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Innes facing up to 20 years

Maria Bradshaw
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Innes facing up to 20 years

Former Insurance Corporation Of Barbados Ltd (ICBL) chief executive officer Ingrid Innes is set to plead guilty in a United States federal court to her role in a bribery scheme involving former Government minister Donville Inniss.

The 70-year-old, Guyanese-born, Canadian resident faces one count of conspiracy to launder money and two counts of money laundering. 

Innes is scheduled to appear before District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto in the Eastern District Court of New York on September 1, where she will formally enter her guilty plea and be immediately sentenced. Matsumoto also presided over Inniss’ 2020 trial, handing the former parliamentarian a two-year federal prison sentence.

According to the indictment, between 2015 and 2016, Innes and other high-level ICBL executives funnelled US$36 000 in bribes to Inniss through a New York dental firm’s bank account. It added the payments, routed through ICBL’s then Bermuda-based subsidiary, were made to secure two Government insurance contracts worth over $100 million.

Innes resigned from ICBL in 2017 and relocated to Canada in 2018.

Her decision to plead guilty brings a sudden conclusion to a lengthy legal battle that had lain dormant for years while she fought extradition in Canada. After a Canadian court ordered her extradition in 2024, she filed an appeal originally slated to be heard next month. However, sources indicated she abandoned those proceedings in March, notifying US authorities of her intention to plead guilty.

This notification set off a flurry of preliminary proceedings, including a sealed letter filed by US prosecutors requesting a hearing.

Detailing the strict timeline for the upcoming court date, the US court filed a scheduling order on April 4. It stated: “Scheduling order as to Ingrid Innes: All parties shall appear for a guilty plea hearing to be followed by sentencing on September 1, 2026, at 10 a.m. The parties are expected to follow Federal Rule 32 with regard to objections, corrections or comments to the Presentence Report (PSR). Defence counsel must respond to the PSR within two weeks of receipt, the Government will respond one week thereafter.”

The court order further established a hard deadline for final submissions, noting that “defendant’s submissions shall be filed by August 7, 2026, the government must respond by August 14, 2026, [and] reply by the defendant shall be served and filed by August 20, 2026.”

The charges against Innes carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison for each count. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan P. Lax was added as counsel for the government in March, while attorney Ronald G. DeWaard entered the case pro hac vice to represent Innes last month.

While Innes prepares for her plea, the extradition case against the scheme’s third defendant, former ICBL senior vice-president Alex Tasker, remains paused.

The 65-year-old Barbadian faces the same charges as Innes. However, his surrender to US authorities has been stalled by some legal issues.

In September 2021, Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes originally ordered Tasker’s extradition. However, Tasker’s legal team filed their appeal under the wrong piece of legislation. By the time the error was realised, the statutory 15-day filing deadline had expired.

When Tasker’s lawyers asked the Court of Appeal for an extension, the court dismissed the request, ruling it had no jurisdiction to extend the timeline. The matter was subsequently taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

After initially refusing to hear the case, the CCJ granted an oral hearing and ultimately ruled that the local Court of Appeal must properly evaluate how to handle the procedural mistake, rather than dismissing the high-stakes extradition case outright on a technicality.

Death penalty could apply under new bill

Barry Alleyne
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Death penalty could apply under new bill

Barbadians convicted of domestic terrorism that results in a death could face the death penalty or life imprisonment, Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams told the House of Assembly recently as he introduced the Domestic Terrorism Bill, 2026.

He said the legislation does not create a blanket redefinition of serious crime as terrorism. Instead, it establishes an additional offence that applies when serious criminal conduct terrorises the public, is carried out with reckless disregard for public safety, is motivated by certain forms of bias, or involves particularly dangerous activity threatening the wider community.

Under the Bill, where an act of domestic terrorism results in a death, the offender may be sentenced to death or face life imprisonment. For domestic terrorism involving other serious offences, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

Abrahams described the public nature of an act as an aggravating factor that could push a case towards capital punishment. A killing carried out openly, in circumstances designed to spread terror or send a message, would weigh in favour of the death sentence being sought, he said, whereas the same crime committed away from public view would be prosecuted simply as murder.

