Former Speaker of the House Michael Carrington last night called on Barbados Labour Party Leader Mia Mottley to declare publicly if she is gay or not, insisting Barbadians had a right to know what kind of leader they could be getting.

“If she is gay she should come out and say so and let you know what we are getting as a Prime Minister. I feel so because you should know what you are getting. I feel that you should know,” he said.

Carrington, who was the first to speaker at a lively Democratic Labour Party meeting in Deacons Farm, St Michael Tuesday night, said he stands squarely on the issue.

He told the large crowd that Barbadians knew clearly that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart is a Christian so it was important to know exactly what they were getting if Mia were elected Prime Minister.

“I am not interested in her personal life. You know what you have heard. I know she has never made a pass at me. Heaven forbid I have never made a pass at her and never will ’cause I am happily married. You should know who you are getting. You know that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, he is an Anglican, he goes to church. I am a Christian. I am an Anglican. I go to church and I am a member of All Souls Church,” he declared.

The incumbent Member of Parliament for St Michael West claims he knows nothing about the BLP political leader only what he heard from her colleagues.

The post Carrington wants Mia to say if she is gay appeared first on Barbados Today.

Operations at the Bridgetown Port have been temporarily disrupted as a result of a bomb scare.
Workers are on the outside of the facility as personnel from the Bomb Squad conduct their investigations.
(more details as they come to hand)

The post Bomb scare disrupts operations at the Bridgetown Port appeared first on Barbados Today.

General Secretary of the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) George Pilgrim says tomorrow’s general election
is now in the hands of the people of Barbados.

However while not predicting a result or identifying any  “safe seats” for his party, Pilgrim, who is his candidate for St John, was still optimistic that Barbadians will reward the DLP and Prime Minister Freundel Stuart with a third straight term in office.

“I believe the people of Barbados will make a sensible decision in the way forward which will be done to the benefit of the Democratic Labour Party. The election is not about campaigns or manifestos, it is about the future of Barbados,” he said when Barbados TODAY caught up with him just outside the official residence of the Prime Minister Ilaro Court shortly after noon.

He described the four-week election campaign as “ extraordinary”, explaining that “it was a campaign where we saw the fears of Barbadians being aroused by a message that was created by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) on a false premise.

“This country deserves to know the way forward,” Pilgrim said, adding that “we have outlined in our manifesto what we consider to be the growth path of this country.

“We also outlined suggestions that could fix and assisting the country in our deficit [and] I challenge the Barbados Labour Party to offer an alternate plan.”

He went on to attack the Opposition over policies outlined in its 70-page manifesto, saying, “Barbados is not under flood watch [so] I don’t understand the idea of supplying gas station attendants which are private sector workers with raincoats and boots being funded by taxpayers of Barbados.

“That borders on a political bribe. This election for this country represents the biggest bribe that an election has ever witnessed in the history of Barbados.

“The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is attempting to buy this election through their policies which we know are not policies fit
to grow the economy. The policies are
focused on May 24 and not beyond,” he charged.

He was also of the belief that all candidates running for office should enter politics for the love of it.

“People need to be attracted to politics based on passion. What is missing from politics today is the whole idea of passion. There are persons, especially from the Barbados Labour Party side who lack passion,” the DLP general secretary charged.

The post Pilgrim: It’s in the hands of the people appeared first on Barbados Today.

Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Mia Mottley has declared that tomorrow’s general election will be a clear cut battle between her BLP and the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP), while dismissing out of hand, the five other political parties that are to be listed on the ballot.

[caption id="attachment_238623" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Opposition Leader Mia Mottley (centre) is greeted by supporters during last night’s meeting at Lodge Road, Christ Church.[/caption]

“No party formed for the wrong reason can survive in this type of climate where people are suffering. Whether you like it or not, this has come down to a two party race, the Democratic Labour Party and the Barbados Labour Party. This is a straight two party race. There has never been a clearer choice between a Government and an Opposition in this country,” Mottley told party supporters during a BLP meeting at Lodge Road, Christ Church last night.

The other contenders in the May 24 poll are the United Progressive Party, led by Lynette Eastmond; Solutions Barbados, led by Grenville Phillips II; the Barbados Integrity Movement, led by Neil Holder; People’s Democratic Movement, led by Mark Adamson and the Bajan Free Party, led by Alex Mitchell which is in a coalition with the Kingdom Government Party and the People’s Democratic Congress.

However, Mottley made reference to the 1976 general election when there were also a number of political parties contesting the polls, including the People’s Pressure Group, led by former journalist Al Gilkes, which took part in the People’s Political Alliance coalition.

On that occasion, then Prime Minister Tom Adams had warned that the so-called ‘third parties’ had no real influence on the outcome of the election.

The BLP leader also challenged voters to make a decision based on the direction in which they want to see the island go, while insisting that the ball was in their court.

“When Friday morning comes what do you want? What do you want to wake up to? We need a strong Barbados. Do you make a decision that will see this country become a failed society, or do you make a decision to vote for a team that is prepared at all costs to rescue and rebuild this country. History will come to reflect this moment in time.

“The choice for Barbados’ future will be determined by the people. Let us come together to save our country. This election means to us the choice between a failed society or a new dawn for Barbados. The power of the people is always greater than the people in power.

“You will either have a Government that is committed to this country or you will have a Government that will give you much more of the same that you have been receiving. If you want more of the same then you will take Freundel Stuart . . . [but]  if you want a Government that will rescue, rebuild , help people to live and put Barbados’ pride back in Barbados, then vote for the Barbados Labour Party,” she said while endorsing her candidates in Christ Church.

