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Christ Church West folk identify issues

Carlos Atwell
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Christ Church West folk identify issues

Some residents of Christ Church West say they were hoping to see issues with roads, housing and the environment addressed as the country heads into the next General Election in a little more than two weeks.

The riding is being contested by Barbados Labour Party incumbent Dr William Duguid, who will be challenged by the Democratic Labour Party’s Andrew Cave.

In Ventnor Land, Louis Yarde pointed out several things he hoped would get the attention of the successful candidate.

“We want to see this area cleaned up and made into a park. Government needs to get serious with these people who own these properties and let them run to bush, like they said they would. One night, a man wearing a hoodie come out of that bush, and I had no idea who he was,” he said.

In addition, Yarde said there was a man in the area living in a dilapidated structure without a toilet. He said the man placed his water into the garbage bin, much to the annoyance and disgust of sanitation workers. Yarde said: “We really would like to get help for him.”

Other issues include the lack of a sidewalk in the area, the need for a proper footpath in a muddy section of land, the lack of a community centre near the Rockley basketball court, the deteriorating condition of Golf Club Road, and a health concern about a woman raising chickens in her backyard.

In Evelyn’s Terrace, residents pointed out issues with a derelict vehicle, overgrown trees and an unsatisfactory garbage collection service.

“We no longer get a garbage truck through here, so every man jack has to wheel their cans to the top road. The reason is due to these trees in the corner, but the person who’s leasing the land won’t get them cut, and when we complained, he get on like a black hat, so I done with that.

“Another thing is that I would like to see is that car at the top that partially blocking the path to get move. Somebody like they push it there and leave it with one wheel off, so now only one car can get by there at a time,” one resident said.

Along Forde’s Road, Dennis Freeman said there was a need for better employment opportunities for the youth to “keep them off the road”, while another man, who was not identified, said he wanted help with his home.

“All now I would like my roof to get fixed. It was damaged during [ Hurricane] Tomas, and all now it still ain’t get do. My mother is who really dealing with that, but I really want to see something happen,” he said.

Also along Forde’s Road, Stanley Forde said, while he did not rally follow politics, he would like to see the road get paved.

Jamon Edwards lives along a cul-de-sac off Forde’s Road. He said the bushy area near the top of the gap needed to be made into a park. He also wanted to see the government homes there refurbished.

Craig Chandler lives along a different cul-de-sac off Forde’s Road. He had nothing but praise for Duguid.

“Dr William Duguid is doing a wonderful job, and I am looking forward to see him win again. He’s look out for we so we looking out for him. He get natural gas for me, and during the lockdown (during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020), he made sure we survived. Plus, at Christmas, he gets little things for the children.”

Chandler said there were still issues with roads, but he was confident that would be dealt with.

“The roads could do with a little fixing, but everything does take time. Some people will say it’s taking too long, but one day at a time,” he said. (CA)

Capital markets ‘need help’

Shawn Cumberbatch
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Capital markets ‘need help’

As the Caribbean strives for growth and competitiveness, the road must be made easier for capital markets in Barbados and elsewhere to help the region reach this goal.

Marlon Yarde, managing director and chief executive officer of the Barbados Stock Exchange, is proposing a focus on three main areas to help the Caribbean “move from regional ambition to regional execution”.

While supporting the establishment of an integrated CARICOM capital market, he said it was necessary to implement market maker frameworks to support continuous pricing and liquidity, harmonise cross-listing standards and strengthen exchange partnerships, and “build the SME pipeline – so we grow the number of issuers and the quality of investable opportunities across the region”.

“Liquidity is the oxygen of the market. Cross-listings are the bridge to scale. And the time for execution is now,” Yarde said last week while addressing the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) 2026 Annual Conference.

Speaking on the theme Boosting Market Liquidity & Regional Cross-Listings – Caribbean, the capital market expert observed that while the region had made real progress in strengthening governance, modernising regulation, and building investor confidence, “many Caribbean markets remain thinly traded, with limited turnover, concentrated ownership structures, and too few mechanisms that encourage consistent price discovery”.

