue involved.”

However, the judge pressed the attorney to provide figures to support his argument.

“…Can you demonstrate through evidence to that court that action by the magistrate had, has or may have any impact on the economy of this country?” he queried.

Cautioning that allowing public interest groups to challenge court decisions in this manner could bog down the justice system, the judge added: “If every member of the public or public interest group who has a disagreeing view with the sentence or judgement of the court could come to the court to seek judicial review, this court will never have time to do anything else. It will be doing judicial reviews 24 hours a day. That cannot make any sense.”

He advised the group to pursue alternative avenues to get their message across, such as lobbying Parliament or picketing.

Speaking to the media outside the court minutes after the ruling, the head of the animal rights organisation, Lavern Beresford, expressed profound disappointment at the ruling.

“Now anybody can abuse animals, treat them however they want and they can go before the court and either they will get a lenient sentence or no sentencing at all, as what has happened in the last 17 to 18 years,” she lamented.

“We appealed it because it directly affects us and what we are trying to achieve. We advocate for fair treatment of animals, for a decent standard of living for all of them and that is just not the case in Barbados for numerous animals that continue to suffer on the island. So it is very disheartening that the matter has been dismissed after every effort has been made to have it reviewed.”

She added that the group had reached out “years ago” to several parliamentarians, who had pledged their support to the cause. However, she said these were all “broken promises”.

“We have met with them and continued to appeal to them. We have even offered to collaborate with them in terms of assisting with resources in setting up departments where we can get persons to go out in the community and help, and we have gotten almost no reaction from the government,” Beresford charged.

“We honestly feel as though animal welfare is not a priority in this island, and we don’t know why. It adversely affects tourism; it adversely affects communities and private citizens who are finding dogs and cats abandoned around this country like garbage….This is one of the reasons why we have so much crime in society. How do we expect to even care about each other if we cannot protect animals?”

As for the group’s next step, Hanuman told the media that he would be encouraging his client to appeal the ruling.

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb

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Business Barbados is officially in operation, marking a major development in the island’s efforts to streamline business facilitation and improve its international competitiveness, Minister of Energy and Business Development, Senator Lisa Cummins has announced.

The new entity, which took effect last Saturday, replaces the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO) and is tasked with modernising Barbados’ business registration and regulatory processes.

“This is about taking fresh guard,” said Minister Cummins during a debate in the Senate on Wednesday.

“We’re marking a line in the sand, covering it over in cement, and starting fresh. This is not just about rebranding; it is about ensuring that Barbados delivers on its business-friendly promise.”

The transition comes after longstanding complaints from the business community about delays and inefficiencies within CAIPO.

Located in StoneHaven, St Philip, Business Barbados is expected to address those concerns with a more streamlined approach, starting with the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and service level agreements (SLAs) for key processes.

“One of the first priorities for Business Barbados in this first quarter is to set clear operating procedures and agreements with our main private sector partners,” Cummins shared.

“That includes accountants, bankers, and legal professionals. We need to break down antiquated processes and make them easier to navigate while still meeting compliance requirements.”

She further stressed that business facilitation is not solely a government responsibility, urging all stakeholders including public and private sectors to play their part.

“The business of doing business is all our business,” Cummins said

“It’s not just about government efficiency; it’s about accountants ensuring financial statements are prepared on time, about banks reducing the time it takes to open an account, and about legal professionals speeding up the completion of transactions.”

As part of its operational restructuring, Business Barbados will also focus on digitising services and improving customer experience.

“We are implementing a customer-facing, customer-experience-oriented approach,” Cummins noted.

“It will take time, but we are committed to this cultural shift.”

She told the Chamber that the first board meeting of Business Barbados was held on Monday, with directors spending hours outlining their strategic priorities.

The minister has also issued “marching orders” to ensure tangible changes are visible in the coming months.

With Business Barbados now in place, the government is calling for patience and cooperation as it works to improve business facilitation and efficiency.

“This will not be an overnight fix,” Cummins said.

“But with all hands on deck, we can ensure that when we market Barbados as a great place to do business, we actually deliver on that brand promise.”

The post Open for business appeared first on Barbados Today.

Barbados is moving to significantly enhance its appeal as an international business hub by broadening its foreign currency permit regime to include shipping companies and implementing key amendments aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency., the business development minister has told the Senate.

The development comes amid a steady rise in permit holders since the programme’s launch in 2019.

As the Upper House took up the Foreign Currency Permits Bill, Minister of Energy and Business Development, Senator Lisa Cummins, noted the regime’s progress over the last five years.

“When this regime started in 2019, Barbados had 586 new entities applying for a foreign currency permit,” she said.

“By 2020, we saw 264 new applications and 449 renewals, bringing the total to 713 active permit holders. By 2021, there were 1 892 new permit holders and 585 renewals, pushing the total up to 2 477.”

The trend continued in 2022 with 259 new permits and 2 093 renewals, bringing the total to 2 352.

In 2023, there were 288 new applications and 2 262 renewals, reaching 2 550 active permit holders. As of 2024, 314 new businesses have entered the regime, with 2 151 renewals, bringing the total to 2 465.

Senator Cummins noted expectations for further growth this year, with the latest legislative changes, particularly the inclusion of shipping companies, which were previously excluded from the framework.

“Shipping companies, in particular, were not included in the original legislation. That is now being corrected,” she said.