While Mottley was in Christ Church, Stuart was in Deacon’s Farm, St Michael, where he appealed with his supporters to turn out in their numbers on Election Day in order to ensure the DLP secures a third straight term.

The Prime Minister warned that “every Democratic Labour Party member or supporter who stays home is voting for the Barbados Labour Party”.

[caption id="attachment_238622" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Prime Minister Freundel Stuart addressing last night’s DLP meeting in Deacons Farm, St Michael.[/caption]

“We cannot afford to have Democratic Labour Party people voting for the Barbados Labour Party. Come out and vote to make sure that every single vote that belongs to the Democratic Labour Party we are able to get in this election. When the votes are all counted we can hear the result that the Democratic Labour Party has been returned as the Government of Barbados,” he said.

“Try to persuade everybody around you of the importance of not staying home. Vote for the Democratic Labour Party and let us continue the great work we have done over the last ten years . . . working on a Barbados that includes all, engages all, benefits all and rewards all,”, the prime minster stated.

anmargboyce@barbadostoday.bb

The post Clear choice appeared first on Barbados Today.

The island’s top public sector trade union said it plans to demand a pay rise for civil servants soon after a Government is installed following tomorrow’s general election.

In its election manifesto released yesterday, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) said in order to secure the full participation of public workers, the new administration would have to give them an immediate salary and wage increase even before the implementation of any economic plan.

“The NUPW is requesting immediate considerations be addressed before any economic plan is implemented. We are strongly of the view that public servants must be incentivized in order to have their full participation. Therefore, an immediate salary increase for all public officers must be met,” the union warned in the 21-page Workers’ Manifesto which contains many elements that closely resemble campaign promises made by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).

Under the sub-heading Fair and Adequate Compensation, the NUPW lamented that public sector workers have not had a pay rise in almost ten years despite the “continuous” imposition of taxes and rises in the cost of living, among other factors,

The NUPW also suggested a change to the present minimum wages apparatus which it said made it difficult for employees to get an increase, especially considering that “Barbados is universally known as a high-cost country”.

“Obviously there is no mechanism in place to insist on the control of pricing of goods and/or services,” it stated.

It said that despite the best efforts of trade unions, there was still too much disparity across Barbadian workplaces, while stressing that workers earned more and had greater protection whenever there was a strong trade union movement.

The issue of health and safety on the job also appeared high on the agenda of the NUPW, which stated in its document that “the factory inspectorate should be replaced by a workplace inspection agency whose staff would be mandated to work in collaboration with workplace health and safety committees”.

With respect to pension reform the union appeared to endorse BLP plans to raise pensions, with a call for trade unions and staff association to establish what was being proposed, while stating that the unions must also be in the vanguard of any reform.

The NUPW also reiterated a submission it had made to the Freundel Stuart administration as part of its salary negotiations, that all temporary or acting officers who were working for more than three years continuously, should be appointed without having to go through a selection process.

The trade union also touched on the issue of work permits, stating for a densely populated country such as Barbados, there was a need for an effective work permit system, bearing in mind the island’s commitment to the Caribbean Community in relation to freedom of movement of skilled nationals, as well as the right of establishment that includes a work permit appeal mechanism.

Other major proposals include easing of the “burdensome” taxes by targeting the National Social Responsibility Levy and the Value Added Tax, both BLP campaign promises, the introduction of more equitable taxation measures, adoption of more effective revenue collection measures, introduction of a contractor general, a review of the structure of the Central Bank and insulation of the office from undue political influence, a review of the subsidies granted to extra-regional airlines and reform of the Senate, the Public Accounts Committee and Auditor General’s department.

The union also called for the retention of capital punishment for specific crimes, a review and amendment to the Constitution, reform of the constituency councils, strengthening of the justice system by introducing a lay magistracy and an independent element to the Police complaints body, the adoption and promotion of measures to improve productivity and competitiveness, establishment of a regime to regularly service Government buildings and the adoption and promotion of a green economy.

The NUPW is also asking for a deepening and widening of democracy by involving the social partners, the non-governmental organizations, community, the church and representation from special parliamentary committees in national governance.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

The post NUPW manifesto appeared first on Barbados Today.

Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite is standing firmly behind Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s plan to break ties with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) if his administration were to be re-elected for a third straight term in tomorrow’s poll.

While making particular mention of the recent legal challenge that was brought by St Lucian professor Eddie Ventose against the Electoral and Boundaries Commission over its failure to register him as a Commonwealth citizen to vote in the May 24 election, Brathwaite said: “I actually understand very well where the Prime Minister is coming from and I share his annoyance with the court, in particular the recent matter that we had.

“If you could imagine receiving documents on Saturday night, 700 pages of documents, from an appeal for which we had not received a written appeal as yet, and a court then determines that they would hear and determine this matter on Sunday,” Brathwaite, who is also Minister of Home Affairs explained, adding that “in most cases, any reasonable court would have taken the decision, ‘Let us settle the record. Let us settle the grounds of appeal. Let us give all parties the chance to examine all the issues, make their written submissions etc”. So I share the Prime Minister’s concerns about the court, I am very annoyed about it,” the Attorney General told reporters on the sidelines of last night’s Democratic Labour Party (DLP) meeting in Haggatt Hall, St Michael.

However, he made it clear that his Government’s concerns in relation to the CCJ went beyond the Eddie Ventose matter. In fact, he harked back to the 2013 decision of the CCJ, which is the country’s final court of appeal,  in the case involving Jamaican Shanique Myrie, who was awarded BDS$77,240 by the CCJ which ruled that subjecting her to a cavity search, locking her up in a unsanitary cell and deporting her ran contrary to the rules of the revised Treaty of Chagaramas.