“And that matters, because liquidity is not just about ‘trading volume’. Liquidity is about confidence – confidence that investors can enter and exit positions, confidence that pricing reflects fair value, and confidence that capital markets can support long-term investment and growth,” he asserted.

Yarde said there were some “practical levers we can pull” and made four recommendations in this regard.

“First, I believe the most immediate and effective liquidity intervention is the implementation of structured market maker programmes. Market makers provide continuous buy and sell quotes, improve price discovery, and reduce bid-ask spreads – creating a more predictable trading environment for investors,” he said.

“If we want a more active market, we need someone obligated and incentivised to show up every day with two-way pricing.”

He continued: “Second, we must treat technology as a liquidity enabler. Friction reduces participation. The easier it is to access the market, the more likely investors are to participate. That means exploring fintech that supports faster settlement cycles, including blockchain-based efficiency where appropriate.

Digital inclusion

“It also means adopting AI-driven tools that reduce listing times and automate elements of due diligence – especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). And importantly, it means building app-based trading and education platforms that support digital inclusion and broaden the investor base.”

Regarding the third lever, Yarde said: “Liquidity improves when investors have more reasons to trade. That requires diversifying financial instruments beyond traditional equities – expanding the investable universe and attracting different types of investors.”

He added: “Fourth, institutional capital is increasingly tied to governance and sustainability standards. So if we want deeper pools of investment, we must ensure issuers meet clear [environmental, social and governance] expectations and reporting standards. This is not about branding – it is about unlocking demand.”

On the issue of regional cross-listing of companies, the BSE boss stated: “Cross-listings can create scale: larger investor bases, improved visibility, better pricing comparability, and stronger corporate governance. But cross-listings do not succeed on aspiration alone – they succeed when the plumbing is right.

“The first requirement is harmonisation of standards. Disparities in legal, regulatory, and accounting frameworks remain one of the biggest obstacles. We don’t need identical laws, but we do need functional alignment in disclosure, ongoing obligations, enforcement cooperation, and settlement finality.”

For him, the second requirement is strategic partnerships between exchanges.

“Memoranda of understanding (MOUs) create the framework for collaboration and cross-listing opportunities, and we have seen examples of this approach, including partnerships between the JSE and exchanges outside the region and within the region, CXN,” Yarde said.

“We can also learn from the African Exchanges Linkage Project, which is designed to facilitate cross-border trading and integration across linked exchanges.”

He continued: “Third, cross-listings tend to work best when companies have a real operational footprint in the host market – so policy frameworks that encourage regional business expansion can indirectly strengthen market integration. We need to give CARICOM Single Market and Economy a chance to work and succeed.”

Yarde also told participants that the region “must reduce friction in currency and payment systems”.

“Streamlined payment infrastructure reduces foreign exchange risk and improves cross-border participation,” he said.

“So, what is the end goal? It is not simply more listings or more trades. The end goal is a stronger regional economy – where markets are deeper, governance is stronger, cost of capital is lower, and investors have real diversification opportunities.

“We need an integrated market as envisioned by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, Establishing the Caribbean Community Including The Caribbean Single Market Economy, Article 44 1 (d), the establishment of an integrated capital market in the Community,” he said. (SC)

Body found at Collymore Rock, St Michael

Nationnews Desk
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Body found at Collymore Rock, St Michael

Update

Police are investigating an unnatural death after the body of a man was discovered inside a business establishment along Upper Collymore Rock, St Michael, on Monday morning.

Officers at Operations Control received the report around 8:59 a.m. Initial investigations indicate that a female employee arrived for work and, upon looking through the locked glass doors, saw her male colleague lying motionless inside the secured building. Emergency services were contacted and personnel from the Barbados Fire Service forced entry.

Paramedics examined the man but found no signs of life. A medical doctor later visited the scene and pronounced death.

The deceased has been identified as Denis Cox, 68, of Paddock Road, St Michael.

Investigations are continuing. Police are appealing to anyone with information that may assist to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, Police Emergency at 211, or the Hastings/Worthing Police Station at 430-7614 or 430-7615.

