Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey says the Economic Diversification And Growth Fund Bill is a measured, transparent and accountable response to Barbados’ economic realities and long-term social needs.
In a press release titled Understanding The Economic Diversification And Growth Fund, he acknowledged that debate over the Bill had been “strong and, in many cases, emotional”, but said such reactions were understandable when public funds, employment and the country’s economic future were at stake.
“What the country deserves in return is a calm and factual explanation,” he said.
Humphrey pointed out that Barbados, as a small open economy, does not print foreign currency and therefore relies heavily on foreign exchange earnings to pay for essential imports such as food, fuel and medicine, while maintaining economic stability.
He noted that changes in international rules governing tax incentives had narrowed Government’s traditional policy options, requiring a shift towards “disciplined, transparent and rules-based approaches that deliver real outcomes”.
Within that context, the minister said the Economic Diversification and Growth Fund was designed to link public support to measurable performance. Companies seeking assistance must commit to creating significant employment for Barbadians, earning foreign exchange, remaining tax compliant and establishing a long-term presence in the country, he outlined.
“These are firm expectations,” he said, adding that funds could be withheld or recovered where commitments were not met, and that oversight mechanisms, including monitoring and annual audits by the Auditor General, were built into the framework.
He said support under the fund was limited to companies that create at least 100 jobs for Barbadians and maintain those jobs for a minimum of seven years.
The proposed fund will be capped at $225 million over three years, with annual allocations of $75 million. Humphrey said this represented roughly half of one per cent of Barbados’ gross domestic product per year.
“That scale is targeted, time-bound and manageable for a Government that has demonstrated steady and credible economic management over the past seven years,” he said.
Responding to concerns about the use of public funds, he stressed that the resources involved belonged to the people of Barbados and therefore had to be applied carefully in ways that strengthened the economy and expanded opportunity over time.
He argued that when employment grows and foreign exchange earnings increase, benefits extend beyond individual companies to households and the State. Increased revenue, he said, reduces pressure on social programmes and improves the country’s capacity to fund health care, education and targeted social support.
Humphrey cautioned of the consequences of inaction, noting that weak job creation and foreign exchange earnings in a small economy place strain on families first, before increasing demands on public finances. Using public funds to strengthen the economic base, he said, helped reduce that strain and provided greater longterm stability.
Challenging the notion that social policy should focus only on responding after problems arise, the minister said effective social development required creating economic space first, which could then be used to build skills, opportunity and dignity, particularly for the most vulnerable.
Addressing claims that the fund prioritised companies over people, Humphrey said people benefited most when jobs were created and the economy remained stable, since wages, public services and social programmes depend on a strong revenue base.
He also rejected suggestions that the policy sidelined local businesses, pointing out that many Barbadian firms were oriented towards the domestic market and already benefited from lower corporate tax rates, domestic financing and sector-specific support. Engagement with local businesses, he said, would continue, while the fund addressed a different need: large-scale employment and foreign exchange generation.
Humphrey dismissed concerns that the Bill vested excessive power in a minister, saying decisions would be informed by a multi-agency committee and guided by senior public officials. The advisory committee includes the Director of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Governor of the Central Bank, and the chief executive officers of Invest Barbados and Export Barbados.
“The minister acts on advice and within authority granted by Parliament, as is standard in public finance,” he said, emphasising that the structure prioritised review and accountability.
Legendary Hollywood film-maker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have been found dead in their Los Angeles home.
Authorities are investigating the incident as an apparent homicide after police and firefighters were called to the couple’s house on Sunday afternoon in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA.
Reiner is known for directing classic films in a variety of genres, including When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men.
A family spokesperson confirmed the couple’s death in a statement to US media. Tributes have arrived from major Hollywood figures as well as prominent Democratic politicians including Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” the family statement said. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Police said a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the home, but officers did not immediately identify the couple or the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Police also said no-one had been arrested, but that no suspect or person of interest was currently being sought.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told the BBC they received a call at about 15:38 local time (23:38 GMT) for medical aid to a home in Brentwood, a neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities.
Robbery homicide detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also responded to the home and have opened a homicide investigation.
In a news conference on Sunday night, the LAPD did not offer any details about the deaths or what they found when they responded.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said both bodies were still inside the house, more than six hours after police and firefighters had been called.
Sunday night’s police press conference also did not yield any details about any injuries the pair sustained, nor if any weapon was found or used. Hamilton said a cause of death would be determined by the LA coroner’s office.
