BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies were 132 for three at tea after opting to bat first on the opening day of the first Test against England at Kensington Oval here Wednesday.
Rain at 2:12 pm forced umpires to take tea early.
Scores:
WEST INDIES 132 for three (John Campbell 44, Shai Hope 42 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 40; Ben Stokes 2-33) vs ENGLAND.
CMC
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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies reached 264 for eight at the close after opting to bat first on the opening day of the first Test against England at Kensington Oval here Wednesday.
Scores:
WEST INDIES 264 for eight (Shai Hope 57, Shimron Hetmyer 56 not out, Roston Chase 54, John Campbell 44, Kraigg Brathwaite 40; James Anderson 4-33, Ben Stokes 3-47) vs ENGLAND.
CMC
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Reports of a shooting at Baxters Road, St Michael this evening.
It is alleged that a man was shot multiple times while sitting in his vehicle near Jordan's Supermarket. Reports are that about 6:10p.m. a lone gunman emerged from the New Orleans area and fired on the victim who was taken to hospital.
More information as it comes to hand.
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Barbados records another murder in a matter of days after the man who was shot multiple times while sitting in his vehicle earlier tonight died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
Police spokesman Station Sergeant Michael Blackman said the incident occurred around 6:10p.m. on Wednesday January 23.
"Corey Parris, of Shop Hill, St Thomas was driving along Baxters Road, in the direction of The City, when gunshots rang out [while he was in] the area of Jordan's Supermarket.
“The victim slumped over [and] two males who were in the area drove [him] to the QEH in the said vehicle he was driving . . . where he succumbed to his injuries," Station Sergeant Blackman reported.
The officer is asking anyone with information that can assist with their investigation to contact Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1 800 8477 or any police station.
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Barbados’ Head of State believes every Barbadian should be concerned about the prevailing crime situation in the country.
With the country recording its seventh murder on Tuesday evening, Governor General Dame Sandra Mason today expressed concern about the development and indicated that Barbadians should be horrified and throwing their hands in the air about the alarming statistic.
In her usual soft tone, Dame Sandra said seven murders are worrying and especially in just the first month of the year.
[caption id="attachment_288142" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Governor General Dame Sandra Mason and 100-year-old Coral Agard chatting during this morning’s visit.[/caption]
The Governor General spoke out about the crime issue, while on a visit to Barbados’ latest centenarian Coral Osaline Agard, at 79 Appleby Gardens, St James.
As those gathered nodded in acknowledgement, Dame Sandra stressed that there is a need for the older generation to set good examples for the youth, in addition to showing them the right path to take in life.
“We as the adults need to talk to our young people. The fact that they are here and the things that they are enjoying have not been thrown like manna from heaven to them. We have worked, and granny started working and our parents and grandparents worked so we could be here.
“So we need to tell the young people that you have to work for what you want, it doesn’t come, as I said, like manna from heaven,” Dame Sandra said.
The Governor General said that the youth must be taught from an early age, respect for others, authority, and property.
She stressed too, that young people must also be taught how to love.
“One of the things I notice when you ask the mother of a murdered boy how she feels, she always says ‘oh, the last thing he said to me is I love you mom’.
“Now if he had said I love you mom, either the murderer or the victim would not be in the position that they are in because love doesn’t allow you to do to your fellow man, what some of them are doing.
“So we need to teach them love, we need to teach them respect. And they can only get it if we teach it to them and we show them,” she said.
Carrying on with her remarks, which captured the attention of all in her presence, Dame Sandra urged parents to be careful what examples they set for their children who are always watching them.
She spoke about the fact that she recently received an inspirational whatsapp message where a father urged his son to be careful where he walked.
“And then the son says to him, no problem dad I am watching you. So that tells you a lot,” she said.
Using an example from her own life, the mother of one recalled that when her son told her he wanted to study law, and she asked him if he knew what that meant, he told her, ‘yes mom, I watched you’.
