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Man injured in Haynesville shooting

Nationnews Desk
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Man injured in Haynesville shooting

Update

A man is receiving medical treatment after being shot during a brazen afternoon attack in Haynesville, St James.

Police at Holetown Station are investigating the incident, which occurred around 2:10 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in the area of Block 24B.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was sitting outside his residence when a dark-coloured vehicle drove into the area. Three men reportedly exited the vehicle and opened fire, injuring him. The injured man managed to flee the scene and seek assistance. He was later transported by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he remains under medical care.

Investigations are ongoing.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information that could assist with the investigation to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-8477, Police Emergency at 211, or the Holetown Police Station at 419-1700.

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Earlier story

One man has been injured following a shooting incident at Haynesville, St James.

Police are on the scene conducting investigations. More details as they come.

Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council mandate ends

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Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council mandate ends

The mandate of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT)  came to an end on Saturday leaving the future of the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in limbo even as the outgoing president said the Council of Ministers “under the direction of the prime minister will take charge”.

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Pentagon ends academic ties with Harvard over its ‘woke ideology’

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Pentagon ends academic ties with Harvard over its ‘woke ideology’

The US Department of Defense is severing its academic connections to Harvard University, with Secretary Pete Hegseth accusing the oldest US university of being a centre of “hate-America activism”.

In a video posted on X, Hegseth announced the Pentagon would end graduate-level military training, fellowships and certificate programmes with the Ivy League institution.

Harvard has become a “factory for woke ideology and a breeding ground for anti-American radicals” that does not align with the department’s focus on “lethality” and “deterrence”, he said.

The Trump administration has threatened to cut funds to Harvard, alleging it is “woke” and antisemitic. The BBC has contacted Harvard for comment.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced he was seeking $1bn (£730m) in damages from Harvard, after the New York Times reported his administration had to backtrack from its demand for a $200m payment in negotiations with the university. Trump accuses the university of “feeding a lot of nonsense” to the news outlet.

In his announcement, posted late on Friday, Hegseth said he was considering ending defence department associations with other top-level universities, but primarily focused on Harvard, giving a history of its long relationship with the US military that stretched back to the first American president, George Washington.

“For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university would better understand and appreciate our warrior class,” Hegseth said.

“Instead, too many of our officers came back looking too much like Harvard — heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks,” he added.

He called Harvard “one of the red-hot centres of hate-America activism”.

The Pentagon will end its academic relationship with the university in the autumn, giving any military personnel currently attending classes time to finish their studies, the department said.

Along with criticising the university’s teaching, Hegseth said the Pentagon was also cutting off Harvard because some of its research programmes have partnered with the Chinese Communist Party. Between 2010 and 2025, Harvard received $560m in gifts and contracts from Chinese foundations, private donors, and government entities, according to the New York Times.

Hegseth also accused the university of encouraging a “campus environment that celebrated Hamas” and “allowed attacks on Jews”. The Trump administration has repeatedly blasted Harvard over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, which happened on many college campuses in the months after the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

Hegseth received a Master of Public Policy from Harvard’s prestigious Kennedy School, which is frequently attended by federal employees, including members of the military, in 2013. In 2022, he returned his diploma in protest against the university’s classes on critical race theory.

The administration has previously attempted to freeze federal funding to Harvard threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status, and challenged its ability to enrol international students, although some of its measures have been stopped by the courts.

Declare Assets!

Colville Mounsey
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Declare Assets!

Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne last night called for the full enforcement of integrity in public life legislation and publicly declared his own assets, while challenging the Government to do the same, as he addressed the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) manifesto launch at Gall Hill, St John.

Speaking for more than an hour to a large crowd of supporters who remained rapt despite intermittent rainfall, Thorne insisted that transparency and accountability must be restored to public life, arguing that Barbadians had a right to know how their tax dollars were being spent and by whom.

“I declare my assets tonight,” Thorne told the gathering, before outlining bank accounts held locally and overseas, his two vehicles and other financial interests. He said the disclosure would be put in writing and made available to the media.

“All of this I am going to write to the nation of Barbados. If the media houses want it in writing, they can get it,” he said.

