Athletes who are hoping to compete at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships have less than one month to get in shape and impress the selectors for the July 2 to 4 meet in the Dominican Republic.The Barbados Olympians Classic, which will be held on June 12 and 13, will be the last chance to meet the qualifying standards which were set several months ago.“The major selection meet for the juniors will be the Olympians Classic because nationals are too close to the actual competition to use that as a selection meet,” Amateur Athletic Association president Esther Maynard told NATIONSPORT in a recent interview.“The juniors will have to put their qualifying performances in by the 12th and 13th of June. That is the meet they will have to compete at and go head-to-head at because the next meet is too close to the actual travel date.”Maynard said approximately 25 athletes had met the qualifying standards following the conclusion of last month’s CARIFTA Games, but that was not enough to guarantee selection.“It is not only qualifying performance that merits it. It is the shape that you are in at the time of selection,” she reiterated.The president expressed concern that some of those who had qualified had not returned to competition since the CARIFTA Games which were held in the Cayman Islands at Easter. She believes that many of the athletes were preparing for examinations and that was the reason why they had been absent.Maynard said that to date only six seniors had qualified for the August 22 to 28 CAC Games in Puerto Rico, based on the information they had received.She identified 110 metres hurdles World champion Ryan M. Brathwaite; national record holders Justin Cummins in the javelin, Henderson Dottin in the high jump and Kierre Beckles in the 100-metre hurdles; as well as Keisha Walkes in the shot put and Latoya Griffith in the 400-metre hurdles. Shane Brathwaite has qualified for the regional Under-23 championships in the 110 metres and 400 metres hurdles, respectively, while Griffith and Beckles are also eligible and Stephen Headley with 10:48 in the 100 metres.“I think we may have some other performances from some of the other hurdlers, but until we get confirmation, of things like wind reading and so on, those are the ones that I can [say] off hand.”Maynard said Barbados would like to have “our best team out”, numbering between 15 and 20 athletes.This year’s National Championships will be held on the weekend of June 25 through 27.
New track, field records in Sealy Classic
Two old records were broken, two new ones were set, and one was equalled as the curtain came down on the Tenth Austin Sealy Invitational Trac Classic last Sunday night at the National Stadium.Matthew Wright of Elite Distance shattered his own time of 9 minutes, 01:33 seconds in the men’s 3000 metres with a new time of 8.48:08. He lapped most of the field, with Jerome Blackett of the BDF second in 9.50:12, holding off the late sprint by Pacers’ Anthonio Mascoll (9.50:42).The lone record in the field came from Pacers’ Charles Greaves, who followed up his best in the triple jump on Saturday with 6.52 metres in the Under-17 Boys’ long jump, adding six centimetres to the mark posted by St Kitts’ Troy Rogers three years ago.The Haddock twins also completed the double by setting the standard to beat in the Under-9 division’s new events. Leilani won the 150 metres in 22:92 seconds from the CUT’s Rishaunna Padmore (23:63) and Arielle Cook-Ashton (24:07); while Ajani won the boys’ race in 22:25 seconds from BC Trac’s Jahlarni Toney (23:38) and his West Terrace teammate Tristan Scantlebury, who clocked 23:77 seconds. Leah Barker of Elite Distance equalled Shadir Greene’s three-year record of 25:95 seconds in the Under-15 Girls’ 200 metres and Tré Adamson of Rising Stars dipped below 24 seconds with 23:92 to win the boys’ race.There were no more records in the 200 metres, but there was a lot to talk about after 12-year-old Tristan Evelyn of Rising Stars beat the Under-17 field with a time of 25:35 seconds, Shakera Hall of Elite Distance was second in 25:60 and BC Trac’s Alisha Harris third in 26:39.Deon Hope did the double in the Under-17 division, crossing the line in a comfortable 22:03 seconds, followed by Jason Moore of Elite Distance in 22:53 and Jerrad Mason of Rising Stars in 22:66.Mara Weekes of Quantum Leap was unchallenged in winning the women’s race in 24:53 seconds, while Pacers’ Fallon Forde lived up to his billing as the fastest qualifier to win the men’s race in 21:68 seconds. The expected showdown never occurred with neither Shekeim Greaves nor Elroy Agard facing the starter, and all eyes were on Greggmar Swift to do the double. He faded coming out of the turn, as Forde passed Jamil Jones (21:77) and Dario Alleyne of Rising Stars (21:86).In the Under-11 division, Rosette Hoyte of Rising Stars (29:31) also did the double, while her clubmate Fabian Leon (27:72) turned the tables on CUT’s Shaquille Ifill (27:78) and 100-metre champion Jamahl Burke (27:81) of West Terrace in the timed finals.CUT’s Jaria Hoyte won the Under-13 Girls’ race in 27.42 seconds and Pacers’ Jevon Hunte, with a style reminiscent of Kemar Hannaway, won the boys’ race in 25.98 seconds.In other events, Parkinson’s Sonia Gaskin won the Under-17 Girls’ 800 metres and Shani Adams of Elite Distance took women’s event. Brandon Parris of VSec won the boys’ race and Ibrahim Hinds won the men’s race. Tia-Adana Belle and Zeco Best of Elite Distance were the winners in the Under-15 division.In the field, twin sisters Winmalecia (8.23 metres) and Winmarie (8.19 metres) of Springer Memorial won the Under-15 Girls’ shot put, while BC Trac’s Shannon Greene had the best put of 9.22 metres among the Under-17 girls and Angela Jackson (10.16m) among the women. (SAT)
Selectors keep Ramdin, Fletcher
by EZRA STUARTA SHOW of faith by the West Indies selectors!In spite of below-par displays in the just ended World Twenty20, both Denesh Ramdin and Andre Fletcher have been retained for the pair of Twenty20 and One-Day International matches against South Africa in Antigua.And there is still no recall for Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh or Lendl Simmons, while the big-hitting under-achiever Kieron Pollard gets another chance to replicate his Indian Premier League form in West Indian colours.The only casualty from the unsuccessful World T20 squad, which lost two of three matches in the Super Eights round and failed to reach the semi-finals, is veteran left-handed batsman Wavell Hinds.The two T20s will be played tomorrow and Thursday, while the first two ODIs are on Saturday and Monday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, outside of St John’s. The matches were shifted to Antigua because of general elections in Trinidad and Tobago.Despite the shortcomings of Ramdin and Fletcher, the selectors continue to bypass Jamaican wicketkeeper Baugh, who made two in his only T20 international against New Zealand in 2008. That match ended in a tie before the Windies triumphed in the “super over”. Ramdin has a batting average of 16.84 in 22 T20s, while Fletcher, who is seen primarily as a top-order batsman, is averaging 13.30 after 12 T20 internationals. In 76 ODIs, Ramdin averages 19.65 and Fletcher 18.07 in his 14 matches. The last of Baugh’s 30 ODIs in which he has averaged 14.86, was in Abu Dhabi in 2008.Smith, still only 27 years old, was made the scapegoat for the Windies’ defeat against Zimbabwe in his last ODI in Guyana when he was discarded after he was bowled, essaying a cross-batted shot in the final over.Smith, who wasn’t selected in the World T20 squad, has only played in eight T20 matches for the West Indies and was unfortunately run out in his first three innings.A three-dimensional player, Smith’s useful medium pace swing bowling and outstanding fielding are often overlooked while his lower order batting and method of dismissal, repeatedly come under scrutiny.A case in point was in only his second T20 against England in 2007.After being run out for six, Smith significantly ran out both Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood and had the impressive figures of 3-0-24-3, taking the wickets of openers Alaistair Cook and Matt Prior, as well as Owais Shah to help the West Indies win by 15 runs at The Oval.His best score is 29 off just seven balls when he went to the crease in the 18th over and smashed four sixes and a four off Bangladesh before he was out off the final ball.On the West Indies’ One-Day tour of Australia last year, Smith performed creditably with scores of 7, 43, 59 not out and 21. He also performed capably with the ball, so much so that he has 56 ODI wickets at an economy rate of 4.92. While Smith has been cast aside, Darren Sammy has seized his opportunity, while vice-captain Dwayne Bravo, despite lean times in recent series and in the World T20 when he made 18, 23, 1 and 6, is regarded as the No.1 all-rounder in a team, which also includes Pollard, whose World Cup T20 returns were 8, 0, 9, 17 and 13, keeping his overall T20 average in 18 matches at 11.61. In 25 ODIs, Pollard’s average is 18.36.Maybe, Smith, Baugh and the Jamaican all-rounder David Bernard, who has taken 14 wickets at an economy rate of 4.95 in his 18 ODIs and has only been given a solitary T20 international, will get their chances on the Dominica leg.SQUAD: Chris Gayle (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice-captain), Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor.