“Now, I didn’t think that he was watching me. So what I am saying is that our children are watching us. If we speak ill of each other, if we curse, if we carry on . . .What we do, and how we do it, will determine how our children are. And you mom [centenarian] have been fortunate because obviously your children watched you, and watched you well because they are decent looking children,” she said.
The former Appeals Court Judge also added that Barbados has become a selfish society as it relates to people not speaking out about wrongdoings.
“When we see children doing things, despite the fact that they might curse you, you still say something, do not hold your tongue. You are the adult, you speak to the children, and that is our responsibility.
“We talk about why God give us mothers, he gives us to guide and direct us. Why God gives us adults? So that they can teach and show the younger ones. I think I have preached enough,” Dame Sandra said as she added her voice to the public outcry for the spate of crime and violence in society to come to a halt.
On January 8, Shaquille Toppin was shot and killed near Retreat Road, Black Rock.
On January 11, Ronald Rudder died as a result of gunshot wounds, which he received at the Pine, St Michael.
On January 15, 42-year-old Daryl Harris was shot and killed outside his home at Barbarees Hill, St Michael.
On January 21, 69-year-old Martha Doyle’s throat was slashed at the Vauxhall Senior Citizens Village, Vauxhall, Christ Church home.
Eighty minutes before Doyle tragically lost her life at the hands of another resident of the village, the body of an unidentified female was found at River Bay, St Lucy.
Then around 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, the lifeless body of an unidentified female was found lying on her back next to an abandoned car in a bushy area at Northumberland, St Lucy, just about a mile away from River Bay.
Hours later, a Shop Hill, St Thomas family was thrown into mourning as their loved one 35-year-old Barry Taylor was murdered.
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About 24-hours after Shop Hill, St Thomas resident Barry Taylor’s lifeless body was discovered beside the road not far from the Lester Vaughan Secondary School at Cane Garden in the same parish, another Shop Hill resident has been slain.
Police are conducting investigations into the murder of Corey Yabba Parris, 47, who was shot multiple times while sitting in a car registration number MA 4399 about 6.10 p.m. today on Baxters Road, St Michael in the vicinity of Jordan’s Supermarket.
[caption id="attachment_288145" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Corey Parris[/caption]
Reports are that a lone gunman emerged from the area of New Orleans, St Michael and fired multiple times at Parris, hitting him about the body. He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
In December 2012 police issued a wanted bulletin for Parris and Andre Jackman, alias Lord Evil, of Stroud Bay, St Lucy advising both men to present themselves to the police accompanied by an attorney-at-law of their choice or a family member.
In October 2017, Parris and an Omari Maycock of 7th Avenue, New Orleans, St Michael were jointly charged for gun and ammunition possession.
Parris was released on bail from Her Majesty’s Prison, Dodds, St Philip about a month ago.
Tonight when Barbados TODAY visited Parris’ home district, residents of the Shop Hill community were holding an emergency prayer session at the Shop Hill Church of the Nazarene, invoking God’s intervention into the spate of violent gun crimes not only in their community but in other trouble spots in Barbados. Pastor David Daniel said that as a church they were trying to reach out to the grieving families in their community.
[caption id="attachment_288146" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Pastor David Daniel (left) and Maxine Parris (in white) join other members of the church in prayer.[/caption]
One of the churchgoers, Maxine Parris, said they were on their way to a meeting but after hearing of the latest murder, they decided to hold a prayer service at the church instead
Barbados TODAY understands that the recent shootings are linked to an ongoing feud between gangs from the Chapman Lane and New Orleans districts in the City.
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Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn has welcomed the decision by Prime Minister Mia Mottley to remove some of the duties of Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson, but said it was only done “half way”. In fact, Franklyn said he believed all Hinkson's ministerial duties should have been taken away, though he did not say why.
Franklyn, who was contributing to debate on the Public Finance Management Bill in the Senate on Wednesday, said he was ready to “support” the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration once it was “doing the right thing”.