Framing his declaration as a matter of principle rather than personal defence, Thorne challenged the Barbados Labour Party administration to do likewise.

“We are asking on behalf of the taxpayers of this country. We are asking on behalf of the children in this country who cannot get adequate welfare payments,” Thorne said, arguing that scrutiny of public finances was necessary where concerns existed about how State funds were being managed.

“We have come here tonight to complain that your tax dollars are being squandered,” he declared.

Thorne also revisited what he described as the improper disclosure of his personal financial affairs in Parliament, saying it was an attempt to distract from substantive criticism of Government borrowing.

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VIDEO: Launch of DLP Manifesto

Sherrylyn Clarke
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VIDEO: Launch of DLP Manifesto

Highlights from the launch of the Democratic Labour Party Manifesto at Gall Hill, St John, February 7, 2026.

Inniss blasts Lashley, Sinckler for political shifts

Maria Bradshaw
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Inniss blasts Lashley, Sinckler for political shifts

Former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) minister Donville Inniss has strongly criticised his former parliamentary colleagues Michael Lashley and Chris Sinckler for aligning themselves with the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) – a move he describes as “destructive to the body politic of Barbados”.

Inniss, who previously held the portfolio of health, as well as small business, industry and commerce, said the political shift of his former colleagues was deeply disappointing and damaging to public trust in politicians.

“It really pains me at a deep and personal level because these are two of my former Cabinet colleagues, who in many ways represented the faces and voices of what the Mottley administration has called the ‘lost decade’,” he told the Sunday Sun.

“They were the most vilified of my Cabinet colleagues by the then Barbados Labour Party Opposition. And it’s very destructive to the body politic of Barbados to see these two gentlemen now so deep in the bosom of the BLP.”

Lashley recently confirmed his membership in the BLP and was selected as the party’s candidate for The City of Bridgetown constituency on January 18. He served as a Minister of Housing and later Minister of Transport and Works from 2008 to 2018 while the DLP was in office.

Sinckler, who served as Minister of Finance under the DLP administration, was appointed in 2022 as Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank, representing Barbados and ten other Caribbean nations – a position sanctioned by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s Government.

Inniss said he found their actions hypocritical, noting that both men had been harshly criticised by the BLP during their time in office.

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Updated list at library, EBC

Natanga Smith
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Updated list at library, EBC

Political parties now have the final updated Electoral List in hand and members of the public will be able to view hard copies from tomorrow, Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC), Sherland Turton, confirmed amid mounting political tension over the integrity of the voters’ register ahead of the February 11 General Election.

Turton’s disclosure comes against the backdrop of strong criticism from leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and St John candidate Ralph Thorne, who has repeatedly raised concerns about what he described as irregularities in the voters’ list, including the alleged removal of eligible voters and the inclusion of deceased persons.

On Nomination Day, January 27, Thorne warned that thousands were at risk of being disenfranchised with little time for correction.

“A list of over 8 000 persons was published to be disenfranchised and they were given a matter of days to have that rectified. That is not right,” he said.

Thorne said DLP members were approached by citizens who believed they had been wrongly removed from the register, including people who were “alive and resident in Barbados”.

He said his party had lost confidence in the EBC’s operations and would closely monitor the process.

“We are prepared to go to the courts of this country if necessary. If it is one person who is denied the right to vote, democracy has suffered an injustice,” Thorne declared.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley responded to the criticism by pointing out that the DLP is represented on the EBC by deputy chairman Hal Gollop KC and commissioner Maxine McClean.

Providing an update on the list last night, Turton said the final revisions were completed on Friday.

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Hetmyer, Shepherd guide Windies to winning start in World Cup

Nationnews Desk
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Hetmyer, Shepherd guide Windies to winning start in World Cup

Shimron Hetymer and Romario Shepherd’s record-breaking performances propeled West Indies to a comprehensive 35-run victory over Scotland in their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup here on Saturday.

Hetmyer, who only arrived in India on Friday, showed no signs of jet lag on the way to scoring the fastest half century by a West Indian at a T20 World Cup, with his 64 off 36 balls the mainstay of their total of 182 for five in 20 overs at Eden Gardens.