Bravo scores second ton
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Left-handed stroke-maker Darren Bravo carved out his second century in a week as West Indies “A” made a strong start to their four-day “Test” against Bangladesh “A” yesterday.The 20-year-old Trinidadian scored an attractive 102 to fire the Caribbean side to 285 all out after they won the toss and chose to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.At the close, Bangladesh “A” had reached 22 for one, still 263 runs off first innings lead.Bravo was the day’s main attraction, continuing his rich vein of form, which also brought him an unbeaten 107 against South Africa “A” last Tuesday, in the preceding Tri-Nation Limited Overs Series.His knock was needed after West Indies “A” slipped to 60 for two, as he combined with captain Travis Dowlin in an outstanding 142-run, third-wicket stand to revive the innings.Bravo faced 137 balls and struck 12 fours and a six in just under three hours at the crease, while the right-handed Dowlin hammered 75 with eight fours in an innings spanning 144 balls and 221 minutes.When left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo, who finished with six for 124, bowled Dowlin at 202 for three, Bravo and fellow left-handed batsman Brendan Nash added another 42 for the fourth wicket.Nash, the Australia-born Test left-hander, hit 44 off 73 balls with two fours and a six and held the innings together after Bravo fell.West Indies “A” suffered a late innings decline, however, losing their last six wickets for 41 runs as off-spinner Mahmudul Hasan chipped in with two for 53.The visitors then secured a scalp before the close when good work by Imran Khan accounted for the dangerous left-hander Shahriar Nafees run out for three, with the score on four in the fourth over of the innings. (CMC)
Digicel Series itinerary
Tomorrow: 1st Digicel T20 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Thursday, May 20: 2nd Digicel T20 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Saturday, May 22: 1st Digicel ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Monday, May 24: 2nd Digicel ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Friday, May 28: 3rd Digicel ODI at Windsor Park, Dominica Sunday, May 30: 4th Digicel ODI at Windsor Park, Dominica Thursday, June 3: 5th Digicel ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica Sunday, June 6 to Monday June 7: South Africa warm-up at Chedwin Park, Jamaica Thursday, June 10 to Monday June 14: 1st Digicel Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica Friday June 18 to Tuesday, June 22: 2nd Digicel Test at Warner Park, St Kitts Saturday, June 26 to Wednesday, June 30: 3rd Digicel Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados
‘We could lose our reef fishery’
CAN WE AFFORD to lose anymore of our marine habitats?Yesterday, this question was asked by marine scientist Hazel Oxenford as she delivered a lecture to a number of students at the Folkestone Park And Marine Reserve as part of the International Council Of Museums’ week of activities worldwide. In response to her own question, Oxenford, a professor of Marine Ecology and Fisheries at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, said she hoped the answer was “no”.“Additional loss is really unacceptable, given the amount of loss we have already witnessed,” she said, adding that if Barbados continued to lose coral reefs, the consequences “can be very far-reaching for the country”.“We would lose our reef fishery. . . . More importantly, we are going to lose the reef biodiversity, which means our water sports tourism will go downhill.”“I think the most frightening aspect is that of the loss of reef framework and this self-repairing barrier that provides the white sand beaches and protects them. . . . we would no longer have protection of the shoreline and that means. . . . damage to all of the tourist infrastructure along the coast and much of the critical infrastructure that we have, such as The Barbados Light and Power and the hospital. These facilities are within a metre of current sea surface level.”Oxenford also highlighted the impact of climate change on coral reefs in Barbados. However, she encouraged the students to leave the room as optimists, saying: “It is up to everyone of us to help ourselves and stop relying on other people to tell us what to do.”