“I see the other day the Prime Minister took away some of their duties and I support it. If there is any fault that I could find with her in that regard is that she did not take away all. But when you do the right thing I will say so,” he quipped.
“I am very serious she did the right thing this time, it is just that she did the half right thing because she should have carried away all. But be that as it may, I need you, this country needs you to do the right thing,” he urged Government.
Last week Mottley relieved Hinkson of his duties related to the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) with immediate effect and reassigned them to Attorney General Dale Marshall. Hinkson was also relieved of responsibility for the Forensic Services Centre, the Criminal Justice Research Unit and the Police Complaints Authority.
Hinkson has so far said he was in “total agreement” with the Prime Minister's decision, indicating that he could now better manage his remaining duties.
Turning his attention to the Bill, Franklyn urged Government to weed out corruption and bring people guilty of wrongdoing to justice.
“I don't feel that politicians or anybody should betray the public's trust and get away with it. This is not a witch hunt, you are hunting thieves. So please go after these people. That last group did not carry away the pie, they carried away the whole pie and the pie pan and somebody needs to account for it,” he said,
Pointing out that the legislation “goes a long way” to ensure that people would think twice before doing wrong, Franklyn said he did not believe it would stop people from “transgressing”, but would cause them to want to be more “innovative”.
“Now that you are at the wheel you’ve got to stay the course and deal with these people,” insisted Franklyn.
While lauding the BLP administration for “starting on this transparency thing”, Franklyn cried shame on the administration for not disclosing its intention of accepting $13.5 million for land at Coverley before it did.
In making the announcement of the transaction, Mottley had revealed that the $13.5 million was three times the worth of the lands sold.
However, insisting that he was not aware of the worth of the land, Franklyn said the fact that the deal was done before being made public “looks bad”.
“When you have these private treaty arrangements it always leaves room for doubt. But if you brought it before Parliament and explained yourself, then it comes up here and we vote on it and we say yes, nobody can fault you. That is all I am saying,” he said.
Franklyn, who previously called for members of the DLP found guilty of wrongdoing while in office to be brought to justice, said he was “hurting” and was eager to see them pay.
He said it was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that had caused the current administration to put certain measures in place to ensure transparency, but insisted that he wanted to see action in relation to weeding out corruption.
“I want this administration to implement what it campaigned on, one that rules out corruption,” he said.
The Public Finance Management Bill, among other things, outlines the roles and responsibilities of key government officials including ministers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and accounting officers.
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Independent Senator Monique Taitt is suggesting that Government incurs a penalty for failing to pay for services or pay income tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporation tax refunds within a stipulated time.
Taitt, who was addressing the Upper House today as she contributed to debate on the Public Finance Management Bill, said it would only be fair for the government to be penalized just as individuals and companies were if they failed to meet their obligations to Government.
“What are the penalties for the government failing to repay or remit if they don’t take on the suggestion of interest and penalties? Are you calling upon individuals to have to go to court, which is an additional cost, or at the end of the day is it just lip service where you got to wait anyway because it is Government? I am just asking these questions because to me public finance is not only revenue generation it is also for the people. It is also ensuring that people are not crippled, because an asset rich cash poor company is a recipe for disaster,” said Taitt.
She said it was about time the government addressed the issue of income tax, VAT and corporation tax refunds, adding that the new Bill should make provision for Government to be held responsible.
She insisted that while Government seemed to have an “air-tight, organized and structured piece of legislation in place to deal with the ills of public finance management” it should also ensure that “the people for whom this Bill has been devised” also benefit.
“I have a client who told me they are owed over $60,000 in VAT returns, $30,000 of which is over a year old. So I am just querying and hoping that with this new Public Finance Management Bill that the proper system of accounts of all money received and paid by the government will speak to things like income tax returns, VAT returns, when you do a job for the Government,” she said.
“I am hoping that with the advent of this Bill that those things will be properly managed and if they are not, just as how if you don’t pay your land tax on time or income tax on time there are interest and penalties, will the government by virtue of having all of this going on, by allowing persons to whom they owe either remittances or refunds, allow those persons to benefit from interest and penalties as well?” she asked.