“You will feel the full weight of the law,” he warned, adding that even if an offender were let off on other counts, a domestic terrorism conviction would still carry its own punishment.

The Attorney General explained the move is anchored to what the Bill defines as a serious criminal offence, one punishable by death, one carrying a potential sentence of five years or more, or one from which property or benefits worth $5 000 or more are derived. He noted that sum was chosen deliberately, saying it is known that individuals have accepted payments as low as $5 000 to carry out violence against others.

To secure a conviction, prosecutors would need to establish either an intent to instill fear in the public or recklessness as to whether such fear would result. The offence is further limited to violent conduct causing death or serious bodily harm, endangering life or creating a significant risk to public safety, typically involving firearms, explosives or similar weapons.

Abrahams said the principal crime must generally occur in a public place. He cited, among other examples, shopping centres, restaurants and bars, bus terminals, parks and beaches, streets, Government buildings and venues for public entertainment, where bystanders are present or likely to be present and exposed to danger.

He offered contrasting scenarios to illustrate the distinction: a gunman opening fire in a crowded food court, a shooter in a bar or a bombing at a public gathering would likely qualify, while a killing inside a private home, a homicide in a deserted location or a fight in a secluded area exposing no one else to danger would not. (BA)

Trinidad rocked by 5.1 magnitude earthquake

Nationnews Desk
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Trinidad rocked by 5.1 magnitude earthquake

PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad and Tobago was rocked by a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on Wednesday, the Seismic Research centre (SRC) of the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has reported.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The SRC  said that the quake, which occurred at 4.14 a.m. (local time) was located Latitude: 10.67N,  Longitude: 62.53W at a depth of 75 kilometers (km).

It was felt 113 km west of the capital Port of Spain, as well as 77 km east of Carúpano and 124 km north east of Maturín in Venezuela, the South American country where the death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck in late June has risen to 6,301. (CMC)

Ronaldo weds longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez in Portugal

Nationnews Desk
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Ronaldo weds longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez in Portugal

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has married his longtime partner, model and influencer Georgina Rodríguez, in a civil ceremony in Portugal.

The Portuguese striker posted an image on his Instagram account showing two hands, presumed to be his on top of his wife’s, both wearing wedding rings.

Calling it the wedding of the year, Portuguese media say the couple tied the knot on August 11 in the coastal town of Cascais near Lisbon – and that their five children attended.

The Instagram entry had more than three million likes within 30 minutes of being posted.

The couple have been together for ten years, after they met at a Gucci shop in Madrid where Rodríguez was working. He was playing at the Spanish club Real Madrid at the time.

They announced their engagement on August 11 last year, with Rodríguez posting a picture of a huge diamond ring, writing “Yes I do. In this and in all my lives” in her native Spanish.

Ronaldo has five children in total, two of whom he shares with Rodríguez.

She has also helped to raise his other three children, and the family currently live in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.

The couple’s first daughter together, Alana Martina, was born in 2017. Their youngest daughter Bella was born in April 2022, alongside a twin brother, who died. (BBC)

Rowe seeks audit of NHC repairs

Gercine Carter
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Rowe seeks audit of NHC repairs

Member of Parliament for St Michael North West Neil Rowe has raised questions about the funding of one of the National Housing Corporation’s home repair programmes and has asked that a special audit be carried out by the Auditor General if the answers to questions he posed were not forthcoming.

While Rowe gave “wholehearted” support to a resolution for the acquisition of land at Ebenezer, St Philip, for housing, he told the House of Assembly yesterday: “I also believe it is our responsibility as legislators to identify areas that deserve careful attention, so that the implementation benefits the people we represent.”

He made representation on behalf of his constituents saying: “Some of my constituents are emotionally distressed over the fact that some families whose houses were damaged by the freak storm on the 17th June, 2021 and Hurricane Elsa on the second of July, 2021, are still occupying houses that were damaged by natural disasters, five years later.”

The MP, who is also Deputy Speaker of the House shared details of a letter from the NHC to one of his affected constituents, in which the Corporation had agreed to rebuild the damaged house “for the sum of BDS$95 105”.

