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Shooting incident at Cave Hill

Nationnews Desk
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Shooting incident at Cave Hill

Update

Police are investigating a shooting which occurred at St Stephen’s Hill, Cave Hill, St Michael, around 1:45 p.m. today.

Inspector Dwayne Griffin of the District ‘A’ Police Station’s Criminal Investigations Department spoke at the scene and confirmed that one person was injured in the incident.

He said the injured individual was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle to receive medical attention.

Police said investigations into the shooting are continuing.

Anyone who may have information or witnessed the incident is asked to contact the District ‘A’ Police Station at 430-7242 or 430-7246.

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Earlier Story

Police are currently on the scene of a shooting at the top of St Stephen’s Hill, Black Rock.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Entrepreneurs tapping into AI

Shawn Cumberbatch
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Entrepreneurs tapping into AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping how entrepreneurs in developing countries start, manage and grow their businesses.

That is the finding of the new UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) publication Artificial Intelligence Unleashed: Transforming The Entrepreneurial Scene In Developing Nations.

The report said that micro, small and medium enterprises and start-ups “have embarked on using AI-powered tools across a wide range of activities, from marketing and customer service to logistics, finance and product design”.

It added that large language models are emerging as foundational building blocks that allow smaller firms to adopt AI quickly and at a relatively low cost.

The publication also said, however, that AI adoption remains uneven, as many entrepreneurs reported a limited understanding of the business value of AI. This included what problems it can solve, how it fits into long-term business strategy and how to implement it step by step.

A lack of managerial understanding and technical talent slows AI implementation, especially for smaller firms with limited resources, UNCTAD reported.

Arlette Verploegh Chabot, who leads UNCTAD work on entrepreneurship development, said: “AI can be a powerful tool for entrepreneurs, but its benefits are not automatic.

“Supportive ecosystems, the right skills and clear rules are essential to help entrepreneurs understand where AI adds value and how to integrate it into their businesses in a meaningful way.”

The report said that if entrepreneurs wanted to adopt AI more effectively and efficiently, they should focus on skills development, access to data and finance, innovation-friendly regulation, and stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems. (SC/PR)

Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2m at Tokyo auction

Nationnews Desk
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Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2m at Tokyo auction

A bulky bluefin tuna made a splash at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on Monday morning, fetching a record 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) at the market’s first auction of the year.

The winning bid for the 243kg fish came from Kiyomura Corp, the operator of popular sushi chain Sushi Zanmai, which has outlets across the country and abroad.

“The year’s first tuna brings good luck,” said Kiyoshi Kimura, the company’s president and a familiar figure at the annual new year’s auction, Kyodo reported.

Mr Kimura, who has been dubbed the Tuna King, is known to bid high for bluefin tuna at new year’s auctions.

The entrepreneur told reporters after the auction that he was “surprised at the price”, AFP reported.

“I’d thought we would be able to buy a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it,” he said.

Mr Kimura paid 56.5 million yen for a bluefin tuna in 2012 and 155 million yen in 2013 – setting record prices both times.

In 2019 he bought a bluefin tuna with 333.6 million yen ($2.1m; £1.6m) – another historic price.

Despite telling reporters at the time that he thought he “did too much”, however, Mr Kimura has now gone on to break his own record again.

The first auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market typically sees fish selling for exorbitant prices.

Last year, the first tuna at the auction was bought for 207 million yen by Onodera Group, another food company that owns a sushi chain. It said that the fish would be served at its restaurants across the country.

The frenetic energy at fish markets during such pre-dawn auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday’s auction, which started at around 05:00 local time (20:00 GMT), was no exception.

The million-dollar tuna was sliced up for customers at Kimura’s sushi restaurants shortly after it was auctioned off.

“I feel like I’ve begun the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year starts,” one of the customers at Mr Kimura’s restaurant told AFP. (BBC News)

Non-nationals ‘must meet’ 11-Plus criteria

Nationnews Desk
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Non-nationals ‘must meet’ 11-Plus criteria

Children born outside of Barbados must fulfil certain criteria in order to write the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination slated for Tuesday, May 5.

