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Straughn clears air

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Straughn clears air

The Mia Amor Mottley Administration has never in the past seven-and-a-half years denied any requests from the Office of the Auditor General, says Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn.

Rather, he added, Government has promised to strengthen the office by giving it more autonomy over hires, and was equally concerned about the length of time it was taking to appoint a new Auditor General after the retirement of Leigh Trotman earlier this year.

Straughn, a guest on Starcom Network’s radio call-in programme Sunday Brass Tacks recently, was responding to an assertion from Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne that Government had refused to provide some information requested by the Auditor General. 

In developing the point, moderator David Ellis, who was leading the discussion on the controversial Economic Diversification And Growth Fund Bill, 2025, asked what was happening in the office
since Trotman’s retirement, in light of the assurance by Government that it would have oversight over how
the money was spent.

The Economic Diversification and Growth Fund Bill seeks to make $225 million from the Consolidated Fund – $75 million annually over four years – available to foreign companies to grow jobs, investment and the Barbados economy.

“The Auditor General’s Office is independent. It submits its budget to Parliament, to the commission of Parliament and not once, David, in seven-and-a-half years have I, nor the Prime Minister, adjusted any requests financially, or otherwise, to the Office of the Auditor General,” Straughn said.

He noted that he spoke with the Director of Finance – one of the four individuals on the Fund’s committee – and “expressed my concern at the level of time that it has taken to have a new Auditor General in place”. The post became vacant in April and applications closed on September 5. Someone has been acting in the interim.

Straughn said in recent times, people have been moving away from the audit profession, and this has had a negative impact – not only on the Office of the Auditor General, but Central Government as well – where attempts were being made to set up an audit department.

He said during the 170th anniversary function of the Audit Office earlier this month, Government promised more assistance. This included establishing a Government accounting service that would give the Audit Office the ability to recruit its own staff outside of the Ministry of Public Service, and also providing support for human resources functions, Straughn said. 

“There’s nothing to be said that the Government, as asserted by Mr Thorne, has denied the Audit Office any of its requests,” he added.

However, Thorne stuck to his substantive point that the Auditor General “has no jurisdiction in relation to matters outside of this country” and it was “disingenuous” of Straughn to suggest the money from the Economic Diversification and Growth Fund would be subject to the same scrutiny.

Other guests on the programme included attorney Tricia Watson who sounded the alarm on the “vagueness” of the legislation; economist Jeremy Stephen and Senator Jonathan Reid, who spoke during last Friday’s debate in the Senate where the Bill was passed.

Barry Manilow to undergo surgery for lung cancer

Nationnews Desk
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Barry Manilow to undergo surgery for lung cancer

Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has revealed he will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung.

Manilow, one of the biggest stars of the 70s and 80s, said it was “pure luck” that doctors found the spot early when he had an MRI following weeks of bronchitis.

The 82-year-old, known for a string of hits including Copacabana, Could It Be Magic and Mandy, said doctors do not believe it has spread and he will not need chemotherapy or radiation.

In a statement on Instagram, he said: “As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks.

“Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.

“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed.

“It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”

He went on to say the “bad news” is that after finishing his latest run of concerts, he is “going into surgery to have the spot removed”.

“The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis.

“So that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”

He issued a reminder to people that “if you have even the slightest symptom” to get tested.

Manilow said he will need a month to recover and his arena concerts planned for January will be rescheduled.

He said he was “counting down the days” until he can return to performing. (BBC)

Trump to boost immigration crackdown

Nationnews Desk
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Trump to boost immigration crackdown

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump is preparing for a more aggressive immigration crackdown in 2026 with billions in new funding, including by raiding more workplaces — even as backlash builds ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

Trump has already surged immigration agents into major US cities, where they swept through neighbourhoods and clashed with residents. While federal agents this year conducted some high-profile raids on businesses, they largely avoided raiding farms, factories and other businesses that are economically important but known to employ immigrants without legal status.

ICE and Border Patrol will get $170 billion in additional funds through September 2029 – a huge surge of funding over their existing annual budgets of about $19 billion after the Republican-controlled Congress passed a massive spending package in July.

Administration officials say they plan to hire thousands more agents, open new detention centers, pick up more immigrants in local jails and partner with outside companies to track down people without legal status.

The expanded deportation plans come despite growing signs of political backlash ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

Miami, one of the cities most affected by Trump’s crackdown because of its large immigrant population, elected its first Democratic mayor in nearly three decades last week in what the mayor-elect said was, in part, a reaction to the president. Other local elections and polling have suggested rising concern among voters wary of aggressive immigration tactics.

