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stephaniefchase · 7 years

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Bajan Newscap 11/23/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday 23rd November, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

MOTTLEY: NEVER AGAIN – Barbados Labour Party leader Mia Mottley says she will not be appearing before the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (BCCI) annual discussion as Opposition Leader again. She made this veiled announcement about her future yesterday after the BCCI event at Hilton Barbados, as she thanked the private sector entity for having her in attendance. “I’ve been here in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; all as Leader of the Opposition. Whatever happens, I will not be here as the Leader of the Opposition again,” she added. During her speech, Mottley, who was Opposition Leader from 2008 to 2010 and since 2013, made the case for the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to be elected to office in the next election. She assured the business community that, if given a chance, the Bees would be able to remedy the country’s problems. Mottley said despite a plethora of challenges facing Barbados, the problems could be fixed. “What you need is a government that is fit for purpose in this country. There is nothing so wrong with Barbados that cannot be fixed with a strong dose of leadership,” she said to rapturous applause. She also said it was time for the people and businesses to stop being guinea pigs for Government. Mottley reminded the business community that Barbados was now ranked 175th out of 197 countries in economic growth, and had fallen another 15 places in the Ease of Doing Business Report. She also said the island had dropped in ranking from five to 72 in the 2016 Global Competitiveness Report. She said no data was submitted for the report in 2017. Additionally, she reminded the gathering of the taxes instituted by the current administration such as a 2008 cellphone tax and a gaming machine tax. “We don’t only have to tax and spend to trigger growth. How we legislate, how we facilitate, how we regulate, all of these things trigger growth.” Mottley said the fix would not be easy once elected to office. However, she offered a number of solutions, such as reverse mortgages, the repealing of the National Social Responsibility Levy and the restructuring of the taxation system. (DN)

IMF: CUT SPENDING – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has left Barbados convinced that Government is not doing enough to fix its fiscal problems. Judith Gold, head of the IMF delegation that conducted the annual Article IV consultation between November 7 and Tuesday, is therefore urging the Freundel Stuart administration to cut its spending further. Failing this, the island’s debt problems would continue, she warned. The IMF is also offering its help to Government. It “stands ready to assist the Government of Barbados, including through continued policy dialogue and technical assistance”, Gold said. During its visit to the island, the team from Washington met with Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes, Minister of Industry Donville Inniss, Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley, senior Government officials, and representatives of the private sector, labour organisations and academia. In a statement released after departing the island, Gold said while continued strong growth in long-stay tourism supported Barbados’ economic growth, fiscal consolidation was contributing to a slowdown. The economist said “substantial further fiscal effort is needed to decisively place the debt on a downward trajectory”. Gold said Government’s adjustment strategy should focus on addressing the high transfers, containing other current expenditures and maintaining a strong revenue effort. The IMF also wants Government to focus on structural reforms “to support growth and improve the business climate for domestic and foreign investment are also urgent. The IMF representative also suggested that Government’s “ambitious” May 30 Budget was likely to miss its targets due to National Social Responsibility Levy exemptions, lower than expected non-oil imports, shortfalls in some other revenues, and high transfers. (DN)

HIGH HOPES – Government is projecting savings of over $3 billion over the next two decades under the new Barbados National Energy Policy 2017–2037. The use of consumption fuel by vehicles is also to be slashed by about half from 11,000 barrels per day to 5,400 barrels per day, with the country scheduled to realize a 75 per cent reduction in the use of fossil fuel-based energy over the next 20 years, and an equal percentage increase in renewable energy usage. Earlier this week, energy officials outlined the key objectives of the new policy, which is scheduled to go before Parliament soon for approval. Last year Government spent just over US$300 million or about seven per cent of the country’s gross domestic product on the importation of fuel, down from the US$450 million in 2015. Acting Chief Project Analyst in the Division of Energy Bryan Haynes said the policy should result in stability of local energy prices, stronger regulation and greater reliability, and energy security and affordability. Based on the policy, by 2037 Barbados should be generating 20 per cent of its energy from natural gas; 30 per cent from biomass; 20 per cent from wind; 15 per cent from solar and 15 per cent from bio-fuels. Haynes said the new framework should result in at least a 22 per cent saving in terms of electricity consumption. (BT)

TAX AMNESTY DRAWING TO A CLOSE – Taxpayers have less than a week to participate in the Tax Amnesty programme which draws to a close on November 30, 2017. The amnesty was announced in May during Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler’s Budgetary Proposal as an additional period for taxpayers to benefit from the waiver of penalties and interest on taxes owed to the Authority.Manager of communications and public relations at the Authority, Carolyn Williams-Gayle, indicated that there were currently no plans to extend the six-month amnesty beyond the November deadline. The taxes eligible for the waiver of penalty and interest in this Tax Amnesty programme are Value Added Tax (VAT), Land Tax, Income Tax, PAYE and Corporation Tax. Williams-Gayle urged taxpayers to use these last few days to make the necessary arrangements to bring their tax arrears up to date. Application forms for the Tax Amnesty Programme may be collected from the Authority’s offices the Treasury Building, Weymouth Corporate Centre, Warrens Tower II, Holetown and Southern Plaza Oistins or downloaded from the Authority’s website at www.bra.gov.bb. (DN)

ANTI CORRUPTION BILL NEEDS FIXING – The Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) Integrity Commission Bill has a number of grey areas and shortcomings which need to be examined. Alicia Archer, a member of Integrity Group Barbados, said they were supportive of anyone who would take “a direct challenge to corruption” which they believed was becoming entrenched in society. Speaking to Starcom Network’s David Ellis yesterday, Archer said they would also like to have dialogue on the proposal. She gave the thumbs up to the investigative powers of the commission and its ability to summon people in the same fashion as a judge of the Supreme Court. However, one concern was the subsequent turning over of prosecution to the Director of Public Prosecutions. “If you have a director with a certain level of fortitude, fine. However, if you have somebody who is politically affiliated, or who literally does not have the testicular fortitude to carry the prosecution through, then the work of the commission is stymied,” she said. “Perhaps it would be better if the commission itself were able to prosecute the criminal acts that are discovered or come up duringthe course of its investigation without having to pass it off to another entity.” The BLP proposal also precluded investigation into matters that fell under the purview of another public official. She cited the example of the Auditor General and asked if those would be excluded. Additionally, the protection for whistle-blowers also needed to be made clearer, as well as term limits for members of the commission, who also needed the assurance that they would not be victimised for decisions taken while on the commission. Last Saturday, shadow attorney general Dale Marshall announced that a BLP administration would lay an Integrity Commission Bill during the first sitting of the House of Assembly if it formed the next Government of Barbados. It comes as Barbados fell 16 places in Transparency International’s ranking of the least corrupt countries in the world, landing at 31 out of 176. The ruling Democratic Labour Party piloted anti-corruption legislation in 2012, but it has never been proclaimed. (DN)

LABOUR DEPARTMENT WARNS OF ‘MODERN DAY SLAVERY’ – The Labour Department will not tolerate any practices that do not conform to this island’s labour laws, Acting Chief Labour Officer Victor Felix has warned. Addressing the opening of a one-day labour management relations seminar at the department’s Warrens Office Complex on Wednesday, Felix encouraged labour officials to report any suspected cases of forced labour, pointing out that this was one of the areas the department was keen on stamping out. “Sometimes we think that in Barbados there is not that particular challenge with forced labour, but we know, and are aware, of the emergence of what they call ‘modern day slavery’, where persons are misled into believing they are travelling to Barbados for a legitimate job offering and when they turn up they realize they are working in something else, other than they have been extended. “So we will want to do all in our power to move away and ensure that those kinds of things do not happen in our jurisdiction. And where we have any sense that they might be occurring, that we draw it to the attention of the authorities,” he told the gathering of private and public sector labour officials. During today’s seminar, which forms part of the labour department’s education and sensitization efforts on labour standards and practices, participants will, among other things, examine various aspects of the labour laws as they discuss some challenges and potential solutions. (BT)

FIRE OFFICERS CALL IN SICK AT GAIA – Firefighters had to be called in from stations around the country to man the station at Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) this morning, after fire officers posted there reportedly called in sick. The last-ditch effort prevented any disruptions and ensured the smooth flow of air traffic throughout the day, official sources said. According to the sources, eight officers were scheduled to be on duty for this morning’s shift, but most of the drivers failed to show up. A representative of the Barbados Fire Service Association would only confirm that a number of officers had indeed reported sick. However, one person with intimate knowledge of the officers’ grievances complained that conditions at the Paragon facility were far from adequate, and that the firefighters had reached the tipping point because their repeated appeals for improvements had fallen on deaf ears. The source further stated that not even a visit by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite last year had spurred the airport authorities to repair the “rundown” facility. “The officers are constantly complaining and the Attorney General even visited last year and they still have not looked at the building. This is ridiculous. Here you have the fire department telling businesses that they must have an emergency escape, yet officers are expected to function at a station that does not have one.” Barbados TODAY visited the airport fire station today and confirmed that the buzzer was indeed not working, as the team was unable to attract the attention of anyone inside. (BT)

PUBLIC NOTICE – The public is being asked to note that the Police PABX system at the Operations Control is temporarily out of order. The public is therefore being advised to contact the nearest police station in the event of an emergency, or telephone numbers 43007254, 4307255, 4307240. (PR) (BT)

UPDATE: LUTHER THORNE MEMORIAL CLOSED – Twenty-eight students and staff members at the Luther Thorne Memorial Primary School were today treated for respiratory ailments as a result of smoke inhalation. A statement issued by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital said it received an emergency call from the school around 11:45 a.m. and an emergency response team comprising of three ambulances, six emergency medical technicians and two ambulance officers, led by consultant in the Accident and Emergency Department Dr David Byer, were dispatched to the scene. Seventeen people were treated at the scene and discharged, two patients were transported to the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic, two were taken to the Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, and the other seven were transported to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department. (BT)

CANTEEN ATTACK – Parents of students attending Ellerslie are fed up with the state of affairs at that school. Emotions came to a boil yesterday morning at the Black Rock, St Michael secondary school, following an incident where a schoolboy was chopped across his hand by a cutlass-wielding student during a vicious lunchtime attack in the canteen. According to reports, the fourth former lost several fingers on the right hand and also received a deep wound just above the elbow. Investigations by the DAILY NATION revealed the violent attack stemmed from a fight two weeks ago. Police public relations officer, Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler, said a 17-year-old student suffered several lacerations to the right hand, with one of the fingers being severed while another was partially severed. (DN)

TEACHERS WANT ACTION AFTER ATTACK – The two teachers’ unions are calling for urgent action from the Ministry of Education and related agencies in the wake of yesterday’s cutlass attack on a student of Ellerslie Secondary School. President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), Pedro Shepherd, recalled the union being taken to task a few years ago when it expressed concern about the violence in schools and described school compounds as “war zones”. Last night he told the DAILY NATION he had a “serious problem” with the level of violence being displayed, especially since yesterday’s was the second incident involving a cutlass in recent weeks. “The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence and Security, and maybe the Attorney General’s Office, are going to have to look at this matter seriously, in terms of when these offences are committed, what are the repercussions for these persons who are involved in these situations. We cannot continue to treat children who want to behave like adults as children. “I think the law has to be changed to accommodate these types of incidents – to treat them as adults. And if the child, certainly, cannot be incarcerated, I believe that parents are going to have to take some responsibility,” he said, adding that the victim could just as easily have been a teacher. (DN)

IT WAS SELF-DEFENCE – A 57-year-old man was granted $3,000 bail today after appearing in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on an assault charge. Hal Fernando Boyce, of Blanch Gap, Westbury New Road, St Michael, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Adrian Fields on November 21, occasioning him actual bodily harm. “It was in self defence,” Boyce told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this morning. With no objection raised to his bail, Boyce was released after his surety was accepted. He returns to court on March 3. (BT)

ST MICHAEL MAN CHARGED WITH THE DEATH OF JUNE KNIGHT – Twenty-seven-year-old Daniel Haynes will appear in the Holetown Magistrates Court tomorrow in connection with the death of accident victim June Knight. Haynes of Jackmans, St Michael was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention and driving without reasonable consideration for others using the road. Knight, was struck by a car driven by Haynes while jogging along the Arch Hall section of the Ronald Mapp Highway on Saturday, October 21. (BT)

CHELTENHAM HELD – A 33-year-old labourer, who allegedly escaped police custody, has been remanded to Dodds. Romel Rico Cheltenham, of Stadium Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, was not required to plead to the indictable offence that having been arrested for burglary on November 16, he escaped District ‘A’ Police Station with the use of force. He is further accused of damaging a drink machine belonging to Vending Plus Inc, without lawful or reasonable excuse, on that same day. While pleading not guilty to that charge, Cheltenham admitted before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant to entering the home of Otis Bovell as a trespasser on November 9 and stealing a $2,800 television, a $500 cellular phone, a $600 PlayStation and $2,400 in cash. He also owned up to burglarizing the home of Gracie Newsam-Cadogan while she was sleeping and stealing a $350 tablet and a $600 cellular phone. The labourer further admitted to entering Skeete, Best and Company, a local chartered accountancy firm, and stealing two laptops worth $2,980 and two bottles of wine worth $20. He will be sentenced on those three charges when he returns to the No.2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on December 18. (BT)

STRAKER GRANTED BAIL – Twenty-two-year-old Nayib Straker was today granted $8000 bail with one surety after being charged with the death of Bentley DeCoursey Belgrave. Straker, of Doughlin Village, St Andrew appeared before Magistrate Wanda Blair in the Holetown Magistrates’ Court. He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention and driving without reasonable consideration for others using the road. Belgrave, who visiting Barbados at the time of his death died on November 4 at Pleasant Hall, St Peter after the vehicle in which he was a passenger collided with a car being driven by Straker. Straker will re-appear in court on May 15, 2018. (BT)

RICHARDS PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGE – A 30-year-old man has one month to pay the court a $750 fine if he wants to avoid spending time at Dodds prison. When Andre Isiah Richards, of Jordans Land, St George, appeared before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch he pleaded guilty to having 14 grammes of cannabis in his possession on November 20. The illegal substance was found in his bedroom when police executed a search warrant at his home just before 8 a.m. on that day. “That is mine officer. That is just a lil shake off I had there,” he reportedly told the officers at the time. In the docks of the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court he told Birch that the police did not come to the house for him but “when they came I was smoking . . . so I owned up to what was there”. If Richards fails to pay the fine he will have to spend three months at the St Philip penal institution. (BT)

PARRIS OUT ON $9000 BAIL – A 25-year-old farmer was released on $9,000 bail after appearing before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on a drug related charge. Tramaine Javon Parris, of Parks Road, St Joseph, pleaded guilty to possessing one gramme of cocaine, which was found in his possession on November 20. However, he pleaded not guilty to assaulting Special Constable Larry Babb in the execution of his duty on the same day, and was not required to plead to the indictable charge of escaping custody at Central Police Station with the use of force. Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons did not object to bail, but requested that conditions be attached if Parris were to be released. The accused man must report to the District ‘F’ Police Station every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday before noon with valid identification. He was also ordered to stay away from Brownes Beach and its environs. Parris returns to court on March 1 when he is expected to know his fate on the cocaine charge, while the remaining cases against him will continue. (BT)

CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN ASSISTS DOMINICAN STUDENTS – As many residents of hurricane-ravaged Dominica start to put their lives back together, a number of Dominican students studying at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies continue to experience difficulties. Five of them recently received a contribution from CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank to assist them with the purchase of their groceries and toiletries for the month. In accepting the donation, they shared some of the difficulties that had led them to seek assistance. One young lady’s mother has lost her job while others do not have homes and their families are busy trying to get a roof back on their family homes. Another’s father is a farmer who has lost his entire crop and the family’s only source of income. All of these make it very difficult for the families to send money to Barbados for their children studying at Cave Hill. Others depend on the Dominican government for a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, but they have not been able to get any of those funds since the passage of the hurricane. As a result, they explained, the Cave Hill Campus has agreed to defer the payment of the campus fees for this semester until the next semester, giving them time to get their lives back in order. The presentation from CIBC FirstCaribbean will cover the groceries and other incidentals for the five students for at least one month. In answer to the question of what was their greatest need, they confirmed that groceries are the immediate need but one student stated that she would really like to go home for Christmas as she wanted to see her family and her home even though she was aware that the home she left is not the same as it now has no roof and her family is sheltered from the elements by tarpaulins. (DN)