This was among the directives announced by education officer in the Examinations and Assessment Section of the Ministry of Educational Transformation, Donna Roberts, during a town hall meeting to discuss administering this year’s exam, also known as the 11-Plus or Common Entrance, at Princess Margaret Secondary School St Philip last Saturday evening.

Parents at the well-attended meeting held in the Reginald Lewis Auditorium were also reminded of exam times, flexible transfers, deferrals, the zones and the importance of coordinating with their respective schools, among other regulations.

“Usually for this examination, we know not every student in the school is born in Barbados. As long as you were born outside of Barbados, there is a special form you will need to complete to submit to us for the child to write the examination. This form will be accompanied by the child’s birth certificate and a copy of a student visa,” Roberts said.

“Now, for persons who are CARICOM nationals, you just need immigration status for the parent – so, the birth certificate and, instead of the student visa, immigration status of the parent. “If your child was born outside of Barbados, but they have obtained citizenship by whatever means, we would not know when we see the child’s birth certificate,” she noted, adding that proof of Barbadian citizenship was still needed. “You will present the child’s birth certificate and that document you will have to receive from the Immigration Department or a copy of the child’s Barbados ID card for us.” Roberts also explained the concepts of flexible transfer, deferral, early sitter and exemption.

“Flexible transfer means we recognise that children learn at different rates. Therefore, a child may be permitted to write the examination earlier than 11 years, one year later than 11 years, or the child can be exempted, which means they do not write the examination at all.

“Deferral is a term we use for those persons who will delay writing the examination by one year. Usually, the criteria for deferral [are] that the child must be scoring less than 20 per cent in both mathematics and English across the two years of Class 2 and Class 3 – we do not look at the Class 4 performance – or the child, for whatever reason, did not complete the syllabus,” she said.

Roberts told parents that early sitters will be permitted to write the exam before they reached the age of 11 but must be scoring more than 85 per cent in both English and mathematics throughout Classes 2 and 3, and complete the Class 4 syllabus.

She said exemption meant not taking the test.

“Usually, we have an idea beforehand of those students who are likely to be exempted because they are already known to our student services section within the ministry. These are children who have difficulty reading at the level of a Class 1 student, students who have challenges performing basic number operations. So the ability to add, do simple multiplication, subtraction, division, is too much for them.”

(JS)

Racha: We have a good chance of winning U19 World Cup

Nationnews Desk
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Racha: We have a good chance of winning U19 World Cup

West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Aadian Racha believes the regional side is in prime position to capture their second ICC Under-19 World Cup title.

Racha, the lone Trinidadian selected in the 15-member squad, has lofty expectations for the team at the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6.

During a recent interview with Newsday, the pacer said the squad was comprised of quality players who had the skills to beat any team in the competition and add to the lone title they won in 2016.

“I think the team has a really good chance. We’ve been working well together and gelling well as a team. There’s definitely a strong bond and camaraderie among the players.

“Each player brings unique strengths we can build upon, and we have an understanding of our individual roles and collective responsibilities. Overall, I’d say we stand a very good chance at that World Cup,” Racha said.

Racha, who has been preparing for the tournament under the watchful eyes of former T&T leg-spinner Imran Khan and current Red Force coach Rayad Emrit, said he was looking forward to making a meaningful contribution.

He revealed that being selected to the team was a “dream come through” and an opportunity he intends to grab with both hands.

“I want to thank God and CWI for giving me this opportunity to represent the region and my country in such a prestigious tournament on the world stage. It’s a really proud moment, and I consider it a significant milestone in my career.

“To be selected for the Under-19 World Cup squad is an incredible feeling. It’s a dream come true and being the only representative from TT is extraordinary also,” Racha said.

“It’s not only my dream, but my dad’s dream was also to represent West Indies at any level. It’s not only a dream come true for me, but it’s a dream come true for him as well.”(CMC)

BHTA: Stranded visitors being accommodated

Ashada Joseph
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BHTA: Stranded visitors being accommodated

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) Ryan Forde says efforts have been ongoing to accommodate visitors stranded in Barbados after disruption in air travel due to United States military air strikes in Venezuela on Saturday morning.