Saying she hoped it would not take up to a year for the government to pay what it owed, Taitt also questioned what mechanisms would be put in place to ensure that the proposed legislation was effective.
“It cannot be for example, that when you go on the BRA (Barbados Revenue Authority) website they are telling you that TAMIS is down and they apologize for any inconvenience caused and they are trying to get their technical people to deal with it. So, there are VAT returns that as far as I am aware, are yet to be filed because they can’t get on to TAMIS or whatever system deals with VAT. If you are the agency to collect, you should be running effectively. So I am hoping that all the bells and whistles in this piece of legislation will also deal with the necessary infrastructure to allow it to work, if not this is all just rhetoric,” she explained.
Taitt also questioned why the government did not allow for the settling of its debt by setting off what it owed individuals and businesses against what it owed by them.
“That has always been a puzzle to me why set-offs are not happening at BRA,” said Taitt, “so that is another query I have as it relates to the public finance management of the country and the common sense of it all. You pay to get back instead of set-off?” she said.
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Opposition Senator Crystal Drakes wants the level of corruption in Barbados to be identified.
Then, she wants those persons identified to have engaged in the illegal practices brought to justice.
Those were her suggestions as she spoke during debate on the Public Finance Management Bill 2019 in the Senate this afternoon.
“What I'm asking us to do as we move forward is to identify the level of corruption that we have, because if we sit here and say there is possibly corruption, or there maybe is corruption, it is to deny that we are unaware of any of these wrongdoings.
“It's only when we acknowledge it...you can then only start to solve it. In acknowledging we have to then start to report it,” Drakes said.
The senator also partly blamed the country's current economic situation on those persons who engaged in corrupt practices.
“So when we here in Barbados have these cases where we hear either outright in public or in whispers of unscrupulous deals being made and large unexplainable contracts being given to persons, that is what has contributed to us coming to this point in time.
“I want to say that anyone who has ever benefited from such deals, or fat contracts as people would call them, you have in your small or large way contributed to why Barbados is now at the place it is at,” Haynes said.
“Yes we have issues with our economic structures, as far as the drivers are concerned, but when you compound low growth with elements of wastage and mismanagement, you make the situation even more dire.”
She said the actions of those corrupt individuals had left Government's hands tied and meant tough measures now had to be implemented.
“What you do as an individual then leaves the Government to have to cut expenditure, you leave a Government to now have to send home workers, you leave a Government to raise taxes to the point where it feels almost burdensome to the others in society.
“Sometimes we talk about these things as if they are abstract concepts. It is corruption by persons, by individuals. You are the ones who are placing your society at risk, this is where it leads us. So when there is poor mismanagement and a disregard for integrity you lead a country to the brink of economic turmoil where no one is left untouched by harsh measures,” Haynes said.
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Members of the local business community are being warned to avoid corrupt business practices at all costs, following the indictment of two former senior insurance executives, in a US case centered on former minister of commerce, Donville Inniss.
Last Friday, former Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) chief executive officer, Ingrid Innes, and former ICBL senior vice-president, Alex Tasker, were named as defendants in the money laundering case involving Inniss, a former Barbados government minister.
In a Barbados TODAY interview, Inniss’ successor in office, Dwight Sutherland, indicated that while none of the parties had been convicted of wrongdoing in the high profile matter, the developments were still of concern.
These developments prompted an appeal from Sutherland, who is also responsible for small business development, for members of the local business community to ensure they act in accordance with the regulations governing business while maintaining a high level of integrity.
“I believe once you operate along those guidelines then we won’t have challenges in this country. It’s just to adhere to the guidelines and remove all the shortcuts. Try to follow the correct path as it relates to business practices,” he urged.
With that advice, Sutherland gave the assurance that government would be placing more pressure on local business people.