Reiner, the son of comedy great Carl Reiner, started his career in the 1960s and made it big playing Meathead in groundbreaking TV sitcom All in The Family in the 1970s.
The programme was a US remake of British comedy Till Death Us Do Part, and scored him two Emmy Awards.
Reiner achieved futher success with cult mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, which he directed as well as playing on-screen director Marty DiBergi.
That began a run of classic Hollywood movies directed by Reiner, including Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992), the latter of which scored him an Academy Award nomination for best picture.
He reunited with Spinal Tap for long-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released in September.
As an actor, he also appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, Postcards from the Edge and Bullets Over Broadway, as well as TV shows including New Girl and The Bear. (BBC News)
A 22-year-old St Michael man has been charged in connection with two robberies and a related offence of criminal deception involving property valued at nearly $87 000.
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Akeel Shaquan Hamblin, of Upper Fordes Road, Clapham, St Michael, was arrested by police and formally charged with robbing Elias Jackman on November 17 and Zaria Archer on November 27. He is also accused of committing criminal deception against Archer on November 28, 2025.
Police estimate the total value of the stolen property at $86,970.
Hamblin is scheduled to appear in the District ‘A’ Criminal Court today.
A person of interest has been detained in connection with a shooting at Brown University in the US which left two people dead, police said.
Nine others were injured after a gunman opened fire at the university in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday.
Police said the detained suspect was in his 20s, but have not named him.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said seven people who were injured in the incident remained in a stable condition, one of them is in critical condition, and another was discharged.
The gunman opened fire in a classroom at around 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Saturday at the Holley engineering building at the eastern end of Brown’s campus, according to officials.
The identities of those killed or injured have not yet been released, but Brown University President Christina Paxson told reporters on Saturday that all the victims, including those killed and wounded, were students.
In a statement released by the university on Sunday, Paxson said some areas of campus were still restricted as police continued their investigations.
Around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight, she said, adding that she was “deeply moved” by students and locals who opened up their homes.
Paxson said the families of the two students killed were being supported.
“There are not enough words of comfort for families who lose a child, but we will do all we can,” she added.
In a news conference on Sunday, Smiley said an earlier order for residents to shelter had now been lifted.
The mayor said he had met with victims and their families in the hospital and was “overwhelmed” by their “courage, hope, and gratitude”.
A vigil will be held on Sunday evening for the community.
Police had earlier released CCTV footage of a male suspect walking away from the scene wearing all black clothing. Officers said a firearm was not found in a sweep of the building.
In a post on X, FBI director Kash Patel said the suspect was detained at a hotel in Coventry, in the early hours of Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed on Sunday that officers were not looking for anyone else and were working with prosecutors to collect evidence.
Hundreds of police officers and federal agents were sent to Providence on Saturday to find the suspect.
Speaking at the White House, President Trump said he hoped the nine injured students “get well fast” and paid respects to the families of the two people who died.
The attack on the Ivy League university brings the number of mass shootings to 389 in the US for this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
It defines mass shootings as having four or more victims killed or injured, not including the attacker. (BBC News)
By the time Kees Dieffenthaller, better known simply as Kes, and his bandmates step onto the stage of Frederick P. Rose Hall this January, it won’t just be another concert. It’ll be a full-circle moment two decades in the making.
“Caribbean music has always been a voice of resilience, rhythm and unity and stages like Jazz at Lincoln Center give us the chance to share that unique voice with the world,” Kes said.
“Headlining Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Unity Jazz Festival is a dream come true for us. We feel so aligned in a bigger purpose.”
Set for January 8-9, the Unity Jazz Festival celebrates global connection and cross-cultural storytelling, anchored this year by the theme Mother Africa – a salute to the African roots of jazz and the diaspora rhythms that continue to shape it.
For KestheBand, celebrating their 20th anniversary on one of the world’s most iconic stages feels almost poetic.
“Headlining the Unity Jazz Festival feels like the perfect way to enter this chapter of our 21st year as musicians,” Kes said. “Jazz at Lincoln Center is a place where legacy and innovation stand side by side and that’s exactly the space where our band has always lived in. This opportunity to bring Caribbean soul, soca and calypso to one of the world’s most iconic jazz stages . . . it’s a dream that took over two decades to build. Now more than ever, we feel aligned with something bigger: a movement to show how Caribbean music continues to shape global sound.”
That sense of purpose runs deep in Kes’ reflections on the festival’s Mother Africa theme.