However, while contending that that judgment was “wrong”, Brathwaite said “we need to go back to the court to let them explain how they arrive at certain decisions”.

“I think, unfortunately, that certain actors in the court are more concerned about bringing other countries around than ensuring that they do the right thing continuously, so I share the Prime Minister’s concerns,” he stressed.

As for the incumbent DLP’s legacy, he said it was “one of tremendous accomplishment in the face of ten years of financial challenges.

“I am very proud to have been part of this administration,” he said while speaking out strongly in defence of its decision to have Barbadian students pay tuition fees at the University of the West Indies since 2014.

“When this happened for example, I was in the United States and the chap from the State Department who met me laughed. You want to know why? Because all of his children were still paying back their fees for years and that is a first world country in comparison to us,” he said while contending that those who can afford to pay should do so.

A major criticism of the Stuart administration was that it did not communicate enough with the people.

However, Brathwaite suggested that “more Caribbean leaders should be like the Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister’s position is as follows, he appoints you as a minister. You manage your ministry. If he has to speak continuously about your ministry, then he should take over your ministry, very, very simple. So if he has to speak on law and order, if he has to speak on what is happening in the prison and on disaster preparation etc, then I am not doing my job. That has been his position and he is right about it,” Brathwaite stressed.

The post AG at one with Stuart on CCJ appeared first on Barbados Today.

The man who is seeking to retain the St James South seat for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) says social media has had a great impact on this year’s election campaign.

And, according to Donville Inniss, one of the most controversial ministers in the last Freundel Stuart cabinet, social media has forever changed the face of political campaigns here.

Inniss explained that unlike previous elections where the emphasis was on paraphernalia, newspaper advertisements and rallies, social media was the most powerful tool in the campaign for tomorrow’s election.

“Without recourse to empirical evidence, I believe that social media has played a far more important role in disseminating information to voters than it has ever done [before] in the history of this country. It will certainly be a game changer in future elections,” Inniss said.

The two-time incumbent for St James South told Barbados TODAY this was why heavy turnouts at political rallies did not paint an accurate picture of support for the parties, an apparent reference to the large crowds that the Barbados Labour Party attracted at its meetings.

“I don’t get excited about the large numbers or small numbers at the political meetings because what we have been seeing more is persons preferring to stay at home and view these meetings via the internet rather than going to the meetings. So it really presents a very difficult scenario to read because the Internet is such a far reaching tool and its difficult to gauge the effectiveness of the [rallies],” he said.

Inniss explained that given the variables, as well as the challenging nature of the campaign, he was not prepared to predict the number of seats that DLP would win.

“I am not prepared to give predictions on the number of seats but what I can say is that it has been a very challenging campaign. The voters throughout the country have gotten the chance to hear from all sides involved and hopefully by now they would have examined what each candidate is offering, which would help them make an informed decision,” he said, even as he refused to call the election results, while stating he confident of retaining his seat.

“I am satisfied that I have done as well as I could over the circumstances. I have done the best I can in terms of my campaign and in terms of getting my message out. My constituents know my track record and equally important they know the way forward. So I am very optimistic about St James South.

“However my attitude has always been not count your chicken before they hatch because at the end of the day it is the average man and woman who has the power to decide who run the affairs of this country,” he stressed.

The post Social media factored heavily in 2018 election, Inniss says appeared first on Barbados Today.

The Electoral Department is assuring Barbadians it is ready for tomorrow’s general election.

Supervisor of Elections Angela Taylor was quoted today in a release from the Barbados Government Information Service as saying staff had been extremely busy over the past few days preparing the packages of election materials, supplies and equipment for polling day.

“Much of the last two days have been spent collecting ballot papers from the Government Printery, after which they were checked to ensure that they were properly numbered and that there were no inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the ballot books,” Taylor said.

In addition, she said the polling tins for each station had been packed with the registration cards to which officials would refer if any voters showed up to cast their ballots without their identification cards.

Taylor noted that on Tuesday evening, all the Returning Officers and Election Clerks were engaged in a refresher session in preparation for Election Day, which she said included training in the use of the election management system, a new software which will be used for, among other things, entering the results of the count.

“The results will be transmitted to the Electoral Department and some of the media houses will also receive live feeds from that data. Today, Wednesday, we will continue to respond to persons querying their registration status and the office will continue to be a hive of activity as Returning Officers collect materials and election equipment for distribution to the Presiding Officers in their respective constituencies,” she added.

The Supervisor of Elections expressed disappointment that some people did not heed the department’s call to register early.

“We would have started our public relations programme a year ago in which we were asking those persons who were not registrants to register; those persons who changed address since last election to come in and make the change, and persons, as usual, waited until the last minute,” she stressed.

Meantime, the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) has reported an incident-free campaign, while it commended the general behaviour of the public, supporters and the various political parties and candidates.

“We thank the campaign managers and officials for honouring their commitment that was given at a previously held meeting with the senior command of the Force. At that meeting, campaign managers collectively pledged to work hand in hand with the police and with each other throughout the various marches, motorcades, spot meetings and major political meetings to ensure as is customary, that the election process in Barbados remains at a consistently high standard,” the RBPF stated.

Despite reporting an incident-free campaign, the law enforcement authorities described the election campaign as challenging on their resources.

However, they said the men and women of the Force must be commended for their hard work and commitment to national duty by working extended hours.

“We want to ensure all and sundry that we have planned meticulously for this major national event. Police officers will be posted at all polling stations and polling district island wide to ensure a safe environment. We will also have police patrols on our highways and byways to ensure law and order to all other normal activities,” the police said, while advising the public to continue to be observant and secure all valuables, vehicles and homes as they go about their business.