“I often look at the financial management legislation and the integrity legislation. These are some of the things that will allow businesses to operate with high ethical standards. Good governance structures will be put in place and it will augur well for Barbados.
“These are the laws that will transform how we do business and help us to punch above our weight and move forward as a country with good regulation and good laws, where people will want to do business,” he said, while adding that in light of the country’s struggling economy, “you will get one or two challenges in terms of deviant behavior and a bit of corruption, but once we revive this economy, I am positive that many of these negatives and irregularities will be stamped out.”
Meanwhile, the minister stressed that the news of Donville Inniss’ alleged involvement in the matter should not be a point of celebration by members of the current government.
“We shouldn’t be celebrating any ill or damage being sustained to the colleagues on the other side . . . and I say colleague because we all are supposed to be working toward the good of this country. Indeed it is sad,” he said.
However, he said the development has been a wake-up call and has motivated him to do all in his power to avoid a situation similar to his predecessor’s.
“Politicians need to bring ethical standards and a sense of responsibility and a sense of purpose where people can trust us and feel empowered. I am looking forward to a country where people can begin to look at us [politicians] through one lens instead of with skepticism.
“We will do justice to this country in terms of facilitating high business practices and make sure that everything we do is above board and can withstand any form of scrutiny or regulations and I think that is how all politicians ought to operate,” he said, while adding that government had its work cut out to regain the confidence of citizens.
“We have to bring back a level of respectability to how people see us. We should be seen as role models for young people and indeed that is my mission and my mandate,” he promised.
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The mother of the young man who was found bleeding at the side of the road at Cane Garden, St Thomas, where he eventually died, wants her son’s killer(s) found before he goes to his grave.
A devastated Joan Benn who last saw her 35-year-old son Barry Taylor at their Shop Hill, St Thomas home just over an hour before his bloody and lifeless body was discovered with stab wounds around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday said she just wants justice for her child.
[caption id="attachment_288181" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Joan Benn mourning the loss of her son Barry Taylor .[/caption]
She said she last saw Taylor around 5 p.m. that same day when he told her ‘good evening mummy’, to which she replied ‘good evening Barry’.
He then told her he was leaving.
“I want them hold before the week done. Before Barry get in he grave I want them hold,” the sobbing mother told Barbados TODAY.
“I just feel empty. It is unbelievable. I ain’t supposed to bury he; he is supposed to bury me. Everybody trying to hold up. Everybody trying to cope with it because it is not easy,” she added.
Benn said she received the tragic news about the death of the first of her three children from a co-worker who was passing the area on her way home.
“She saw him, recognized he was my son and she came and told me. I could not believe it. A gentleman who lives not too far from there saw him take his last breath. He said he was stumbling and then he dropped down,” she said, as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
As she wiped the tears away with a blue washcloth, the mother said she has been struggling to understand why somebody would have carried out such an act on Taylor whom she described as someone who did not “get into anything”.
“He would be in and out. He would be in Shop Hill and Jackson and sometimes he would go in town and come home quick. He would be in and out, but in the area,” she said.
The Shop Hill community was quiet when Barbados TODAY visited the area this morning. Most of Taylor’s family members were locked away in their houses, which are all situated close to each other.
His aunt Betty Springer said she knew her nephew to be one to run away from crowds. She said most of Tuesday he was at home listening to music.
“I can’t believe it. I helped to raise him. Barry doesn’t trouble you. Up to yesterday Barry was home playing his music. Barry doesn’t trouble you so I don’t know how this happen. This thing got everybody shocked. I went to the scene but I could not go close to the body. I could not look at my nephew that way,” the aunt said.
Benn said Taylor was a former St Leonard’s Boys student who loved playing football and had represented Shop Hill in that sport.
A resident who lives close to the scene told Barbados TODAY the image of Taylor’s mother sitting in a chair crying as she watched her son’s body waiting to be removed from the scene, was a sad sight that he believed would stay with him for a long.
“That ain’t nothing no mother should have to go through. I don’t understand why all of this killing and violence,” the concerned resident said.