“Africa is in everything we as Caribbean people do, whether we consciously think about it or not. You hear it in the rhythm patterns, the percussion, the call-andresponse lyrics, the spiritual grounding of the music. Soca and calypso bridge the history, joy, resistance, community and creativity of the African diaspora.
“So when we take that Caribbean sound to a jazz stage under the theme of Mother Africa, it feels like coming full circle. It reconnects the roots with the branches.”
Stripped-down show The band’s Unity Jazz Festival performance will also mark a first: KestheBand’s debut stripped down show.
“This will be the most intimate version of KestheBand that fans will experience to date,” Kes told Weekend Buzz. “With everything stripped down, the melodies, the lyrics and the emotional core of the songs come forward in a new way. You’ll hear the Caribbean heartbeat in fluid conversation with jazz, giving the music space to breathe, to improvise, to let the groove stretch and reshape itself.”
Joining Kes onstage will be long-time collaborator and acclaimed Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles, whose Afro-Caribbean jazz sound will infuse the performance with new energy.
“Etienne is family,” Kes said. “We’ve been creating and exploring together for almost a decade, and his musicianship carries the full weight of Afro-Caribbean wisdom, jazz mastery and Caribbean storytelling that I really appreciate as a music lover. Working with him on this Unity Jazz Festival set elevates the conversation we’ve been having for years about
identity, diaspora, culture and the brilliance of Caribbean musicianship.” With new singles such as Rum And Coca Cola and Carnival Friend slated for release in early 2026, Kes sees this performance as both a reflection and a rebirth. “It’s perfect timing. Revisiting and re-imagining our catalogue in such an intimate setting reminds us where we came from, while new music shows where we’re going next. This stage . . . this festival . . . feels like a bridge between those worlds. It honours 20 years of growth while opening the door to a future filled with new collaborations, new stories and new sounds.”
Bigger than the beat
When the lights dim and the first notes fill the House of Swing, Kes hopes the audience feels something much bigger than the beat.
“I hope the experience inspires people to leave with a deeper appreciation for how connected we all are. Caribbean music is built on unity: cultures blending, histories meeting, energies crossing borders. I hope the audience walks out feeling more connected to the music, to themselves and to each other. If people leave the House of Swing feeling that our story is part of their story too, then we’ve done what we came to do.”
As for his hopes for the year ahead? Kes keeps it grounded.
“For myself, I’m wishing for clarity and courage. To keep growing as an artiste, a storyteller, a dad, and a human being. For KestheBand, my wish is a guided purpose: that we stay aligned with the mission of uplifting our culture in the sacredness of our brotherhood, representing the Caribbean proudly everywhere we go, and connecting people around the world through music.” For more than three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a pillar of artistic expression, uniting musicians, fans, students and educators across cultures and perspectives. Unity Jazz Festival invites audiences to experience a carefully curated programme that fosters creative exchange and celebrates the dynamic future of jazz.
Unity Jazz Festival showcases an exciting line-up of more than 20 acclaimed acts and emerging artistes across five stages. In addition to entertainment celebrating the legacy of the legendary Eddie Palmieri, there will be a first-time Jazz at Lincoln Center performance by DJ Logic and sets featuring Tomeka Reid, Veronica Swift, Erena Terakubo, Gabriel Chakarji, Rajna Swaminathan.
Unity Festival proudly presents the first Jazz Legacies Fellowship Honours All-Star Concert, spotlighting over 17 masters of the music: Valerie Capers, Amina Claudine Myers, George Coleman, Akua Dixon, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Bertha Hope, Roger Humphries, Carmen Lundy, Roscoe Mitchell, Johnny O’Neal, Shannon Powell, Julian Priester, Herlin Riley, Michele Rosewoman, Dom Slavador and Reggie Workman. (NS)
July 1st, 2024, will long be remembered by Barbadians — especially those whose livelihoods depended on the sea. On that day, Hurricane Beryl swept across the island, crippling the fishing industry and leaving many fisherfolk still struggling to piece their lives back together.
As the country works through the long road of recovery, two challenges have emerged as among the most urgent for the fishing community: securing funding to rebuild and confronting the strain on local food security. These pressures show how deeply the storm disrupted not only individual livelihoods but also the wider systems that supply households across the island with fish.
According to the Fisheries Disaster Recovery Report, many fishermen suffered severe losses, with some still working to revive damaged vessels even a year later. The ongoing effort to repair boats, replace equipment, and resume operations highlights how gaps in support and slow access to relief continue to shape the future of Barbados’ fishing sector.