The action had forced the cancellation of numerous flights, but airlines at Grantley Adams International Airport resumed normal operations yesterday.

Forde said the BHTA has been working with Government and private stakeholders in finding accommodation for those unable to travel, including those connecting from cruise ships.

“It is the busiest time of the year for us, so accommodation was limited. However, due to not having an influx of persons coming in due to those cancellations, we were able to work together to find solutions for as many of the guests as possible, and many of them would have extended their stay. There are obviously going to be some that have to extend further due to having limited carriers to support the ones that were cancelled, but it is reassuring that the airspace has reopened for those specific carriers,” he explained.

While he could not quantify the economic impact of the fallout, Forde said one plus was that the visitors got a longer glimpse of the island.

“It is reassuring in a strange way that guests were able to see the destination for a little bit longer . . . . However, no one wants to go through such an exercise, regardless, and we did our best as a partnership between the public and private sector. We appreciate working with all the stakeholders to make sure persons are comfortable and obviously the membership being as flexible as they can to assist.”

(AJ)

Trinidad and Tobago reiterates support for US military crackdown on illegal drug trade

Nationnews Desk
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Trinidad and Tobago reiterates support for US military crackdown on illegal drug trade

-The Trinidad and Tobago government has reaffirmed its support for the United States mission “aimed at dismantling all elements which facilitate transnational crime in the Americas”.

In a statement to the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held virtually, CARICOM and Foreign Affairs Minister,  Sean Sobers, said Port of Spain had taken note of the official statement issued by the United States on January 3, 2025, “regarding the highly sophisticated military operations conducted within the territory  of Venezuela.

“While Trinidad and Tobago was not a participant in the military operations, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago maintains its strong partnership and  fraternal relations with both the people of Venezuela and the United States,” Sobers said.

CELAC is a regional bloc of 33 countries in the Americas formed to foster political, economic, and cultural integration, acting as a unified voice for the region, promoting dialogue, and seeking greater autonomy from external influences.

It provides a platform for cooperation on issues like development, environment, health, and global negotiations, uniting all nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called on CELAC to speak out against the United States’ military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores last Saturday.

Gil described the US actions as a “cowardly and criminal military aggression” that resulted in civilian and military casualties and urged CELAC to take a firm stand, restore international legality, and guarantee regional stability.

The United States has accused Maduro of alleged narco-terrorism and other criminal acts. Gil warned that Venezuela “remains under siege” and that CELAC must act decisively to protect sovereignty and international law.

In his statement, the Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Affairs Minister said that the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration wanted to “reaffirm and underscore its commitment to the United States mission aimed at dismantling all elements which facilitate  transnational crime in the Americas.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to maintaining a constructive and respectful relationship with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela.

“In this regard, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to working with all like-minded nations to achieve a  safer, more prosperous and stable Americas,” Sobers said. (CMC)

Venezuela’s Maduro at US court, substitute leader softens stance

Nationnews Desk
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Venezuela’s Maduro at US court, substitute leader softens stance

Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolas Maduro arrived at a New York court on Monday to face drug charges while the U.N. was to debate the legality of U.S. President Donald Trump’s extraordinary operation to capture him.

In the biggest U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, Special Forces swooped into Caracas on helicopters at the weekend to smash through Maduro’s security cordon and nab him at the door of a safe room.

Maduro and his also-captured wife Cilia Flores were taken by armed guards soon after 7 a.m. (1200 GMT) on Monday from a Brooklyn detention center to a helicopter that whisked them to the Manhattan federal court where they faced a midday hearing.

Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network that partnered with violent groups including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.

Maduro, 63, has long denied the allegations, saying they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s oil.

Senior officials from his 13-year-old government remain in charge of the South American oil producer of 30 million people, first spitting defiance then pivoting to possible cooperation with the Trump administration.