KOLIJ RULE POOL – So Harrison College made another splash in the pool. What else is new? The Crumpton Street kids dominated the Inter-School Swimming Championships yet again, having easily defended both the girls’ and boys’ titles once more with nary a threat yesterday at the Aquatic Centre. Led by the indomitable Danielle Titus, Nkosi Dunwoody and their huge horde of national swimmers, Kolij thrashed age-old adversaries Queen’s College by more than 100 points in both standings to win a sixth straight girls’ crown and a seventh successive cup in the boys. The meet merely served as an extended coaching session, with Dunwoody winning all six of his events to help Harrison College amass 291 points in the boys’ table as opposed to QC’s 190. Yet the other race was even more lopsided after Kolij (360) almost doubled their rivals’ point-tally (190) in the girls. (DN)

ARCHER LANDS BIG BASH PICK – Barbadian fast bowling star Jofra Archer has been snapped up by Hobart Hurricanes for the seventh edition of Australia’s Big Bash League which bowls off next month. The 22-year-old Archer, who is currently representing Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League, has been called up to replace England’s Tom Curran who was drafted into the Ashes squad following injury to fellow speedster Steven Finn. Archer, a former Barbados Under-19, made his name for English County Sussex in the recent first-class season, claiming 61 wickets at 25 runs apiece and scoring 638 runs at an average of 45. Archer’s rise to prominence has been a fairy-tale one. Brought in at the latter stages of the 2016 season for his first-class debut, he snatched 23 wickets in six matches to secure a contract extension for the following season. The right-armer then led the Sussex attack brilliantly, taking 84 wickets and scoring 764 runs across all three competitions, to emerge as the club’s Player-of-the-Year. Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said there was already excitement at the Hurricanes surrounding Archer’s arrival for the December 19 to February 4, 2018 tournament. (DN)

Brathwaite into ICC Test top 20 – West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite has broken into the top 20 of the ICC Test batting rankings, after rising one place in the latest release on Tuesday. The right-hander is coming off a modest two-match series against Zimbabwe earlier this month where he scored 121 runs from three innings at an average of 40. He endured a difficult home series against Pakistan with just 101 runs from six innings, but has made steady progression up the rankings since then, especially following the three-Test tour of England where he averaged 47. Brathwaite, 24, has emerged as the Windies batting leader in recent years and averages 36 from 42 Tests. He is currently in New Zealand with the Caribbean side preparing for the two-Test rubber there starting next month. Brathwaite is the only West Indies batsman in the top 20, with the next best being in-form right-hander Shai Hope who lies 25th. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has remained 20th in the bowling rankings, following on from a decent tour of Zimbabwe where he took five wickets in the two Tests on flat tracks in Bulawayo. The Trinidadian is the highest ranked West Indies bowler, with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo lying 23rd and seamer Kemar Roach, 24th. All three will line up in the imminent series against the Black Caps. Australian Steve Smith leads an unchanged top four in the batting rankings while Englishman Jimmy Anderson remains top of the bowling charts. (DN)

WRESTLERS IN BEACH BATTLE – Barbadian wrestlers had contrasting results against the region’s best combatants in the Regional Beach Wrestling Championships during the second edition of the Barbados Olympic Association’s Invitational Games Beach Festival last weekend at Pirates Cove. The primary school division saw keen competition. Rabecca Williams, of Wrestling Pandas, was given a run for her money by Young Dragons’ Shamiyah Forde. With a single leg, Forde took down Williams to gain an early two-point lead. Though Williams’ game plan lacked the usual Cuban-style approach, she equalised before going on to win with a one-pointer take-down during the two-minute regulation period. In the Under-18 category, Barbados’ Jalen Stoute had a tough time facing Suriname’s Dutch-styled duo of Nawien Bepat and Stephen Brunings. Bepat went on to win that division while teammate Brunings took silver and Stoute had to settle for bronze. After two tough battles to eliminate his opponents, Widesh Ramcharan emerged winner of pool one in the men’s Under-80 kg category. Ramcharan’s teammate Micha Williams became victorious in pool two but lost to him during the playoffs to become champion. The men’s over-80 kg category, containing elite local athletes as well as those from Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Suriname, proved the toughest and most competitive of the championships. The Trinidad and Tobago world ranking Sambo athlete, Martin Joseph, used some superb take-downs when he met up with 260-pounder Leandro Dongo of Suriname. Joseph held his own during the battle but lost to Dongo 3-2. (DN)

GUARD OF HONOUR – Mere weeks into his posting to the Magistrates’ Court, security officer David Livingstone Bynoe prevented what could have been a major security incident at the Coleridge Street compound. It was Bynoe who stopped a man, intent on entering the precincts, who was later found to be carrying a gun. On Tuesday, the former Barbados Defence Force soldier was showered with praise and gifts and hailed as a hero in a ceremony attended by magistrates and members of the Registration Department in a ceremony in Court No. 1 of the District “A” Magistrates’ Court. But the security officer stressed he was just doing what his job commanded him to do. And he would do it again, if the need arose. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 42 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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minnamarie1983-blog · 7 years

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Blessings & Christianity quotes 11-22-2017

Blessings quotes

Count your blessings, see what God has done . . . in your life! It is important to remember the powerful and good things in your life particularly when times are dark.

Hyacinth Mottley, Words of Wisdom - Words of Faith

Giving is a responsibility. It is an opportunity. And it is a blessing for every follower of Jesus Christ.

Greg Laurie

Far to often we take our many blessings for granted, but when you stop and realize all good comes from God then you praise Him for all you have.

Catherine Pulsifer

Blessings can come in a number of ways. The Lord doesn't give you what you want, the Lord gives you what you need.

Eric Davis

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Christianity quotes

The Christian can live in the peace and victory of knowing that his or her life." John Juneman, LifeMessage 365

"Studying the Word of God is essential for successful Christian living in this world." Janet Fuller, The Bible: The Key Bible Chapters

"A Christian with a spiritual understanding will take the eternal into account when making decisions." Shannon Scott, Discernment & Decision Making

"If nothing else, as Christians we each desire to live lives that will please our Father in Heaven." Paula Casill, My Brother's Keeper

"Believing in the death, burial, and resurrection is an essential part of being a Christian." James Cooper, Storm Watch: A Journey to Discipleship

"It's better to be around real Christians than being around with others who will influence you into doing other than good things." Andrian Teodoro, The Power of Positive Life

"When most people read the Bible they see it through religious eyes and this taints the ability to see things sometimes." David Alley, 20 Things to Know about Apostles Today

Whatever Gods wants done, He will do; in and through His people. Fran Rogers, First Things That Last Forever

The good news is that God wants to provide you with the very things you've longed for in a family, and he can do that in Christian community. Rick Warren

#blessings quotes #christianity quotes

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nakeddeparture · 1 year

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Warren Mottley, Inquest, Barbados. Medical malpractice by Griffith and Farnum tantamount to criminal negligent!

https://youtu.be/zbSwxF-8Z8Q

youtube

Tantamount to Murder. Naked!!

#Warren mottley #sahle griffith #negligence #naked departure #Youtube

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nakeddeparture · 1 year

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The Warren Mottley Inquest, Barbados. Sahle Griffith was reckless, unprofessional and stands in survival mode!

https://youtu.be/h1EBX7M6WQo

youtube

He knows what’s coming for him. Naked!!

#sahle griffith #Warren mottley #inquest #graveney bannister #barbados #naked departure #Youtube

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nakeddeparture · 1 year

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Bridgetown, Barbados. Warren Mottley.

https://youtu.be/J_GWR5bFpqc

youtube

Naked!!

#naked departure #barbados #Warren mottley #Youtube

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thechasefiles · 2 years

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A senior nurse at Surgical Solutions Inc. on Monday admitted that while the company had the necessary staff and facilities to deal with emergencies, it did not have access to a 24-hour ambulance service. That was the evidence given by Jasmine Durant when the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Warren Mottley continued in the Supreme Court. Mottley, the brother of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on June 29, 2021, from sepsis. Durant, a nurse supervisor at Surgical Solutions, revealed to the court that she was the person who called an ambulance for Mottley on June 27, while he was still a patient at that medical institution. She said she only did so out of an abundance of caution as she did not categorise Mottley’s condition as an emergency. Durant said she received an update on his condition via a phone call in which she learned he had been experiencing low blood pressures at “minutes to 9” that morning. She said because of the fact that there were only two public ambulances, she made a call to Island Care Ambulance, while on her way to work, as a precautionary measure so that it would be on standby in the event Mottley’s condition deteriorated. The nurse said after running some errands, she made her way to the office, went to the recovery room and spoke to Mottley. Durant said there was a “mix up” at Island Care, and she learnt that ambulances were not available until 9:30 a.m. The nurse supervisor said after she was eventually told that the ambulance was not available, she made numerous calls, including to Medic Response at the Bayview Hospital, to secure an ambulance but to no avail. Durant said while it was not the practice of ambulances from the QEH to transport patients from private facilities, one of the doctors at Surgical Solutions reached out to a doctor at the public hospital and “asked a favour”. She said at that time, Mottley was “up and talking” and she saw no need to transport him in a personal vehicle to the QEH. Read the rest below 👇🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/CfWBMnPO-1ZfbMT-fBCyKRNtV7gAUVMwH-DPeY0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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thechasefiles · 2 years

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The widow of the late Warren Mottley on Wednesday disclosed that her husband had a routine colonoscopy just days before he died. Shawn Mottley, who was married to Mottley for 22 years and had two daughters with him, gave evidence on day one of testimony at an inquest into his death. Participating in the proceedings virtually from Jamaica, she disclosed that her husband had visited Surgical Solutions Incorporated in Dome Mall, Warrens for a routine colonoscopy on June 22, 2021. She said the procedure “did not take long” and she was informed that it “had gone well”. Mrs Mottley said her husband felt fine for the remainder of the day and did not complain of feeling anything abnormal. However, she said, around 1 p.m. on June 26, he began to complain about stomach cramps and she was worried because “he looked in discomfort”. Mrs Mottley said she was concerned that the pain persisted. The following day, she said, her husband woke up in a “great deal of pain” and she contacted Surgical Solutions Incorporated before going there early that morning. A doctor examined Mottley and said his stomach was bloated and he was advised to go to the QEH to get a CT scan of his abdomen, which was done. After reviewing the scan, the doctor told them it was “best to go in laparoscopically to see what was happening and remove the blockage if there was one”, Mrs Mottley testified. “He strongly advised to do the procedure at his facility because it was . . . state-of-the-art. “I said I had never done any surgery outside the hospital and that I was hesitant to go but [the doctor] said that while he understood my reservations he believed his facility . . . was superior to the QEH,” she added. The two subsequently went back to the facility and were met by the deceased’s mother, Amor Lady Mottley. Read the rest below 👇🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/CfJlGUdA_G8QGc6j7xEkLuZNhX2EtYynvaEzTA0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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thechasefiles · 4 years

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 22/4/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Wednesday 22nd April, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Midweek Nation Newspaper (MWN).

ABRAHAMS: PEOPLE NOT PAYING THEIR WATER BILLS – The COVID-19 pandemic is causing revenue at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to leak by as much as 25 per cent, primarily because more people are not paying their bills. This was revealed yesterday by Minister Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams, who was a guest on Starcom Network’s Down To Brass Tacks programme along with BWA general manager Keithroy Halliday. “Our financial position, as tenuous as it was, has become worse. The reality is that a lot of people are not paying their water bills at this point in time. The take for the Barbados Water Authority on the bill has dropped to, I think, about 25 per cent of what it is supposed to be,” the minister said. Abrahams said they had operated in good faith and assured people their service would not be disconnected amidst the coronavirus crisis, but he wanted Barbadians to use their conscience. (MWN)

PAY YOUR WATER BILL – As Barbados faces its worst drought in decades, Minister of Water Resources Wilfred Abraham revealed the state-owned water authority was battling its own lack of flowing funds. He warned that revenue at the Barbados Water Authority was fast drying up as Barbadians failed to pay their bills. Speaking on Voice of Barbados’ Down to Brass Tacks, Abrahams, addressing complaints about persistent water outages in rural parishes caught in the grip of an ongoing drought, said the state-owned utility has taken a double-digit knock to its already weak finances in recent weeks. “Our financial position as tenuous as it was has become worse,” he said. “The reality is that a lot of people are not paying their water bills at this time. So the take for the Barbados Water Authority on the bills has dropped to I think 25 per cent of what it is supposed to be.” He argued that just as the BWA determined not to disconnect people during the COVID crisis, consumers should not put their bill payments on the back burner. Abrahams told the programme: “I am just going to ask people to use their conscience a little bit. The fact that we are not going to disconnect you for health reasons does not absolve you from paying your water bill because at the end of the day you are not just going to continue racking up arrears against you but in the interim, you are starving the water authority, or the water authority is being starved of money it needs to do basic things to make the system work properly.” He warned that the problem went further than BWA, saying the Government was stretched because no money was “coming into the Government’s coffers”. He declared: “Land tax is not being paid, VAT [Value Added Tax] is not being paid, business has ground to halt in Barbados, so people are not able to pay their statutory obligations in Barbados. So the Ministry of Finance is catching itself to even find money to run the country so it just not a good situation for us to be in.” The Minister responsible for the BWA noted that the authority was almost at the point of getting to the bottom of what he termed “dangerous debt” levels discovered in 2018 but has now suffered a setback and as a result, a number of critical programmes would be on hold. He cited the proposed $14. 8 million Vineyard project that is expected to provide relief to the water-scarce parishes of St John and St Joseph through the redistribution of water from Vineyard, St Philip to the Golden Ridge/Bowmanston system. Abrahams: “We were scheduled to be starting all of these things… when the COVID issues descended upon us. We have the bulk of the pipes for Vineyard project so we had started the process, we have located where we are going to put the reservoir in Stewart Hill, we have specs for everything that needs to be done for it, we were sourcing the financing for it, we were investigating loans, we had people, that we were looking to get the financing from, but the reality now is that with the decreased revenues of the Barbados Water Authority, occasioned by people not paying their water bills we cannot speak to a financier and we cannot prove to them a guaranteed source of income for the next 12 months. Our income now is at its worse for I don’t even know how long.” Abrahams said the BWA would now have to turn back to the Government to find the money to complete the project, noting that Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn have been trying to source funding. (BT)

BRA TO OPEN TWO OFFICES –The Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) will reopen the Weymouth Corporate Centre and Warrens Towers II locations in St Michael to facilitate limited transactions from Wednesday, April 22. A press release said this is to further enable payments in relation to PAYE, VAT and income tax during the period of the curfew. The offices will open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will follow the recommended physical distancing protocols. Payments for licensing transactions remain suspended during the curfew period, according to the statement. (BGIS)

MINISTRY READY FOR E-LEARNING - Online teaching has started at all tertiary institutions and most private schools. A statement from the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT) said this follows consultations last week with substantive Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw and ministry officials, principals of all public and private schools, and unions representing teachers and principals. From April 20 to 24, all public schools will be preparing to roll out online teaching using the Google G Suite for Education platform. The statement said this platform may be accessed from any PC, laptop, tablet or smart mobile device. The ministry emphasised the importance of education during the curfew period and is working with providers and suppliers to ensure every child has Internet access and devices to utilise the new elearning platform. Radio and television will be utilised in the interim to provide educational content to ensure that students are not disadvantaged. Further assistnce can be accessed by calling the ministry’s helpdesk at 535-0798, between 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Additional information may be found on the ministry’s website www.mes.gov.bb. The ministry advised those schools and teachers who are ready to engage with their students using the Google G Suite Classroom that they may do so, but no new concepts are to be taught. These new measures are being implemented after schools were closed last term to limit spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). (BGIS)