****

Earlier story

Police are currently on the scene at a building in Collymore Rock, St Michael, where a body was discovered this morning.

More details as they come.

France debates under-15s social media ban endorsed by Macron

Nationnews Desk
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France debates under-15s social media ban endorsed by Macron

France is on course to follow Australia in banning social media to younger teenagers, as debate on a new law opens in the National Assembly.

The law would block access for under 15-year-olds to networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and Tiktok.

President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the ban in place by the start of the school year in September.

The French move is part of a worldwide trend towards restricting social networks for children, triggered by growing evidence of the damage they can cause to mental health.

“We cannot leave the mental and emotional health of our children in the hands of people whose sole purpose is to make money out of them,” Macron said last month.

Under the new text, the state media regulator would draw up a list of social media networks that are deemed harmful. These would be simply banned for under 15-year-olds.

A separate list of supposedly less harmful sites would be accessible, but only with explicit parental approval.

The bill is believed to have a good chance of passing, with pro-Macron parties likely to be joined by the centre-right Republicans (LR) as well as the populist right-wing National Rally (RN).

Another clause would ban the use of mobile telephones in senior schools (lycées). The ban is already in effect in junior and middle schools.

If the law is passed, France will need to agree on the mechanism for for age-verification. A system is already in place that requires over 18 year-olds to prove their age when accessing online pornography.

In Europe, Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland are also considering following the Australian example. Earlier this month, the UK government launched a consultation on banning social media for under 16s.

The basis of the proposed French law is a text drawn up late last year by deputy Laure Miller, who chaired a parliamentary committee enquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok and other networks.

Separately, the government was told to draw up its own legislation, after Macron decided to make the issue a centrepiece of his last year in office.

The president has been sidelined from domestic politics since the Assembly elections which he called in 2024 resulted in a hung parliament, and the social media ban has been a rare chance to court public favour.

For a time the cause risked falling victim to bickering between Macron and his one-time prime minister Gabriel Attal (Miller is an MP from Attal’s party). But in the end the government appears to have rallied behind the Miller bill.

If the text is approved Monday, it will pass before the upper house, the Senate, in the next month. Macron said he had asked the government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to use a fast-track procedure to get the legislation on the books by September.

Without resort to the fast-track (which permits a single reading as opposed to two in each of the two houses), the law would have little chance of getting past the legislative backlog created by Lecornu’s difficulties in passing a budget.

The bill has already had to be redrafted to take account of questions raised by the Council of State, the body which previews draft legislation to ensure it conforms with French and European law.

A 2023 law which proposed a similar ban on social media for young teenagers proved inoperable after courts decided it broke European law. (BBC)

Spin twins sink Ireland as West Indies seal rain-affected victory

Nationnews Desk
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Spin twins sink Ireland as West Indies seal rain-affected victory

 In a rain-disrupted clash that underscored the growing prowess of their young talent, the West Indies Under-19s secured a crucial 25-run victory (DLS method) over Ireland, propelled by a masterclass in spin bowling from Micah McKenzie and Vitel Lawes.

Before that, the regional side showed that they still have not yet gotten their batting act completely together, as for the third time, they have been dismissed in the tournament.

Choosing to bat first at the High Performance centre, the Windies’ innings was a story of one standout performance amid general fragility.

That fragility started when Zachary Carter ran himself out for 8, following a direct throw from the deep from Reuben Wilson.

Wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew, arriving at number three, played a mature and anchoring knock of 66 from 82 balls. His innings, punctuated by four fours and four sixes, provided the backbone.

He watched from the other end as Tanez Francis was trapped in front for 19, but the Antiguan soon found his most reliable partner in Jonathan van Lange, with the pair adding 67 for the fourth wicket to stabilise the innings.

However, Andrew’s dismissal in the 33rd over triggered a collapse. From a promising position, the lower order faltered against the disciplined Irish attack.

Reuben Wilson was particularly effective, removing van Lange and two tail-enders to finish with 3 for 50, while James West’s miserly spell of 2 for 24 from seven overs restricted the Caribbean side to a modest 226 all out.