“As we enter the final hours of the 2018 election process, we advise all persons to be on their best behaviour, observe all rules and requirements of the law and the processes. Whatever the final outcome of the election process, be respectful and control your passions,” the RBPF said.

The post We’re ready appeared first on Barbados Today.

It would appear that the pledge by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to reinstate free university education has resonated with some voters.

With the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) both scheduled to hold political meetings tonight in a final attempt to sway the electorate, some of those with whom Barbados TODAY spoke on the eve of tomorrow’s poll said they would be voting for the return of free tertiary education.

“One of the most fundamental things I will be voting for tomorrow is free education. I have two daughters and I would like to see them go to university,” said Denis Boyce, an unapologetic BLP supporter, who will cast his vote in the constituency of St Andrew where the BLP’s George Payne and the DLP’s Irene Sandiford-Garner will battle it out.

[caption id="attachment_238645" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Denis Boyce[/caption]

Similar sentiments were shared by Melissa Rock, who made it clear that “whichever party gets in tomorrow I would like them to restructure the education system. A lot of people these days can’t afford education and to me that is important”.

[caption id="attachment_238643" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Melissa Rock[/caption]

Both voters, like many of those who spoke with Barbados TODAY, predicted a change in Government, citing the state of the economy as one of the reasons they expected the DLP to lose the election.

“I will be there voting for sure and I believe the BLP will win hands down. I have the general feeling that the people in Barbados want a relief,” a confident Boyce said.

“I think this administration has done little to nothing and people are looking forward to change because they believe a change will grow the economy. So I believe the BLP will win the most seats. The Dems will get five [seats at] the most.”

In the meantime, Rock said while she planned to cast her ballot, she would have liked to hear a lot more from the political parties on their plans to rebuild the economy instead of the many personal attacks levelled against each other.

Still, she said issues such as the south coast sewage problem and high taxes would be determining factors in the election.

“There is the sewage issue as well which is hurting the tourism industry and then there are a lot of taxes.

“I would like to hear from the parties in terms of their plans for the island as opposed to them just picking on each other. Give us the plans instead of the personal issues,” Rock told Barbados TODAY.

However, there were those such as Paul Wiltshire, who would not predict a clear-cut result, although Wiltshire forecasted a change of Government.   

[caption id="attachment_238644" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Paul Wilshere[/caption]

“Tomorrow will be a tough one. I can’t see a winner as yet. There are a lot of reasons why it is hard to predict but I believe we will get a switch,” he said, while stating that the new Government should focus on the economy.

“There are plenty things I will want to see from a new Government. We have to get our foreign reserves back up to start and then in terms of our day-to-day living, a lot of people are struggling.

“People need work and that is one of the most serious issues facing our country right now. People need to have jobs,” he said.

Another person who spoke on condition of anonymity predicted victory for the Mia Mottley-led BLP, stating that the incumbent DLP had failed, especially in its handling of the economy.

“I think Mia and the BLP will win tomorrow simply because the DLP has not done a good job in terms of the economy. Voting day is tomorrow and I want to take Dem out,” the person said.

The post Economy and education on voters’ minds appeared first on Barbados Today.

At least one political pundit has given the Freundel Stuart led Democratic Labour Party (DLP) a failing grade for its campaign, in the lead up to tomorrow’s highly anticipated general election.

At the same time, University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer in Political Science and International Relations Dr Kristina Hinds said though the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Solutions Barbados and the United Progressive Party (UPP) ran much better campaigns than the DLP, they all fell short in terms of their level of preparedness.

Following Stuart’s announcement at the end of April that the general election would be held on May 24, the BLP was first out the blocks with its campaign launch on May 5.

This was followed by the DLP’s campaign launch the following night.

The incumbent DLP released its manifesto on Thursday, May 17, seven days after the BLP launched its promissory election document.

The UPP introduced its full slate of candidates on May 13, while Solutions Barbados, who had introduced its promissory election document about three years ago, officially introduced all of its 28 candidates two nights ago.

Giving her assessment of the campaign, which is climaxing tonight with major rallies by the country’s two main political parties, the DLP and the BLP, Hinds told Barbados TODAY it fell short of her expectations.

“Most of us expected [the election] to be held well before now, so I think that the level of preparedness by some of the political parties was not what I would have expected because everybody knew this election was coming,” she said.

“I would have thought that you would have taken the full five years  . . . [to prepare to present] the public with your plan for the future, with your candidate, with whatever you propose to do, [and] would have been a lot better put together,” Hinds said of the DLP’s manifesto launch.

She also called out the DLP for its decision on a candidate for St John, which she said was done “extremely late”.

In terms of the quality of speeches on the political platform, Hinds told Barbados TODAY it appeared that the DLP spent most of its time criticizing the Opposition BLP, while the BLP, Solutions Barbados and the UPP were focused on their plans, which may not all be achievable.

“The UPP and Solutions Barbados, those two in particular, you even saw more discussion of visions and plans for the future than was evident in the Democratic Labour Party campaign.

“To be fair to the DLP they did attempt after the first week to really highlight what they achieved over the ten-year period. Most of these achievements that they have pointed out were not necessarily in the economic sphere [but] in education and social policy to some extent. They also attempted to make some defence of the kind of austerity approaches and increases in taxes that occurred over the last ten years,” Hinds said in her evaluation.

The election is seen as a straight fight between the DLP and the BLP, despite the presence of other parties and independents making for a total of 135 candidates.

While staying away from making any prediction as to who will win, the UWI academic insisted that the DLP’s position had “weakened significantly” and it would be “reflected in the results of the votes”.