As of August 15, 2024, a total of 240 boats were affected by Hurricane Beryl, directly impacting an estimated 800 persons connected to these vessels. Of these, 176 boats sustained structural damage, while 64 were confirmed by surveyors as total losses—damaged beyond repair. Pictured is the number of boats affected at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, Ice boats were the most affected (121), followed by moses boats (42), with longliners (37), launches (19), day boats (17), and sports fishing vessels (4) also impacted. (Data from the Barbados Fisheries Division – Fisheries Sector Damage Assessment Report 2024, Page 2, Figure 2.)
The reduced number of operational vessels has had downstream effects on those who rely on steady fish supplies.
Fish vendor and Secretary at the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organizations (BARNUFO), Kerry-Ann Howell-Browne always showed up in her apron, boots and head covering, ready to tackle the catch of the day. But after Hurricane Beryl hit, she had to leave her gear behind- instead, she sits and wonders when things will go back to the way they were. The storm sank two of the boats she worked with, and the other was under repair.
As vessels remained out of operation for extended periods, reduced fishing activity also affected fish availability, raising broader concerns about the stability of local food security.
Fish vendor and Secretary at the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organizations (BARNUFO), Kerry-Ann Howell-Browne, relates the difficulties all fisherfolk feel after Hurricane Beryl. (Photo by Esther Jones)
“After a disaster like Beryl, when we get fish, we try to get it off as quickly as possible but then sometimes fish right now is not selling as you would like it to. The boats are not bringing as much as they used to,” Kerry-Ann says as she passes many empty stalls.
“Climate change comes into play right now because some fish are not coming like the way they used to. They have changed and the fishermen now have to change with the climate,” she explained.
The destruction of fishing vessel at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex following the passage of Hurricane Beryl. (Photo courtesy of Shevon Bourne)
President of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO), Vernel Nichols, also said Hurricane Beryl inflicted unprecedented damage on the fisheries sector, unlike anything she had ever seen before. She also stressed that rebuilding public trust will be an essential consideration as the industry considers possible changes to its operations following customer concerns about fish prices.
“When we have fish, and we access the fish, we put them out on the market. I know a lot of the public has been crying out for the fish prices, and I am trying to work with the fisherfolk to see what is the issue and look at the issue of pricing,” Nicholls explained.
To address this, BARNUFO launched metrology training for vendors to improve weight estimation and transition to regulated scales that display weights to both buyers and sellers.
She believed these improvements would help rebuild confidence in the local fish market. Recovery, however, also depends on the level of financial assistance that fishers can access.
Trainer Damien Prescod (standing) conducts a metrology session for fish vendors as part of a series of capacity-building workshops organised by the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO). (Photo courtesy of Vernel Nichols)BARNUFO President, Vernel Nichols. (Photo by Esther Jones)
That support came from several agencies after Beryl, including the Government of Barbados, the World Food Programme, the Red Cross, the World Bank, and the Japanese government, which provided financial assistance to fisherfolk.
Boat owners (boat agents) received three monthly payments of BBD $1,500 each through the Hurricane Beryl Fisheries Support Programme, launched by the Barbados Government in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
Fish vendors were granted a single cash transfer of BBD $1,800. A Business Interruption Benefit was also extended to boat owners whose vessels remained under repair, providing about $2,000 per month, along with similar benefits for crew members.
Additionally, Prime Minister Mia Amore Mottley announced a grant covering 25% of the cost of new boats or repairs, supported by a $500,000 donation from the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
To date, over $3.7 million has been disbursed to fisherfolk, including $2.75 million in business interruption benefits.
The Barbados Red Cross, to boost assistance to fish vendors, donated cash and vouchers totalling $232,200 BBD to 129 fish vendors and 15 fishermen, along with fish-pot materials valued at $24,874.93.
The Japanese Government provided US$2.9 million in funding assistance to the fisheries sector through the Barbados Coastal Fisheries Resilience Project.
A breakdown of funding support provided to Barbados’ fisheries sector after Hurricane Beryl, showing contributions from government, international partners, and NGOs. (Graphic designed by Gabrielle Williams)
However, Delbert Forde, boat owner and Vice President of the Bridgetown Fisherfolk Association of Barbados, highlighted concerns about funding assistance for fisherfolk.