“People are beginning to see this not as an immigration question anymore as much as it is a violation of rights, a violation of due process and militarizing neighbourhoods extraconstitutionally,” said Mike Madrid, a moderate Republican political strategist. “There is no question that is a problem for the president and Republicans.”

Trump’s overall approval rating on immigration policy fell from 50 per cent in March, before he launched crackdowns in several major US cities, to 41 per cent in mid-December, for what had been his strongest issue.

Rising public unease has focused on masked federal agents using aggressive tactics such as deploying tear gas in residential neighbourhoods and detaining US citizens. (Reuters)

Stabbing victim identified

Nationnews Desk
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Stabbing victim identified

The Police have identified the man who died in an incident along 3rd Avenue, Station Hill, St. Michael on Sunday as 39-year-old Andy Rudolph Arthur of Goddings Road, St. Michael.

Initial investigations indicate that Arthur sustained injuries following an altercation outside a business establishment in the area.

He collapsed at the scene, and ambulance personnel who responded confirmed he showed no sign of life. A medical doctor later pronounced him dead at the location.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information that could assist in the investigation to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1800-8477, Police Emergency at 211, or District ‘A’ Police Station at 430-7242 or 430-7246.

Give athletes full support!

Philip Spooner
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Give athletes full support!

Obadele Thompson has made a clarion call to his fellow Bajans to throw their full support behind the island’s sportsmen and sportswomen. 

The 49-year-old, who 25 years ago achieved one of the greatest feats in the country’s history by winning an Olympic medal, delivered the feature address on a night of glitz and glamour as the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) in association with IGT Lottery hosted their annual awards ceremony.

 Under the event’s theme Inspired by History, Driven by Tomorrow, Thompson spoke passionately to an attentive audience at Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle on Saturday night, while hundreds more watched on local television and online streams. Among the specially invited patrons was the President of Barbados The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, who is the patron of the BOA as they celebrate their 70th anniversary.

“I want us to embrace a bright future for sport in Barbados, while we look back at 70 years of success.

In 1984 I was fortunate at eight years old. I was very fortunate to see the men’s 4×400 team of the late Richard Louis, Richard Peltier, Clyde Edwards and Elvis Forde make the Olympic finals. Just to see people from my island and see them in an Olympic final was awe-inspiring,” Thompson said.

 “I was fortunate that back in the day I was able to see cricket when we had the late Malcolm Marshall, (Sir) Gordon Greenidge, (The Most Honourable) Joel Garner, (The Most Honourable) Desmond Haynes, so from very early on I realised that Barbados could compete with the best in the world. I want to challenge everyone to embrace that. It is becoming a tougher place out there to qualify (for international competitions) . . . but we know we have the talent. As we move to the future will we focus on just participating or dominating? When I lined up 25 years ago and looked down that lane there was only one thing going through my head . . . that was winning for Barbados.”

 Thompson’s Olympic bronze medal came in the men’s 100 metres – the marquee event at the Sydney 2000 Games – with more than 500 million viewers worldwide at the time. He was third and took to the podium alongside the winner Maurice Greene of the United States and Ato Bolden, of Trinidad and Tobago. 

In a touching moment, Thompson, a BOA director, reflected on his journey to sporting stardom with pride while showcasing gratitude. He praised his Barbadian coaches – Orlando Greene at Harrison College, as well as the late Frank Blackman, and the late Tony Lovell at Freedom Striders.

“Mr Greene’s understanding of what it took to win was superior to a lot of other people. A former NCAA champion, he was an Olympian, he held the national 800 metres record from 1976 to 2022, and he was the coach of the 1984 Barbados track and field team, when Barbados reached the final in the men’s 4×400 relay. His understanding made such a difference,” Thompson added.

“I believe “Blackie” was a genius. Whenever I came home to Barbados regardless of whether I was at college or as a professional athlete, it was him who I called. He was not only a competitor in his time but he was also Mr Greene’s coach.”

BOA president Sonia Osborne  echoed Thompson’s call for national support as a show of pride and industry among the citizenry as they have set “ambitious medal and performance targets”. 

She detailed the upcoming regional and international multi-sports events including the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games; the Centennial Central America and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo; the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics; the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru; followed by the Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta.

These are part of the lead-up to the XXXIV Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the summer of 2028 which will feature 36 sports, 51 disciplines, and over 11 000 athletes for what promises to be the biggest celebration of sporting excellence in history.

 In his address, Minister of Sports Charles Griffith pledged government’s continued support of the island’s sporting industry and outlined a number of the ongoing projects – including the re-construction of the National Stadium and the Netball Stadium at Waterford. He also detailed the urgent need for the island to be a major player in the multibillion-dollar sports industry, led by the legacy of cricket greatness.