Though denouncing Maduro as a dictator and drug kingpin who flooded the U.S. with cocaine, Trump has made no bones about wanting to share in Venezuela’s oil riches.

It has the world’s largest reserves – about 303 billion barrels, mostly heavy oil in the Orinoco region. But the sector has long been in decline from mismanagement, under-investment and U.S. sanctions, averaging 1.1 million bpd output last year, a third of its heyday in the 1970s.

After first denouncing Maduro’s capture as a colonial oil-grab and “kidnapping”, Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez changed her tune on Sunday, saying it was a priority to have respectful relations with Washington.

“We invite the U.S. government to work together on an agenda of cooperation,” Rodriguez said. “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”

Holder joins St Michael Central race

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Holder joins St Michael Central race

Dr Lynette Holder has thrown her hat into the ring as a nominee for the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) St Michael Central riding.

She told the DAILY NATION yesterday she has received a number of calls from constituents who knew of her previous interest in St Michael Central and they also wanted to feel they were playing a part in the selection process, scheduled for January 15 at Combermere School.

Holder, who served as president of the St Michael North East branch for more than a decade, said this brought her into contact with the full St Michael zone, but it was St Michael Central where a number of relationships were formed and they knew of her interest, even before incumbent, Speaker of the House of Assembly Arthur Holder, got the nod 13 years ago.

“Persons who knew this contacted me when they realised that a nomination was being held, but they weren’t given options . . . ,” said the chief executive officer of the Small Business Association, adding it was something she pondered for some time before stepping forward.

“I recognised that we have to protect democracy and therefore that is what it’s about for me. Irrespective of the outcome – it has nothing to do with the outcome – it is that democracy must prevail.

“We cannot have a situation where in a party over 80 years and in 2026 when democracy is being talked about and good governance and all that, that we don’t have a forum where persons feel as if their voice, their vote matters. So that led me to make a decision that there must be an option given to the constituents.”

Holder, who is in her mid-50s, is a former senator who served in various capacities in the BLP, including the National Council, where she rose to the position of assistant general secretary. She is the current president of the City of Bridgetown Cooperative Credit Union.

“You talk to your family and all that, but making the decision wasn’t that difficult because I want to see that democracy prevails in the party and persons felt . . . ‘We don’t want a situation where someone is being thrust upon us. We want to have a say in who we vote for, to represent us going forward’, and so that is it really. It is really about democracy.”

Last Saturday, during the annual children’s party hosted in conjunction with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley (St Michael North East) in the National Botanical Gardens, the incumbent, Arthur Holder, said he would not be returning.

“I have represented them for the past 13 years but I became involved with the constituency from 2007 when former representative Ishmael Roett introduced me to the party’s executive when he decided he was not running again. He was always a pillar of support to me and it was an honour to follow in his footsteps,” he said.

Holder said he wrote all of the relevant people in the party and also threw his support behind newcomer Tyra Trotman, who joined the BLP in 2024 after leaving the Democratic Labour Party.

“I also informed them that I would support the person who wins the nomination and I personally fully support Tyra Trotman, who is another Combermerian,” he added.

Lynette Holder did not say anything about Trotman.

“It would have been good if there were even more people who came forward, that is the truth. As you know, I mean, I ain’t come off the streets. I’ve been in the party, now as a member for more than 20 years, more than two decades.

“I carry the scars of being a member of this Barbados Labour Party. I know what it is to have been called all kind of stuff, to go through all kinds of valley experiences, triumphs, yes, but some challenges,” she said.

Mottley has indicated elections are not far away, and in recent months the BLP ratified attorney Gregory Nicholls in St Thomas and engineer Ryan Brathwaite in St Joseph to replace backbencher Cynthia Forde and Attorney General Dale Marshall, respectively. (SAT)

Accident at Henry Forde Roundabout

Nationnews Desk
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Accident at Henry Forde Roundabout

Police and officials from the Barbados Light & Power Company are on the scene of a serious accident at the Henry Forde Roundabout in Newton, Christ Church.

More details as they come.

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