However, she did not believe the four-week political campaign was “dirtier” than any previous one, but suggested that people’s expectations of what they wanted to hear had changed.

“So my sense is that people don’t really want to hear a lot of personality bashing, questions about people sexuality, who dresses how and who looks how, especially because there is a feeling that Barbados is in a level of crisis,” she said.

In any event, Hinds has not ruled out the possibility that one of the so-called ‘third parties’ causing an upset in tomorrow’s election.

“There are so many small parties that we don’t know how they will affect the votes. What I will say is that I do not expect UPP or Solutions Barbados or any of these newer parties to gain any seats, but I think their candidates can gain some votes that will affect the fortunes of either BLP or DLP candidates,” Hinds explained.

Meantime, in a separate interview, Leader of Solutions Barbados Grenville Phillips II said he was confident of victory. In fact, he said: “We are very confident and we are expecting at least 20 [seats]” based on its plan for economic prosperity.

[caption id="attachment_238647" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Kristina Hinds and Grenville Phillips II[/caption]

He however regretted that there was not a “proper” national debate on the economy.

“That is a great tragedy for Barbados because at least Barbados would have seen the difference in plans,” he said, pointing out that economists and others have basically rubbished the BLP plan and were somewhat “unkind” to the DLP’s plan because it would result in austerity.

“We really would have liked to have a national debate that the Barbadian public could have known – if they have the misfortune tomorrow of electing the Dees or the Bees, they would have voted to suck salt,” Phillips said, while describing his candidates as innovators.

The post Campaign fell short of expectations appeared first on Barbados Today.

Barbadian law students pursuing their legal education certificates at Hugh Wooding Law School are dreading the thought of dropping out because of massive arrears owed to the Council of Legal Education by the Barbados Government.

The Trinidad-based law school this morning advised the students by email from the office of Registrar that the Government of Barbados owes arrears dating back to over a year, and unless the debt is paid by the start
of the new school year the students will have to meet the full economic cost, in addition to a small compulsory fee.

However, one final year student who requested anonymity told Barbados TODAY he would be forced to drop out because he simply could not afford those fees.

“I’m mentally exhausted . . . .We all were thinking we could have taken a break for two weeks before starting our in-service training back in Barbados but we were just hit with this news,” he said.

“Law school is already challenging on its own and then to come to the realization that you made it out of the first year but you can’t complete your legal education certificate because of financial difficulty this Government has put us in is absolutely sad,” he added.   

In the letter to the students, a copy of which was obtained by Barbados TODAY, the Council for Legal Education said if Bridgetown fails to make a dent in the arrears “at the time of admission in September 2018, then, pursuant to Regulation 13 (3) (a) new students, in order to be registered for the academic year 2018-2019, Barbadian nationals will be required to pay the full economic cost of TT$97,546 (BDS$29,000) plus compulsory fees of TT$820”.

“If this position remains unchanged at the time of admission in September 2018, then, pursuant to Regulation and 13 (3) (b) returning students to Year II, in order to be registered for the academic year 2018-2019, Barbadian nationals will be required to pay the full economic cost of TT$94,704.61 (BDS$28,000) plus compulsory fees of TT$570,” it continued.

Barbadian law students were first required to pay tuition costs to the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2014, a year after Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler announced in his 2013 budget that in an attempt to reduce transfers to the University of the West Indies (UWI) by $42 million a year, the Freundel Stuart administration would no longer meet those cost, but would continue to pay the economic costs.

That year, the fees that Barbadians pay to the law school jumped from $300 to over $2,000.

The concerned final year student who spoke to Barbados TODAY said many of his compatriots who already have loans from the Student Revolving Loan Fund for both UWI and Hugh Wooding would have great difficulty continuing their studies.

“I don’t think the Government has taken into account that we were the first set of students who have to pay for UWI for three years, which is just over $24,000, and we also have to pay for law school . . . . So having to pay the economic cost may force some students to drop out or defer until they can source the money.

“They may not be able to complete the programme and then there are the few that got scholarships which only cover a specific amount like mine, so we would have to source the difference or drop out,” he explained.

Local law students are required to complete a two-year legal certificate at Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad or the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, after completing completing the Bachelor of Laws at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies.

The post In a jam appeared first on Barbados Today.

Polling stations across the island opened at 6 this morning and residents are out in their numbers to cast their ballots.

From 5:30 in the morning, scores of Barbadians lined up outside the Barbados Community College to cast their ballot early.

Meanwhile, this was the scene at 6:15 a.m. at the polling station at the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic in Warrens in St Michael North East.

In the north of the island, there was a long line of voters at the Alexandra School.

The election is seen as a straight fight between the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP). There are five other political parties and several independents making for a total of 135 candidates.

The DLP is seeking a third term in office, while the BLP is looking to make history by electing Mia Mottley as the country's first female Prime Minister.

If Mottley becomes victorious, she will join the likes of the late Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Janet Jagan of Guyana, Portia Simpson Miller in Jamaica and Kamla Persad Bissessar in Trinidad and Tobago in heading a government in the CARICOM region.

The polls are scheduled to close at 6 p.m.

The post ELECTIONS: Polling stations open, voting under way appeared first on Barbados Today.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart  says he is optimistic his incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) can secure a third consecutive term following today’s general election.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY shortly after casting his ballot at Bayleys Primary School, Stuart said it was now over to the voters to decide whether or not to give the DLP another chance to govern the country.

“We fought for a third term and we know that once the clock struck midnight last night it was over to the voters,” he said.

“We are optimistic that we can pull it off, but when all is said and done it is the voters that are going to be deciding that.”