“The definition of ‘company’ will now include a shipping corporation within the meaning of the Shipping Corporations Act.”

The amendments also introduce more structured oversight, requiring the director of the Foreign Currency Permit regime to provide written reasons when permits are denied, cancelled, or not renewed.

Businesses operating under the permit will also now receive customs exemptions on necessary equipment and machinery, a provision aimed at removing bureaucratic delays.

“This ensures that businesses aren’t left waiting for waivers from the Ministry of Finance while their goods sit idle in customs,” Sen. Cummins said.

The minister further revealed that the government is also focusing on broader global business strategies, with the ministry preparing to negotiate bilateral investment treaties and double taxation agreements with Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, and another “soon-to-be-announced” fourth country.

She noted that the government is not only expanding the regime but also making it attractive for international businesses looking to establish operations in Barbados.

“The expectation from my ministry is that we will see an increase in the foreign currency permit regime for the year 2025,” Senator Cummins said, adding that the amendments are part of a broader effort to strengthen Barbados’ standing as a global business hub. (SM)

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Barbadians could see a modest increase in poultry prices as the industry grapples with supply chain disruptions and rising production costs.

The Barbados Egg and Poultry Producers Association (BEPPA) has warned that while efforts are being made to keep chicken and eggs affordable, consumers may face price hikes of up to one dollar in the coming months.

On Wednesday, top officials gave assurances that all was being done to ensure the average consumer could afford chicken and eggs, indicating that while some of the production costs will be passed on to consumers, the price would not increase by more than one dollar.

In a move to avoid a shortage of chicken, the island’s main hatchery had to source fertile hatching eggs from a new supplier.

Last month, Barry Gale, managing director of Gale’s Agro Products, said he had to increase the price of chicks in March because he could no longer source eggs from his traditional supplier in the United States due to an avian influenza outbreak in the state of Georgia. He explained that while the farm that supplies him with eggs was not affected, as a precautionary measure that particular farming zone in Georgia was on lockdown, prohibiting any poultry products from leaving that area.

It remains unclear when that zone will reopen.

Gale said he therefore had to ship eggs from Europe at a cost of about 10 per cent more than usual that will be passed on to his clientele.

BEPPA board member Amir Juman, the executive director of Fasons Food Inc. (Amir’s Chicken), told Barbados TODAY that some players, especially small farmers, could not absorb all the costs and the increase was only to cover the additional overheads.

“We are going to increase from April,” he said “The increase is not major, it is going to be in the cents region and we are just charging additional because of what is happening, that is all. We are not collecting for ourselves, we are not collecting to make the company more profitable; it is just to pay our bills.

“Right now the industry is facing the same costs and consumers have to realise that we are all part of an economical system, every industry supports another industry and every job supports another job.”

Juman added that small farmers will definitely not be able to absorb a 10 per cent increase in production costs and will increase their prices. He explained, however, that his decision to slightly carry up his prices was a way to protect small businesses.

He said that if the bigger players absorbed the price increase and kept the current price intact, small farmers would experience a sharp and drastic dip in sales as demand would rise for cheaper prices.

His decision, he said, would help to level the playing field.

When contacted, the island’s largest poultry supplier, Chickmont, said they were not going to increase prices for now.

“Right now we don’t have any plans to increase the price but that is not to say that that cannot change,” said Chickmont Foods chairman Peter Defreitas.

Immediate past president of BEPPA Steven Layne said there would be a board meeting next week and a later members meeting to discuss the issues arising in the sector.

Layne also highlighted that there was a possibility that poultry prices could even go up further because of the expected rise in the cost of grain on the international market. He said officials were closely monitoring the situation but all indicators suggested that the price of grain would go up and that would have a significant impact on the cost of local feed.

“We will do all that we can to ensure Barbadians can afford chicken. We are meeting to discuss these challenges with the Minister of Agriculture and we will determine if an increase will be necessary,” Layne said. (SZB)

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A Westbury Primary School pupil who was knocked down by a car on President Kennedy Drive, in an incident that was captured in a viral surveillance video, has been discharged from hospital, prompting his mother to appeal for urgent action on dangerous driving in their St Michael neighbourhood.

As the child was recovering at home with his family, mother Natasha Martindale, spoke with Barbados TODAY, expressing both relief and concern over the ordeal.

“He is still in aches and pains – the head, the back, the feet – but otherwise he is eating, drinking, still a little nauseous but I am glad he got life. I will be okay to know that he [is okay], but it’s still a little traumatising for me. It’s not easy,” she said.

She noted that the support from friends and wider Barbados has been comforting.

She said: “I have a few people that are checking in constantly, they would pass as long as they know where I am and check in on him, both checking in on him and me and the others to see how we are doing. It’s nice.”

Though she admitted she had no animosity towards the driver involved in the accident, she raised concerns about dangerous driving that has become commonplace in and around their St Michael neighbourhood.

“The gap where we actually live I… call it Bushy Park in St Michael because the drivers when they hit the corner, that is the end of it. Don’t mind that they have three corners in we gap and the neighbourhood is filled with kids, you have to cuss [the drivers] sometimes. You have to holler at them; they know the kids in the kids in the neighbourhood, some of the gaps the children actually play in the road, but the drivers sometimes do not care.”

She expressed hope that in light of the accident, something would be done to deal with the problem.