Aiden Racha chipped in with some handy runs, scoring 28 from 47 balls, before he was the final wicket to fall. Last man Vitel Lawes also swung his willow and weighed in with an unbeaten 18, which included two fours and a six.

Ireland’s chase began with assured intent, spearheaded by the all-round efforts of West. Following his excellent bowling, West opened the batting and raced to a 45-ball 45, laced with eight boundaries.

It took the introduction of Racha to ultimately get the breakthrough, as he had wicket-keeper Freddy Ogilbie brilliantly caught behind by Shamar Apple for 14.

West would follow next, as he got a peach of a delivery from Lawes, to be bowled. Despite that, at 82 for 2 in the 18th over, Ireland were firmly in the driver’s seat.

The next over, Micah McKenzie, extracting sharp turn and bounce from a responsive surface, became the tormentor of the Irish middle order, slicing through with four critical wickets.

He rattled Adam Leckey’s stumps for 18, then he knocked over Sebastien Dijkstra for 7 to make it 98 for four. After a brief resistance, McKenzie was in the act once again, sending back Marko Bates for 22.

One wicket would bring another quickly as Rob Obrian fell to the same combination of McKenzie and van Lange for 26, at 143 for six.

Just as Ireland sought to rebuild, Vitel Lawes delivered a devastating final over. He knocked over captain Oliver Riley with his first ball, finishing with two wickets.

His intervention left Ireland reeling at 164 for 7 after 40 overs, needing a steep 63 from the final 60 balls. A persistent downpour washed away any lingering hopes of a miraculous finish.

When the conditions failed to improve, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculation confirmed Ireland were well behind the par score, handing the West Indies a decisive 25-run win. (CMC)

PM confident BLP will hold St John

Shawn Greene
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PM confident BLP will hold St John

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is confident about the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) being able to retain the St John seat.

While canvassing in the constituency with the incumbent Charles Griffith on Saturday, she said her party has indeed put in the work to secure another victory.

St John had been a traditional stronghold of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), being held for years by former prime minster and National Hero Errol Walton Barrow, former prime minister David Thompson and then his widow Mara Thompson after his death in 2010. Griffith was able to wrestle it away from the Dems in the BLP’s clean sweeps of 2018 and 2022.

“If what I’m feeling on the ground happens . . . then I think that they (DLP) may be truly disappointed on the night of the 11th of February,” Mottley said.

“I’m feeling that people still want to be able to support the Barbados Labour Party and to support Charles Griffith. There are some people who may have some expectations and may have wanted to see other things done, but that happens in every area.”

Griffith is being challenged by DLP political leader and president Ralph Thorne, a former BLP parliamentarian who crossed the floor in 2024 to become Opposition Leader.

The Prime Minister cited the emergency efforts which were swiftly undertaken by her administration in St John during the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Elsa in 2021.

“The process of being able to do house repairs in this country would have been affected by Hurricane Elsa. [It] brought 2 700 or so houses that we did not expect to have to do as an emergency and as a crisis. We had to move people into Codrington College. We had to move people into the Labour College. We had to move people into apartments and houses all over the country. That therefore put off everything.

“Tell me what you could do outside in Barbados when COVID was on? Tell me how many roads could get fixed when COVID was on? When we came to office, the Government was broke. So, for the first 19 months you had no money to do anything. And then in the next two-and-a-half to three years, you had the problem that you had lockdowns where nothing physical outside could happen. So I just give you this to give you context,” she added.

The BLP leader stated that despite these challenges, her administration remained a strong one.

“The Government is not perfect – far from it – but I believe that we are a good Government. I believe that we have taken this country from where it was when we inherited it to where confidence is back there again. Are there things that still have to be done? Absolutely. And will they be done? Absolutely. We are putting more money in roads, more money in a whole set of Government services that we would never have done before because we have the money to do it now.