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Coral Osaline Agard started her day with a session of prayer thanking God for helping her to reach 100 years old.
Then she got busy in her kitchen preparing her lunch, which included frying pot fish.
[caption id="attachment_288182" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Sprightly centenarian Coral Agard.[/caption]
Relatives who gathered at her Appleby Gardens, St James home to celebrate the big day which also included a visit from Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, told members of the media that Agard does not only cook for herself and keep her surroundings clean and tidy, but she also takes pride in catching the bus to go wherever she wants to.
Agard who is lovingly referred to as “the road runner” acts as though her walking stick is just a prop, as she is still able to walk upright on her own.
Relatives recalled that just two years ago, the old lady was still going to the supermarket to do her own grocery shopping.
“I am feeling fine. I am not complaining,” declared the centenarian who said that she embraced the tough and happy times she has encountered throughout life’s journey.
A seemingly quiet Agard, who has one daughter, four grands, five great-grands and four great-great grands, did not have much to say other than she was feeling grateful.
However, her granddaughter, Olivet Hinds, said her grandmother worked heading cane at Porters factory and then worked as a cleaner in the tourism industry.
“She is in good health. She is always on the road. She likes to go places. It is only in the last year that we have stopped her being independent. She is now here living with mummy and my brother. But all like now she still cooks.
“She doesn’t go out alone anymore. But wherever she wants to go, she has her attendant there and on the bus they go wherever driving. And you always have to tell her granny the stick goes on the ground not under your arm. She has a stick just to pose with,” Hinds said.
She said her grandmother also believes that the “touch” of brandy she has been drinking every Saturday night for many years, is what gets you to the 100 mark.
The granddaughter said the kind and gentle matriarch would give her last to a stranger.
“Anybody would tell you that. I use to work on Broad Street and I would be at lunch going down Broad Street and I would pass granny. I would ask her, ‘granny where you going?’ and she would say ‘I going to the hospital to look for somebody. Who in the hospital? I don’t know.
“She going to look for the sick and take stuff for the people at the hospital. She would give the last of whatever it is she has to a stranger. She does not even have to know you. As long as you look like you are in need, she would take her shoes off and walk on the hot road,” Hinds said.
Governor General Dame Sandra Mason commended Agard for the role she has played in shaping the lives of future generations.
The centenarian who was busy enjoying the company of the youngest member of her family, 10-month-old Lux Corbin who came in from Canada to share the special day with her, told Barbados TODAY that she intended to spend the rest of her birthday quietly.
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A group of Venezuelans living in Barbados is accusing local dignitaries of deliberately spreading propaganda on behalf of the Venezuelan government by returning with fake news reports on the country’s situation after government-sponsored trips to the country.
Upset Venezuelans told Barbados TODAY that the “propaganda” was intended to give the impression that “everything is fine and dandy” in the country, which is widely reported as being in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, fuelled by a dictator.
[caption id="attachment_288183" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Venezuelans protesting against President Nicolas Maduro in Barbados today.[/caption]
The local group came together near Accra Beach to protest the tenure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro - joining thousands of their countrymen living in 70 countries around the world, who are demanding that he be removed from office.
Political activists, including Barbados’ ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), David Commissiong and General Secretary of the Friends of Venezuela Solidarity Committee, David Denny, have on numerous occasions defended the Maduro-led government of Venezuela amid continued criticism.
However, some Venezuelans living in Barbados say their families are suffering in Venezuela and have dismissed the accounts of local activists.
“A lot of local dignitaries say Venezuela is fantastic, but I invite them and I have invited them on social media, to go to Venezuela and live with a Venezuelan family. Take your wife with you and when your wife is going through that time of the month that every lady goes through, take her to a supermarket to find sanitary napkins. Take your child with you and when he gets a headache, try to get aspirin for the child; you won’t find it,” said Jose Zerba, who has been living in Barbados for over 30 years since migrating from Venezuela.