“I spoke to a few people, they are working on it, so I hope that MTW [Ministry of Transport and Works] get it done soon, because most of the kids that use the front road actually live in the neighbourhood. So I hope they [do] something soon, so that the parents and stuff would feel a little safer,” she said.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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In a bold stance, Senator Dr Crystal Haynes has voiced strong opposition to the government’s proposal to relinquish control of the historic Holetown Civic Centre in St James to a private tourism operator.

In the Upper House on Wednesday she called for the land to remain publicly accessible, highlighting concerns over heritage preservation and the environmental impact on the already highly congested Holetown area.

While noting to other senators that she struggled with her feelings on the matter, she emphasised the importance of protecting Barbados’ historical and cultural sites, pointing to recent efforts at Newton Burial Ground and Golden Square as examples of the government’s previous promises of commitment to the island’s heritage. But she argued that Holetown’s story, which includes the presence of Amerindian communities before English settlement, deserves better recognition and protection.

“We have spoken a lot about heritage, we are actively building out at Newton Burial Ground, we have done some works at Golden Square so that people can better understand the story of what has happened there. Right now there is a single obelisk standing in commemoration of the landing; I think we can do more to tell the story of the site,” she explained. “Not just of English settlement, but the story of an Amerindian community who were here before all of us.

“I understand that there is tremendous economic value for any beachfront in Holetown, but can we save some of it for us? Even if we don’t keep the police station there, my personal view is that this should always be public accessible land. Ideally I would see a green space.”

Haynes also questioned the continued stance by successive administrations of continuing to build large-scale hotels and other tourism properties in the already congested area.

She said: “We’ve heard the cases being made about traffic congestion in the area…I don’t know if having a nine-storey hotel on one side of the canal and a seven-storey hotel on the other side of the canal will alleviate traffic congestion, it’s already a mess let’s be honest. We have not heard about environmental impact, the west coast is not sewered [so] when we are adding additional hotel rooms, how is this going to affect the coast? In terms of beach access, other than Batts Rock, and Folkestone, I can’t tell you a facility where I can part, have a sea bath, turn around and shower, pack my bags and leave comfortably.

“Coastal development along the west coast since the 1950s has allowed wealthy, usually foreign developers, to come and build wall to wall. We have no view, and if you want to get on the beach we are squeezing between a couple walls,” the senator stated.

The senator also challenged the narrative that increased tourism investment guarantees quality employment for Barbadians, referencing concerns raised by the Barbados Workers’ Union that in addition to many hotel workers only being hired seasonally, some luxury hotel room attendants are not earning enough for the level of service they provide.

“I cannot sit here and be a part of something where I feel like we are perpetuating the problem. We need to be very clear on what the guardrails are for these developers. Tourism is notoriously extractive, we know that,” she said. “We heard about job creation but then still we heard the [Barbados] Workers Union overwhelmingly telling us that there are challenges with regards to the treatment of hotel workers.

“A lot of them are only being hired on a part-time basis [in the winter season], being sent home during the summer months [and] what we know is that the average room attendant in a luxury [hotel] is taking home $447 a week. So when we talk about job creation, we need to talk about the quality of the jobs that we are creating.”

She added: “What I would like to see in this new Barbados and in this new republic, let’s start having a conversation about Barbadian ownership. How do we get a piece of the pie, how do we participate?”

In taking somewhat of a supportive stance with his fellow senator, Reverend Charles Morris urged Barbadians to take greater ownership of their history, rather than simply seeking to tear down old structures.

“I feel a certain way, maybe not to the extent of Senator Haynes, but I am asking us that we take our heritage into consideration,” the Anglican cleric said. “Maybe what we need rather of tearing down buildings, tearing down statues, we need some of the parents to go with our children and say ‘this is beach, this is what happened’, and then they can be able to say to our children like the Israelites said to their children: ‘Lest you forget.’ (SB)

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Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Jonathan Drakes recorded centuries as Barbados Pride dominated day one of their second round game in the West Indies Championship against West Indies Academy on Wednesday.

Playing under lights in the “pink-ball” contest at Kensington Oval, veteran Brathwaite struck an unbeaten 143 to mark his 33rd first class hundred while Drakes, 30, hit 117 – his second century at this level – the pair propelling the hosts to 354 for three at the close.

The 32-year-old Brathwaite, who missed the opening round due to Test commitments in Pakistan, faced 241 balls and struck 14 boundaries in a chanceless innings which spanned nearly six-and-a-quarter hours.

Drakes, meanwhile, counted 14 fours and four sixes in a knock which lasted 176 deliveries and consumed just over three-and-a-half hours.

Coming together in the opening session after the fall of opener Zachary McCaskie for 49, Brathwaite and Drakes put on 228 for the second wicket before being separated in the final session.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Pride were handed a strong start by Brathwaite and McCaskie, the pair posting 96 for the first wicket with relative ease.

The 28-year-old right-handed McCaskie faced 66 balls and struck five fours and a six, and appeared set for an eighth first class fifty when he missed a sweep at left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop and was lbw.

Brathwaite and Drakes then carried the hosts to the break on 114 without further loss before dominating the second session by adding 154 runs, as Pride reached the second interval on 270 for one.

Unbeaten on 47 at the first break, Brathwaite notched three figures during the second session with a sharp single to cover off Bishop, to be 119 not out at the start of the final session.