At one stage Scotland was in the hunt for a historic win, before Shepherd’s hat-trick – the first by a West Indies bowler at a T20 World Cup – saw them being bowled out for 147 in 18.5 overs.

It was an important win for the Windies, who will face one of the pre-tournament favourites England in their next Group C match on Wednesday.

The win was setup by Hetmyer’s scintillating knock, which resuscitated life back into the Windies’ innings following a slow start by openers Brandon King and Shai Hope.

The opening pair struggled to get going and by the end of the power play had only mustered 33 runs.

King started to accelerate, hitting pacer Safyaan Sharif for a six and two fours to start the seventh over that leaked 17 runs to bring up the Windies’ 50.

Four runs later, off spinner Michael Leask put Hope out of his misery by bowling him for a pedestrian 19 off 22 balls, as he played across the line of a straight delivery.

Batting at his new position at number three, Hetmyer started streaky, with two attempted slogs ballooning into the air but landing safely between fielders.

After scoring 35 off 30 balls, King slapped a delivery from left-arm spinner Oliver Davidson straight into the hands of George Munsey at backward point to leave the score 58 for two in the 10th over.

His dismissal brought Rovman Powell to the crease, and the pair transformed the West Indies’ position during an 81-run partnership in six overs.

Hetmyer slapped Davidson over long off for six and followed up by smacking Leask over long on for another maximum.

Spinner Mark Watt was given the same treatment, with Hetmyer hitting him for consecutive sixes in the 10th over.

He moved into the 40s with a six and four off Sharif in the 13th over and brought up his 50 off just 22 balls, bettering Chris Gayle’s 23-ball half century against Australia in 2009.

Powell bludgeoned Leask for another six to end the 15th over, but three balls later he hit Brad Currie down the throat of deep backward square leg to be out for 24 off 14 balls.

Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford, who made 26 off 13 balls added 36 runs in just over three overs, but their dismissals in the space of two balls helped Scotland fight back at the death.

Hetmyer struck six sixes and two fours, while Rutherford clobbered four fours and one six.

The West Indies then made a promising start with the ball, claiming the early wickets of Michael Jones for one, Brandon McMullen for 14 and Munsey for 19 to a spectacular diving catch by Hetmyer, to restrict Scotland to 38 for three at the end of six overs.

But captain Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce put on 78 runs for the fourth wicket in just eight overs to put Scotland in a strong position of 115 for three at the start of the 14th over.

Bruce was dropped twice, with Jason Holder failing to hold on to a catch running back at mid off when he was five, while Matthew Forde dropped a regulation catch at cover when he was 25.

Holder redeemed himself by having Berrington caught on the deep point boundary for 42 off 24 balls, before Shepherd snared four wickets in the 17th over to decide the contest.

After Gudakesh Motie trapped Bruce lbw for 35 to make the score 122 for five in the 15th over, Shepherd had Matthew Cross and Leask caught in consecutive deliveries and then bowled Davidson to complete the hat-trick, becoming the 10th bowler to achieve the feat at a T20 World Cup.

For good measure, he closed out the over by having Sharif caught at long off, to end with the impressive figures of 5-20 from his three overs, as Scotland slumped to 133 for nine.

Holder then wrapped up the match by dismissing last man Mark Watt, to finish with 3-30. (CMC)

Fire at QEH

Nationnews Desk
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Fire at QEH

Update

A fire broke out in a treatment room on the C4 ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital earlier today, forcing an emergency response from the Barbados Fire Service.

Sub-Officer Henderson Nicholls of the Bridgetown Fire Station confirmed that crews were dispatched to what was reported as a structural fire at the hospital. Seven fire officers from the Bridgetown Station responded, supported by Water Tenders Two and Seven and an additional tender from the Bridgetown Port Station.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they were informed that the blaze was confined to Treatment Room One on the C4 ward. Two teams were immediately deployed to attack the fire. The flames were brought under control and extinguished shortly after.

Damage was contained to the treatment room. One air-conditioning unit was completely destroyed, a cabinet was burnt, and the room was left heavily coated in soot. Fire crews are now conducting smoke extraction from the ward above C4, where smoke had accumulated.