NOT YET IN THE CLEAR – It would be unwise of Government to ease the current restrictions despite Barbados not recording a positive test for coronavirus in the past six days, COVID-19 Czar Richard Carter has declared. He is adamant that as long as there are still live cases of the respiratory illness on the island it means we are still under threat. In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Carter said while the string of negative tests was a positive sign he was still very concerned that 45 people were still infected. Carter said: “I will say, however, that six days without cases, while it is encouraging it does not matter really as much as the fact that we currently still have over 40 live cases in Barbados that we are managing. As long as you have live cases in your country you have an epidemic that is going on.… One case is all it takes to spark a spike. “There can be no immediate contemplation or consideration of lifting restrictions right now. We have to continue to be on our guard and it will be far too early to be talking about the relaxation of the restrictions. One live case means that you have to be considering and dealing and trying to get to zero. Essentially that is our goal, to get to zero cases in Barbados. “We don’t know how many or whether there are other cases that have not been diagnosed within the community. We are trying our best through the contact tracing and through the surveillance that we are undertaking to detect and identify whether there are any cases but we can never be 100 per cent sure outside of testing every single person.” Carter stressed that over 2.5 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19 worldwide started with one case. But he pointed out that public health officials in Barbados would be the ones responsible for advising Government on whether those restrictions ought to be lifted. “So the public health officials will advise the Government when it is appropriate to lift any restrictions that have been put in place. “In all of this we have been following the advice of the public health officials in Barbados and they have advised the Government in relation to when it is necessary to impose restrictions and they will guide the Government as to when it is appropriate to lift them,” the Czar noted. Minister of Health Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic announced yesterday that having acquired 2,800 swabs and 27,000 testing kits, health authorities are moving to ramp up COVID-19 testing. He also warned that Barbados was not yet out in the clear. “I want to reiterate that although this is indeed very encouraging for all of us it is not a sign that we are out of the woods. We must not drop our guard. We must not drop the level of defense that we are putting up against this enemy,” Lt. Col. Bostic said. (BT)

DOC: CAUTIOUS CHANGES TO COME – Barbados is preparing to launch new protocols should the island continue to record no new COVID-19 infections, says Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George. However, although there have been no new infections for the sixth straight day, he advised caution. “We are not going to be rash, even with small incremental changes or with things like opening up businesses and allowing construction. We have been told to let the science guide us, so that’s what we’re doing. We have agreed two weeks – the full incubation period for this disease – with no new cases, will be the trigger for something new. “As we get more information and if things trend downwards, we will have a systematic approach, but countries should not rush to reverse a lot of the changes. It is going to be incremental. . ” (MWN)

PAHO GIVES MORE KITS FOR COVID FIGHT - The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has boosted Barbados’ COVID-19 testing capabilities with a donation of 11,000 testing kits. Accepting the kits and 782 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) packages from PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Dr Yitades Gebre, Minister of Health and Wellness Col Lt Jeffrey Bostic said the donation is timely for use in the country’s island-wide testing programme scheduled to begin soon. Speaking during the handing over ceremony at PAHO’s Dayrells Road, Christ Church headquarters this afternoon, Bostic revealed that health authorities were now in possession of 38 000 testing kits and noted that that number is expected to be increased soon. “We are on top of it in containing it and we need to really expand our testing. This is exactly what we are going to be doing in a day or two. We are going to be expanding the testing and establishing testing centres so that we can get back to as normal a state as early as possible without compromising public health,” Bostic said. Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic receives the donation of kits and equipment from PAHO/WHO Representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Dr Yitades Gebre during a handover at PAHO Headquarters today. (BGIS) Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George who also attended the ceremony, stated that while recovered COVID-19 patients are being released and there has been no evidence of re-infection, the authorities are monitoring this particular aspect of the pandemic closely since it has been happening in other countries. “It is something that we will continue to monitor. As the Minister said we have been given a mandate from the Prime Minister [Mia Amor Mottley] to scale up our testing. Today is day six without any new cases and the Ministry of Health has always had the approach to be extremely transparent. “And we would like to make sure that there is no in-country transmission and the only way we are going to do that with some confidence is if we scale up our testing. “So what we have told general practitioners in Barbados is that persons even without a travel history presenting with respiratory illness we are willing to test. We have placed special emphasis on frontline workers and particularly the elderly,” Dr George said. Minister Bostic thanked PAHO for its assistance in the COVID-19 fight. He said Barbados has been following PAHO and WHO’s guidelines and protocols to contain the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, Dr Gebre praised Barbados’ handling of the pandemic and noted that many countries could benefit from copying the model. He said PAHO is pleased to continue to provide the country with technical and administrative support to ensure that lives are saved and the negative impact on society is kept at a minimum. Dr Gebre said it was encouraging to note that most countries in the region were managing the pandemic well, with there being no signs of community spread and some nations reporting no COVID-19 related deaths. “No country at this point has shown that they are overwhelmed with the number of cases. All of them are doing extremely well in terms of containing. There is no community transmission in the Caribbean,” Dr Gebre said. When asked whether the United States of America’s (USA) threat to halt its funding to the WHO over the organisation’s handling of COVID-19, Dr Gebre said that the US was committed to helping WHO’s work in developing countries in need of the assistance during the pandemic. “During this pandemic the United States government has provided resources to support other countries. In our region, USAID provided $100 000 for Barbados and then for each of those countries in the range of $60 000 to $70 000 for the next three months. So we have received half a million dollars from the United States government in our region to provide technical support. Continuously that kind of support is needed,” Dr Gebre said. (BT)

PAHO DIRECTOR: INCREASED VIRUS TESTING CRITICAL – The director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa F. Etienne, on April 21 called for accelerated and expanded testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in countries of the Americas, including the Caribbean. “We need a clearer view of where the virus is circulating and how many people have been infected in order to guide our actions,” said Etienne during a virtual press briefing. “The pandemic continues to impact our region, and it’s vital for all countries to actively embrace preventive measures, while preparing for more cases, hospitalisations and deaths,” she added. As of April 20, there have been 839 119 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 42 686 people have died in the Region of the Americas. The PAHO director said that countries have been prepared to test and detect cases of COVID-19 since before the pandemic was declared. Since February, PAHO said it had trained and equipped laboratories for PCR testing in more than 30 countries. But, as cases have increased, Etienne said countries have found it increasingly difficult to keep up. She highlighted PAHO’s recommendations for countries to expand their capacity and use all available national laboratories; to prioritise patients with symptoms, tracing contacts and following up with those that may be infected; and to ensure access for all so testing would be free of charge for patients. PAHO said it has provided more than 500 000 PCR tests to 34 countries and territories, “and we have worked with other countries to track and support their capacity”, said Etienne. An additional 1.5 million PCR tests are being dispatched throughout the region this week, “followed by another 3 million next week to strengthen laboratory surveillance networks in our member states”, she highlighted. “To address the market shortage, we are working with leading manufacturers to make these tests available through the PAHO Strategic Fund,” Etienne said. “Twelve countries are now using this mechanism to purchase quality commercial PCR-based tests. “As we negotiate other options, we are considering tests that run on both open and on so-called closed platforms, to maximise each country’s ability to test,” she added. To help ensure countries procure reliable products, Etienne said PAHO is providing guidance to regulatory and health authorities, and is calling on manufacturers “to work closely with us so that we can ensure equitable access to new quality tests, as they reach the market so all our countries can benefit from innovations”. Global access to medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment to respond to COVID 19 “should not be a privilege of certain countries or communities”, she said. “Our collective goal must be to ensure that access to the testing, treatment, vaccines and other technologies is available to all based on needs.” (CMC)

UN URGES ACTION TO AVOID “BIBLICAL FAMINE” – The world is at risk of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the United Nations has warned. David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said urgent action was needed to avoid a catastrophe. A report estimates that the number suffering from hunger could go from 135 million to more than 250 million. Those most at risk are in ten countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change, the WFP says. The fourth annual Global Report on Food Crises highlights Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti. In South Sudan, 61 per cent of the population was affected by food crisis last year, the report says. Even before the pandemic hit, parts of East Africa and South Asia were already facing severe food shortages caused by drought and the worst locust infestations for decades. Addressing the UN Security Council during a video conference, Beasley said the world had to "act wisely and act fast". "We could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a short few months," he said. "The truth is we do not have time on our side." In a call to action, he added: "I do believe that with our expertise and our partnerships, we can bring together the teams and the programmes necessary to make certain the Covid-19 pandemic does not become a human and food crisis catastrophe." (BBC)

T&T STUDENTS AT CAVE HILL PLEAD FOR A RESPONSE FROM AUTHORITIES IN PORT OF SPAIN – More than a dozen Trinidad and Tobago nationals who are studying at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus are today expressing concern that their cries for help from authorities in their homeland are falling on deaf ears. Speaking on the behalf of her peers, final year law student Shantal Seecharan told Barbados TODAY that most of them, ranging from ages of 20 to 25, were “barely getting by” because they have already run out of funds and were now rationing food supplies. She said they missed the deadline for flying home before Trinidad and Tobago closed its borders towards the end of March, and repeated efforts to get help from authorities there have been unsuccessful. “The reason why most of us missed the deadline to go back home is because we didn’t have the funds to just purchase a ticket at that point and leave,” she said. “In terms of the supplies that we have they are currently running out. Some organisations and people in Trinidad are trying to help us but for the past week it has been very hard to get supplies to us so we have been trying to make arrangements so we would be able to get some groceries. Everything is limited right now so we all have to ration,” said Seecharan. She explained: “In terms of rent, I know some other students, right now their rents are paid for April, but they don’t know what will happen after April. We suppose the landlords will not kick them out because of the moratorium but we know that is not law.” Teaching will end this week, but the students still have a number of assignments due, and they are preparing for assessments, which are to take place between May 11 and June 12. However, speaking on behalf of the 13 students, Seecharan said faced with “extreme sadness” because they were unable to be with their loved ones at this time, the situation has been compounded by the stresses of preparing for assessments. She said she was not aware that any of the students wanted to withdraw from their studies or drop out, adding that they were doing their best to “power through” and stay positive. “Some students have told me that their mental health has taken a significant hit, that they are extremely demotivated to continue their studies and to finish their assignments on time. Some of them sleep all day and stay up all night or they are not sleeping and not eating,” she said. However, she added: “We are all supporting each other because some of us have bad days. Sometimes we want to give up, but we are there for each other and we are remaining strong. We plan to continue to power through and remain hopeful that our government will answer our call.” While the majority of them are final year law students, others are studying medicine and social sciences. She said the students were overly concerned about their families back home, adding that several of them had family members who were now out of a job. “Some parents are both essential workers. One student is very concerned that something could happen to one of her parents and she has a younger brother who she would need to be there for if that were to happen,” she said. “Then we have situations where both parents are non-essential workers and unfortunately, they have lost their jobs and have no income. We also have people from single-parent households . . . and they are living from pay cheque to pay cheque,” she said. Seecharan explained that most of the students have already received welfare assistance from the university in the past year. The last time they tried to contact officials in their homeland was on Sunday. “We have been sending in our applications for the special exemption to our minister of national security (Stuart Young). But those emails and calls have gone unanswered. However, on Sunday we decided to ban together and put all our information in one document, and we sent it Sunday,” she said. Seecharan said she was pleading with authorities in Trinidad. “Please, answer our calls, please give us a response and tell us you are beginning the process for us. Tell us what plans, what arrangements are being made for us. “So far we are not hearing anything and we just want some level of response, some level of reassurance. Something more than just being told ‘stay put’. We want our cries for help to be heard,” she cried. She told Barbados TODAY that the group has also been in touch with local authorities, seeking help to start the process for them to go back to Trinidad and Tobago. A part of that would include getting tested for the coronavirus in Bridgetown. She said local officials have been responding to their emails and things were looking positive. Seecharan explained that while the group of students was told by the group of 33 seniors that they could be accommodated on their flight that was scheduled to leave Bridgetown on Tuesday for Port of Spain, they were unable to make it because they did not get clearance from Trinidad officials and they have not yet been tested by local medical officials. Seecharan said the lawyers who acted on behalf of the seniors had agreed to help the students in their quest. (BT)

TRINIDADIAN’S FLYING HOME - THE 33 stranded Trinidadians should be back home today, despite a short delay. After a Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) donation of 11 000 testing kits and 782 pieces of personal protection equipment to the Ministry of Health, Minister Jeffrey Bostic spoke about the situation concerning the Trinidadians. The presentation of equipment was made at PAHO's office, Dayrells Road and Navy Gardens, Christ Church. “There are two chartered flights, I believe, which are scheduled to take them back to Trinidad today. We are doing the tests and we will send the results to Trinidad but that is not going to stop them from making the flights this afternoon. They will be tested, they will fly and we will pass the information to the authorities in Trinidad as soon as we have the results,” Bostic said. The Trinidadians were at Grantley Adams International Airport this morning with the first group waiting to board their flight, when they were informed of the delay. Nation News was told that the Trinidad Government had requested medical testing before the group left Barbados. The 33 were taken to Paragon to be tested. The Trinidadians had been quarantined at Sugarcane Club in St Peter and stayed there even after the quarantine period. Bernie Weatherhead, owner of Sugarcane Club, was at the airport to see them off. The Trinidadians had arrived on a flight from England last month after completing a cruise vacation that had started in Dubai. However, they were left here after Trinidad closed its borders as a response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). (MWN)

TRUMP TO IMPOSE 60 DAY IMMIGRATION BAN – United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his new US immigration ban would last 60 days and apply to those seeking “green cards” for permanent residency in an effort to protect Americans seeking to regain jobs lost because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Trump plans to institute the ban through an executive order, which he said he was likely to sign on April 22. He said it would not apply to individuals entering the United States on a temporary basis and would be re-evaluated once the 60-day period had passed. Trump said that pausing immigration would put “unemployed Americans first in line for jobs” as the country re-opened. “It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labour flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker,” he told reporters at the White House. Trump said there would be some exemptions in the order and he could renew it for another 60 days or longer. The president, a Republican, won the White House in 2016 in part on a promise to crack down on immigration. Critics saw his announcement as a move to take advantage of a crisis to implement a long-sought policy goal. The order could spark legal action. A senior administration official said the administration was looking at a separate action to cover others affected by US immigration policy, including those on so-called H-1B visas. Trump confirmed that a secondary order was under consideration. The first order would include exemptions for people involved in responding to the coronavirus outbreak, including farm workers and those helping to secure US food supplies, the official said. As the country begins to open up its economy, immigration flows were expected to increase, and the administration wanted to ensure that employers hire back fired workers rather than giving jobs to immigrants at lower wages. The US Department of State issued roughly 462 000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019, which began on October 1, 2018. The visas allow an immigrant to obtain lawful permanent resident status, informally known as a green card. The status allows a person to live and work in the United States and apply for citizenship after a five-year period. Critics viewed Trump’s new policy as an effort to distract from his response to the pandemic. “I think this is a malevolent distraction,” said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy institute in Washington. Giovanni Peri, an economics professor at the University of California, Davis, said researchers generally agree that immigration into the United States has stimulated economic growth, increased the size of the economy, and created jobs. “The idea that immigration threatens American jobs is just not there in any data,” he said. (Reuters)

GUYANA TO RELAX MEASURES FOR CARICOM TEAM – The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) says it has agreed to relax the stringent measures for people entering Guyana so as to allow officials of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) team to participate in the recount of ballots in the March 2 regional and general election. In a statement issued here on Monday night, the NCTF said that it had agreed for the CARICOM officials to undergo the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for coronavirus (COVID-19) instead of being subjected to 14 days of quarantine. The NCTF had earlier decided that people who arrived here during the lockdown period as a result of the country’s efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus would have faced a 14-day quarantine. But the decision came in for criticism from some Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and some of the political parties that had contested the disputed elections. But following the intervention of President David Granger, the NCTF said the mandatory quarantine for 14 days will no longer be applicable. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who heads the COVID-19 Task Force, has written to the GECOM chairperson, retired justice Claudette Singh and the CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque informing them of the decisions of the NCTF. Nagamootoo had on Sunday indicated that the Task Force had decided that the recount must be conducted within the COVID-19 curfew hours, and that international observers coming to the country must submit themselves to a 14-day quarantine at a government-run institution. But these decisions were reversed on Monday. LaRocque had earlier written to Granger urging that medical examinations for members of the delegation to be done in their countries of origin before their arrival in Guyana. In the statement, NCTF said “the CARICOM officials identified to participate in the recount of ballots be permitted to undergo WHO-approved reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVID-19 in their respective home countries prior to arrival in Guyana, and they will be permitted entry on the basis that such test results are negative”. The Task Force said if any official is unable to have such a test conducted in their home country, that upon their arrival in Guyana, the Ministry of Public Health will facilitate the test here on condition that the official self-quarantines for a maximum of 48 hours while the test results are being ascertained. As such, quarantining of the incoming officials for the mandatory period of 14 days will not be applicable upon compliance with either of the established requirements. “Having been reviewed, and the interest of public health safety being considered, the NCTF accordingly varied the decision taken previously on this issue,” the statement added. (CMC)