Delbert Forde, boat owner and Vice President of the Bridgetown Fisherfolk Association of Barbados, expressed concerns about how funding assistance was distributed after Hurricane Beryl. (Photo by Esther Jones)
According to Forde, some who were not active in the industry still received aid while those who desperately needed it did not, noting vendors were particularly dissatisfied after promises of three months of payments were reduced to a single one.
“Vendors weren’t pleased in the way the fundings were dealt with. It was told that people who paid NIS will get funding first. Fishermen will get X amount of money for three payments, and the vendors will get the same three months as well.
“What happened then is in the process of all of that, it changed. The vendors got one payment, and the fishermen got all of their payment. The vendors were promised X amount in the same order, and that was changed in the process,” he claimed.
The financial strain forced many, including Forde, to “dip into savings”.
The BARNUFO President, Vernel Nichols, also shared these concerns and suggested that the Government needed to build trust with organisations that work on the ground with the people who serve as distributors of funds.
“There should always be checks and balances that are put in place to support accountability, and because BARNUFO is the National Organisation for fisherfolk, BARNUFO would have to put the necessary things in place to ensure that each organisation is accountable and that they know who their people are,” she said.
A survey for this article was distributed through trusted fisher organisations, NGOs, and government channels, and responses were gathered from 24 participants. While this is a small sample, the feedback offers a useful indication of the challenges fishers faced when seeking recovery support after Hurricane Beryl.
Among the respondents, 14 reported receiving some form of assistance; however, their responses show uneven access to support, with both the amounts received and the waiting periods varying widely.
Most of the 14 said they waited more than two months before any funds were released, while only a few received help within several weeks.
Taken together, these responses provide a snapshot of how recovery support was accessed and the timelines involved during the post-Beryl period. Several formal requests were made for updated official figures on Hurricane Beryl recovery funding; however, no information was provided by the time of publication, leaving some aspects of the funding picture still undefined.
Survey responses from 24 fisherfolk indicate uneven access to recovery assistance after Hurricane Beryl, with vast differences in the amounts received and the time it took for funds to be delivered.
Alongside these individual experiences, officials outlined several measures introduced to support the wider sector.
Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox said the post-Beryl response included a business interruption benefit, a vessel repair rebate, and cash assistance from the Red Cross and the World Food Programme.
Under the vessel replacement project, boat owners with total losses will receive a 25% government grant and access to a financing scheme to cover the remaining 75% of the cost to replace their boats.
Cox shared that the government provided the funding assistance, and the World Bank provided a 54 million US loan, which she said went beyond the focus on fisheries.
Chief Fisheries Officer, Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox (Photo by Tré Greaves)
“There will be some coastal protection works here at Six Men’s as well as at Paynes Bay. Our colleagues at the Bridgetown Port, as well, had significant damage, so the project funds will support that. The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) will get support for early warning systems and to enhance their information platform,” she said.
Cox noted that the government has already paid out more than $7 million in interruption benefits and relief, with continued support for captains, crew members, boat owners and fish vendors.
However, Beryl identified gaps in protocols for fish markets, aquaculture, and processing facilities, especially after storm surge damaged ice boxes and equipment. As a result, the fisheries plan is being updated to include all subsectors, not just vessel safety.
She also warned that climate variability was producing stronger, more intense weather events, adding that infrastructure such as the Bridgetown harbour must be strengthened.
This article forms part of the Caribbean Disaster Preparedness Project, a six-month fellowship programme led by the Public Media Alliance (PMA), with support from the UNESCO Caribbean Office and the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).
The project brought together 12 fellows from Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, consisting of journalists, producers and content coordinators who, over the last few months of the programme, had opportunities to develop and test storytelling tools in the field, sharpening their skills in data journalism, and working together on disaster preparedness stories relevant to their communities.
This story was produced through research conducted by the Barbados Team, comprising Ashada Joseph, Tré Greaves, Esther Jones, Kristojay Paul, and Gabrielle Williams.
It was no ordinary day on February 11, 2024. According to Roger Ricardo Springer, the sea appeared very angry. Just a few hours later, he and his friend, Jeremy Adrian Payne, would be fighting to save the lives of sea-bathers at Queen Street beach, St Peter. Their efforts resulted in the rescue of four individuals. But, sadly, one young man drowned, swallowed by the boisterous waves which had seemed intent to take the lives of those who had simply set out to enjoy a day at the beach.
Their acts of bravery led to the two water sports operators shaking hands with President The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, when the newly installed President presented awards and bestowed honours on those who were recognised in their respective fields during the annual Independence Day Ceremonial Parade at Kensington Oval on November 30. They both received the Barbados Bravery Medal.