Instead, Zerba accused the local dignitaries of doing a disservice with their accounts of the situation in the country.
“The government of Venezuela will invite you to Venezuela for a week, so that you can come back and talk about Venezuela. You’re going to fly first class if you don’t go on a private aircraft. You’re going to stay as a guest of the government. You’re going to get all three of your meals and if you want champagne with breakfast, you can have that along with a private car to pick you up and take you where you want to go,” he said.
Earlier this month, a number of Barbadians travelled to Venezuela to attend the January 10th Presidential Inauguration of Nicolas Maduro and reported that the election process was fair, despite reports from countless international media that the election was rigged.
Maria Gloumeau, another Venezuelan protester, however, told Barbados TODAY that their families were “dying and crying” and when they go against the government are being killed and imprisoned.
“We are supporting our Venezuelan people to take out Mr. Nicolas Maduro who has taken presidency as a dictator because he was not elected by the people.
“The news that comes from Barbadians who go to Venezuela is usually from people who are taken there by the government. They see a different country to what exists. There’s no medicine, there’s no food, there’s a lot of insecurity, there’s nothing,” she said in despair.
Last May, Head of the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Tennyson Joseph declared that Venezuela was “more democratic than Barbados,” following criticism of the Maduro government’s handling of the situation in Venezuela. Joseph more recently has also called on regional governments to respect Venezuela’s right to self-determination.
However, Venezuelans living in Barbados have described last May’s election in Venezuela as fraudulent. Instead, they say that many around the world were asking for help to create a transition toward a new government and new elections.
“Venezuela today sits on the world’s largest confirmed oil reserves. Venezuela has bauxite, diamonds and gold, but at the same time, Venezuela is the poorest country after Haiti in the hemisphere,” argued Zerba.
Much to the delight of the protestors, Venezuela’s opposition leader, Juan Guaido, today declared himself the country’s interim president before thousands of demonstrators in Caracas as the latest step to end the Maduro’s reign as President.
The post Dire situation appeared first on Barbados Today.
The head of this island’s renewable energy sector is warning Government to pick up the pace on key infrastructural and policy changes, otherwise, the goal of making Barbados 100 per cent dependent on renewable energy by 2030, will amount to nothing more than just fancy talk.
This is the view of president of the Barbados Renewable Energy Association (BREA), Jerry George, who explained that among other critical issues to be addressed, Government must immediately extend Barbados Light and Power’s (BL&P) licence to provide electricity to the island.
He explained that it was unreasonable to expect BL&P to make substantial investments in renewable energy infrastructure without assurances after their licence expires in 11 years.
Speaking to reporters this morning at BREA’s 7th annual general meeting at the 3W’s Oval pavilion, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, George made it clear that without the investments from BL&P, Government’s goal was simply out of reach.
“The utility company’s involvement is critical. We cannot do this without the involvement of the utility company and currently their licence expires in 11 years. This might sound like a long time to some people, but I can assure that it is not. They (BL&P) will need to start to make investments to support this transition and they are going to be hesitant to do that if they don’t know if they even going to be existing in the next 11 years. So, we strongly believe that the utility’s licence needs to get addressed now so that they can be part of this process in developing the detailed strategy on how we move forward to 100 per cent renewable energy,” explained George.
In addition to the licence, George also expressed concern about the length of time that it is still taking investors to get the requisite permissions for renewable energy projects.
“This cannot continue going forward. We have scenarios where projects have been under development for over two or three years and if we are to achieve this target then we cannot be taking this long to make a decision. There must be ministerial synchronization with the policy. It is not just about the Ministry of Energy alone. All departments that play a role must be on the same page,” said George.
The renewable energy advocate emphasised, “This is a national target, and everybody must be aligned so that when an application is being made for a solar farm all of the various Government agencies must have their processes in place so that the decision can be made quickly and that developer can know if he is going ahead or not.”