INSURER GENERAL ACCIDENTS ENTERS BARBADOS MARKET – A Jamaica-based general insurance company with an operation in Trinidad is set to enter the Barbadian market following regulatory approval here, the firm said. General Accident Insurance Company (Barbados) Limited, a subsidiary of General Accident Insurance Company Jamaica Limited, which hold an 80 per cent stake, has been licensed by the Financial Services Commission to operate as a registered Class 2 insurer. A Barbadian consortium, BCDL Holdings Limited, whose shareholders include current and former executives of Williams Industries and Williams Caribbean Capital, owns the remaining 20 per cent of General Accident Barbados. The company’s Chairman P.B. Scott said: “The decision to enter the Barbados market reflects the long-term confidence we have in the economy and people of Barbados. It is also consistent with our strategy of expanding General Accident’s reach across the English-speaking Caribbean. “With the announcement, General Accident will now be present in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados. We look forward to combining General Accident’s brand, expertise and financial strength with BCDL’s extensive local relationships in Barbados.” Sharon Donaldson, General Accident’s Managing Director said: “We will be providing more details about our official launch date and reaching out to brokers, policyholders and other stakeholders shortly.”(BT)

MAN SHOT IN PATIO – A St Philip man is in stable condition after being shot on April 21. Police public relations officer Acting Inspector Rodney Inniss said Wayne Harewood, 52, of Duncans, St Philip, was sitting in his patio when four men approached and a number of shots were discharged. He received an injury to the chest and two others to the left side of the head. Harewood was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private car and was reported to be in stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery. Officers from District C Police Station responded to the incident which occurred about 8:15 p.m. Investigations are ongoing. (MWN)

THREE ON SERIOUS BODILY HARM CHARGE – Two tree trimmers and a soldier were today granted $9,000 bail each on a joint criminal charge. They are 48-year-old Rene Orlando Pilgrim and 24-year-old Raheem Akeem Grimes both, of 5th Avenue North Lowlands Drive, Friendship Terrace, St Michael and 25-year-old soldier Kyle Akeem Hutson, of Ruth Road, Ellerton, St George. They are accused of causing serious bodily harm to Ryan Gittens of April 17 with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge when the matter was called before Magistrate Alison Burke this afternoon in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. Grimes is charged separately with wounding Theirry Gittens on the same date. That charge is also indictable and he got an additional $8,000 bail on the charge. There was no objection to bail from Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls and the three accused left the court after their sureties were accepted The tree trimmers – Grimes and Pilgrim are represented by attorney-at-law Dwight Moseley while Hutson, the soldier, has Angella Mitchell-Gittens was his legal counsel. They will next appear in court on September 14. (BT)

ALLEGED ARSONIST REMANDED – An alleged arsonist has been remanded to prison until May 19. Christopher Stephen Licorish, of no fixed place of abode, appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today accused of destroying the home of Eugene Licorish and that of Reginald Seifert by fire on April 14. The accused could not plead to the charges in the magistrates’ court as they are indictable. Magistrate Alison Burke , sitting at the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court explained the concept of indictable cases to Licorish who responded: “I sorry it happened ma’am”. The court then explained again why he could not plead to the offence at this time. Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls objected to bail on the grounds that the accused has no fixed place of abode and it would be difficult for police to locate him if he absconds. The prosecutor also pointed to the seriousness of the offences and the likelihood that the accused could re-offend if granted bail. In his application Licorish asked to be granted bail so he could go to the Psychiatric Hospital “to get some work”. He continued: “I could save and pay the person for the house.” His application was denied. (BT)

THIEF PICKS PRISON STAY – Scaling the walls of another man’s residence twice in a bid to steal limes during the Covid-19 curfew has landed a 45-year-old man in jail for the next six months. Tony Ricardo Harris, of Lower Carters Gap, Enterprise, Christ Church pleaded guilty to loitering on Davison Hunte’s premises on April 19 in a bid to commit theft. He also admitted to being outdoors at No 16 Oleander Drive, Enterprise Christ Church, on the same day around 3:30 p.m. without a reasonable explanation when a national emergency directive had been given to people to remain indoors. According to Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls the complainant was at home when he observed Harris who he knew from frequenting the area, in his backyard picking limes. He shouted at him and Harris ran and climbed over the wall. However, he did not stay away for long and returned a second time and he again rushed over the wall when the homeowner saw him. He was chased by neighbours but made his escape into the sea. Police later apprehended him. “I went and pick de man limes,” Harris, who is known to the court, told lawmen when he was detained. He appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today. When Magistrate Alison Burke asked him whether he had anything to say in his defence Harris replied: “No ma’am.” He however admitted that he knew what was taking place in the country. “Yes ma’am Covid-19,” he said. The magistrate queried his reason for being outside if he knew the situation, Harris responded: “I was trying to use two limes.” He then told the magistrate that he lived in an abandoned house. The magistrate sentenced him to six months in prison on each charge which will run concurrently. (BT)

JONES FLOORED BY FUNDING WOES –Long before the coronavirus pandemic brought sports around the world to a halt, elite boxer Ajayi Jones experienced a blow due to lack of funding. The 23-year-old 2015 Caribbean Boxing Championships gold medallist was hoping to attend the Olympic Qualifiers in Buenos Aires, Argentina originally set for March 26 to April 3. “I was preparing for the Olympic [Qualifiers] in Argentina but I was not selected to go because of lack of funding. I had the Olympic dream for about two years and when I heard I wasn’t going it shattered me. It almost made me not want to compete for the rest of the year,” he told MIDWEEK SPORT. (MWN)

MALONEY 2ND IN FIRST ESPORTS RACE – British F4 champion Zane Maloney got the better of a midfield battle and grabbed second place in the opening round of the Kokoro Performance iRacing series last Friday at the Circuit de Barcelona. Starting from grid position four, Maloney found himself in a midfield battle and defended second place in the race in which competitors used iRacing’s Dallara F3 cars with a fixed set-up provided by the organisers, and a reverse grid format for close competition throughout the field. The top four remained a closely knit bunch separated by a little more than a second separating winner Dion Gowda, Maloney, Kai Askey and James Pull as they raced over the finish line. (MWN)

PLAN TO HELP ARTISTES AS NIGHTLIFE VANISHES –The disappearance of the entertainment scene as Barbados fights the COVID-19 pandemic has left artistes singing the blues. With the island in curfew mode for almost a month, the closure of hotels and entertainment spots across the island, and the recent announcement that the 2020 Crop Over festival has been cancelled, the Barbados Association of Calypsonians and Artistes (BACA) is now working on a plan to help its members survive the slump. BACA President Sean Apache Carter said in a statement that the current events have presented the association with both a challenge and an opportunity to step up and show its worth through the proposition of revenue-earning initiatives, should the climate allow in the light of COVID-19 and the expected cancellations. Carter said: “These proposals will not only prove beneficial to our members but to the entire music fraternity. We have had cordial meetings with both the Minister Hon. John King and Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Carol Roberts-Reifer, prior to the arrival of this pandemic and our position remains the same.” The BACA president noted that as the plans advance, the association eagerly anticipates working with both entities where possible for the benefit of all. He said BACA also looks forward to the stakeholders’ consultations announced by Cabinet to allow for viable solutions. With Crop Over’s cancellation, many soca and bashment artistes will be more significantly affected than calypsonians as they would normally perform at numerous fetes, limes and band launches, and tours normally scheduled for the summer have been cancelled, Carter said. He indicated that until there is a return to some sense of normalcy, or what may become the “new normal”, all entertainers who may have been anticipating the prospects of the Crop Over Festival being postponed in order to mediate the fallout mentioned above, now find themselves in a dire position. Carter further explained that the Soca Monarch and Pic-O-De-Crop competitions undoubtedly provide the biggest payday relative to an individual performance for many artistes. He said this will also have a severe impact on the many dancers from various dance troops who enhance overall performances and presentations in the competitions. He said he also believes that soca artistes will be significantly impacted by the lack of private events associated with Crop Over as generally, only the top three competitors ever walk away with a profit in any given competition. Carter told Barbados TODAY: “We represent a wide cross-section of artistes so our members are impacted at varying levels. One individual has found himself unemployed for the first time in 35 years and having paid NIS doesn’t help him at this time as there is no unemployment for self-employed persons. “A few others have communicated that they are not sure how they will pay their rent at the end of the month or even be able to buy food when the current stock runs out. These are indeed unprecedented times. The entertainment community has been hard hit by the impact of COVID-19. This is three or four weeks many have not worked and don’t know when or where the next job will be.” Carter noted that members who are part-time entertainers and have not been heavily affected by the pandemic are considering to record and release songs during this period of uncertainty. (BT)

The world is facing the rapid spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. As we continue to do our part in Barbados please remember to stay home but on the days you have to go out wear your masks, practice social distancing (stand 6-10 feet away from each other), practice good daily hygiene, eat healthy, exercise and keep your mind active. There are 254 days left in the year Shalom! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell #coronavirusinbarbados #nationalresponse #dailynews #thechasefilesblog

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 4/12/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Friday April 12th 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

NSC’S ‘PROMISE TO PAY’ GYM’S EX-WORKERS – A week after being severed from their jobs at the defunct Gymnasium Ltd, the public workers who once ran the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex and the Wildley Gymnasium are still to receive their severance payments. But Acting Director of the National Sports Council, Neil Murrell has promised that payment will be made to the ex-employees at the NSC offices tomorrow. He said: “Monies for the payment of these terminated employees have already been lodged in the National Sports Council’s account via the Ministry of the Creative Economy, Culture and Sports. On Monday, Minister John King told Barbados TODAY, the retrenched workers could be re-employed by the Sports Council as the layoffs were a technicality in the due process of the merger of the former Gymnasium Ltd with the NSC, which has taken control of the sporting complex and arena. (BT)

CHEFETTE ‘MAY EMPLOY EX-WORKERS’ IN EXPANSION DRIVE – At a time when Government is sending home hundreds of public servants amid budget cuts, fast food giant Chefette is set to expand operations yet again and could employ unemployed public workers, the chain’s managing director has said. Ryan Haloute told Barbados TODAY that within the next three months, Chefette would present a draft plan to the Town and Country Planning Department for approval to expand its factory at Lears, St Michael. He said the proposed plant would be an opportunity for Chefette to absorb some of the newly retrenched workers, casualties of the International Monetary Fund-sanctioned austerity measures. Haloute said, “We have to play our part as Chefette to help whoever is in power by hiring people, paying our people well, expanding and so on. Trying to lay off people is the absolute last resort or no resort. “On one hand we can say things are getting better, but people are getting laid off. We understand Prime Minister’s Mia Mottley’s mandate and we have to play our part too as Chefette. We have to try and employ more people and expand, because she might have to layoff more people. The net effect is hopefully everything overall would improve “It seems like things should be getting better. But plans are being put in place and things are getting better, but only for some obviously because people are getting laid off.” But the managing director would not divulge details on the planned features and capacity of the factory. He said all would be revealed when town planning authorities have approved the draft. He gave the assurance that the 46-year-old restaurant chain had no intention of sending home workers, despite the state of the economic climate, which has been having an impact on its operations. Haloute said: “In my time we have never laid off anybody, and we have no immediate plan or plans to do that. That is like the last resort that we ever do. Even though we shut Fairchild Street down two years ago, it was because our landlords needed the space to expand, so they gave us notice that they won’t renew the lease. “We absorbed the staff and just kept them on, we don’t lay off. But when we expand the manufacturing plant we are going to be taking on more staff, we have to. When we break ground, and we are ready, then we would announce this is what we are doing, this is how much more staff we would need. (BT)

BANKS COMMIT TO NEW CODE – Customers of commercial banks will no longer have to worry about hidden fees. That’s because The Barbados Bankers Association (TBBA) has launched a new code of banking practice, which will be implemented by all five commercial banks in operation here. The Bank of Nova Scotia, RBC Royal Bank, First Citizens, CIBC First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB) and Republic Bank have all signed on to the new code. During its launch at FCIB’s Warrens headquarters this morning, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel of Republic Bank, Sasha Shillingford explained that banks would have to reveal any potential fees relating to its services or products up front to customers. “Often times, terms and conditions are one of the top most important things that customers want to know up front. The important thing is that the code outlines the requirements of the bank and sets the standard that we have to disclose any fees and charges which are applicable to a product and service and this has to be done up front before you go into a relationship with the bank…because you don’t want fees and charges to be in a hidden way or not known to you,” Shillingford disclosed. However, when questioned on whether banks were required to give reasons why fees were introduced or increased, president of TBBA Donna Wellington said it was not always possible. She said more importantly was for banks to make their customers aware of those planned changes. “Banks are commercial institutions whose prices vary based on their operating model. It would be left to any commercial bank to basically indicate if they are able, the specifics around why certain movements in prices are increased. “I would say that across the commercial space in any sector or sphere, that there is not that level of granularity required from most places that offer services, products, fees or anything. So what we are saying is that there will from time to time be reasons or needs for us to raise prices, raise interest rates…so there is a commercial level that we will always have and it stands to reason that as business decisions are made that we will change accordingly. “The important thing is that we tell you rather than have to explain in a granular way why changes are being made,” Wellington said. Among some of the topics referenced in the code are operating an account, foreign exchange services, lending and advertising and marketing, protecting customer information and complaint handling procedures. In her remarks, Wellington said the code was “our voluntary commitment” to customers to adhere to a code of conduct for operating in the market. She maintained that there was need for commercial banks to be self-regulating. “Banking is based on the maintenance of the highest level of ethics and operating principles. These must extend beyond the regulation of a Central Bank. “We must be self-regulating, responsible entities, duty-bound to deliver the fiduciary and financial obligations owed to our customers, to our community and the country as a whole,” she insisted. Wellington said the code would be reviewed intermittently and if needed it would be updated to reflect current banking practices and customer needs in an ever changing environment. (BT)

NO NEED TO FEAR – The operations of commercial banks in Barbados are in no way threatened by the emergence of digital currency. That is the view of president of The Barbados Bankers Association (TBBA) Donna Wellington who said banks had already embraced digital technology in their operations. At the ongoing IMF/World Bank 2019 Spring Meetings in Washington, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde said the role of banks as providers of payment services was being challenged by the growing popularity of digital currency. “Banks are going to have to adapt to survive or possibly disappear,” she predicted. When asked if commercial banks had any reason to fear digital currency Wellington responded, “Not at all.” However, she said it would take a change in attitude of Barbadians for digital technology to become normal practice. “Digital transactions are alive and well in Barbados. All of the commercial banks allow you to do digital transactions even now and what people may not be aware of is that you can, from internet banking and mobile banking apps, transfer money between all of the commercial banks using digital means and not cash,” Wellington said. “Of course the intent is to reduce cheque usage by digital transactions and also to reduce cash usage by digital transactions. We are aspiring to be exactly there and it will take a change of mindset around cheque and cash usage from all Barbadians in order to make that leap.” She lauded Government for leading the charge by its move to reduce the number of cheques issued, and for putting a new system in place for tax collection and tax refunds. “With the Government leading the charge and making sure that people understand that when it deals with Government it will be on a digital basis, digital transactions to and from Government can be expected, then the hope is that individuals both personal and business will also take the initiative,” Wellington pointed out. She also noted that while the use of digital currency was complex, digital transactions were much simpler. “Basically what we are doing is going another way. Instead of dealing with digital currency which is fraught with complexity, what we are doing is just digitizing all of the transactions that are available in country,” she said. Wellington also revealed that banks would be rolling out more products and services later this year that will be “leading the charge” in that regard. (BT)

WOMEN ‘IN UPHILL STRUGGLE’ FOR BIZ CREDIT - Despite the fact that many women run their own small businesses throughout the world, they still find difficulty getting credit from financial institutions to expand, a phenomenon which a development banker has blamed on sexism. Vice President of Operations at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Monica La Bennett, said: “While women own two out of three micro- and small business enterprises, 80 per cent of them do not get the credit they need to grow their businesses and create jobs.” Citing a Barbadian study which was published last September, La Bennett said: “Women tend to get micro loans for small amounts of capital when they are starting out, but when women want to grow their firms and need more funds, they often end up with less money than they requested. “As a result, they tended to rely on funding from personal loans, getting help from family members, putting whatever money they earned from the business back into it, or credit cards, and that can become an expensive process.” The CDB official added that collateral was also a challenge for women seeking bigger loans, and evidence showed that “in the few cases where women managed to get loans from commercial banks in the early stages, it was usually because their husband was their business partner or through their own persistence. They also reported that they got discouraged from applying for loans again after being turned down”. La Bennett continued: “It is also claimed that female entrepreneurs are satisfied with their small size, as it gives them extra income and provides them with the flexibility they need to take care of their families and other aspects of their lives, and also that they are more risk averse than men and more cautious even if they qualify for loans. However, this is not always true.” The development banker blamed deeply rooted gender stereotype for the challenges facing women in the financial sector. She said: “Women are fully capable but there are structural barriers in society that prevent them from reaching their full potential, and these are shaped by gender. Removing biases requires training, making the unconscious conscious, standardising procedures, creating data and evidence to challenge perceptions and also requires accountability.” But she declared that the CDB was working to break down the barriers with women featured prominently in some of the initiatives the bank had undertaken to help micro- and small business enterprises in recent years. Between 2013 and 2017, the CDB provided $36 million (US$18 million) in lines to micro- and small businesses across the region, from which 78 women benefited, she said. Over the last three years, the bank funded skills training and technical assistance for over 2,400 entrepreneurs to help them improve their competitiveness, and more than half – 1,400 – of those beneficiaries were women, she added. The bank also trained 500 women involved in music about the business aspects of their work through the Creative Industries Fund, the CDB official reported. La Bennett noted: “There is a strong correlation between women’s access to financial services and greater social welfare, because women are more likely to spend their income on health care for their children, improving their housing and education. “The CDB cannot do this alone; we need to partner with the private sector, especially those organisations dealing with social responsibility, to become advocates for gender equality.”(BT)