However, Rowe complained “the family in question still have not received the promised house four years later.”

“It is reasonable to seek an explanation and accountability,” he said, going on to pose 14 questions to the general manager of the NHC, including: “What has become of the $95 105, aka the taxpayers’ money that was approved by the NHC for the rebuilding of this dwelling house under the Freak Storm/Hurricane Elsa Relief Programme?”

“Was the money ever allocated, committed, spent or returned to the Government counts?…Can the general manager of the NHC provide detailed explanation for the delay and identify any administrative, legal, financial or constructural issues that prevented the construction?” Rowe asked.

The MP had several other questions related to Freak Storm/Hurricane Elsa Relief programme.

“These are questions that are focussed on transparency Sir, accountability Sir, and public expenditure Sir, rather than making accusations.

“If the concern is that the taxpayers’ funds were mismanaged, Sir, it is appropriate to ask for documentary evidence . . . before drawing conclusions.

“The answers should clarify whether the funds were disbursed, reallocated, remain unspent or whether there were other reasons were not completed, Sir.”

Rowe added: “If the supporting evidence cannot be forthcoming Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to request on the behalf of the taxpayers of St Michael North West, Sir, that the Auditor General be summoned to carry out a detailed audit of the NHC and the Freak Storm/Hurricane Elsa programme, similar to the audit that was done on HOPE Inc.”

Rowe said he was “happy” that middle income and low income Barbadians would benefit from acquisition of the Ebenezer land, since “the reality is that too many Barbadians continue to struggle with trying to pay rents that they cannot afford,” while young professionals were finding it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market.

In piloting the resolution, Minister of Housing Christopher Gibbs pointed to the higher density approach to housing development in Government’s future housing development plans.

However, Rowe cautioned this “should never result in prices that place these homes beyond the reach of ordinary working class Barbadians.”

(GC)

Lashley: Laws too weak to properly punish gun offenders

Barry Alleyne
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Lashley: Laws too weak to properly punish gun offenders

Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley says Barbados’ existing laws are too weak to properly punish those who unleash gun violence in public spaces.

Throwing his support behind the Domestic Terrorism Bill, 2026, in the House of Assembly yesterday, he argued that the current Public Order Act, though it created the offence of violent disorder, carried penalties too light to match the danger posed by armed attackers – a maximum of seven years in prison or a $50 000 fine. A seasoned criminal defence attorney, he pointed to the case of the men charged with violent disorder and endangering life in the Kadooment Day shooting in 2017 on the then Spring Garden Highway (now the Mighty Grynner Highway), saying evidentiary problems made that case difficult to prosecute and, even with a conviction, the sentence would not have reflected the harm done.

In contrast, he said, the new Bill sets out fixed, stringent penalties rather than leaving sentencing entirely to judicial discretion, giving prosecutors an additional tool to pursue gang members and others who open fire in crowded public settings.

The minister rejected the idea that the Bill was merely symbolic, insisting its penalties will carry real deterrent weight and reflect the Government’s commitment to citizen security and public safety. He described the measure as a landmark piece of legislation, comparable to the Government’s earlier anti-gun laws, adding it reflects a broader effort to reform the criminal justice system rather than simply add another charge to the books.

Lashley singled out the shooting incident at a crowded Sheraton Mall as the kind of episode the Bill is designed to address, attacks that endanger families and bystanders attending festivals, street fairs and community gatherings. He warned that such incidents have already forced law enforcement to reconsider approving permits for public events, calling this a troubling sign for community life in Barbados.

The Member of Parliament for The City described the legislation as targeting not just illegal firearm possession but the reckless and violent use of firearms in public, framing its core offence around three elements: recklessness, intent and conduct that endangers public safety. He said the law is meant to ensure that gunmen who fire “recklessly” in public settings face a separate, additional charge of domestic terrorism on top of whatever other offence they are charged with.

He placed the Bill within a wider package of reforms he said were reshaping the justice system, including amendments tied to the Bail Act, Firearms Act, Gun Court Act, changes to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, and new witness protection legislation. Together, he said, these measures are meant to strengthen the State’s ability to prosecute violent crime while protecting the public from acts of “lawlessness and recklessness”.