The BREA president noted that the eight-month-old Mia Mottley administration has been brought up to speed on the issue of the licence. However, he is concerned that with only a short time remaining for such an ambitious enterprise of switching fully to renewable energy, there is not enough urgency being shown.
“The Government is well aware of this and a number of other issues. We raised it with them when the new administration came in. We are aware that there have already been a number of policies and regulatory amendments made as well as new documents developed. We are hoping that we will hear about some of these decisions early in this year,” he stressed.
colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb
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Murder accused Anderson Jerome Calderon was remanded to Dodds when he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court earlier today charged with the shooting death of the Ronald Rudder, of 1st Avenue, Gills Gap, Eagle Hall, St Michael.
The 32-year-old Calderon, of Block 2E North Close Wildey, St Michael is accused of killing Rudder on January 11, 2019.
He was not required to plea to the indictable charge when he appeared before Acting Magistrate Anika Jackson this morning.
Calderon is represented by attorneys-at-law Naomi Lynton and Neville Reid.
The accused will make his next court appearance on February 21.
The post Update – Murder accused remanded appeared first on Barbados Today.
Police are at this hour investigating a shooting incident which occurred at Gemswick, St Philip.
One man was injured and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) by private vehicle.
More details as they come to hand.
The post One injured in Gemswick shooting appeared first on Barbados Today.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – England, replying to West Indies’ first innings of 289, were dismissed for 77 at tea on the second day of the first Test at Kensington Oval here Thursday.
Scores:
WEST INDIES 289 (Shimron Hetmyer 81, Shai Hope 57, Roston Chase 54, John Campbell 44, Kraigg Brathwaite 40; James Anderson 5-46, Ben Stokes 4-59)
ENGLAND 77 (Kemar Roach 5-17, Jason Holder 2-15, Alzarri Joseph 2-20)
The post CRICKET-TEA-Windies (289) vs England (77) – 2nd day, 1st Test appeared first on Barbados Today.
Below is a statement from the United Progressive Party's Public Relations Officer Wayne Giffith
The January spate of gun-play has Barbadians in absolute fear for our lives as we witness an unprecedented display of mayhem in the streets. We fear especially for the innocent ones on their way to and from school.
Despite the responsibilities related directly to law and order being accurately reassigned to the portfolio of the Attorney General Dale Marshall, his subsequent visits into troubled communities served as only ineffective optics and cannot redress the matter at hand.
With Barbados at the peak of the Tourist season, the nation is anxiously awaiting the arrest of those responsible not only for these executions but those involved in the importation of illegal
firearms.
At this stage where homicides outnumber road fatalities, the country needs to hear from Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who was given a complete mandate to resolve the matters of national
importance and security.
The United Progressive Party calls on the prime minister to use her vast influence to hopefully dissuade the criminal intentions of those who wish to commit these heinous offenses.
The post UPP – The country needs to hear from the Prime Minister appeared first on Barbados Today.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a shooting incident at Gemswick, St Philip today that left one man nursing a gunshot injury.
The victim Damien Hunte - address unknown at this time - received a gunshot wound in his back and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle.
Police say the incident occurred around 9o'clock this morning.
The post Update- Police name victim in Gemswick shooting appeared first on Barbados Today.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies, leading on first innings by 212 runs, reached 127 for six in their second innings at the close on the second day of the first Test against England at Kensington Oval here Thursday.
Scores:
WEST INDIES 289 (Shimron Hetmyer 81, Shai Hope 57, Roston Chase 54, John Campbell 44, Kraigg Brathwaite 40; James Anderson 5-46, Ben Stokes 4-59) and 127 for six (John Campbell 33, Shimron Hetmyer 31, Shane Dowrich 27 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 24; Moeen Ali 3-41, Ben Stokes 2-31)
ENGLAND 77 (Kemar Roach 5-17, Jason Holder 2-15, Alzarri Joseph 2-20)
The post CRICKET- CLOSE- WI (289) & 127-6 vs ENG (77) – 2nd day, 1st Test appeared first on Barbados Today.