“We’re not fully flush, but we are much better than we were. So I’m comfortable. I’m comfortable also that Bajans understand that we live in a world where the world is at war with itself and therefore, what is required is serious leadership. What is required is the capacity to anticipate and prepare and to allow us to be able to put people first,” she added. (SG)

Members of gang suppression force to begin arriving in Haiti in April

Nationnews Desk
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Members of gang suppression force to begin arriving in Haiti in April

The first contingents of the United Nations Securuty approved Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for Haiti are expected to arrive on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in April, as part of international efforts to help restore security and stability.

GSF Special Representative Jack Christofides, made the disclosure following a meeting here with the Dominican Republic Foreign Minister, Roberto Álvarez.

Christofides thanked the Dominican Republic for its cooperation and announced plans to visit Santo Domingo once he formally assumes his post in Haiti in February.

Christofides, who currently holds a senior post in the UN’s peace operations, was named by the group of countries, Known as the Standing Group of Partners and include the United States, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, The Bahamas and Kenya, said the deployment is expected to be completed by October 2026.

According to Christofides, funding for the mission has been approved for a period of one year.

Álvarez also met with Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), emphasising the importance of renewing BINUH’s mandate, which expires on January 31, this year.

Álvarez reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue collaborating on medical evacuations of GSF members and providing logistical support from Dominican territory.

The GSF’s mission is to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

Last September, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of the new international force to replace the struggling Kenya-led Multinational Security Support  (MSS) mission, to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

Meanwhile, over the last weekend, embattled Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, accompanied by the President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transitional Council (CPT),Laurent Saint Cyr, attended the graduation ceremony for Haitian National Police (PNH) comprising 877 new police officers, including 156 women.

In his address, Prime Ministers Fils-Aimé, who also heads the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN), reiterated that Project P4000, which aims to train 4,000 new police officers between 2026 and early 2027, represents a strategic response to the national security emergency.

Fils-Aimé reaffirmed the determination of the CPT and the government to sustainably restore State authority, strengthen the operational capabilities of the PNH and regain control of territories occupied by criminal and terrorist gangs due to insecurity.

“This programme is a national strategy for regaining, stabilizing, and consolidating State authority. The State is no longer backing down. It is fully assuming its mission,”  Fils-Aimé, expressing the Haitian government’s gratitude to its international partners, particularly the United States, Canada, and the European Union, for their unwavering support in restoring security, revitalizing the economy, and organizing general elections throughout the country.

President Saint Cyr urged the national security forces to remain fully focused on restoring security, despite attempts to undermine the national momentum of retaking the territory.

“I pledge that decisions made at the highest levels of government will always be aligned with the fundamental aspiration of the people : the restoration of security. We stand with the interests of the majority. The majority is not two, three, or five people. The majority is the people. And the interests of the majority are security.”

He also urged the security forces to remain fully mobilised against any attempt at destabilisation, reiterating that security is essential for national stability, the organization of credible elections, and the return to normal life for the population. (CMC)

Prime Minister Mottley pays tribute to the late Sybil Leacock

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Prime Minister Mottley pays tribute to the late Sybil Leacock

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has described the late Sybil Leacock as an enduring source of inspiration whose life left an indelible mark on Barbados.

In a statement issued following news of her passing, Mottley reflected on Leacock’s decades of service as an educator, businesswoman, community worker and parliamentarian, noting that beyond her titles and achievements, she was defined by “decency, warmth, kindness, and a genuine love for others”.

Below is the full statement by the Prime Minister:

As we journey through life, we occasionally encounter individuals who, for one reason or another, leave an indelible mark on us. Whether through their service to community, country, or profession — or even through a single defining act — such individuals linger in our consciousness long after our paths have crossed.

When I learned earlier today of the passing of Sybil Leacock, one truth immediately filled my thoughts: while she was an educator, businesswoman, community worker, and politician who served in both the House of Assembly and the Senate, above all else, Sybil Leacock was an embodiment of inspiration — a soul defined by decency, warmth, kindness, and a genuine love for others.

In her everyday interactions, the Sybil Leacock I knew displayed both the compassion and understanding of a teacher from a bygone era and the firm guidance of the traditional headmistress, regardless of the circumstances. It would be difficult — indeed, almost impossible — to find a former student, or a parent of one, who could speak harshly of her.