Recalling that day, Roger, who said that he always loved the sea and as a child frequented Brandon’s Beach, which was a few minutes away from his childhood home at Deacon’s Road, St Michael, described the day as “a sad one”.
The current resident of Road View, St Peter, told Easy: “I remember I was on the job at Cobblers Cove Hotel, St Peter, where I work as a water sports operator. It was just after lunchtime when a guest at the hotel ran over to the water sports shop and told us someone was drowning. I had to run from Cobblers Cove to Queen Street beach, some 130 metres away. By the time I got there, a local guy had already drowned.
Elderly couple
“I saw an old kayak nearby, grabbed it and paddled out. There were an elderly couple and a single lady nearby. I reached her first and assisted her. She then said that she was okay and would make it back to shore. When I got to the couple, who were visitors, they were fatigued. The gentleman said he saw the local guy but that he could not help him.”
Roger, 55, said the swells were vehement that day and that it took about 25 minutes to get the couple out of the ocean.
He was joined by Jeremy, who, after hearing that his friend had gone out on his own to save lives, rushed to the scene. With a surfboard in hand, the two fought the waves.
“Jeremy came out with his surfboard. When he saw what was happening, we decided to tie the surfboard to the kayak. He pulled; I paddled. When I saw the body of the guy who had drowned, it was not a good feeling. His body was going to the north, and there was nothing we could do for him. We could not let go of the living to go to him,” Roger said.
“When we reached shore, I told Jeremy I was going to look for the young man. We came back to the shore after spending about 12 minutes looking for his body. We realised it was a risk for us. It was only Jeremy and I who were helping these individuals. Many people were taking photos, but no one else helped on that day,” Roger recalled.
Jeremy, 64, of Queen Street, Speightstown, St Peter, still lives with that day constantly in his memory.
“It was rough and there were hazardous conditions. In fact, some say it was rough, but I say it had gone passed rough. The sea like it was very upset,” he said.
“I came down to go surfing. When I asked where Roger was, as he was not at the water sports shop, I was told he had gone to save somebody from drowning. I remember grabbing my surfboard and taking off like plane. I saw that Roger was in difficulty. It took me about three minutes to get out there and 25 minutes get back because the currents were unbelievably strong. The sea was dashing you about like you were a piece of trash. It was not the best morning in the world, but I was happy to help.
“After the ordeal, I felt like my blood sugar was very low. I was very exhausted. We saved four persons that day and one drowned. That was hard for me because I had met the guy that drowned a few weeks earlier, when he was employed by a company that was carrying out construction work at the hotel.”
The friends said it was not the first time they had saved people from drowning. Each is always ready to take action to save lives when any sea bather is in distress, as there is no lifeguard based on that beach.
“I go through a lot dealing with hundreds of guests each year,” Roger, the father of six, said.
Jeremy, who is married with two children, is just happy to know that his days as a boy scout, when he learned how to swim well, continue to pay off – especially in a crisis.
Encouraged
The friends had slightly different emotions about receiving the awards.
“I do not feel excited about it so much because someone died. I will always remember that day. For a long time after the incident I didn’t sleep well. When I found out I was going to be recognised, it did not move me. But Jeremy told me it was something good. My girlfriend also encouraged me to accept the award. We were not trying to be heroes that day. Since then, I went out three times in one day to rescue people at Queen Street Beach,” Roger said.
Jeremy said he was happy to meet Barbados’ new Head of State.
“I was happy to meet the new President, The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic. I am pleased that he was a soldier and I also admired the way he handled things during COVID-19. It was a proud moment for me.”
Medals for their bravery or not, these two just know they have a responsibility as responsible citizens to save lives whenever duty calls. (CH)
The Richard Stoute Amphitheatre at the National Botanical Gardens is now moving closer to completion following a major financial contribution from CIBC Caribbean.
On Wednesday, December 9, the bank made a BDS $1.2 million donation through its Comtrust Foundation to support construction of the amphitheatre and further development of the National Botanical Gardens.
The presentation took place at CIBC Caribbean’s head offices in Warrens.
During the event, the bank also marked 105 years of banking in Barbados with the presentation of a red flame glass award to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
The award was presented by President and Chief Executive Officer of CIBC, Harry Culham, who was visiting Barbados for the occasion. The presentation was witnessed by outgoing President Victor Dodig and Chief Executive Officer of CIBC Caribbean, Mark St. Hill.