Eighth Chinese medical delegation arrives in Barbados

Ashminnie Moonsammy
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Eighth Chinese medical delegation arrives in Barbados

Barbados has welcomed the eighth medical delegation from China with Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Davidson Ishmael,  Ishmael highlighting the importance of the partnership.

“The people and the Government of Barbados are grateful to have the expertise of these medical professionals who have come a very long way to support the upgrading and the enhancement of our delivery of healthcare here in Barbados,” Ishmael said.

He was present last night at Grantley Adams International Airport to greet the delegation, alongside officials from the Chinese Embassy.

The Minister pointed to the history of cooperation between the two countries.

“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with China over many, many decades and this being the eighth cohort, the eighth delegation of medical professionals who has come, it shows that there has been a long-standing relationship that has been mutually beneficial,” he said.

Ishmael noted that previous delegations had contributed to healthcare services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and in primary care settings.

The delegation is expected to spend 12 months in Barbados sharing knowledge and providing clinical services in several specialties.

Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, Bingkai Zheng, welcomed the delegation while reflecting on the growing collaboration in healthcare. He noted that the first Chinese medical team was sent to Barbados in 2016 and said the partnership had expanded since then.

“In 2016, we dispatched our first medical team to Barbados and over the years, now we have our eighth, medical team, to be in Barbados. And I think there will be even more cooperation in the medical area and beyond,” the Ambassador said.

Jamaican pastor pleads guilty to tax evasion

Nationnews Desk
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Jamaican pastor pleads guilty to tax evasion

NEW YORK – A Jamaican-born pastor at a church in Brooklyn, New York has pleaded guilty in federal court to a tax evasion scheme.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) said that Paul Mitchell, 60, the lead pastor of Changing Lives Christian Centre in the East New York section of Brooklyn and president of the church’s educational daycare, pleaded guilty to “a criminal information charging him with one count of tax evasion.”

According to court filings, Mitchell, who resides in West Hempstead, Long Island, New York, was the founder of both the church and the educational day care centre.

The DOJ said that, between 2015 and 2022, “Mitchell used the organisations’ credit cards to pay for his personal expenses, including men’s clothing, thousands of dollars in jewellery, luxury watches, and life insurance premiums.”

Pastor Mitchell also wrote cheques from the church’s bank accounts to pay his own credit card bills and personal income taxes.

“As part of the scheme, Mitchell frequently withdrew large amounts of cash from bank accounts for the church and the day care and transferred funds from those accounts into his own bank accounts,” the DOJ said.

“He failed to report his use of the stolen funds as income on his personal income tax returns, which significantly reduced his tax burden and allowed him to evade the payment of personal income taxes,” it added.

As a result of his conduct, the DOJ said Mitchell “caused a tax loss” of about US$2 906,072 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and about US $316 699 to New York State between 2015 and 2022.

The DOJ said Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, restitution, and fines of up to US$250 000.

Changing Lives Christian Centre says on its website that Mitchell is the senior pastor and visionary for the church.

“Pastor Mitchell believes that, as human being we have a responsibility to empower one another,” it says. “He believes that the human spirit, which houses the purpose for which we’ve all been created, must be nurtured, both naturally and spiritually. (CMC)

Image in Epstein files that features Trump reinstated

Nationnews Desk
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Image in Epstein files that features Trump reinstated

Items from the Epstein files, including a photo containing Donald Trump, were removed by the justice department from its website because of concerns raised by victims, the deputy attorney general said on Sunday.

The image featuring Trump was later reinstated after review, said Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general.

Blanche rejected criticisms that the removal was related to the US president and said the photo that included him also showed unredacted images of women.

At least 13 files – from thousands released on Friday related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – had disappeared from the website without explanation by Saturday.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee questioned the images’ removal. In a social media post, they asked Attorney General Pam Bondi: “What else is being covered up?”

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) said in a post on X on Sunday that the image of Trump was flagged by the Southern District of New York “for potential further action to protect victims”.

It added that the image was removed temporarily for further review “out of an abundance of caution”.

“After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction,” the DOJ said, linking to the image in question on its website.

The picture was taken in one of Epstein’s homes, US officials said, and it shows a collection of framed photographs on a cabinet, many of them featuring famous people.

There is an open drawer filled with other photos – one of which shows the president with Epstein, First Lady Melania Trump and Epstein’s convicted associate Ghislane Maxwell.

Blanche called the suggestion that the photo was removed due to Trump “laughable”. “It has nothing to do with President Trump,” he told NBC News.

“There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public seeing him with Mr Epstein.”

He added: “So the absurdity of us pulling down a photo, a single photo, because President Trump was in it, is laughable.”

Blanche cited a judge in New York who “has ordered us to listen to any victim or victims’ rights group if they have concerns” as a reason behind removing some previously posted files.