If any fault could be attributed to her, it was that, as a businesswoman, she often placed her heart above her head in the management of her private institution, Leacock’s Private School. Many children from the north of the island continued to receive an education there even when tuition fees remained unpaid.

Mrs Leacock’s passing, occurring at a time when the country is immersed in electioneering ahead of next month’s general elections, serves as a powerful reminder that despite our political differences, we are all invested in one Barbados.

Her conduct during the period surrounding her narrow one-vote victory over the late Owen Arthur in St. Peter in July 1984 — subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court and followed by Mr. Arthur’s electoral victory four months later — stands as an example worthy of emulation, particularly in the current political climate.

Sybil Leacock was a true daughter of the soil: humble yet progressive, and a living reflection of the character upon which Barbados was built. Her memory must be cherished in recognition of a remarkable Barbadian who truly etched her name into the pages of history.

On behalf of the Barbados Labour Party, I extend sincere condolences to the Leacock family, as well as to the Democratic Labour Party, which she served so faithfully for many years.

May her soul rest in peace and rise in glory.

Grantley Adams head clamping down on late students

Maria Bradshaw
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Grantley Adams head clamping down on late students

Principal of the Grantley Adams Memorial School, Major Andrew Skeete, says there has been a “very slight improvement” in student punctuality following his surprise visit to the Granville Williams Bus Terminal last week.

Skeete visited the Fairchild Street, St Michael terminal last Wednesday morning after receiving reports from terminal officials that some students were deliberately missing early buses to school and instead lingering at the facility, waiting for friends.

Contacted on Friday, Skeete told a Nation team that the school had since been working closely with Transport Board officials.

“Yesterday [Thursday], there were fewer children. I would say there’s been a very slight improvement, very slight. The deputy principal is currently doing his own checks,” he said.

According to the principal, student tardiness was the result of a “mix of issues”, including the buses, requiring a coordinated response involving multiple stakeholders.

“But yes, you have some children who are, I would say, delinquent. The Transport Board is working with us. Their service has improved over the years and it’s because of that reason why they’ve been making contact with me to indicate that there are some children who are not taking the buses that are provided for them,” he said.

Skeete said the school was also working closely with truancy officers.

“They’re the ones who are always in contact with me, especially as it relates to consistent defaulters, as we would say in the army. We’re working closely together. And again, that’s one of the other reasons why we would have gone, because not only the Transport Board, but also truancy officers, because there are one or two children that can be a little challenging,” he said.

He added that parents were also being engaged and the school was preparing a report on the situation.

“We have sent letters home to the parents to indicate to them our dissatisfaction with the level of unpunctuality of the children,” Skeete said.

Asked whether tardiness was a wider issue affecting other schools, and whether it had been discussed among principals, he said: “I can’t speak to the other principals but I know that these and other matters would come up from time to time in the principals’ discussion. I mean any principal would be concerned with truancy, even if it is just one child.”

However, he stressed that schools must also account for legitimate reasons why students arrived late.

“Children will come to school late from time to time for diverse reasons – medical appointments, some children have to take school their siblings. A number of children have to do those type of chores. And then, you know, the general situation with traffic on mornings. So there are lots and lots of issues . . . factors which would contribute to truancy,” he said.

“I think what we’re more concerned with is the general repeat offenders, those who you’ve engaged, those whose parents you have engaged and there still has been, I would say, little or no improvement.”

Skeete said the issue was discussed again at a management meeting on Friday, including what could be done to get the children at school early. He said parents had a role to play.

“I do appreciate that there are some parents who have to leave home very early on mornings to go to work and now the children have to learn that responsibility very early on. The parents need to put systems in place to ensure that when they leave their children very early in the morning to go to work, that those children get up in good time and get themselves on to school,” he said.

“School is not only about math and English. It’s also about learning those skills and characteristics that would enable you to keep a job, whatever job you get when you leave school, and punctuality is one of them,” Skeete added.

The principal noted that last week’s visit to the bus terminal was part of his routine approach.

“The reason why I would have gone again is because it’s something that we do, that I do routinely. I would pass through the bus terminal from time to time just to let children know that we are paying attention.”