The BDS $1.2 million contribution was presented by St. Hill and witnessed by Culham and Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn.
Accepting the donation, Prime Minister Mottley highlighted the bank’s role in national development.
“CIBC has firmly established itself as a true example of a private sector partner that understands the importance of working together for national development. They have been a key partner in our two debt swaps, our debt-for-nature swap and our debt-for-climate swap which will assist in upgrading the South Coast sewerage treatment plant into a modern water reclamation facility.”
She added: “Today they reaffirmed their commitment to our national development with a BDS$1.2 million donation for the completion of the Richard Stoute Amphitheatre in the National Botanical Gardens.”
St. Hill reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to Barbados and the region.
“Much has happened in Barbados and in the region over the last one hundred and five years, but the fact that CIBC has continued to work and serve the people of this region is testimony to our continued commitment.”
He also noted the cultural significance of the project.
“We are also aware that Richard Stoute has been an icon in this country and the amphitheatre will not only be a tribute to him but to all the other hard-working entertainers that he has mentored over the years, and those to come who are following in their footsteps. We are pleased to be a part of its creation.” (PR)
Tomorrow’s official start of Barbados’ 2025/2026 tourism winter cruise season marks the beginning of a year with an encouraging outlook for the performance of the bedrock of the Barbados economy.
With projections for increased activity in most tourism sectors during the coming year, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill says he remains “quietly encouraged for next year, based on the acknowledged success of the current year and the strong positive indications for the coming year”.
Sharing his plans with the Sunday Sun, Gooding-Edghill said: “In 2026 and beyond, we will be seeking to expand airlift into Barbados, with the implementation of Phase 2 of our airlift strategy. We are going to focus on expanded airlift from Canada, Manchester and Europe, in addition to other key gateways.”
He observed that Phase 1 of that strategy was already responsible for increased air seat capacity from the United States, with the return of American carriers Delta and American Airlines coming out of key US gateways, as well as the return of Copa Airlines from Latin America, which is an important source of airlift for a market which Barbados has been working to grow.
Marketing push
Gooding-Edghill added that key marketing activities and incentives would be implemented to increase visitor arrivals during the summer months, a period when arrival numbers have traditionally dropped. He announced as part of his 2026 policy initiatives the appointment of two new overseas Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) directors in the first quarter of the year to boost promotion in markets Barbados was now targeting.
“We have appointed a director for Africa and the Gulf States, who will reside in Kenya, with satellite offices in Ghana and the UAE . . . . A second BTMI external director will be appointed for Asia and the Pacific to be located in China, with supporting staff and facilities deployed to cover this extensive market.
“It is intended that our presence in these emerging markets will result in significant exposure of the Barbados brand through intense marketing and personal interaction with the travel trade to increase visitor arrivals from those markets.”
Even as he works at positioning Barbados more strongly in the global tourism arena, Gooding-Edghill expressed awareness that those plans could be derailed by external forces, saying: “You will have to continuously monitor the geo-political landscape, the economies of our major source markets and consumer confidence and skilfully respond to any shocks that come our way in a timely manner.”
Stay-over bump Reporting to the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) membership last week, chairman Javon Griffith shared statistics which showed an increase in the number of stay-over visitors for 2025, which exceeded the pre-pandemic, highperformance year of 2019.
He also noted that cruise tourism had rebounded “appreciatively”, with passenger numbers trending upwards and airlift across the island’s source markets growing exponentially.
Griffith urged continuing airlift advocacy and the protection of and continuing focus on the growth of Barbados’ tourism in the US.
He advised securing and promoting the reinstated KLM airline service out of the Netherlands, while exploring the possibility of expanded European connectivity, as well as targeting tourism opportunities from Africa and the Middle East.
From an accommodation perspective, the BHTA chairman envisioned a 2026 with expanded hotel plant such as the Royalton Vessence, a Blue Diamond Resorts hotel on the West Coast due to open on July 1, 2026, and the Hotel Indigo on the South Coast, scheduled for a January 2026 opening.
He said these two hotels and others, either to be built or completed over the next two years, formed part of a massive plan that represents “well over US$1 billion in hotel and related real estate development”.
Against this background, the BHTA head projected a “cautiously optimistic” outlook for 2026.
He anticipated “modest single-digit growth in stay-over arrivals, contingent on stable economic conditions in source markets”, for the coming year while hailing the Minister of Tourism for his tireless efforts that resulted in new and returning airlift.