Drakes, unbeaten on nine and 84 at the previous intervals, enjoyed a stroke of luck in his 90s when he was put down by wicketkeeper Carlon Bowen-Tuckett. However, he recovered well to reach his landmark in style in the seventh over after the resumption from the dinner break, with a sweetly timed cover drive for four off pacer Jediah Blades.

He eventually fell when he got a leading edge back to fast bowler Johann Blades and Kevin Wickham followed cheaply for nine, playing on to speedster McKenny Clarke.

(ZM/BT)

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After a 40-year wait, residents of Cottage Vale, St Philip, will finally see their dilapidated cartroad transformed into a durable, wider, smooth, roller-compacted, concrete thoroughfare with improved drainage.

The project, funded by CAF – the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, began on Wednesday and is expected to be completed within four months.

Acting prime minister and minister of transport and works, Santia Bradshaw, along with St Philip West MP Kay McConney and MTW officials, visited the site on Tuesday. Bradshaw acknowledged the community’s 40-year wait for the upgrade and stated that the work is expected to be completed in four months.

“It’s been over 40 years that the residents up here have been promised by successive administrations that this particular stretch of road, which services several people in the community, would have been upgraded… So, the Cottage Vale Community can expect within the coming few months, I think four months, the full rehabilitation of this particular stretch of road. For the most part, it really isn’t a road, but a pathway through which the residents traverse to be able to get onto the main road. In addition, we’re going to be upgrading the drainage [and] will also be moving some of the utilities to accommodate the new width of the road,” she said.

The road will be constructed using roller-compacted concrete (RCC) by Rock Hard Cement under MTW’s CAF programme. This method, although more expensive than asphalt, has been successfully used by MTW since 2024 and is expected to be more durable and withstand heavy rainfall and flooding, officials said.

MTW’s project management consultant Craig Archer, from Stonebridge Construction Inc, detailed the scope of the work. The 800-metre road will be excavated, widened to 4.8 metres, and resurfaced with RCC. The project will also include new kerbs, wells and drainage infrastructure.

MP McConney expressed her delight that the project was finally underway, highlighting the difficulties residents have faced for decades due to the road’s poor condition. She cautioned residents about potential disruptions during construction but asked for their patience and cooperation.

“It’s been close to 40 years that this road has not received any kind of attention… We have persons with disabilities…, we have persons who would tell us that the taxis when they came home late from work at night, would drop them at the top of the gap because the taxis refused to come down here at night because of the conditions of the roads. We have people who carry two sets of shoes because when it rains, this entire area, where we are standing going towards the west, floods…. “And so, whether it’s for the safety…, whether it is simply for access because a number of residents have not had the right kind of access, as well as for us being able to take care of the people here…, we are now able to do better by the people of Cottage Vale.”

Fabian Vaughan, a resident and advocate for Cottage Vale, lamented that the road’s condition had caused people to move away from the district. He expressed his happiness that work was starting and looked forward to the positive impact the new road would have on the community.

The roadworks come two years after the residents issued a petition with hundreds of signatures reiterating their longstanding call for a proper road in the community that lies due west of Webb Hill.

(BT/MTW)

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Cargo operations at the Bridgetown Port appear to be back on track, following acute delivery delays on Tuesday that enraged private truckers and business owners.

Unlike on Tuesday when container trucks were backed up outside the main gates waiting for as long as seven hours to access containers for delivery, not a single vehicle was in sight today when a Barbados TODAY team visited the scene.

Port officials reported the situation was back to normal. But one of the island’s leading trucking and lifting companies wasn’t convinced.

“Cargo operations at the Port of Bridgetown have normalised with a steady flow of trucks in and out the gates. As at 4.30 p.m., today February 5, 2025, Barbados Port Inc. recorded 136 truck visits into the port. Already 123 trucks had departed the port with containerised cargo,” management officials said in a statement prepared for Barbados TODAY on Wednesday.

The officials also gave an assurance that container deliveries will continue through to 11 o’clock on Wednesday night.

“The Port of Bridgetown,” they disclosed, “discharged 1 240 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from vessels between Sunday and today.”

Stating that two freighters are currently in port, management rejected claims by some frustrated truck drivers on Tuesday of a shortage of equipment and labour.

But Hinds Transport Services Limited – one of the trucking and lifting companies hardest hit by the delay – is not buying the port authorities’ statement that things are back to normal.

“Well, they haven’t gone back to normal,” managing director Dave Hinds told Barbados TODAY. “Things have improved. We got good service today, but today is not normal; what happened today is not normal. What happened today is definitely not normal, but we got good service today, we got very good service today.

Hinds said he was waiting to see what happens on Thursday, pointing out that while there was good service in the morning, things slowed during the afternoon.

The port announced in a statement on Tuesday that its prioritisation of cruise ships had led to the cargo delivery delays, a situation which private truckers and business owners complained was causing them to face mounting financial losses.

The issue had also prompted calls for urgent government intervention, as distraught drivers reported waiting up to seven hours for a single container.

While acknowledging that cargo delivery would be delayed on Tuesday, port managers explained that their efforts have had to be focused on handling the influx of cruise ships docking at the harbour.

But the truck drivers contended that the issue has been ongoing for some time now, and called on either Prime Minister Mia Mottley or Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw to step in and help resolve an issue that is costing their businesses dearly in extra charges.