“There were a number of photographs that were pulled down after being released on Friday,” he said.

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has not been accused of any crimes by Epstein’s victims. There is no suggestion that these pictures imply any wrongdoing. (BBC)

$47.6m Massy pot

Shawn Cumberbatch
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$47.6m Massy pot

Massy is cooking up more profits in Barbados on consumers’ appetite for ready-to-eat and prepared foods.

Audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, show that the Trinidad and Tobago group earned a $47.6 million profit here in 2025 as part of its overall $230 million in net income.

Massy Holdings Limited, which under its Massy Stores brand operates five supermarkets, the Warrens Super Centre, two home locations, eight pharmacies and two Express locations in Barbados, made what management called a “strategic shift” to categories including bakery, deli, and prepared foods to target higher profit margins.

Chairman Robert Riley and new president and chief executive officer (CEO) James McLetchie, indicated that the decision was already paying off here and in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

“Third-party revenue grew by four per cent, driven by enhanced customer engagement strategies and a strong performance from Guyana,” McLetchie, who previously served as chief financial officer and deputy CEO, reported.

“We also benefited from a strategic shift toward higher margin categories such as bakery, deli, and prepared foods, which contributed to double-digit growth in operating profit in Barbados and OECS markets year-over-year.

“The Rowe’s IGA 2023 acquisition continues to serve as the anchor for United States (US) dollars net operational cash flow,” he added in the latest management discussion and analysis.

His assessment was supported in a separate report by Riley, who said the integrated retail portfolio (IRP) remained the group’s largest contributor, “delivering another year of steady volume-led growth”.

Massy’s third party revenue increased by four per cent to $3 billion, “driven by broad-based volume growth across Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana and the OECS”.

Profit before tax rose four per cent to $338.6 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation increased six per cent to $560 million, “reflecting higher margins and continued operational efficiencies”.

Riley said: “Growth was strongest in bakery, deli, and prepared foods, which achieved double digit gains and now represents a growing share of the overall product mix.

“Guyana again delivered standout performance with double digit sales expansion driven by the new Giftland store and strong basket performance. Barbados and the OECS benefited from tourism improvement and retail expansion in St Lucia.

“Despite inflationary pressure and supply chain challenges, improved logistics, data driven inventory management and working capital efficiency supported a strong cash conversion cycle,” he said.

“The IRP continues to demonstrate Massy’s ability to deliver consistent, quality earnings growth while enhancing customer experience and profitability.”

Massy has operating companies in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica, US and Colombia. The group is organised into four main business segments – integrated retail, gas products, motors and machines, and financial services.

The audited financial statements detailed that for the financial year ended September 30, Massy’s revenue from Barbados was $764.4 million, up from $732.9 million in 2024.

This was the most after Trinidad and Tobago’s $1.55 billion in revenue, down from 2024’s $1.65 billion and ahead of Colombia’s $734.5 million, up from $646.6 million in 2024 and Guyana’s $687 million, up from $595.2 million in 2024.

Other revenue contributions during the year came from the Eastern Caribbean’s $508.6 million ($478 million in 2024), the US $441.8 million ($430.7 million in 2024), and Jamaica’s $246.7 million ($247.1 million in 2024).

Profit before tax in Barbados increased to $51.6 million, up from $45.3 million in 2024. This was behind Trinidad and Tobago’s $134.8 million ($150.7 million in 2024), and Guyana’s $103.7 million ($94.6 million in 2024).

Net profit from Barbados was $47.6 million after the group incurred a $3.6 million tax expense.

Massy has been reducing its assets in Barbados. The financial statements recorded Massycard (Barbados) Limited and Massy Properties (Barbados) Limited as “held for sale entities”.

With $7.4 million in assets on September 30, Massycard “has signed a sale agreement for the sale of the credit card portfolio and supporting assets. The sale is expected to be completed within the new financial year”.

Massy Properties, with reported assets of
$27.1 million and home to all remaining investment properties “has been reclassified to be held for sale as several properties have been earmarked to be sold within the next year”. (SC)

Hastick the Top 8 champ

Jonteau Coppin
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Hastick the Top 8 champ

Xzavier Hastick captured his maiden Men’s Top 8 title on Saturday, securing the $2 000 cash prize with a straight-sets victory over top seed Stephen Slocombe at the Raymond Forde National Tennis Centre in Wildey, St Michael.

The Canadian produced an assured performance to win 6-2, 7-6 (7) in a closely contested final.

Hastick dominated the opening set, but the match tightened considerably in the second as both players held serve in a tense exchange that pushed the contest deep into a tiebreak. 

Although the encounter threatened to stretch into a third set, Hastick held his nerve to close out the match, later acknowledging how finely balanced it had become.

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