BTMI is ramping up its marketing, taking Barbados’ message to potentially new markets around the globe.
Chairman Andrea Franklin said the BTMI’s targeted sales and marketing approach across all markets was a “focus on building and maintaining airlift; reconnecting to its travel trade community and promoting a vibrant cultural calendar of events resulting in favourable forward bookings”.
She was “very optimistic” that the island would see positive growth in visitor arrivals in the 2025/2026 winter season and said her team engaged all stakeholders industrywide in a consultation last month to bring everyone up to date on planned improvements at the island’s two ports of entry, in anticipation of the increased traffic expected to be passing through both points.
More than 800 000 cruise passengers are expected and more than 400 cruise ship calls are scheduled for the Bridgetown Port during the 2025/2026 winter season.
Local cruise tourism specialist Martin Ince, the chief executive officer of Foster & Ince, anticipates a “strong season going right up to the second week of April”, based on the bookings. However, he said there would be “no cruise ships visiting Barbados during next year’s summer season”.
“In fact, there are no cruise ships coming south of Antigua during the summer. We have known this for a little while because, obviously, the cruise ship schedules are done far in advance,” Ince said.
In the past, Barbados received summer calls at the Bridgetown Port from the popular Carnival cruise line, which ceased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That southern Caribbean Carnival rotation has since been discontinued, with Carnival ships being repositioned to the northern Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean, which was doing a two-week rotation to the southern Caribbean during the 2025 summer season, has also been repositioned to the northern Caribbean.
However, though Ince said the loss was “disappointing, he said “the good thing is that the summer of 2027 will see a lot more traffic down our way”. He anticipated it would be “the largest number of cruise ships Barbados will be seeing in the summer in a very long time”.
The veteran cruising expert said Barbados was seeing “a fair share of new ships” visiting during the winter season. (GC)
Two gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 14, killing 11 people and wounding multiple others in a “terrorist incident” during a gathering for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Emergency responders rushed another 29 people to various hospitals from the beach, one of the biggest tourist draws in Australia’s largest city, said New South Wales police. One of the alleged shooters was killed, and the second was in critical condition, police said.
Police declared the shooting a “terrorist incident” and revealed they had found suspected “improvised explosive devices” in a vehicle near the beach that was linked to the “deceased offender.”
“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith – an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a televised address. “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”
The shooting took place during an annual “Hanukkah by the Sea” event in the afternoon at Bondi Beach.
“We heard the shots. It was shocking, it felt like 10 minutes of just bang, bang, bang. It seemed like a powerful weapon,” Camilo Diaz, a 25-year-old student from Chile, told AFP at the scene. Crowds fled in fear from the beach in eastern Sydney, which draws huge numbers of surfers, swimmers and tourists, especially at weekends.
Emergency services first responded to reports of shots being fired at 6:45pm local time, New South Wales police said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned it as a “cruel attack on Jews” and urged the Australian authorities to step up the fight against antisemitism.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was “shocked” by the shooting. “Europe stands with Australia and Jewish communities everywhere. We are united against violence, antisemitism and hatred,” von der Leyen, the European Commission President, wrote on X. “This appalling act of violence against the Jewish community must be unequivocally condemned,” added EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that France would fight “relentlessly against antisemitic hatred” as he extended his condolences. “France extends its thoughts to the victims, the injured and their loved ones,” Macron said in English on X. “We share the pain of the Australian people and will continue to fight relentlessly against antisemitic hatred, which hurts us all, wherever it strikes.”
The grassy hill overlooking Bondi Beach was strewn with discarded items from people fleeing too fast to pack up, including an abandoned children’s stroller, an AFP journalist at the scene said.
Paramedics tended to multiple people lying on the grass by the beach, images broadcast by public broadcaster ABC showed. A weapon that appeared to be a pump action shot-gun was lying by a tree by the beach.
A British tourist told AFP he saw “two shooters in black” after the gunfire broke out. “There was a shooting, two shooters in black with semi-automatic rifles,” Timothy Brant-Coles told AFP, saying he saw multiple people who had been shot and wounded.
Another witness, 30-year-old local resident Harry Wilson, told the Sydney Morning Herald he saw “at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere.”
Bondi Beach’s local Waverley Council said it was “deeply saddened” by the attack. “Our thoughts and prayers are with anyone who has been impacted by this horrendous act, which occurred as Chanukah festivities were taking place,” a spokesperson for the council said. (Le Monde)