PORK FARMING ON RISE, UNDER THREAT, SAYS BAS - Despite rising pork production, president of the Barbados Agriculture Society Woodville Alleyne-Jones has claimed that pig farming is on the verge of collapsing under the hefty weight of water and tax bills. Alleyne-Jones was speaking at a press conference with BAS chief executive James Paul when he revealed a 25 to 30 per cent jump in pig production in the month of December. He also attributed a rise in pig farming, particularly among women, to the mass public sector layoffs, which began late last year. But he contended that the high water bills and additional costs were threatening the survival of pig-rearing and farming in general. Alleyne-Jones told journalists: “If we are not careful, farmers are going to drop out because they can’t afford to pay. Before it was hard for farmers to make money but now it is nearly impossible. “A farmer cannot afford now to work for nothing, the bills are there he has to pay them. If he doesn’t they will cut off the water bill and agriculture is going to suffer.” He declared that as Government continued to advocate for food security, agriculture should receive subsidies as the imported products were maintaining a competitive advantage. The BAS president added: “We have countries that are heavily subsidised they can sell their products a lot cheaper than Barbados and if we are not careful these people will take over our products and then . . . what they might do is take over our agriculture sector and by then it might be too late Describing dialogue between farmers and Government as pivotal to the developing and preserving agriculture, Alleyne-Jones told reporters that discussions with Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir have been amicable. He also revealed that the growing green monkey population has become “a big threat” to farmers and was in need of a solution. The green monkey has long been officially classified as a pest, with a bounty placed on its head by the agriculture ministry. The agricultural society leader said: “As far as I am concerned the monkey has become a pest; it is not just a pet anymore it is a pest and people are suffering from this pest . . . . We the people in agriculture need to start now looking up all the aspects whereby we can improve our agricultural sector.” CEO James Paul joining the discussion, expressed his grievances with local retailers. He revealed that the pig farmers were in danger as the buying habits of consumers were evolving. He pointed out that the seasonal demand of different cuts of the pig was working to the sole advantage of commercial retailers. He indicated that the BAS will be embarking on a national campaign similar to the Proper Pork initiative to increase local consumption of pork products. “We are seeing now pens come back into production but what kind of incentive are you going to give to those individuals when at the same time you have a situation where the buying habits in the supermarkets are changing. You have a disputation where now supermarkets are asking for the prime cuts before Hipacc takes the whole carcass . . . now we have a situation where supermarkets are saying ‘no we want the loins’. . . . I understand that there are some major supermarkets that are telling farmers they are not taking the whole carcass so farmers are now challenged with how do they get rid of the lamb and shoulders,” Paul disclosed. “In the past, many of the retailers that we had were local retailers so they understood and they could empathize with how the market needed to be shaped, now we have a situation where many of the principal retailers are foreign owned in this country and they do not feel the same level of empathy with a Barbadian,” he added. (BT)

PSVS THREATEN TO SUE – Wheel and come again. That’s what public service vehicle (PSV) owners are telling the Transport Authority as some move to take legal action against that body for reassigning their permits as part of a pilot project. The owners are contending that the Authority’s tactics border on bullying and they are not standing for that. They are so adamant that they have engaged the services of Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley, the former Minister of Transport and Works. He told the Weekend Nation: “I was contacted by some of the PSV operators. The chairman has no power to take such action legally and I am awaiting further instructions.” (WN)

BUS ‘PASS’ – It’s still early days yet, but commuters appear reluctant to purchase the Travel Smart cards from the Transport Board ahead of Monday’s 75 per cent bus fare increase to $3.50. Many angry bus riders interviewed by Barbados TODAY appear opposed to the hike coming before an improvement in bus service. The transferable tickets, which are to be sold to frequent passengers by 10,14, 20 and 28 trips with discounts ranging from 30 cents per ride to 50 cents per ride, were announced by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in March 20 Budget. Passengers who spoke to a Barbados TODAY team at the Fairchild Street Bus Terminal spoke out strongly against buying the tickets, which were officially available from just after four o’clock this evening. One Foster Hall, St Joseph resident said she was waiting for more than two hours for the Bathsheba bus. Declaring she was beyond frustrated with the long wait times she has had to endure in the bus terminal to get home on evenings, she said she would not be buying the new tickets. “I would prefer to try to get rides with friends and family to get from point A to point B and eliminate having to take the passes. “I am one of those persons that do not have the patience to stand up here for so many hours and rely on an unreliable bus system. “In the next week, we have to pay an extra $1.50 and there are no new buses, the service is not reliable. To increase bus fare and the service is horrible I think it’s ridiculous.” A Massiah Street, St John commuter said she was not purchasing the passes because the Society bus came once every six hours. In a statement issued ahead of the roll out of the Travel Smart cards, acting general manager of the Transport Board Felicia Sue said the bus tickets were “the first step in making public transport more affordable for Barbadians and bringing the Transport Board up to international standards of public transportation.” Noting that the change was customer oriented, she explained that the cards would allow commuters to have approximately 15 per cent discount and in some cases as high as four free trips per card depending on which card is purchased. “For example, a commuter that purchases a 28-trip ticket would normally pay $98 for 28 trips, with the Travel Smart option you will pay $84, a savings of $14 or 4 free trips.” However, a retired Christ Church resident declared that many Barbadians would not take advantage of the frequent passenger tickets unless they were distributed in their communities. “The pensioner said: “Somebody would have to bring them for them or have a central location issuing them. But if they have to go and collect them, they are not going to go. The bus service is not reliable,” he said. Commenting on reports that the Transport Board’s service could be privatised he said: “I do not think transport should be something that should be privatised as you have no control over the rise of bus fare. “Poor people will suffer and school children would not be able to travel on the buses free anymore.” A Horse Hill, St Joseph retiree said he believes the Prime Minister made a mistake when she increased bus fare while knowing that the state bus service was in dire need of an overhaul. He told Barbados TODAY: “Sometimes I have to wait seven hours for a bus, you think in here nice? Mia made a mistake [she] should never put on bus fare without buses.” (BT)

PULL PRINCIPAL – A massive investigation has been launched at the Government Industrial School (GIS) in response to a number of “pressing issues”, the most recent of them the recent escape of two teenage girls from the Barrows, St Lucy branch of the correctional facility. And board members are calling for swift and sweeping changes to the way operations at the institution are conducted. In fact, Barbados TODAY understands that a majority, including chairman, the Reverend Dr Joseph Johnny Tudor, has called for the departure of Principal, Erwin Leacock, following a meeting on Wednesday evening at the Ministry of Home Affairs. On April 1, 16-year-old Tammagn Omega Caesar and 15-year-old Kyesha Wilson vanished without a trace moments after being spotted in broad daylight scaling the facility’s ten-foot barbed wired fence. An official close to the situation indicated that numerous complaints about inadequate security measures, including the absence of the cameras which have reportedly not been functioning for at least a year, had fallen on deaf ears, along with other “critical” matters. When contacted, 71-year-old Reverend Tudor, a former government minister confirmed that the principal had in fact been “read the riot act”. At the moment however, he stressed that the wellbeing of the two escaped teens was of the greatest concern. “There are several other things, but right now we are dealing with the fact that two girls have escaped. I can’t sleep and every time the phone rings I am jumping, because I am totally uncomfortable, very upset and everybody knows it,” he revealed in a telephone interview. “We are making a request to have the matter fully investigated, because the briefs presented to the board are unacceptable and the board has literally read the riot act to the principal. We are not happy and the matter is receiving our very full attention.” Numerous efforts to reach the embattled principal were unsuccessful, but the frustrated chairman revealed that even 10 days after the incident, board members were “not yet entirely clear” about what happened on the day in question. He however revealed that prior to the incident; the board had expressed tremendous concern about the measures in place to guarantee the safety and protection of inmates. “We found that there were breaches in the operation of the industrial school in terms of what are the minimum requirements for the protection of students and there have been breaches that we are very unhappy about as a board. It is the responsibility of the school to ensure the girls are safe,” he stressed. While the upset chairman added that there were other challenges to be ironed out, he expressed confidence that the all female section of the institution, which houses no more than 40 or 50 girls at a time, could be reformed. “The school itself is not a hostile prison environment. It is very accommodating and understanding of some of the challenges that our young people have in terms of interacting with the society and they are treated in a manner that is humane. “The surroundings at Barrows are not rigid and there is a lot of interaction from time to time with organisations who visit the school and lend assistance in terms of training and so forth.” Of the inmates, he added: “Some of the girls are very bright and are capable of doing very well at CXC in there. They do very well, but we have to be protective of them. I take no chances with the children, because they are our special gifts in society. “We are doing programmes with Oxford University with the residents trying to get them to understand behavioural patterns and so on and we want to improve their communication with their parents, friends and families and society in general to avoid certain difficulties and to solve problems without violence,” he said. Reverend Tudor indicated that board members also intended to lobby for the reform of some archaic laws still governing juvenile offenders. On Thursday correspondence was reportedly sent to the office of Home Affairs Minister, Edmund Hinkson from the institution’s board outlining its assessment of the situation and giving recommendations for the way forward. Attempts to contact the minister have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, with the two teenage girls still at large, police have continued to request the public’s assistance in returning them to the custody of the state. (BT)

PUBLIC SPECIAL NEEDS PRIMARY SCHOOL ‘NEEDED’ – A principal of one of the few private schools for children with special needs has suggested that Government create one to meet high demand. Jennah Parris of Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre and John Payne School for Exceptional Children said: “I do think there needs to be another facility. On a daily basis, I can tell you in the first three weeks of school without exaggerating we had about 15 calls for referrals alone. “Our challenge here is that usually, we do not have space opening in our primary department. Our children from Sunshine graduate on to John Payne. We can accommodate children from two to four and it is very hard for us to accommodate those who are older so then we have to turn them back. “There are only so many special schools and so many special classes within the Government setting that can accommodate children and then that is a case of if I have to go to a private school it is a cost as well as transportation. “So, if it is something from a Government end then it would be most affordable for most students. We do scholarships here whether it is partial or full to make sure that our students can get here.” The special needs educator has recommended that a public special needs school be staffed by two teachers per class given the challenges of catering to special needs students. “One teacher in a class with six or seven students with special needs or varying special needs is not easy,” she said. Parris said a key feature of her school located in Country Road, St Michael is that it accepts children who are not potty trained. She added this to the qualities a state special needs school should have. “We accept children who are not pottytrained. So you can be ten years old and not pottytrained and it is not a challenge here. In the government system, you cannot. Even if you have special needs and there is a medical reason why you cannot [go to the bathroom on your own] you have to provide someone who would come and change the child through the day because the Government system does not have someone who can do that,” she said. Parris said she has noticed greater tolerance of children with special needs in recent years. “We still do have a way to go in terms of where we need to be as it relates to special needs, but we can see that there are things happening just as Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day. “Definitely, there is that level of awareness and a lot more being done, and we hope it continues and we see a wider integration of children with special needs. “Even if you look at Massy Distribution, they have persons with special needs, so we see business places open doors slowly for persons with special needs.” The principal urged that children with special needs should not be segregated in society. But she said: “I am very aware of what it takes to have an integrated school that is done the right way. “It means additional staff and resources. I do think that we need to do more but there needs to be more groundwork done before we can reach that point. But I do think there is more that we can do.” (BT)

24-HOUR HELP HOTLINE FOR YOUTH – Round-the-clock rescue is coming for troubled children, including runaways and those at risk of gang initiations or violence. Former juvenile magistrate turned children’s champion, Faith Marshall-Harris, has expanded her FMH Family Law to join forces with the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust for a 24-hour hotline that provides immediate help and follow-up support for anyone calling with child-related problems. The 24-hour FMH/Sandy Lane Charitable Trust Helpline is being launched this month and among its recruits are a slew of social workers, church leaders, well-meaning retirees and young people. (WN)

DOUBLE TROUBLE – Two men who were allegedly involved in a shooting incident on the very day that a one week gun amnesty went into effect in Barbados have been remanded HMP Dodds for 28 days. They are 21-year-old Kareem Decoursey Brathwaite, of Jessamy Avenue, Bayville, St Michael and 28-year-old Jamal Omar Springer, of Liverpool Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael. The two appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick this afternoon accused of unlawfully wounding Niko Forde on April 7 with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to do some serious bodily harm to him. They are also separately charged with use of a firearm in committing the offence of wounding with intent or were reckless as to whether or not they would cause or meant to cause bodily harm to Forde. According to a release from the Royal Barbados Police Force the incident reportedly occurred about 2:50 p.m. on April 7 in the area of Beckles Hill, near Pipers Avenue, Bayville, St Michael. It was reported that two motorcyclists, both with pillion riders, were travelling in opposite directions when a pillion rider was shot in his right calf by the pillion rider on the other motorcycle. Brathwaite, who is represented by attorney-at-law Vonda Pile and Springer, who has Angella Mitchell-Gittens as his legal counsel, were not required to plea to the indictable charges. The accused will reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on May 9, 2019. (BT)

FRAUD ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL – After several attempts, Guyana national Kelvin Richard Nixon who is accused of several fraud offences was able to post bail in the sum of $40,000. The 35-year-old from East Coast Demerara had been on remand at HMP Dodds since his first appearance in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court in August 2018. He is accused along with a female relative of obtaining goods from PMST (Barbados) Limited on August 7, 2018 by using a FirstCaribbean International Bank visa debit card belonging to Anthony D. Phillips. Nixon is also charged with conducting a series of transactions using Phillips’ card between August 2 and 22, 2018 including dishonestly obtaining a $12,939.30 engine from Star Products Limited; $3,632 in goods from Pro Sales; $779.98 in goods from Galaxy Fashions; $2,435.95 in goods from West Riley Electronics Company Limited; $460 in goods from Fusionz Boutique; $1,130.84 in goods from Shopsmart Inc; two airline tickets valued at $1,646.42 from LIAT (1974) Limited; $702. 36 in goods from F&B Automotive Arts; $7,150.85 in goods from Carters and Company; and $4,357.58 in goods from Cost-U-Less. He is further accused of stealing $39,000 from Phillips’ account at the bank’s Broad Street branch, as well as laundering $82,134. 40 in proceeds of crime. The prosecution maintained objections to bail on the grounds that the accused was a flight risk given that he was arrested at the departure lounge of the Grantley Adams International Airport. However, on his last appearance in court his attorney Angela Mitchell-Gittens provided the court with medical correspondence outlining Nixon’s health status. After considering the circumstances Magistrate Doulgas Frederick offered the non-national bail with orders that he reports to the District ‘A’ Police Station every Wednesday before 10 a.m. with valid identification. Nixon who informed the magistrate that officers at the Criminal Investigation Department were in possession of his travel documents must also reside with his surety until the matter is adjudicated. The accused was then released after the court accepted his surety to return to court on June 11, 2019. (BT)

DRAKES SUING CWI –The axe has fallen on former Barbados and West Indies cricketer Vasbert Drakes – again. But he is not taking it lightly. Less than two years after he was fired as head coach of the West Indies Women’s team, Drakes was removed from his position as bowling coach of the men’s team on Wednesday. Through his attorney Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne, he is suing his former boss Cricket West Indies (CWI), saying the way he was terminated was unlawful. He is asking the High Court to reinstate him to the position and to order CWI to pay him compensation. (WN)