Stuart also commented on what is seen as a high voter turnout so far, something which political pundits say usually does not favour the incumbent.

“I certainly have, in every speech I made during the campaign, emphasized that people not stay home; and therefore, if there have been long lines and people have been turning out to vote, that is a welcome sign. It shows that our democracy is in good stead. This election was being looked forward to for some time. I think there is heightened expectations on both sides of the political divide."

Stuart  described the election campaign as peaceful and “very good”.

“The difference between Barbados and many other jurisdictions, our elections tend to be peaceful and violence free. Yes, people express themselves vigorously and take up very strong positions on behalf of the political party they support, but it never transcends the parameters of decency,” he pointed out.

The polls close here at 6p.m. with a final result expected by midnight.

The DLP which held 16 seats in the last Parliament faces a tough challenge from the Opposition Barbados Labour Party this time around.

There are also five other parties and several independents in the race to fill the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.

The post ELECTIONS – PM Stuart optimistic DLP can pull off a third term appeared first on Barbados Today.

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St George South Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo has expressed concern about what she calls "vote buying practices" in the constituency on Election Day.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY after casting her ballot at the Ellerton Primary School, Byer-Suckoo said that some young people within the constituency were postponing their right to vote until the “money trucks” travelled throughout the district.

“I have gotten calls from three areas saying "no, we haven’t voted yet. We waiting for the money truck".

"So, that is still a concern because I think our young people are still not understanding the value of their vote,” she said.

Byer-Suckoo, the DLP candidate, is against the Barbados Labour Party’s Dwight Sutherland, Craig Harewood of the United Progressive Party, and Doris Barrow of Barbados Integrity Movement.

While noting that there has been increased voter participation among the youth, Dr Byer-Suckoo indicated that the young people needed to know the significance of their vote.

“I am trying to have our young people understand that . . . you don’t sell your birth right for $8000 . . .  for any amount of money, your vote should not be for sale that is your inalienable right that nobody should buy it from you and you need to understand the value of it,” she stressed.

Byer-Suckoo made it clear that she had no "money truck" to offer and she would not be participating in vote buying.

“It is a practice that needs to be stamped out and if we can do anything in the next five years so we don’t have this problem I would be so happy,” Byer-Suckoo added.

The post ELECTIONS – Byer-Suckoo concerned about ‘vote buying’ in St George South appeared first on Barbados Today.

Across the constituencies of St Michael East, St Michael South East, St Michael South Central voting has been going smoothly even as large numbers of voters waited patiently in the line at the various polling stations.

Barbados TODAY arrived at The Barbados Community College at 5:45 a.m. to find scores of voters already queued outside the gate eager to cast their ballots. However, the process got under way seven minutes late.

One upset voter, who was in line from early, was visibly upset that no official explanation was given. However, at his prompting and that of other voters who were waiting in line, a chair was provided for an 83-year-old military veteran Samuel Clarke who was forced to endure the wait.

[caption id="attachment_238852" align="aligncenter" width="200"] 83-year-old military Veteran Samuel Clarke[/caption]

Over at the Parkinson Memorial School, there were no such grumbles but election officers were kept busy with queries from several anxious first-timer voters.

[caption id="attachment_238851" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Long lines at the Parkinson Memorial School in the St Michael South East.[/caption]

The situation was pretty much the same at Mount Olives Holy Church of America in St Michael South Central. And when Barbados TODAY visited the St Michael School just after 8 a.m., Presiding Officer Katherine Hudson reported that the everything was “going good” with over 70 persons having already cast their ballots in the first two hours of 12-hour national voting exercise.

It however remains to be seen what the outcome will be in these marginal seats, including St Michael East which was won by the Barbados Labour Party’s Trevor Prescod by a mere 117 votes in 2013; in St Michael South East which the BLP’s Santia Bradshaw won by only ten votes and St Michael South Central where the Democratic Labour Party incumbent Richard Sealy won by 264 votes. 

[caption id="attachment_238856" align="aligncenter" width="600"] DLP candidate Richard Sealy interacting with a voter before going to check on his election agent.[/caption]

The post Eager to vote appeared first on Barbados Today.

A confident Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader has called on Barbadians to remain calm, as voting in today’s general election winds down.

Speaking with reporters before casting her ballot, Mottley said she expects the BLP will emerge victorious.

“We remain ever confident now that if Barbadians vote, literally, according to what is best for Barbados, then we should emerge victorious,” she said.

“More than anything else, I want everybody to stay calm, we got this one and we’re doing well.”

Mottley expressed thanks to residents “for heeding our call to come out early in their numbers” to cast their ballots.

“I think we’re satisfied that they’ve done that. There’s been a lot of passion on the part of people for their country. People feel that this is a significant, in fact the most significant election since independence and that this election will determine the future direction of our country, whether there’s a new dawn or whether we continue on a path where institutions continue to do poorly, and the economy continues to contract,” she said.

“The last ten years have been referred to as the lost decade for that reason. So, we are satisfied that the voters have heeded that call to come out early and to do what is necessary to get to vote.”

Mottley also said she is aware that there have been some hiccups but added that “we are managing those in a very orderly manner.”

“Barbados has a tradition of being orderly and we want to maintain that as far as possible,” she said.

Mottley is hoping to become Barbados’ first-ever woman prime minister.

If victorious, she will join the likes of the late Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Janet Jagan of Guyana, Portia Simpson Miller in Jamaica and Kamla Persad Bissessar in Trinidad and Tobago in heading a government in the CARICOM region.

The polls are scheduled to close at 6 p.m.

The post ELECTIONS – ‘We got this one’ – Mia satisfied Bajans have heeded the call appeared first on Barbados Today.