“It’s ridiculous,” declared a trucker parked outside the port on Tuesday. “This is something that has been going on since last year, since tourist season started. It is ridiculous. You have all this equipment, and you telling you short of drivers. It is not good enough. You supplying the tourist ships with containers; but when it comes to the outside truckers to deliver their goods to the customers, we can’t get containers.”

“Sometimes,” another driver claimed, “you got a lot of machines in there, sometimes you don’t have any labour…sometimes you don’t have any men to work them…this is unacceptable.”

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), the bargaining agent for port employees, said the situation is not an industrial relations issue.

“Since this matter falls within their [port] operational remit, we will allow the port to address it accordingly,” BWU Communications and Information Manager Cheyne Jones told Barbados TODAY on Tuesday.

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Opposition Senator Ryan Walters has raised an alarm over tourism’s diminishing contribution to Barbados’ GDP, despite an increase in long-stay visitor arrivals.

In the Senate, he urged the government to take a more strategic approach to maximising the economic benefits of the tourism industry and foreign investment.

Senator Walters referenced the statistics reported in the recent Central Bank’s Q4 Report of 2024 and noted that while 2024 recorded higher long-stay visitor arrivals than 2019, 2018, and 2017, a positive sign for the industry, the economic return per visitor has fallen significantly during the same period.

He said: “There were more long-stay visitors in 2024 than there were in 2019, 2018, 2017, and that is a good sign for the country and we need to continue to make every effort to make sure that we attract tourists to our country. But when you look at the contribution to the GDP of tourism, that is where you start to get a little headache. Although you are seeing an increase in the number of stay-over passengers to the country, you are actually seeing a decline in the contribution to the GDP of tourism.

“When you do a correlation between the two, it tells you that the contribution from a long-stay visitor has moved from $141.34 in 2019, down to $90.91 in 2024. That is a decline of 29 per cent in terms of a long-stay visitor’s contribution to GDP in tourism.”

Senator Walters also cautioned against placing too much pressure on a single sector to drive foreign exchange earnings while failing to address key inefficiencies in others.

He said: “We can’t just be overworking one department, one ministry, one area of focus, trying to close the gap on our foreign exchange deficit, and then on the other hand not we are not paying enough attention on some of these details that have the ability to contribute significantly to our ability to earn foreign exchange, retain foreign exchange, or not spend foreign exchange.”

He also pleaded with the administration to focus more on foreign direct investment (FDI), given the stagnating numbers seen within the sector over the past six years.

“In 2018, direct foreign investment was $464.8 million, in 2019 that fell 19 per cent to $375.3 million BDS – In 2019 the Barbados Labour Party had one full year of governance,” said Senator Walters. “In 2021 that amount [was] $417.8 million, in 2023 it was $449.8 million, all below the amounts in 2018, [before their] coming to office.”

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Jerome Omar Waterman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to 20 theft, criminal deception, and forgery offences over a three-year period.

Standing in the dock of the No. 5 Supreme Court before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles, the resident of 3rd Avenue Bannisters Land, Martindale Road, St Michael, admitted to the crimes, which occurred between June 2017 and June 2020.

He forged multiple cheques, using them to fraudulently obtain cash, shoes, and car parts.

The charges include:

• On June 19, 2017, he forged and uttered a bill of exchange purporting to be an RBC Limited cheque made payable to Ryan Ray Clark in the sum of $1 100 with intent to defraud Fusionz Boutique, knowing the same to be forged and; that he obtained one pair of shoes valued $220 and $880 in cash from Fusionz Boutique by virtue of a forged RBC Limited cheque made payable to Clark in the sum of $1 100; that on December 23, 2017, he forged and uttered a bill of exchange purporting to be a RBC Limited cheque made payable to Bruce Holder in the sum of $1 200 with intent to defraud Fusionz Boutique, knowing the same to be forged and; that he endeavoured to obtain one pair of shoes valued $220, three pairs of slippers valued at $225 and $775 in cash from Fusionz Boutique by virtue of a forged RBC Limited cheque made payable to Holder in the sum of $1 200.
• On that same day, not being in his place of abode, he had with him a Barbados identification card bearing the name of Bruce Holder — an article for use in the course of or in connection with theft, and that he attempted to dishonestly obtain from Fusionz Boutique a pair of shoes, three pairs of slippers and $755 in cash by virtue of a forged instrument purporting to be a RBC Royal Bank of Canada cheque payable to Holder for the sum of $1 200, knowing the same to be forged.
• On May 28, 2018, with intent to defraud, uttered a certain forged bill of exchange to  Welches Road Post Office, purporting to be a CIBC First Caribbean International Bank Limited cheque payable to Omar Alex Harris in the sum of $ 1 436.66 drawn on the account of the National Insurance Benefit Payment Scheme, knowing the same to be forged, and endeavoured to obtain the same sum from the post office by a forged instrument.
• On October 21, 2017,  with intent to defraud he forged and uttered bills of exchange purporting to be RBC Limited cheques made payable to Nassco Limited in the sum of $2 494.20 and $1 503.83, knowing the same to be forged; that he obtained from car parts in the value of $2 494.20 and $1 503.83 by virtue of forged RBC Bank cheques, knowing the same to be forged; that he dishonestly obtained the car parts by uttering the forged bills of exchange, which he presented as good and valid for the payment of the sum.
• On June 30, 2020, he stole two weed whackers, two chain saws, and one welder, worth $11 542, belonging to Williams Equipment Limited.
• On June 10, 2020, he stole two weed whackers, two pressure washers and one chain saw, valued at $11 543.78.

Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde prosecuted the case, while Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens represented Waterman.

The case has been adjourned until February 26, when the court will hear the details of each charge.

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 Police are investigating the unnatural death of 70-year-old Lawrence Busette, whose body was discovered at his Whitehall Main Road residence around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.  A doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.

The police are asking anyone with information to contact the District ‘A’ Police Station at 430-7242 or 430-7256, Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, or the nearest Police Station.

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On the eve of the 48th anniversary of the Holetown Festival, Senators were on the floor of Parliament Wednesday explaining the heritage value of that historic location.

They were highly vocal about the preservation of the heritage site. Of importance too, was the fact that the festival, which has been staged for nearly half a century, needs a lifeline as the number of participants and patrons have fallen off over the years. The festival was started in 1977 to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the first English settlement.

Government Senator Dr. Crystal Haynes voiced strong opposition to her administrations’ proposal to relinquish control of the historic Holetown Civic Centre in St. James to a private tourism operator. She called for the land to remain publicly accessible, highlighting concerns over heritage preservation.

“We have spoken a lot about heritage; we are actively building out at Newton Burial Ground, we have done some works at Golden Square so that people can better understand the story of what has happened there. Right now, there is a single obelisk standing in commemoration of the landing; I think we can do more to tell the story of the site,” she explained.

Senator Charles Morris also lent his voice to the conversation, urging Barbadians to take greater ownership of their history rather than simply seeking to tear down old structures.

“Maybe what we need rather than tearing down buildings, tearing down statues, is for some of the parents to go with our children and say, ‘this is the beach, this is what happened,’ and then they can be able to say to our children like the Israelites said to their children: ‘Lest you forget.'”

This sentiment echoes the grandeur of the Holetown Festival in years past. The opening event is always staged by the historic monument. A look back to previous festivals paints a picture of a vibrant and thriving event that attracted crowds from across the island and beyond. The streets teemed with activity as food stalls overflowed with Bajan delicacies, while cultural performances filled the air with the sounds of folk and classical music.

The parade, led by the Mounted Branch of the Royal Barbados Police Force and featuring vintage cars, pageant queens, and steel bands, was a spectacle of national pride. The festival was once the crown jewel of Barbadian heritage celebrations on the West Coast.

Today, it is but a shadow of its former self, languishing in neglect and disinterest.

Opposition Senator Ryan Walters also highlighted the historical site while lamenting the lack of support and attention to the Holetown Festival.

“If we look at Holetown itself, Holetown is significant to the heritage of Barbados, as it was the place where the first settlers landed. The historic Holetown Monument is erected in the area of the Civic Centre. So, is that going to be demolished when the construction for the hotel is started?” Walters asked.

He further pointed out the glaring discrepancy in the allocation of resources between government-backed events like the We Gatherin’ initiative and the Holetown Festival.

We have something called the Holetown Festival, which actually starts this weekend. But we’ve not heard a song or dance about the Holetown Festival, like we have been hearing about the We Gatherin’ in St. Peter.”

His critique did not stop there.

“We are leaving out these traditional heritage events that we came along celebrating and that should not be pushed aside. I think that we have to still hold on to some of those things that we cherish. When, as a boy, I used to catch long bus rides to Holetown Festival, there used to be a pageant. I don’t think the pageant has been held since 2018. And that is significant in terms of young ladies engaging in wholesome and productive activities. Hairdressers, local designers, they all benefited. We cannot let these things fade away,” the senator said.

Ironically, the Government too has admitted that the festival is declining and needs a much-needed leg up. However, despite repeated promises nothing has been done to revitalise the festival.

In 2019, while speaking at the opening of the festival, then Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds, boldly declared that Holetown Festival was in line for a “government-led rejuvenation plan”.
“As we refresh, reimagine, and rethink Holetown, it must encompass more people who reflect the average Barbadian person,” Symmonds proclaimed.

He spoke grandly of placing the technical expertise of the Barbados Tourism Authority at the disposal of the festival committee and providing financial assistance from the state.

“You have been tested and tried and placed in the balance and have not been found wanting. Forty years is a long time, and you cannot be allowed to fail,” he said then.
But what has changed? Where are the funds? Where is the technical expertise? Where is the commitment to preserving a festival that has served as the heartbeat of Holetown for nearly five decades?

We cannot fail these cultural events that define us as a people. We cannot pour money into grandiose projects while ignoring the very fabric of our heritage. The Holetown Festival, once a proud celebration of Barbadian history, is now an afterthought, seemingly left to wither.

Holetown Festival deserves the prominence and support equal to the historic significance of the location it commemorates. It deserves better than mere lip service to heritage but active investments in its survival and growth.

To let this festival die would be an unforgivable betrayal of our history. We must act now before it is too late.

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A leading economist has cautioned that despite significant progress in reducing its total public debt, Barbados’ increasing external borrowing could jeopardise the country’s financial stability. 

This warning comes as the Central Bank reports a fall in the debt-to-GDP ratio, highlighting the complex nature of the island nation’s economic recovery.

The Central Bank of Barbados’ latest economic review notes that the debt-to-GDP ratio “remains sustainable on [a] downward trajectory” showing a fall to 115.5 per cent, from 120.3 per cent in 2022, “in tandem with the rise in economic activity”.