Investigations indicate that the fire appears to have been electrical in origin.

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Earlier story

Fire officers are currently on the scene of a fire at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

More details as they come.

Group to review Pensions Act

Maria Bradshaw
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Group to review Pensions Act

A decades-old amendment to the Pensions Act that resulted in thousands of civil servants receiving a reduced pension after retirement may be rectified.

General secretary of the Unity Workers’ Union, Caswell Franklyn, said he drew the matter to the attention of Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley last October and pointed out that the amendment to the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1975-31, which was made in 1975, was “unconstitutional”.

He said Mottley had subsequently informed him last October that the matter would be dealt with.

Speaking at an election meeting on Thursday night at Carrington Village, St Michael, Mottley publicly announced that a working group would be established to review the matter.

Legal opinion

“I asked the former Chief Justice to do a legal opinion, which he did after discussing it first with Caswell Franklyn, who came to me, and then secondly with other representatives of unions, including the Barbados Workers’ Union.

“When Mr Barrow (Prime Minister Errol Barrow) passed the amendment to the Pension Act in 1975 it appears as though that it was not done in accordance with the rules of our Constitution. And it therefore puts us in a difficult position with respect to the constitutionality of those provisions even though they are 51 years old,” she said.

Franklyn, who held a press conference at his Unity Workers’ Union headquarters at Belleville, St Michael, yesterday said the deficiency in the amendment needed to be addressed urgently even though he acknowledged that “it will not be an easy fix”.

“It is not something that you can just rush off and do overnight but I can’t set their [Government] agenda. All I can do is hope that they have recognised that people are suffering, and they can say, ‘Oh, it wasn’t us’. We’re only trying to fix it now, but I still need that level of some sort of urgency in the matter,” he said.

Franklyn, who was appointed an Opposition Senator in 2018 by then Opposition Leader Joseph Atherley, also sought to clear the air on his relationship with the Prime Minister.

“I have started to get some feedback. People tell me that I joined back the Barbados Labour Party and all kinds of stuff. That is as far from the truth as you can get. I have not joined any political party.

“My main mission and only mission is to look out for the people who pay union dues to Unity Workers’ Union, but it will affect everybody else, even though you might not be a member of Unity Workers’ Union because as long as you’re working in the Public Service, this will cover you.”

He also revealed that he had previously taken the matter to Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne, hoping that he would file an action before the High Court but he lamented that he left disappointed after Thorne told him: “That will break the Government.”

When contacted yesterday, Thorne said he had no recollection of the situation.

However, Franklyn explained that the amendment affected all the pensions which fell under the act, including the Public Employees Pension Act,

the Pensions Act, Teachers (Secondary Schools) Pensions Act, Widows And Children Pensions Act and Statutory Boards (Pensions) Act.

Pointing out that people had found their pensions reduced to as much as $2 000, Franklyn said he got involved in the matter after a former employee of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital complained that he had lost $1 500 due to the reduction of his pension and was now unable to meet his financial obligations.

“This case pushed me over the edge. And I did my research and I came to the conclusion that the pension arrangements from 1975, that’s 51 years ago, were unconstitutional and that depriving people of their pensions was against the law,” Franklyn said.

‘Unfair’

The union boss also expressed disappointment that other trade unions did not pursue this matter on behalf of their members.

A former employee who recently received notification from the Accountant General about her pension being reduced told the Sunday Sun that this system was “unfair”.

“After putting in over 40 years in the civil service it is unfair that Government would now seek to reduce your pension. Have a heart. We are people that work hard. This is heartless,” she said, adding that the letter was sent to a lawyer for a review.

The letter stated: “Our records indicate that you entered the service after September 1, 1975, and have reached your 67th birthday. You are therefore required to apply to National Insurance and Social Security for your contributory old age pension.

“In accordance with the terms of your Pension Fund Plan, your pension will be reduced by the amount of pension received from National Insurance and Social Security. The Treasury will pay the difference between your NIS and service pension if the NIS pension is the lesser of the two.” (MB)

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