A slow start to the day at several polling stations in St John improved only slightly later in the morning, as voters apparently stayed home during the early part of voting.

[caption id="attachment_238858" align="aligncenter" width="600"] It was slow voting in St John today.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_238860" align="aligncenter" width="351"] No need to wait as the long lines seen in other parts of the country were not evident in St John this morning.[/caption]

When Barbados TODAY visited the Owen Estwick and Earl Glasgow Auditorium at the Lodge School in Massiah Street just after 6 a.m. only a handful of people were present to cast their ballots. The story was the same at the nearby St John’s Primary School and St John’s Parish Church.

There was an even shorter line at the Horatio Cooke Sports Complex at the Gall Hill playing field, one of the few outdoor polling stations.

Checks at the St Gabriel’s Church and the Holy Cross Anglican Church also revealed just a few persons trickling in.

After casting his vote in his hometown of St Thomas, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St John George Pilgrim made his way to Lodge School where he told reporters he intended to travel throughout the parish to try to persuade voters to show up.

[caption id="attachment_238859" align="aligncenter" width="300"] DLP candidate for St John George Pilgrim[/caption]

“I came to check on the turnout of the polls and to look in on the polling agents who are assigned to work at the stations. I will be making my rounds throughout the entire day to check on the polling stations.

“I will also be checking on those persons who have the responsibility to get out and vote.  For me, today it is all about getting the vote out,” Pilgrim insisted.

“That is my mission in St John today. The limp, the lame, those who can run and who can walk, in trying to get them out to the polls this morning.”

He said he was confident that the people of St John would maintain their faith in the DLP and would “honour the memory of its founding fathers Errol Walton Barrow and David Thompson”.

Despite a hiccup with the voting list, which resulted in a few people being turned away, candidate for the Barbados Labour Party Charles Griffith said he too was confident of victory.

“I’m very, very confident about what I’ve seen so far and I’m just hoping that everything continues in the same vein,” Griffith, who was congratulated by his daughter Niah Belgrave shortly after casting his ballot at the Mount Tabor Primary School, told Barbados TODAY.

[caption id="attachment_238861" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BLP candidate for St John Charles Griffith being greeted by his daughter Niah Belgrave shortly after casting his vote at Mount Tabor Primary School.[/caption]

“When I went to the polling stations I saw lines so I am feeling good about the lines that I saw. So there are no problems for me.”

Griffith revealed that as a result of issues with the voting list, some persons who turned up to vote could not do so, resulting in him “losing” several votes.

However, he said he did not believe those numbers were large enough to change the outcome of the election. 

The post Low turnout appeared first on Barbados Today.

Voters in the St Michael South constituency have so far been experiencing a smooth process as they cast ballots at various polling stations.

None of the stations visited by Barbados TODAY reported problems or hiccups of any sort, and voters were seen since early this morning comfortably entering polling sites at the Graydon Sealy School on Paddock Road, The Seventh Adventist School on Dalkeith Road, and the Church of God on Chelsea Road in ones and twos, and exiting minutes later.

Among those seen to have been helped with transportation to the polling stations were the elderly, and a woman with a baby in arms.

The constituency was represented in the last Parliament by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of the incumbent Democratic Labour Party, who is up against BLP newcomer Kirk Humphrey this timer around, along with Paul Gibson of Solutions Barbados; Sandra Corbin of the United Progessive Party and Alex Mitchell of the Bajan Free Party.

(GA)

The post Easy going appeared first on Barbados Today.

With his left hand in his pocket, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was all smiles, as he confidently walked into the Bayleys Primary School around 1:20 p.m. today to cast his ballot.

Voting in the St Philip North constituency has been going smoothly all day since the polls opened at 6 a.m. to long lines of people waiting patiently to cast their ballots.

[caption id="attachment_238877" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Prime MInister Fruendel Staurt casting his ballot this afternoon at the Bayleys Primary School.[/caption]

However the heavy lines tapered off by mid morning, when voters were seen tricking in to place their ‘X’ next to the name of the candidate of their choice.

After casting his vote, Stuart told the media that he was satisfied with today’s events so far.

“Based on all the reports that I have received, all the constituencies are scenes of a lot of activity. I get the impression that people looked forward to this day to exercise their franchise and this is always a welcomed development.

“I have heard of no incidents that will occasion me any personal disquiet but so far it seems to me that we have been having a successful and peaceful Election Day,” he said, adding that “the partisan activities did heighten understandably, but no incidents that would cause me to worry”.

While at least one of his candidates today levelled allegations of vote buying, the Prime Minister said he had heard no such allegations, unlike in the last election when he had received reports.

“You only know that when it is finished or when you are able to look back to see what has happened, [but] I have not received any reports of any such activity up to now.”

However, he admitted that the contest between his incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the main Opposition Barbados Labour Party has been a “very hot one”.

However, Stuart said he was optimistic of a third term in office even though high turnouts are said to generally favour the opposition.

“I think there is heightened expectation on both sides of the political divide. I certainly in every speech I made in the campaign emphasized the importance of not staying home and therefore if there have been long lines and people have been turning out to vote that is a welcomed sign. It shows that our democracy is in good nick,” he said.

Reflecting on the just ended four-week campaign which was marked by vicious mudslinging, the Prime Minister said he was satisfied that Barbados had a good election period.

“Yes people expressed themselves vigorously and took up very strong positions on behalf of the political party they support but it never transcended the perimeters of decency. All the parties conducted themselves I thought properly and that’s good for our democracy,” he explained, while acknowledging that the final decision now rests with the electorate.