But University of the West Indies professor Don Marshall warns that despite the drop in domestic debt, external debt continues to mount, which, according to him, could limit the government’s financial flexibility.

“We need to be clear about Barbados’ debt profile ahead of the double-speak of politicians and social media influencers,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“Total public debt has declined since 2018 following a restructuring of Barbados’ public debt. It is now at 115.5 per cent of GDP (2023), down from a record high of 150.5 per cent in 2016. The country’s external public debt amounted to 43.2 per cent of GDP in 2023, up from a record low of 26.9 per cent in 2017.”

According to Professor Marshall, the numbers show that while the government has reduced what it owes locally, it has had to borrow more in foreign currency, which brings new risks.

“Next time you hear a news report or spokesperson speaking about Barbados’ debt sustainability, ask after its profile,” he said.

“Note what we owe in Barbados dollars is going down. Note what we owe in foreign dollars is going up. We are an island mainly reliant on one foreign exchange-earning sector.”

Professor Marshall stressed that not all foreign borrowing is equal, and some loans come with more severe repayment conditions than others.

“Some of the foreign loans we have undertaken feature patient, long-term repayment arrangements,” he said. “These are manageable. Then there are others with almost immediate repayment terms on the interest. The latter debt arrangements are the ones that should be of utmost concern.”

“Worse, these too come with conditionalities that put limits on how we shape our public policy.”

Professor Marshall noted that he has long argued that the conditions attached to IMF lending have tied the government’s hands when it comes to economic transformation.

“I am on record saying that the conditional lending and development relationship forged with the IMF are inimical to a determined effort to change tack in the direction of pursuing a deliberate industrial policy,” he said.

“For the deals we have made to effect fiscal discipline and ensure annual fiscal surpluses, we are constrained to engage in the kinds of state spending to oversee the growth of other economic sectors.”

He believes that Barbados’ economic policy is still shaped by its financial obligations rather than a bold vision for development, stating: “The debt-to-GDP downwards movement masks the rise in the country’s external debt position.

“The stock of foreign exchange reserves is largely borrowed. This is to be expected as ours remains a country that is import-driven and in the grips of several intra-elite fractions whose horizons and investment choices are commercially oriented and not export- or production-driven.”

The economist said that the country cannot rely on finance-sector-led growth alone and must push for a more industrial-based economy that is less reliant on external borrowing and IMF agreements.

“Where the governor [of the Central Bank] and I may differ is how we go about building resilience and inclusive, sustainable growth.

“With the effects of COVID-19 receding in the background, we ought to craft policies that push past holding the tiller firm,” Professor Marshall said, reiterating that without a shift in policy, Barbados could find itself even more dependent on foreign creditors, limiting its ability to make independent economic decisions. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb

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More Jamaicans than Barbadians are now applying for the CARICOM Skilled National Certificate, a shift that has prompted the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC) to encourage citizens to take greater advantage of the programme.

Executive Director Lisa Gale is urging Barbadians not to overlook the certification, noting that it offers benefits beyond just regional work and travel.

“We want to make a call to Barbadian nationals. Do not see this as a nondescript or a non-thing,” she said.

“You don’t have to use it for travelling. It is something that can benefit you even for your employers or a change of employment. The person may want to see: ‘Oh, that person is a skilled national. This person has the national certificate from the Barbadian Accreditation Council.”

She told reporters that the skilled national certificate programme, which started in 2004, was initially dominated by Barbadian applicants.

But Gale noted that applications from locals have declined over the years.

“For the first ten years or so, we had predominantly Barbadian nationals,” she said.

“Then, over a three- to four-year period leading up to 2019, we saw more Guyanese applying. By 2021, after a slight dip during COVID, Jamaicans became the largest group of applicants.”

While the certificate is commonly associated with regional mobility, Gale suggested that Barbadians should consider it valuable even if they do not plan to migrate.

Noting that the certification can still provide a professional advantage locally, she underscored a need for more sensitisation.

She said: “Every time we’ve had information sessions, we’ve seen a number of those persons we targeted coming forward to apply. So essentially, all we have to do is to have another information session.” 

The BAC has already planned several sessions for the year, targeting different sectors and groups to boost awareness and participation.

Gale also highlighted a difference in how Barbadians and non-nationals use the skilled national certificate, stating: “Barbadians usually apply under the graduate category, whereas non-nationals apply under artisan, household, domestic, or security worker.

“Many Barbadians in these fields find work in Barbados without needing the certificate, so they don’t see the urgency in applying.”

Despite this, Gale is encouraging more Barbadians to recognise the certificate’s value, whether for career advancement, employment changes, or future opportunities.

“We want more Barbadians to take advantage of this opportunity. There are 12 categories for skilled nationals, and discussions are underway to expand it further,” she said, further urging nationals to learn more about the skilled national certificate and how it can benefit them. 

(SM)

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A man perished following a road accident that occurred along Paradise Road, St George that occurred around 2:40 this morning.
According to police, the man who was driving towards Applewaites attempted to overtake another vehicle but lost control, resulting in him being ejected from the vehicle.
Ambulance personnel summoned to the scene found no signs of life. A medical doctor later confirmed the death.
Passengers in the van were injured and transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance.
Police are continuing investigations.