Food and wine to attract tourists
THE LATEST activity to be added to the Barbados tourism calendar is expected to be a major fillip to the island’s tourism.President of Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), David Rice, anticipates the Barbados Food And Wine Festival planned for November 18 to 21 will be a successful boost to the number of visitors coming into the island.It is the newest addition to the list of annual events in a year in which, according to Rice, the board is concentrating on events.“The tourism industry is a twelve-month a year industry and we can’t just concentrate on our winter season. We have to make sure that in the summer we have business because our responsibility is to 270 000 people. We therefore must have something happening every month of the year.” “This year, over previous years, we are trying to make sure that there is an event every month,” Rice added. This latest festival joins other mainline festivals like Crop-Over, Gospelfest and the just-concluded ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament in promoting Barbados as an activity-filled destination.The Food And Wine Festival, Rice said, is a revamp of the successful Taste Of Barbados in which local chefs showed off their culinary skills and Barbadians took advantage of fine Barbadian cuisine creatively served up. But the BTA president stated, “We took a look at the Taste Of Barbados, which was successful over the years, and we wanted to enhance it.”Chefs from the United States, Canada, the United Kindom and Barbadian chefs will participate in the festival with what Rice described as “very big dining events”, to be held at various locations throughout the island.“We need to draw more visitors to our country, and we wanted to create an international event that could do that.” The BTA president said the Authority was also having discussions about an entertainment event in September. He however declined to give details since he said arrangements had not yet been finalised.
Call persists for Golding to resign as PM
KINGSTON – The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) did not change its stance on Sunday, and neither did the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The PNP continued to call for Prime Minister Bruce Golding to step down amidst the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips saga rocking the Government even while the JLP was preparing to host a Press conference to announce that Golding was staying put. But Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, who on Sunday addressed a special meeting of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) at the University of the West Indies, told grinning, energised comrades not to gloat as Jamaica was hurting from the deepening scandal. “Whatever the outcome of this situation, I make a special appeal to comrades. Let us not gloat over this situation,” said Simpson Miller. “Let us not be uncharitable. . . . let us have a national day of prayer for Jamaica and its people. Let us pray for the PNP, and let us pray for Mr Golding and his family at this time.” Earlier, the opposition leader noted that the scandal was a “serious issue about Jamaica” and its “relationship” with the rest of the world. “People are watching us very closely. This is not about the PNP or JLP. The PM must do the right thing and tender his resignation,” she insisted. The party also repeated calls for Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne to resign. “She, too, must do the honourable thing and resign,” Simpson Miller told the meeting. There have been widespread calls for Golding to resign following his stunning confession last Tuesday in Parliament that he sanctioned the party’s engagement of the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to lobby the Obama administration to prevent the extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who has been indicted by the United States on drug and gun trafficking charges. “I have been in politics a very long time, and never in my life have I seen the leadership of this country plot, collude and scheme with the explicit, brazen and barefaced sanction of a prime minister,” said Simpson Miller. “Never have I witnessed such deception and betrayal of the trust of the Jamaican people.” Simpson Miller said she had heard the criticisms of the PNP and was mindful that many people did not trust the words of politicians. She said the PNP must be “big enough to recognise it, mature enough to admit it and strong enough to correct it”. She added that many people felt that the PNP was sitting in limbo waiting for the dice to roll (a line taken from one of Jimmy Cliff’s songs). However, she said that the PNP was offering a different kind of governance and politics, which was aimed at accountability and honesty. (Observer)
GUEST COLUMN: ‘Beach bums’ and tourism