REIFER TO TAKE OVER – It’s official! Former Barbadian and West Indies batsman Floyd Reifer has been appointed interim head coach of the West Indies cricket team. During a press conference this morning in Antigua, newly-elected Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt announced the appointment. Skerritt, who defeated Jamaican Dave Cameron 8-4 in last month's CWI elections, has also appointed Robert Haynes chairman of selectors to replace Courtney Browne. Reifer replaces the English-born Richard Pybus who led the regional side to a 2-1 Test series win at home versus England in January. (WN)

REIFER WANTS TO BUILD WINNERS - One of Floyd Reifer’s major priorities as the new interim head coach of the West Indies will be on building a winning culture. Speaking at a Cricket West Indies (CWI) press conference in Antigua yesterday morning, which was streamed across the Caribbean, Reifer said he was keen to see the regional team develop a winning feeling. “My coaching philosophy is about building a winning culture and creating that honesty and trust among players. “Communication is very important between players and staff. Honesty is very crucial as well,” said Reifer, a Barbados player and interim West Indies captain. His first assignment will be the Tri-Nations One-Day Series in Ireland where the West Indies will play two matches against their hosts and Bangladesh from May 5 to 17. (WN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 263 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 3/12/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Tuesday 12th March 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

BUDGET NEXT WEEK – Prime Minister Mia Mottley will deliver her first Budget on March 20. And she has signaled her intention to lend much-needed assistance to the island’s ailing sugar industry. Mottley made the announcement while delivering the feature address this afternoon at the official opening ceremony of the St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway. “Suffice to say that next Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. I will deliver the annual Budget of the country and will do so as we for the first time, take the second reading of the annual Appropriations Bill, bringing together a process that was hitherto separated for all of our previous experience. “And the reason for it is this: numbers make no sense unless I can show the country and we can agree as a country where we are going with respect to taking the country both economically and socially as a society,” Mottley said, making reference to the establishment of the Standing Finance Committee, which for the first time saw Ministers and public officers being questioned by members of Parliament about their respective ministries and how monies allocated to them would be spent. Following an earlier call by St Nicholas Abbey’s owner Larry Warren for more attention to be paid to the struggling sugar industry, the Prime Minister gave her assurance that Government would not turn a blind eye. She agreed that the industry needed to be made more viable. “The first claim on the country’s biomass cannot be foreign investors of whom we know little, but has to be the sugar industry of Barbados, so that a sugar factory can be powered 12 months a year to become a viable financial proposition, being able to stabilize the sugar industry. More than anything else Barbados has to stem the decline of the sugar industry by making sensible financial decisions that can make the industry profitable again at all levels,” Mottley said while being sheltered from a heavy downpour with an umbrella. “ . . . I will have the opportunity to be able to speak at greater length next week Wednesday on the 20th, where we will map out not just what may be a revenue shortfall, but more importantly where Barbados is and where we must take it to ensure that the future is secured, sustainable and prosperous, not just for a few but for all. “It is investments like this, married with policy decisions like the ones we are making to secure the sugar industry, and the timeliness of action as we are doing with the support systems that we are putting in place that would make the definable difference to confidence returning to this country,” the Prime Minister added. During his opening remarks, Warren said the plantation’s arable land was being maintained for future cultivation “in whatever form the sugar industry eventually evolves into”. “It is a passion of mine to see the industry viable and sustainable without Government’s support. I’m saying this not just because it’s a good thing, but we have such a huge investment here in St Nicholas Abbey and our mission is to maintain not only the house, but the entire land of the plantation which has not changed for 350 years. “So it’s in my interest too, to see sugarcane come back to this plantation and this is really the driving force, but also of course for the island,” Warren said. (BT)

CHANGES COMING AS PARKLAND TAKES SOL – Canadian company Parkland Fuel Corporation is now calling the shots at SOL and management has signalled changes are coming to the Caribbean fuel company. Parkland completed its US$1.2 billion acquisition of SOL on January 8, roughly three months after the deal was announced.In published financial reports, and in a recent conference call with Canadian finance analysts, Parkland president and chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Espey announced Pierre Magnan was appointed president of Parkland International and would oversee the Sol business based from Grand Cayman. (BT)

SUSPENDED AGAIN – For the second time in his teaching career, deputy principal Bradston Clarke has been sent on leave. Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw confirmed over the weekend that Clarke, 64, who has been second in command at The Lester Vaughan School since 2017, following the closure of Alma Parris School, was sent on leave pending an internal investigation. While she did not go into details, the minister said the suspension was the result of “cumulative matters”. The NATION was reliably informed that Clarke was summoned to a meeting at the ministry on Friday afternoon following a complaint which was made against him by a senior staff member at Lester Vaughan. The ministry has appointed Suzette Holder to deputise at the school until further notice. (DN)

TEACHERS FLOG SANTIA’S COMMENTS – A memo was being circulated to teachers yesterday condemning the comments made by Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw, during the recent Estimates Debate when she declared she would not tolerate teachers who flogged children when the law did not permit them to do so. Citing a couple of incidents, Bradshaw advised parents to report such cases to the ministry and urged police to follow through and prosecute the perpetrators. The memo, which was addressed to the minister from a group calling themselves ‘The Concerned Teachers Association of Barbados’, deemed her comments as “irresponsible”. (DN)

UNION SAYS IT IS NOT BEHIND CIRCULATED MEMO – At least one trade union representing local teachers is distancing itself from an anonymous letter condemning Minister of Education, Santia Bradshaw’s stance on corporal punishment, contending that the comments, made last week had relegated teachers to mere “glorified babysitters”. On Monday, a memorandum from the group, ‘Concerned Teachers Association of Barbados’ was circulated on social media. Bearing the title: ‘Betrayed by Government,’ the letter suggested that Bradshaw’s comments in Parliament were highly offensive to educators. Late last week, the Minister of Education warned that teachers who flogged students without authorization would feel the full weight of the law. In response, the memo charged that the minister’s comments had “diminished their authority” and “obliterated and illegitimated” what was often used as a last resort to maintain discipline, among other charges. Late this evening, the Barbados Union of Teachers weighed in on the debate starting with the proceedings in the Well of Parliament last Tuesday noting: “The union’s membership continues to reiterate its considerable dissatisfaction with the tone of certain passages of the dialogue. The union submits that while there was an undeniable degree of merit in the disclosures during the exercise, we are alarmed by any utterance(s) which may serve to bring the teaching service into disrepute.” On the issue of corporal punishment referred to Section 18 of regulations which confers to the principal, deputy principal and senior teachers the right to administer corporal punishment the union added: “The current crises in education did not arrive unannounced. Neither did they suddenly materialize overnight. It took decades for us to reach this juncture.” Meanwhile, the memo in circulation charged that teachers were currently plagued with “constant violence, abusive language, poor working conditions and many other negatives which occur within our schools,” and in response, spoke “loudly and clearly” during last year’s general election indicating that they wanted a change. While acknowledging that “bad apples do exist” in the school system, the memo warned the education minister against criminalizing all teachers. It instead urged Bradshaw to fix ‘the system’ and the society instead of fixing teachers. “You have just unleashed a generation of disrespect that you will see manifesting itself in our society,” the memo warned. The Minister of Education could not be reached for comment, however President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) who last week voiced her displeasure at the minister’s comments, on Monday afternoon sought to distance herself and her union from the circulating message. “All that we as a union in the BSTU feel has been stated under the auspices of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union. We have stated our position, we have formulated a response to the comments made in Parliament and that is all this union is associated with,” said Redman. In a wide-ranging statement published in the Friday, March 8 edition of Barbados TODAY, the BSTU expressed concern at the “tone and content of some aspects of and omissions from the minister’s speech as they related to corporal punishment.” Stressing that the union did not support the abuse of children in any form, it did not see “the regulated and judicious use of corporal punishment as abuse,” adding that corporal punishment was most often used as a last resort for serious infractions. The union’s response also expressed disappointment with the lack of consultation with them on the matter and lack of an alternative. When pressed about the anonymous memo, Redman said: “I don’t know who is behind it and I don’t know what their motivations are, and the union is distancing itself from the article.” “We have responded officially under the heading of our union and we are associated with no other comments or correspondence and messages that are in circulation and I want to make that very clear,” said Redman. (BT)

TWO PRIMARY SCHOOLS CLOSED TODAY –The St. James Primary and Cuthbert Moore Primary schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, March 12, for industrial cleaning. (BGIS)

ROADS IN A MESS – It’s not an easy road in Barbados. Research has shown that most of the roads are in a deplorable state, with not a single one reaching an international four- or five-star standard. Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance Dr William Duguid yesterday cited what he said was an independent road safety study which determined the island had only 30 per cent three-star roads, 44 per cent two-star roads, and 24 per cent one-star roads. (DN)

POLICE AND CCB INVESTIGATING INCIDENT – The Royal Barbados Police Force and the Child Care Board are currently investigating an incident which began circulating on social media last Sunday of a child tied up with rope. The video shows the child on the steps of a building surrounded by two adults. Another adult is heard stating that she is a priest and that the child has demons. A member of the public made a report to the Police yesterday. Director of the Child Care Board, Joan Crawford, said the Police contacted that agency this morning and provided it with information. The Board is now carrying out its own investigations. (BGIS)

MISSING:KADESH BOWEN - Police are seeking the public’s assistance to help locate a missing man. He is 19-year-old Kadesh Kabeem Bowen of Lee’s Gap, Passage Road, St Michael. His mother, Bernadette Wilson reported that Bowen left home last Thursday, March 7 sometime between 9- 11.30 a.m. He was last seen wearing a Gray T-shirt, a khaki cargo pants and red slippers. Bowen is about six feet tall, has a dark complexion and wears a low haircut. He has full brown eyes and speaks with a Guyanese accent. He was last seen wearing a Gray T-shirt, a khaki cargo pants and red slippers. Police are asking anyone with information about Bowen’s whereabouts to contact Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, Black Rock Police Station at 417-7500 or 430-7246 or the nearest police station. (BT)

MISSING MAN: NEVILLE STAFFORD - Police are seeking the public’s assistance to help locate a missing man. He is 62-year-old Neville Alonzo Stafford, of Holder’s Land, Brandons, St Michael. Stafford was last seen on Monday, March 4 around 7 p.m. by his neighbour Philip Matthias, who acts as his caretaker on behalf of his cousin, Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw. At the time, Stafford was wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans waistcoat, with a red scarf tied around his neck. He is known to be an outpatient of the Psychiatric Hospital. Anyone with information about Stafford’s whereabouts should contact Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, the Black Rock Police Station at 417-7500 or the nearest police station. (BT)

GRANT PLEADS FOR TEA – All Wayde McLloyd Grant wanted today was a cup of tea and he made that request quite clear as he sat in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court impatiently waiting his time before the judicial officer. As he walked to the dock the 46-year-old, of no fixed place bode, stated: “Mr Fredericks sir I want a cup of tea.” He then pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon – a knife – in his possession while at Barbarees Hill, a public place. “It makes no sense saying nothing, I does smoke drugs,” said Grant who rambled on even as Magistrate Douglas Frederick informed him that he would be remanded to the Psychiatric Hospital for observation and to find out whether he is fit to plead to the offence. “I fit to plea. I don’t want time on remand. Remand hard,” he said. He then asked: “Where am I going?” When told that he was headed to the Black Rock mental health institution, he responded “ . . . you should have sent me there ever since. Five men tell me they will feed me and nothing.” The accused was given an April 1 date to return to court as he walked out the docks quarreling. (BT)

POST OFFICE SLEEPER REMANDED – As the security guard stationed at the General Post Office made the rounds on Sunday night he came across 39-year-old Jason Jamal Newton and another man putting down items, making beds to sleep. The guard – David Bynoe – told the two they were trespassing and to leave the area near the private post boxes. They left. However, when Bynoe came around hours later making sure that all was intact at the Cheapside facility, he came across Newton, of no fixed place of abode, again in the same area – this time he was fast asleep. Bynoe nudge him in a bid to wake him up but Newton apparently woke up fighting and slapped the guard across the face. He then ran and picked up a rock when Bynoe drew is baton but he never threw the rock. “I did not slap nobody, I did not slap him. I just ran out, grab my shoes and . . . down the stairs,” Newton told Magistrate Douglas Frederick after the prosecutor Sergeant St Clair Phillip outlined the facts. That declaration caused the magistrate to void the guilty plea for the assault charge and record a not guilty plea instead. However, Newton said he did trespass. “I does go there every night . . . I does go for food,” said Newton who told the magistrate that he lived at Clermont, Lodge Hill. At the end of the day’s sitting however he was unable to get someone to come and verify his address. He was remanded to return to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on April 8. (BT)

MUSICIAN MUST COMPLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE – Keep on the positive lyrics but stay way from the drugs. That was the advice of Bridgetown Magistrate Douglas Frederick to a 22-year-old musician after he pleaded guilty to having cannabis in his position. Police were conducting an operation at Temple Yard on March 9 when, with his permission, they searched Ambokile Ato Sadiki Welch, of Grazettes New Road, St Michael. The illicit drug was found in his pocket and, Welch said: “That does help me with my vibes. I smoke a joint before I play my music.” His attorney-at-law Sian Lange told the magistrate that the first time offender was not only a musician but worked outside the industry, was Rastafarian by faith and so too is his family. In asking that his record be kept clean, she went on to point out that the quantity of drugs found was a small which his used for his religion and his art. “He must know that it is also illegal . . . and until the law is changed I am a creature of the law and therefore I will impose the law on you,” Frederick told Welch even as he asked the young man what was his genre of music. “I sing all genres but I am now focused on reggae. I have 30 songs that I have written . . . one of them is Conquering Lion. In a melodious voice he then sang a few lines of the song when asked by Frederick. “Nice voice, positive lyrics . . . keep up on the positive lyrics but stay away from the drugs . . . . I also believe that you have a skill that can be used in a positive way,” Frederick said as he imposed 80 hours of community service. No conviction will be recorded against him once he completes the order. Welch will return to the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on May 31 for on update on his community service. (BT)

WOUNDED AND REMANDED – Extenuating circumstances were not enough to keep 22-year-old Jonell Ryan Dorrel Williams from being remanded and taking a ride to HMP Dodds today albeit in the institution’s ambulance. Looking pained and supported by crutches, the Block 5B Division Drive, Eden Lodge, St Michael resident who was shot by police on February 17, 2019 appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today charged with committing four criminal offences. In court, his left leg taped with gauze and stretched out on a chair, the accused listened as Magistrate Douglas Frederick read the first charge that he was in possession of a firearm without the necessary licence on February 17. He was not required to plead to that indictable offence and entered not guilty pleas to the offences of assaulting Duane Griffith, Markinson Chandler and Jamal Williams on the same day. Station Sergeant Carison Henry objected to bail because of the serious nature of the offences, allegations that a firearm was used and the fact the offences stemmed from the same incident. However Williams’ attorneys-at-law Douglas Trotman, Veronica McFarlane and Ricardo Harrison argued that their client could be granted bail in the Magistrates’ Court given the manner in which the charges were proffered. “If the charges are taken at face value . . . all these charges are bailable of offences . . . . Be guided by the circumstances, by the position that the accused man is in,” Trotman said adding “he is a guy who attends church, works two jobs and is known as a good person in the community.” Trotman went to say that the charges before the court were “mere allegations” and his client needed to be on bed rest and “cannot bear weight on his left leg for ten to 16 weeks. Police have had him since March 8 and [ I ask that you] consider all the circumstances [including] that he is not known.” He added: “He has had hip surgery to remove the bullet and had two bolts in . . . Her Majesty’s Prisons is not the best place for this young man. This young man cannot run anywhere and do anything to anybody. The court currently has the same jurisdiction like the High Court [to grant bail] as to how the charges have been laid.” However, Magistrate Frederick made it clear that he was guided by law and despite the extenuating circumstances the defence had to go before the High Court with regards to the firearm offence. The defence trio informed him that they already had the necessary paperwork to go to the High Court. Frederick then granted $5,000 bail to the accused on the three assault charges, which he secured with one surety. Williams who was wearing yellow and white shorts and a grey and white shirt was then remanded to Dodds prison until April 8. However he had to get the help of several prison officers to get out of the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. It took several minutes for him to get out the court and down the steps grunting in pain before he was placed into the waiting ambulance and transported to the St Philip institution. (BT)

BSSAC SAFE – The Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) has taken every step to ensure the safety of fans coming to the roofless National Stadium for today’s start of the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships (BSSAC). BAPPSS president Juanita Wade told NATIONSPORT that everything was on stream to ensure the public will be comfortable for the Frank Blackman Zone, which startsthis morning at 9:30.Wade, the first female principal at Harrison College, said no-one will be allowed on the top tier of any of the stands, all of which, are under repair. (DN)