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Government officials are urgently developing a comprehensive plan to enhance road safety along President Kennedy Drive, following a horrific accident involving a six-year-old schoolboy earlier this week, the area MP has said. 

The incident has sparked renewed debate about traffic management in school zones.

MP for St Michael West Chris Gibbs told Barbados TODAY on Thursday that after talks with the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), a plan was being developed to ensure the busy roadway was safer as it was within a school district.

“In having a conversation with MTW and specifically the CTO [chief technical officer], we’ve agreed that we’re going to look at a plan for that area, maybe designating it as a school zone, putting up some signage and also having a zebra crossing maybe in the middle where a lot of that activity happens and hopefully, with this plan in place, we don’t see this thing happen ever again. We minimize the risk of it because this road is very busy and you know we all see the container trucks come across at lightning speed sometimes, so we all just need to slow down, be aware, be careful as drivers,” he said.

Recovering Dakari Edwin with mom Natasha Martindale.

On Monday, six-year-old Dakari Edwin was seriously injured after being knocked down by a vehicle on President Kennedy Drive. Security footage from a nearby building, now circulating on social media, showed the student being violently flung into the air upon impact. The incident, widely shared on social media, sparked renewed debate about traffic management in school zones.

Gibbs said he was extremely pleased to hear that the Westbury Primary School pupil was on the mend.

He said: “We all would have seen the ferociousness of the hit and we were all holding our breaths, praying that he would be okay. Collective prayer is a powerful thing and with all of the Barbadians that were praying for him, you can’t tell me that prayer doesn’t work. When you see him, you see that he has some cuts, some scrapes, but it’s more like he fell off a bicycle rather than hit by a car.”

While there are zebra crossings in the nearby areas, a number of children decided to cross elsewhere, he added.

“In understanding how President Kennedy Drive works, there are two zebra crossings, one by St Leonard’s and one by the Westbury intersection lights. But unfortunately, some of the kids cut through the graveyard, St Leonard’s, they cut through that neighbourhood and they cross where there’s no crosswalk. Even up to yesterday after the incident, I still saw some kids doing it.”

Gibbs spoke to Barbados TODAY after making a donation to Edwin’s mother. (SZB)

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In a major move to help boost Barbados’ appeal to visitors, the Elegant Group of Hotels, owned by UK-based Marriott International, has launched an ambitious $200 million (US$100 million) refurbishment project. 

This extensive renovation plan, involving the phased closure and reopening of seven properties, aims to elevate the country’s luxury accommodation offerings and strengthen its position in the competitive all-inclusive market.

Marriott International has not revealed the number of workers being affected under this initiative but senior management officials gave an assurance that the employees will be supported during the transition.

“Our hotels are currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, and we are pleased to announce that they will all be fully renovated in the near future. Our associates [workers] are our most valuable asset, and we are focused on supporting them during this transition/renovation period to make it as seamless as possible for them,” the officials told Barbados TODAY.

“We will soon be announcing the reopening of our properties and the brands they will represent.” 

Crystal Cove and Turtle Beach Resorts were scheduled to close on February 1 and will reopen early next year as the rebranded Tribute Portfolio, all-inclusive resorts.

“Crystal Cove and Turtle Beach are both closing for about 15 months. That was the plan from the middle of last year. They are winding down operations now for Marriott to undertake a massive refurbishment of both properties,” chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Javon Griffith informed Barbados TODAY.

Asked how many workers will be displaced by the renovations, Griffith replied: “That, I don’t have to hand. What Marriott has been doing is undertaking employee training at LESC [Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre]. That has been ongoing since the middle of last year, where several of their employees report there on a daily basis for training, so they are not disengaged from the workforce.”

The BHTA chair said there are some workers who have opted to be separated as well.

He explained that Turtle Beach and Crystal Cove are the last properties being shut down, with the others in the chain at various stages of completion.

“They have reopened Treasure Beach and they have reopened Waves. The House is the third property to be reopened; then they are going to reopen Tamarind this winter, and then Turtle Beach and Crystal Cove will reopen, hopefully by February next year,” he revealed.

Griffith said he hopes the project remains on target, notwithstanding experiencing some delays.

“The House,” the BHTA head added, “was scheduled to have opened by now, and I know they have had to cancel summer bookings, and those guests have had to be accommodated in other hotels, while the work there continues.”

Griffith contended that while some of the hotels will miss out on crucial business during the renovations, he is adamant that the physical restructuring is necessary for the country’s tourism offering as a whole.

“It will benefit Barbados next year, having a fresh, new accommodation product on the market, rather than having people come to Barbados and complain that hotels are looking tired, so to speak. It is definitely not slow season, but given the level of renovations that they need to do, it would definitely take a year minimum,” he stated.

Griffith disclosed that when the hotels in the group are back in full operation, they will be recategorized.

“When they come back on stream, they [Turtle Beach and Crystal Cove] will be part of a new connection called The Tribute Portfolio because they are recategorizing the hotels. So, Autograph Connection will be Waves, Treasure Beach, Tamarind Cove and The House; and Luxury Connection will be Colony Club,” the hotel industry leader announced.

Griffith said a decision was taken that the refurbishments – which started last year – would be undertaken in a phased manner rather than closing all the hotels at one time and causing ‘many waves’ in the industry.

The project has attracted the attention of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), but repeated attempts to reach Deputy General Secretary and Director of Industrial Relations Dwaine Paul for comment were unsuccessful. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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