by WYNSLO PHILLIPSIN RECENT weeks there has been a number of published comments and complaints about beach vendors and so-called “beach bums”. Being a beach vendor myself for the past 20 years, what I have noticed is that whenever there is a downturn in the local hotel industry these complaints tend to appear. Beach vendors and “beach bums” seem to be an easy target or scapegoat for the economic woes of hotels and Barbadians in general. The hotels have demonised beach vendors (and “beach bums”) as the biggest threat to the economic stability and welfare of Barbados.Sir, I will state that today, as compared to 20 years ago, there has been a significant reduction in the number of beach vendors (and “beach bums”). Of course, many vendors have retired, but many others have left because of reduced economic opportunities. The face of Barbadian tourism has changed, from mainly hotel accommodation to a mix of hotels, condominiums, rental villas, and short-term apartments, with many new homes today being built with at least two apartments for visitor rentals added in. With the last mentioned, I believe this is a source of tax income the Government is missing in a big way.One can hardly make a living today from placing a stall on the beach in front of a hotel and peddling costume jewellery, beach wraps and hair braiding. Being an unlicensed itinerant beach vendor is an even more dire situation. In the Dover-Maxwell Beach area, where I ply my trade as a beach artist, there is only one licensed vendor – a hair braider, remaining on the entire Dover Beach. On Maxwell beach, Turtle Beach Resort has only two of five licensed vendors remaining. Almond Casuarina also has five licensed vendors. Two are there full-time and a third drops in occasionally. The other two have disappeared. The vendors at Bougainvillaea Resort certainly do not appear every day. And, very rarely do you see a vendor on the beach at Barbados Beach Club. The few itinerant vendors always have to keep a sharp eye out for the police and NCC rangers.On the question of beach bums, there may not be many Barbadians who will acknowledge it, but they play a very important part in the local tourism industry and perhaps in the economy in general. One prominent South Coast hotelier, well known for his tirades against beach vendors, was himself a beach vendor and could be described as a beach bum. That is how he met his wife, who financed the purchase of his hotel. Without that coming together, that source of investment would most likely have ended up elsewhere.I know two restaurateurs and a prominent realtor, who married “beach bums”, and the island is much better off because of these happy occurrences. Millions of dollars in real estate purchases, and the accompanying economic development, have flowed into the island’s economy because of this meeting of wealthy visitors and “beach bums”. This is not to mention direct cash payments (or gifts) which any economist will tell you are more beneficial to the wider economy than any other form of national income.There are many beach-side bars, car rental operators, small hotels, apartments and short-term rental house owners who economically depend on recommendations from “beach bums”. What would the Oistins Bay Gardens be without the positive referrals from this little appreciated class of Barbadians. The NCC head, Keith Neblett, along with calling for a renewed battle against beach bums, also mentioned the matter of beach littering. I can say that the NCC has not provided a single garbage can on either Dover or Maxwell Beach for public use. Perhaps, Neblett should leave his office occasionally and get some sand on his shoes and see what really happens on the beach.
Govt looking to HELP with land
GOVERNMENT will seek permission to acquire two parcels of land at Brighton, St George when the House of Assembly meets today at 10 a.m., to pursue its Housing Every Last Person Programme (HELP).Minister of Housing and Lands Michael Lashley is down to move the resolution to compulsorily acquire the two parcels of land, totalling 15 302 square metres, owned by Brighton Plantation Limited.On March 6, 2008, Cabinet had agreed to acquire the land for the provision of 500 lots under HELP.And on February 26, last year, it agreed to:(i) the acquisition of additional areas from landowners where acquisitions were approved previously to provide the required lots as well as to accommodate the recommended buffer zone under HELP in accordance with instructions from the Chief Town Planner; and(ii) the acquisition of other parcels of land to provide the required 500 lots as well as to accommodate the buffer zone under HELP.Two other items are likely to be debated: an amendment to the Income Tax Act to give effect to a proposal in the 2009 Budget to make different provision for settlements to charities and to provide for a foreign currency allowance to individuals in certain circumstances; and an amendment to the Charities Act to provide for the categorisation of certain institutions as “exempt charities”.These charities are defined as “any body established by statute which is permitted to receive gifts and donations of money or property for the performing of any function or discharging of any obligation under that statute”.Seven new bodies will be admitted to this category: the AIDS Foundation of Barbados, the Barbados National Trust, the Barbados Small Business Association, the Challenor Creative Arts and Training Centre, the Kiwanis Club of Barbados, the Lions Club of Barbados and the Barbados Cancer Society and Cancer Support Services.There is also provision for “any facility established for the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by substance abuse”. (AB)