A YEAR OF PAIN – The family of Ronald Knight, of Bibby’s Lane, St Michael, are hoping that justice delayed does not end up being justice denied. A year ago today, the father of six was walking along Bibby’s Lane on the left side when he was struck from behind by a green Suzuki Vitara which ran over him. The driver sped away without stopping. Knight, who was 45 at the time, received multiple injuries and eventually died on April 18 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, just over a month after being hit. But to this day no one has been arrested and charged for the incident, and it has left the family upset, hurt and seeking closure. Yesterday evening, some of Knight’s daughters and close friends gathered under a shed playing dominoes and reminiscing about him. (DN)

THREE TIMES THE LOVE – Rhesa Garnes has a whole lot of love in her life. The talented singer and her partner Kerry Herbert were blessed with triplets – two girls and a boy – last October. Menen Kiaria was the first triplet, Makada Raya was second and then came Majete Raphael. Their first names were chosen by their dad and their second names by their mother, who chose them while they were in the womb. Kiaria means fortunate one in Japanese and hope; Raya is an adaptation of the Arabic word Raja which means full of hope and Raphael means divine healer. In a recent candid interview, Rhesa told EASY details about the pregnancy from the time they received the news, what happened after delivery and how she and Kerry are balancing work and home life. Do note that twins run in the family but not triplets. With none of her four previous children being multiples, triplets were totally unexpected. “At 16 weeks we realised we were having triplets. It was my plan to have a home birth as I always wanted to. All my previous pregnancies I went to the hospital to have them delivered. The doula, when she came to see me, said I would still have to go see a doctor – at least three visits. It was on the first visit to see the doctor that I realised to my surprise and everybody else’s it was three babies,” she said. (DN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 297 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 20/1/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Monday January 19th, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

BARBADOS WON'T ATTEND MEETING WITH US OFFICIAL – Barbados will not be at the table when Caribbean leaders meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jamaica, tomorrow. This decision has been taken by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who announced on Saturday night she would not be sending Foreign Minister Senator Jerome Walcott to the meeting. Pompeo is scheduled to be in Jamaica for the two-day meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and other Caribbean leaders and according to a release from the US State Department, he will “conduct a multi-lateral round table discussion” with the Caribbean leaders and also “deliver remarks on US-Caribbean relations.” Prime Minister Mottley said at a gala to celebrate the centenary of the birth of The Right Excellent Errol W. Barrow on Saturday night: “As chairman of CARICOM, it is impossible for me to agree that my Foreign Minister should attend a meeting to which members of CARICOM are not invited” and suggested it was an attempt at divide and rule among CARICOM countries “if some are invited and not all”. The Prime Minister reminded the audience of over 400 attending a fund-raising dinner hosted by the Errol and Nita Barrow Foundation at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, of the late National Hero’s famous statement “We will be friends of all and satellites of none”. (DN)

BIG UP BARROW – NO LESS THAN ANOTHER life-sized statue, and the transformation of his birth home into a museum, are what some St Lucy folk believe is a worthy tribute for National Hero Errol Walton Barrow. In recognition of what would have been Barrow’s centennial tomorrow, as part of the We Gatherin’ celebrations, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is expected to unveil a plaque a stone’s throw away at his birthplace at The Garden, St Lucy. However, as workers prepared the area yesterday ahead of the unveiling, some in the northern parish said while they appreciated the gesture of recognition, a “rock” next to a “bus stop” was not befitting of the colossus of the man widely revered as the “Father of Independence”. During the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) Errol Barrow Memorial Church Service at St Lucy’s Parish Church yesterday morning, rector Reverend Canon Curtis Goodridge said he strongly believed that a full-sized statue of Barrow should be pitched in St Lucy. Barrow was born in St Lucy on January 21, 1920, and baptised at St Lucy’s Parish Church on March 21 the same year. This was why Goodridge, during his sermon, contended that though there was already one of a similar size in Independence Square, The City, St Lucy’s Parish Church was the best place to have another monument. (DN)

DLP MAKING PROGRESS – LAST WEEK’S GUILTY VERDICT handed down to disgraced former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) minister Donville Inniss will not stop the party from moving forward, says its leader Verla De Peiza. She told the media after the party’s Errol Barrow Memorial Service at St Lucy’s Parish Church yesterday morning, that the selection process for new candidates was already in full swing. De Peiza said a lot of new faces were indicating their interest in running for the party but declined to state which riding most appealed to her. “The party is actively going through the candidate selection process right now, so I don’t want to be previous in my comments – not just St Lucy, all of the constituencies. We spent some time devising new rules for candidate selection and we are adhering to them. They apply to me like they apply to everybody else, so I am not in a position right now to give any information in relation to candidate selection anywhere at all in the 30 constituencies,” she said. In recent months there has been speculation about whether De Peiza wanted to represent St Lucy, where her family, including uncle, former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Philip Greaves, originated. (DN)

MORE WATER OUTAGES –Hundreds of people in the central and eastern parishes of Barbados will be without water after low reservoir levels forced the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to shut down two reservoirs. The BWA says they were forced to stop pumping at the Bowmanston and Golden Ridge Pumping Stations and this may result in low levels and water outages to customers in districts across St John, St George, St Joseph, St Andrew and St Thomas.

The Authority apologised to customers for the inconvenience and said water tankers will be dispatched to the affected areas and the community tankers will also supply water as a temporary measure.

The following areas may be impacted:

IN ST JOHN: Cheshire, Eastmont, Small Hope, Moores Land, Carters, Gall Hill, Clifton Hall, Church View, Newcastle, Martins Bay, Zores Land, Pothouse, Glebe, Colleton, Cliff Cottage, Haynes Hill, Colleton Gardens, Coach Hill, Bath Land, Welch Village, Sargeant Street, Society, Massiah Street, Rose Gate, Guinea Land, Stewart Hill, Pool Land, Spooners, Wakefield Tenantry, Lemon Arbor, Cherry Grove, Four Roads, Sherbourne, Todds Tenantry, Macaroni Village, Henley and surrounding areas.

IN ST GEORGE: Golden Ridge Village, Ashbury and surrounding districts.

IN ST JOSEPH: Andrews Tenantry, Parris Hill, Blackmans, Coffee Gully, Branchbury, Surinam, Horse Hill, Tourville, Bonwell, Orange Grove, Bowling Alley, Vaughns Road 1&2, Vaughn's Church Village, Hortons, Easy Hall, Bruce Vale, Baxters, Fruitful Hill, Dark Hole, Coconut Grove, Upper & Lower Parks, Spa Hill, Mellows, St Bernard’s Village, Chimborazo, Sugar Hill, Braggs Hill, Lammings, Airy Hill and surrounding areas.

IN ST ANDREW: Apes Hill, Farmers, Hillaby, Church Gap, Turners Hall, White Hill and surrounding districts.

In St THOMAS: Dunscombe, Spring Farm, Porey Spring, Content Tenantry, Lower & Upper Canefield, Airy Cot, Sturges, Welchman Hall, Highland Lion Castle, Endeavour, Clifton Hill, Walkes Spring, Clifton Tenantry, Strong Hope, Carrington Village, Bloomsbury, Chapman Village, Friendship, Cane Garden and surrounding areas. (PR/SAT)

YOUNG SOCIALISTS CALL FOR ALL BARBADIANS TO GET INVOLVED IN CRIME FIGHT – Barbadians are being asked to stand up in combatting the upsurge in crime. President of the League of Young Socialists, Kevon Henry made the call via a press statement, noting the crime situation in Barbados and the manner in which these acts have become more brazen. “Prime Minister, the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley had stated “not bout here” and we should echo this message. It is time that we have a serious conversation; realizing that the greater percentage of society is simply not interested in their theatre of war.” Henry said. In making reference to the most recent incident in which a man was shot just meters away from a school, Henry said, “It is wrong for the reckless few to continue to constantly interrupt our lives and livelihoods. It is worst for our children to be forced to witness and experience the trauma caused by these acts of brazen, anti-social behaviour.” The Young Socialist believes that is not only the job of the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police, but of all Barbadians, to help restore order. “Let us not just clean the roads and gullies of our country, let us clean it of the criminal element; starting immediately by each of us doing our small part,” Henry stated. (DN)

MISSING TAXIMAN FOUND DEAD – WHILE a mother was making a tearful plea for help in searching for her missing son, unknown to her his body was being pulled from the sea after it was spotted at the bottom of a cliff in St Philip on Friday. And the death of Jason “Fowl Man” Hobbs, 35, of Apt 1 No. 72 Elizabeth Park, and Harmony Hall, both in Christ Church, has left his fellow taxi drivers calling on authorities to make it mandatory that cameras be installed in their vehicles. Hobbs, driver of Z1962, disappeared sometime last Tuesday. His mother Marselle Hobbs, said it was only after police came to her home on Wednesday that she realised he had not been heard from since the last time she saw him. When calls to family and friends did not yield any answers on Friday, she turned to the NATION and made an appeal for information. At the same time she was crying her heart out, her worst fears were being realised, as police announced the discovery of the decomposing body. Yesterday they confirmed that it was Jason’s which was spotted at Elbow Bay, Fortescue, St Philip, and eventually taken to the jetty at Consett Bay, St John. Marselle and Jason’s stepfather Jerome Moseley said during that appeal that Jason had moved out about a year-and-a-half earlier, but frequented the family home at Harmony Hall.When a NATION team visited Hobbs’ parents’ home yesterday, Moseley said he was not in a position to speak on the situation and was still traumatised. Last night he said they were on their way to Two Sons Funeral Home to view the body. (DN)

NOTICE: The public is advised that the Town and Country Development Planning Office, located at the Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St Michael, will be closed between 9 a.m. and noon, Wednesday, January 22, to facilitate a staff meeting. (BGIS)

There are 347 days left in the year Shalom! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 4/10/2019

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Friday, October 4th, 2019. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

PUBLIC INEFFICIENCY TURNING OFF INVESTORS – A “tardy, obsolete and poor” public service is causing Barbados to lose out on millions of dollars in foreign investment, former central bank governor Dr DeLisle Worrell has claimed. Declaring there was no shortage of capital, he argued that while local and international investors showed great interest in Barbados and the rest of the region, inefficiencies have become a major stumbling block. In his October newsletter, Worrell said: “The truth of the matter is that declining international competitiveness, not finance, is strangling investment in Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean. “A significant upgrade in the quality of our public services is not the only factor in economic recovery, but it is the single most important key to unlocking the investment potential of Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean.” The veteran economist said there was often talk about the hundreds of millions of dollars of “idle funds” at commercial banks that should be put into investment in order to create employment and grow the economy. But he stressed that every investment project would require a number of goods that were not made locally, and would therefore require spending of precious foreign reserves to obtain. He explained: “A basic feature of economies as small as Barbados is that all business investment, from hairdressers to supermarkets to power plants, has to be financed mainly in foreign currency, not domestic money. “That is because the domestic currency cannot be used to acquire essential inputs from abroad, such as equipment, vehicles, materials, fuels and other inputs. “This is true whether the project is large or small, private or public, for domestic production or export. “It follows that all investment of necessity requires a substantial proportion of foreign finance. “This means that the Barbados dollars in banks cannot be put to use in financing investment projects; for that, the banks will need to receive a larger supply of foreign exchange, from tourism, international business, manufactured exports or other sources.” He added that an abundance of local currency finance would have no effect in the absence of investment projects that offered a competitive rate of return, and were undertaken by reputable, well-regarded companies. Instead, said Worrell, the key reviving investment and economic growth was to improve competitiveness. He declared: “Government services that are tardy, obsolete and of poor quality, along with deteriorating infrastructure, are causing the Caribbean to lose out to the competition. “Public sector inefficiency continues to cost the Barbadian economy hundreds of millions of dollars in investment. “Meaningful improvement in the efficiency of public administration and the delivery of public services will be rewarded with a recovery in investment. “As is well known, there is no shortage of investor interest in Barbados’ competitive tourism, and in renewable energy, from Barbadians and foreigners. “These investors, local and foreign, have access to the foreign exchange they need for the intended investment. “Government administrative difficulties of one kind or another block the way to the realization of this investment.” (BT)

CUSTOMS & BUSINESSES TO MEET – Ahead of meetings tomorrow between the business community and the Comptroller of Customs, a major distribution company is reporting some improvement with the new Asycuda World system, which left dozens of containers stuck in the Bridgetown Port. But some companies are bracing for thousands of dollars in losses if shipping companies refuse to waive storage fees incurred during the upsetting slowdown in late September. In addition, concerns have been raised about new customs tariffs, which could cause certain goods to increase by 100 per cent. President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trisha Tannis said she would be better able to address the issues after the discussions. However Andy Armstrong, Marketing Director at major distributor, Armstrong Agencies Ltd told Barbados TODAY some operations at the port have “settled”. (BT)

SCOTIA BANK SHIFTING TO CUSTOMER DEMAND – Customer demand still drives change among the nation’s banks, as one commercial bank declared it was doing all it could to keep up. Manager of Premium Relationship Banking at Canadian-owned Scotiabank Carla Boyce said the bank continues to innovate solutions to meet customers’ changing needs. Scotiabank, which has pulled out of a number of Caribbean countries while maintaining a presence here, has closed branches and urged clients to use online banking and automated teller machine services. Boyce said: “Today, customer expectations are driving fast technological changes. “Our customers are demanding easy, global and seamless mobile services as well as experiences. “Banking is adapting to meet those demands.” As part of Scotiabank’s digital focus, she said, it was now investing more than $5.5 billion (CA$3 billion) annually in technology across its network. She said the bank was ensuring it maintained a high level of security as it made the technological changes. “We are excited to introduce improvements that will benefit customers and help them save time and money,” said Boyce. The bank’s digital thrust, she added, has seen the introduction of a number of upgraded services including a digital branch in Warrens, special alerts to provide increased protection and security and smart automated teller machines. Boyce declared: “You can expect other enhancements to services over the next 18 months,” at the bank’s Premium Banking A-Class showcase at the Simpson Motors showroom in Warrens. Sales Manager at Simpson Motors Penny Johnson said she was delighted to work with Scotiabank on the sale of the new Mercedes-Benz A200 sedan, adding that her company was also keen on keeping up with customers’ changing demands. Johnson said: “Like Scotiabank, our brand Mercedes-Benz is fast developing new and revolutionary technology to satisfy the needs of a younger, more connected and fast pace customers.” She said the new A-Class model was one example of such technology, pointing out that it came with a voice command ‘Hey Mercedes’ that offers a number of personalized features. The vehicle, which comes in hatchback or saloon version, retails around $160,000. (BT)

STRIKE ACTION AT TREASURY BUILDING – Some government workers operating from the Treasury Building in Bridgetown are outside the building, protesting work conditions there. Nation Online understands the latest grievance is about the air conditioning, but this only adds to the list of problems. Notes circulating on social media among staff said “enough was enough” and it was “time to take a stand.” Those notes listed headaches, sinus problems, mental fatigue and high absenteeism among workers. Staff members were awaiting the arrival of their union representative while management is at this time meeting in an effort to resolve the matter. There have been environmental issues in the Treasury Building before. In January 2018, a pungent odour drove staff from the Accountant General's Office from the building. There were reports of mould spores found on the compound and some staff were relocated. Recently, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the building would be converted to high-rise housing. (WN)

BRA WORKERS BEING MOVED – In two weeks, the Treasury Building in Bridgetown will be almost empty. Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn made this promise to scores of frustrated workers at the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) who walked off the job yesterday around 10 a.m. They had become even more fed up with what they described as unbearable conditions in the “sick building” which was compounded by faulty air conditioning. Straughn told some of the 160 BRA workers they would be relocated to the nearby Bridge Street Mall by October 14 where the Rural Development Commission (RDC) and the Urban Development Commission (UDC) are housed. (WN)

SMITH STILL IN TALKS WITH NUPW OVER DISMISSAL – Former general secretary Roslyn Smith and the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) are still battling about whether she was wrongfully dismissed. NUPW president Akanni McDowall provided this update yesterday, while noting that the parties were still negotiating. “We met with the Labour Department on September 20, and those discussions were cordial. Sister Smith brought her representatives and we put forward our case. There were some interesting points made during the meeting. “Suffice [it] to say, those discussions will continue and once we have a conclusion to the matter, we will be able to report to the press in a more fulsome manner,” McDowall told the media yesterday. (WN)