“We fought for a third term and we know that once the clock struck midnight last night it was over to the voters. We are optimistic that we can pull it off but when all is said and done it is the voters that are going to decide and as good democrats we will accept whatever the result is but we are optimistic that we will pull it off,” the DLP leader said.

Also confident of retaining his St Philip North seat is DLP candidate Michael Lashley, who also voted at Bayleys Primary School with his 88-year-old mother Elrita Lashley and siblings Marva and Felix.

[caption id="attachment_238879" align="aligncenter" width="400"] DLP St Phlip North candidate Michael Lashley ecorts his 88-yearold mother Elrita Lashley and siblings to the poll[/caption]

“ I believe that my record speaks for itself and I am very confident of a victory,” he said even as he disclosed that his sister Marva made the trek to the polling station today having been discharged from hospital only yesterday.

“It was her desire to vote and she came down,” he added.

His opponent, first-time political contender Dr Sonia Browne of the BLP was not daunted by the fact that Lashley has been the representative for the area for the last three election cycles.

“I have no concerns and I feel pretty comfortable. I am just good and waiting for it to be all over,” she told reporters.

Meantime BLP candidate for St Philip West John King was equally confident of his chances against DLP stalwart Dr David Estwick.

‘I have always been a very confident person regardless of what I put myself in but I think on this occasion and this being my first time, all signs are very, very positive. So I am very confident,” he told Barbados TODAY.

Leader of the United Progressive Party Lynette Eastmond, who accompanied her candidate for St Philip South Bruce Hennis to his polling station at the St Catherine School, was also confident of her party’s chances in today’s general election.

“We are happy with where we are in the whole campaign and the whole election process. I am very pleased with the team that we have been able to put together. We also happy that there are more people participating in the whole electoral process . . . . We are very confident, we have done the work and based on the feedback that we have got, most people are of the view that we do need to have representation from other parties and not just the two established parties,” she told Barbados TODAY.

In all it was an incident free polling day in the east of the island where the DLP is currently in control with Lashley in St Philip North, Estwick in St Philip West and Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite in St Philip South.

However, several newcomers are challenging their incumbencies.

[caption id="attachment_238878" align="aligncenter" width="402"] Fomer St John MP Mara Thomspon prceded by her daughters as they went in to vote at Bayleys Primary School today.[/caption]

fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb

The post In good nick appeared first on Barbados Today.

by Colville Mounsey

Long lines sprinkled with some confusion seemed to be order of the day for the Christ Church constituencies. Voters, who gathered at polling stations long before the scheduled 6 a.m. start, complained of disorganization, which resulted in long waits for them as they sought to exercise their franchise.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for Christ Church East Wilfred Abrahams, complained of chaotic scenes at polling stations in the area, and lines that were moving so slowly that some eligible voters left without even casting their ballots.

Abrahams, who is hoping to unseat the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) Dr Denis Lowe, told Barbados TODAY people were out in front of polling stations long before 6 a.m. and he was forced to rush to stations after some supporters called to tell him they were leaving without voting.

“Out here at St Christopher has been chaotic. It is just ridiculous. This is not how an election is supposed to be. You have a polling station with no sign on it, people don’t know what it’s for,” Abrahams said.

“We have situations where people are in the lines because the sign is just not clear – spend 15, 20, 30 minutes in the line, get to the top and then they are in the wrong line. This is not rocket science, put up the signs properly where people can see it,” he advised.

Angered by the situation, Abrahams, who is an attorney, said he would hate to think that this was a deliberate attempt to frustrate people.

“I am here now because some of my supporters have called me and said they could not wait any longer and they were leaving. This election has been a complete catastrophe. I am hoping that the right outcome comes at the end of the day and that what has gone on does not actually frustrate people and alter the course of the election because I would hate to think that is anybody’s intention,” he said.

“I have voted many times before, I have never seen the lines move as slowly as they’re moving now or as much go wrong as has gone wrong in this election.”

Fellow BLP candidate for Christ Church West Dr William Duguid had similar complaints. He reported to Barbados TODAY that there was much chaos at the polling station ZC3 at the Church of Latter-day Saints in Rendezvous stemming from the voting system, which placed voters into boxes based on the alphabetical order of surnames. He explained that this resulted long waits for some, while others were able to simply breeze through the process.

“Some persons told me that they are leaving and not coming back. That is the reason I came down here to encourage persons to be patient regardless of which party you support,” Duguid said, while stating that the apparent high voter turnout augurs well for the BLP.

Lines were extremely long at Milton Lynch Primary and Christ Church Girls School in the constituency of Christ Church East Central, in which incumbent Ronald Jones of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP); Ryan Straughn of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP); Scott Weatherhead of Solutions Barbados and Ogeji Dottin of the United Progressive Party UPP are the four contenders.

However, there were many complaints today, including by some voters who said the polling stations were too congested and about poor guidelines. One voter told Barbados TODAY that she did not feel as though the electoral process was properly organized. She explained that after congregating in one area, voters were filtered alphabetically into polling booths. Even so, with one doorway for both entrance and exit into the booths, she complained that the process was quite uncomfortable.

However, speaking to Barbados TODAY after casting his ballot at the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Maxwell Hill, Solutions Barbados candidates Scott Weatherhead said he was pleased with the high turnout, which he saw as an indication that persons were fed up with the two main political parties.

“I am excited that there are long lines because that tells me that Barbadians are coming out in their numbers to vote and that is what we need.

“We need those persons who have not been turning out to vote for many years because they were disenchanted with two parties, to come out and vote for a new party,” Weatherhead stressed. colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb

The post Confusion reigns appeared first on Barbados Today.