Digital Detox: Take a break online

Nationnews Desk
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Digital Detox: Take a break online

By Sandy Deane

How many times did you pick up your phone and scroll through your favourite social media platforms or websites today? Five, 10, 15 times? Better yet, how many minutes, or hours, did you get lost in your phone and forget a task you intended to finish?

What’s your immediate reaction when you’re running errands and realise you’ve left your cell phone behind? Do you panic? Get anxious? Or experience a sense of relief?  

Think about it. We live in a world where every ring, ping, and notification demands our attention. Our electronic devices are important tools, but increasingly they have consumed our lives.  So how do we navigate today’s digital landscape without losing ourselves amid the constant pressure to be always plugged in? Perhaps, at the start of 2026, we need a minute to pause and consider a digital detox – intentional breaks from technology – to find the right balance.

The Toll of Constant Connectivity

From her practice, Mental Health, Addiction and Trauma Therapist Renee Napoleon-Farrell sees the fallout of a world that —.sometimes find it difficult to disconnect  She notes that while we use technology to “”connect to the world, she warns that we are often sacrificing our internal peace to do so.

“It disrupts rest and decreases face-to-face bonds. So some of the main issues would include overstimulation, sleep reduction, sleep disruption and reduced quality of healthy interpersonal interactions. We see a breakdown in relationships because no one is talking to each other. Families come home, and everyone goes to their own corner, looking at their devices. That sense of intimacy is fading.”

Napoleon-Farrell, who operates Emphatic Interventions, Counselling & Consultation Services, stressed that while we are built for connection, “that connection needs to be healthy. The issue comes when we are scrolling aimlessly with no particular goal.  This is often driven by a fear of missing out”.

“Especially now with AI, a lot of younger people are comparing themselves with online realities and sometimes they are being caught up with something that is false and they attach themselves to that. That leads to all sorts of negative thoughts, such as the compulsion to always want to belong, or to fit in.

The “Blue Light” Trap

The impact isn’t just mental; it’s physical. Napoleon-Farrell explains that the blue light from our screens essentially “” confuse our bodies.

“That blue light from the screen delays the release of melatonin—the hormone produced by the brain that regulates your sleep-wake cycle.  As long as your eyes are connected to that phone, your brain thinks it is daytime. Your body won’t properly regulate to sleep or relax.”

This lack of rest, she says, creates a ripple effect resulting in lower productivity at work or school, loss of motivation, physical eye strain,  poor mood, focus and stress related behaviours.

Signs of Digital Overload

The expert says there are several warning signs to help identify digital overload.

Mental Fatigue & Irritability: Feeling constantly drained or “on edge”.

Notification Anxiety: Feeling a pit in your stomach every time the phone pings.

Physical Signs: Headaches, eye strain and fatigue

Defining the Digital Detox 

Napoleon-Farrell advises readers that before they begin to experience difficulties, they should consider a digital detox.

She made clear that this does not mean tossing your phone away or rejecting technology completely. Instead, it’s about being intentional.

“We are not rejecting technology; it is about using it in balance. By setting intentional ‘offline’ times, you get back control over your attention, mental health, and physical health.”

She offers a few steps to get started this New Year.

Set Screen Curfews: Turn off devices at least an hour before bed to allow your melatonin levels to rise naturally.

Tech-Free Zones: Declare the dining table and the bedroom as “no-phone zones” to foster real-world intimacy.

Mindful Scrolling: Before picking up the phone, ask yourself: Why am I on this? If the answer is “boredom”, try a five-minute walk or a breathing exercise instead.

Create Physical Distance: Purposely leave your phone in another room for short periods. Notice the feelings that come—sit with them until they fade.  

Ultimately, Napoleon-Farrell says the goal of a digital detox is to restore presence. She stressed that in a hyper-connected age, being “present” is an act of self-care.

“What you fill your brain with is what will consume your thoughts. Focusing on self-care means setting boundaries that shield you from constant demands. It’s about finding peace, calm, and mindfulness in a world that never stops calling.”

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