FULL MARKS – Principal, teachers and students at the Belmont Primary School have given the upgrades carried out at the plant by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training a passing grade. The school, which reopened last Monday, September 23, closed early on its first day after staff and pupils complained of a strong paint odour following works conducted over the summer vacation. Some parents also took issue with the water-borne portable toilets which were temporarily placed at the school by the Ministry until the prefab bathroom which was being built offsite, was installed. However, there were many smiling faces last week when the school reopened. Principal Pamela Ifill said they were “pleased” with the work carried out by the Ministries of Education and Transport, Works and Maintenance to ready the school for the start of classes. “As you can see from the smile on my face, we are quite happy. We returned to school [last Monday] and everyone has expressed their joy and pleasure at the upgrades that we have seen. The prefab building that was really termite infested, a lot of woodwork has been done on that. It is almost like a brand new building and the children are comfortable in there. I am also happy to say that we’ve had an upgrade in the nutrition room facilities – again a problem with termites – so cupboards have been refurbished, the netting has been replaced. “But one of the biggest joys is that of the refurbished bathrooms for the boys. For a very long time, we have been putting up with bathrooms that had a lot of issues – old plumbing, for example. So it is really overwhelming to see the upgrade that has been done. Even the girls have new facilities. Even though the building is the old building they are accustomed to, everything in it has been replaced so there are totally new fittings,” Ms Ifill reported. She said that worthy of note was that for the first time, boys now had sinks in their bathrooms. Prior to the new facilities, they had to leave the bathroom and go to another area of the school to wash their hands. The Principal said parents and teachers were also happy with the improvements, which included the repaving of the yard and fixing the roads leading to the school. (BT)

TASTIER SCHOOL MEALS ON THE WAY – The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training is reviewing the School Meals/Food and Nutrition Policy for private and public primary and secondary schools to offer healthier and more “appetizing” options for students. Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw made the disclosure yesterday during the Heart & Stroke Foundations’ media launch of the model schools initiative. The initiative is part of the foundation’s Childhood Obesity Prevention campaign dubbed Switch It Up. Six schools: The St. Michael School, Alexandra School, Reynold Weekes Primary, Christ Church Foundation School, The Rock Christian School and Queen’s College became no sugar zones from Tuesday, October 1. “We have started the process of looking at the school meals policy in relation to nutrition because that obviously is something that, from our preliminary discussions, has not really been reviewed over the years. “I encounter a number of children who complain about the school meals service sometimes; they are not satisfied with the type of food. And I think the time has now come for us to be able to evaluate what we are giving to students, to be able to look at ways we can prepare meals in a more exciting way. We are dealing with a lot of issues in relation to what children eat at home and then what we are saying to them that they must come to school and eat,” Bradshaw explained. While lauding the Heart & Stroke Foundation for its training of vendors and school canteen operators, the Education Minister said Government needed to create a balance between entrepreneurial activity among vendors and ensuring there were healthy school environments. She said the draft food and nutrition policy framework would focus on the sale of dishes prepared by canteen concessionaires, serving sizes sold to students and the types of snacks sold by vendors. Bradshaw contended that persons should not view the draft framework as the demise of vendors but as a “prime opportunity” for Barbadians to take entrepreneurship to a different level. (BT)

PASS THE LAW AGAINST JUNK FOOD – New regulations restricting the sale of unhealthy food in school should be backed by legislation, Government has been told. During the second phase of a mass media campaign of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB), local and international stakeholders in health, youth advocates and at least one religious organisation called for school meals and canteen guidelines to be solidified in law. HSFB president Dr Kenneth Connell told various stakeholders at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed that an opinion poll indicated that 88 per cent of Barbadians have strong concern about childhood obesity, 92 per cent back a national policy and 72 per cent support the banning of sugar sweetened beverages. And while decisions have been made to restrict sugar-sweetened drinks in some schools, he urged media executives to make Barbadians more uncomfortable about the worrying trends. “Media has the power to make our governments uncomfortable such that there are eager to bring about change,” he said. At the event, students from numerous “model schools” joined master of ceremonies, Carl Alff Padmore in a number of exercise routines to promote healthy lifestyles. (BT)

CHANGE HABITS & LIVE LONGER – Many people’s jobs are killing them slowly, says president of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, Dr Kenneth Connell. The physician and University of the West Indies lecturer said both employees and employers needed to make their workplaces healthier as occupational habits were contributing to shortened lifespans in Barbados. “We spend more than 60 per cent of our week at work, which is actually a large health environment, so we need to incorporate health into work, whether it’s by making healthier food options or getting exercise at work. Some seem to think exercise has to be on a treadmill but it doesn’t have to be,” he said. Connell was speaking to the media during a break in the second day of the three-day 2019 Human Resource Management Association of Barbados Inc. People Leadership Conference, themed Connect. Share. Grow. (WN)

QEH ASKING FOR URGENT BLOOD DONATIONS – An urgent call has been made for O negative blood donations at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The donations will replenish the Blood Bank’s supply and ensure that blood products are available for patients with serious medical needs like cancers, blood disorders, premature babies, cardiac procedures and trauma victims. Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 70, who weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health are asked to donate blood at the National Blood Collecting Centre located at Ladymeade Gardens, St Michael, between 8 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on weekdays or 8 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturdays. The National Blood Collecting Centre will also be closed on Saturday, October 5, 12 and 19 to facilitate industrial works. During this time the Centre will remain open as usual from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (WN)

RULE UNDER REVIEW – The five-minute rule is now under review. That’s the word from Chairman of the Transport Authority Ian Estwick, who has revealed that the authority’s board of management will now make the final ruling on whether the controversial rule stays or not. Estwick’s comments have come 24 hours after he reported that the rule, which limits public service vehicles (PSVs) operating in the Constitution River Terminal (CRT) to just five minutes in the loading bay, was being enforced. His comments came as a shock to the two bodies which represent PSV owners and operators – the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) and the Association of Public Transport Operators – which said they put forward proposals to the authority’s acting Director Maria Boyce during a meeting on Monday, which they were promised would be presented to the board. However in a brief interview with Barbados TODAY this evening Estwick said the board would have the final say on the matter. “All I will say is that the rule is currently under review. I’m not saying yes or no to if it will remain, the board will decide on that,” he said. Estwick disclosed that the board would meet to review the proposals next week. (BT)

ARCHER’S FAMILY TOLD TO GET LAWYER – Unable to get the money owed him by his lawyer while he was alive, paraplegic Stephen Archer’s family may have to turn to another lawyer in a bid to unlock the funds, the head of the Barbados Bar Association has said. But while declaring that the association does not condone lawyers’ misbehaviour by lawyers, president Rosalind Smith-Millar has said it is not a “magic solution” to conflicts with clients. When questioned specifically about Archer’s complaint, Smith-Millar said the bar association could not act solely on a newspaper report. Archer, died two weeks ago, having never been paid by an unidentified lawyer the proceeds of a personal injury award. Fifteen days after he celebrated his 30th birthday in 1997, a telephone pole fell on him occasioning him significant bodily injury. The utility company fulfilled its legal obligations to Archer and paid $2.7 million in compensation to his attorney-at-law on his behalf, he had told Barbados TODAY in April. But he revealed that he was never given a cheque nor was it ever deposited on his personal account. Smith-Millar told Barbados TODAY it would be up to Archer’s family members to take up the matter as there was nothing the Bar could do. She said: “If the deceased has the right to some kind of property, their estate continues to have that right. “So whoever is entitled to Mr Archer’s estate would need to go and get legal advice as to how they can deal with the estate and the estate then would be able to do whatever is necessary. “Now, the Bar Association per se, does not even know who the lawyer is and is not authorized to pick up people’s fire-rage. “We cannot read a news report and launch an investigation and do something. “We don’t know who it is; we don’t know if the things we read in the newspaper are true; we don’t have any standing to just chase after whatever the problem is.” She said it would have been the paraplegic’s responsibility to report the matter to the Bar’s Disciplinary Committee if he believed he was not being treated fairly by his legal representative. Smith-Millar continued: “If Mr Archer in his lifetime had realized he was not being treated properly by his attorney-at-law there is the Disciplinary Committee to whom complaints are made. They are not made to the Barbados Bar Association. “We are not a magic solution. There is a committee, there is a process that has to be gone through. “We do not at all condone misbehaviour by lawyers – understand that very clearly – but we cannot just read a newspaper and decide to go and investigate and launch some kind of action. “We cannot do that because we are not authorized to do that.” Up to his death, Archer would not name the lawyer at the centre of the dispute. (BT)

BAYLANDERS MUM ON GUN PLAY – Residents of Bayville, St Michael, were mum on Thursday, avoiding reporters seeking eyewitness accounts of the gunfire that rocked Jessamine Avenue in the wee hours of this morning. Some members of the community denied any knowledge of the incident. “It happened right by my place but I ain’t giving wunna no news,” a resident told Barbados TODAY. But one resident, who spoke briefly and anonymously, said there had been a steady increase in conflict leading to gunplay among rival gangs and was concerned that many gun-toting youth are teens. While police have not linked gang violence to the most recent shooting, they revealed Leandrew Sharvar Coward, 33, of 2nd Avenue, Paddock Road, was the victim after being shot multiple times about the body after 2 a.m. Officers from Hastings Police Station responded and Coward was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by a private vehicle where he underwent emergency surgery. He was listed in critical condition. In a release, police said their investigations were continuing and asked anyone with information to contact the Hastings Police Station at 430-7608/7612, Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers 1800-8477(TIPS) or any Police Station. (BT)

POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING IN BAYVILLE – Officers at Hastings Police Station are investigating the circumstances surrounding a shooting. The incident occurred around 2:18 a.m. this morning at Jessamine Avenue, Bayville, St Michael, where 33-year-old Leandrew Sharvar Coward, of 2nd Avenue Paddock Road, St Michael was shot multiple times about the body. He was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle. Medical personnel said that Coward has undergone emergency surgery and is in critical condition. Anyone who may have information related to this incident is asked to contact Hastings Police Station at 430-7608/7612, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1800-8477(TIPS) or any police station. (WN)

WALCOTT HELD FOR JUICE & BAG THEFT – A 39-year-old man with no fixed place of abode will call HMP Dodds home for the next three months. That’s how long Terrance Allan Walcott will spend at the St Philip facility for stealing 13 juices worth $65 and a $60 bag belonging to Onya Forde on October 2. Police constable Victoria Taitt told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that lawmen responded to a report of a man stealing a bag in the area of Shepherd’s Alley, St Michael and was being held by persons. He was caught in the area of Cats Castle. Walcott is known to the law courts for similar offences. (BT)

CALDERON GRANTED $1000 BAIL – A jet ski operator who allegedly threatened to “cut up” and “feed” a complainant to sharks a year ago was granted $1,000 bail and ordered to reappear in court on October 7. It is alleged that Dwayne Irwin Calderon, of Briar Hall, Christ Church used the threatening words “If you don’t come back with the 70, I would cut you up and feed you to the sharks” within the hearing of Ross Morgan which was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Calderon pleaded not guilty to the October 3, 2018 charge as well as another which allegedly took place on October 1. The accused is charged with using the abusive words, “You’re are a bastard tourist and you owe me money” within the hearing of Jennifer Lepoidevin which was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The 37-year-old was granted bail and ordered to keep the peace. The complainants who are both tourists will be warned to appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant next Monday. (BT)

POLICE DENY ABUSE – The murder trial of Baggio Kristidi Decourcey Daniel, of Block 1A Factory Avenue, Wildey St Michael continued today with a police officer denying that he abused the accused while he was in custody. Sergeant Michael Ifill told the jurors in the No. 5 Supreme Court, “I was not involved or [did I] ever see anybody abuse the accused person”. The sergeant made the comment as defence attorney Marlon Gordon crossed examined him on the matter in which his client is accused of murdering Alex Romel Samuels on February 1, 2012. The deceased was fatally shot while on a minibus along the Pine East West Boulevard. However, under questioning by Crown Counsel Neville Watson, who along with Principal Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney, is prosecuting the case, Ifill said his involvement in the matter was to conduct the identification parade in which the conductor of the van pointed to the accused on the line-up. There were eight other men on the identification parade, the Ifill disclosed. The officer said apart from that function he was not aware of the circumstances in which Daniel got into police custody. Two other persons, a policeman and civilian, gave evidence at today’s sitting presided by Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius. The matter was then adjourned to continue at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, October 4. (BT)

RILEY: PICK HAYNES – Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president Conde Riley thinks that batting legend Desmond Haynes would be a good choice as the next head coach of the West Indies team. “I think he understands batsmanship and that is an area that we have been failing in. Based on experience, he would be a good choice. I think Desmond has a lot to offer. “All three of the candidates for the job are suitable. I wish them well, but Haynes would be my pick,” Riley said. Haynes, former head coach Phil Simmons and current interim coach Floyd Reifer are in the three-man shortlist. (WN)

TRIDENTS OUTPLAY KNIGHT RIDERS – Their bowlers set it up and their batsmen, led by Johnson Charles’ steady half-century, formalised a crucial, seven-wicket victory for Barbados Tridents over defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League on Wednesday night. Charles struck five fours and two sixes in a top score of 55 from 47 balls and shared a vital opening stand of 54 with England opener Alex Hales, as the Tridents successfully chased a modest target of 135 at the Queen’s Park Oval to keep their hopes of a top-two finish in the round-robin stage alive. Hales made 33 – his best score of the season – to give the innings early momentum before Charles took charge to keep Tridents on track for their fifth win, and former South Africa left-hander J.P. Duminy and Ashley Nurse kept their nerve to collect the seven runs needed from the final over, bowled by Knight Riders and new West Indies white ball captain Kieron Pollard, without much alarm. Duminy formalised the result with two balls remaining, when he drove Pollard to long-off for two to give Tridents their first win ever at the Oval and vault the visitors from fifth into the provisional No. 2 spot in the table on 10 points, having completed their full schedule of matches. (DN)

MORE BARBADIANS GETTING INTO FILM MAKING – More Barbadians are picking up a camera for the first time to become budding moviemakers, said the organiser of the annual Barbados Visual Media Festival even as they lament budget cuts and a decline in sponsorship. Damien Pinder, president of the Barbados Film and Video Association, the festival’s organiser, has told reporters he is pleased with the level of interest shown in the event by both amateur and professional filmmakers. At a media conference to launch the festival’s 2019 edition, Pinder acknowledged that fewer sponsors were on board this year and the organisation had to ‘pay its own way’ for the most part. He said: “As a non-profit organisation, the Barbados Film and Video Association has had to put more of its funds into the festival than before. “It is tough but we believe this festival is very important for film enthusiasts and the film industry. (BT)

WALK FOR THE CURE – Two of the island’s top entertainers will headline the entertainment offerings at this Sunday’s BCS Breast Screening Programme/CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure. Cultural Ambassador Red Plastic Bag (RPB) will be a part of the Opening Ceremony and Soca Monarch Mikey will take part in the After-Walk Activities for the event which comes off Sunday, October 6. Other entertainment involved in the activities when the runners and walkers return include Dance Fit and the Zumba Bunnies who will keep the energy going after the walk with two exercise sessions. Then TC, Marzville and Mikey will take over to bring a soca feel to the cool down activity. This 2019 edition of the Walk for the Cure will be encouraging all participants to have their water in refillable/reusable bottles in order to cut down on the number of disposable cups and plastic bottles used. Water will still be available for both runners and walkers who are encouraged to responsibly dispose of the cups and any plastic water bottles they may use. Park and Ride arrangements have also been made. The Transport Board will supply a free service to participants from the car parks at Queen’s College and the National Cultural Foundation in West Terrace as well as from the Sky Mall car park. Buses will leave these areas to head to Warrens between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and will return between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will also be a free service running from the Fairchild Street Bus Terminal to and from Warrens at the same times, to accommodate those travelling by bus. For those living in and traversing the area, the roads into Warrens and on the route of the walk will be closed from 2.30 p.m. including the D’Arcy Scott and Everton Weekes Roundabouts and there will be limited access to Hinds Hill, Prior Park, Warrens and the areas surrounding the route. Runners and walkers will leave the area in front of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Warrens and head towards Hinds Hill, turn right at the traffic lights towards Queen’s College, right at the traffic lights into Clermont right through to Simpsons Motors, right onto the Ronald Mapp Highway and into the Massy car park for the after walk activities. Other fundraising activities to be held after the walk include a Celebrity Basketball Match on October 19 at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium; the now annual Paint for the Cure on October 27 at Radisson Aquatica and a Flea Market on November 2 in the car park of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Warrens Head Office. The public is invited to all of these activities. (BT)

There are 89 days left in the year Shalom! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell

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