(BA)

Pay up or ‘walk with toothbrush’

Heather-Lynn Evanson
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Pay up or ‘walk with toothbrush’

A motorist, who was fined for an 18-year-old death by dangerous driving offence, has been warned to walk with his toothbrush if he fails to pay the outstanding balance by December.

Renaldo Ricardo Skinner, of Checker Hall, St Lucy, was back in the No. 5 Supreme Court, where he had pleaded guilty to causing the death of Fabian Campbell, formerly of Brathwaite Road, Sion Hill, St James, on August 22, 2008, by driving his vehicle, registration number L2329, on the Warleigh, St Peter section of the Ronald Mapp Highway at a speed and in a manner dangerous to the public.

The matter was prosecuted by Principal State Counsel Romario Straker and Senior State Counsel Maya Kellman, while attorney Latisha Springer represented the driver.

In February, Justice Pamela Beckles had fined him $7 500 of which $3 000 was due immediately. She ordered him to pay the remaining $4 500 in six months or spend 18 months in prison.

When the matter was called up for review, the court heard that Skinner had an outstanding balance of $3 500, after paying an additional $1 000.

“I expect that balance, not part of it, to be paid by December 1,” the judge told Skinner.

“I expect all to be paid or walk with your toothbrush,” she said, as she granted him an extension and set December 1 as the final date of review.

The court had heard Campbell was driving his vehicle, with his young son as a passenger, when Skinner, who was travelling in the opposite direction, overtook two vehicles and drove directly into Campbell’s path.

Campbell, in an attempt to avoid a collision, pulled his vehicle to the left, but struck an embankment and went over the railing.

He suffered severe traumatic head injuries and died on the spot. His son survived

King Gordon the mas’ man

Nationnews Desk
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King Gordon the mas’ man

by JOHN BOYCE
johnboyce@nationnews.com

He went from the primary school stage to the Grand Kadooment stage, leaving both the revellers and judges in awe.

Cultural arts caught Gordon Ashby’s attention from a child and that connection grew even stronger through the years.

At primary school he gravitated towards plays, but Gordon knew that those small spaces could not contain the burning passion within for
the arts.

He took to the road as a reveller during his teenage years and played mas, but that only served to further pique his interest in the festival.

So, come Grand Kadooment, the architect took that internal flame and translated it into a giant Mr Harding, “flames” and all, causing it to so consume the judges that he took top prize of King of Crop Over theme.

Gordon, who is also an artist, recalled being in Aruba, Nevis, St Vincent, Jamaica, Martinique and Mexico and there [Mexico] he saw decorative chariots depicting bullfighting and it sent a chill down his spine – for all of the right reasons.

This caused him to take a deeper look and his own culture as he sought to conceptualise a means by which he could bring a grandeur presentation reflecting its richness, enhanced by the landship, tuk bands, stilt walkers and road tennis.

A neighbour of the late respected costume designer Robert Weekes, Gordon was effusive in his praise for him and thankful for the foundation he gave him for a cultural journey he has fully taken on.

Soon, Gordon left for Toronto where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in architecture, seemingly better equipping himself for a stage on which
he would play a significant part.

“I then said I needed to get into things more cultural and I contacted stilt walker Ifie and he taught me and I became a stilt walker,” Gordon told the DAILY NATION.

He harboured no fears as he “jumped on the stilts”, because for him it was like riding a bicycle – “you just have to keep moving”.

He entered the National Stadium on stilts in 1993 and all eyes were on him and Gordon loved it “because the more showoff you are the better it is”. And, he gave them their money’s worth.

Gordon proudly recalled walking stilts at Radio City Music Hall in New York with legendary Trinidadian mas designer Peter Minshall, seeing
it as a feather in his cap.

“A stilt walker stands four to five feet off the ground, but we look really tall. It’s an optical illusion.”

Gordon has had a few falls, but they did not daunt his spirit. He recalled “falling in slow motion” before the landings, but suffered
no injuries.

He understands the distinction that is made between professions, adding that many consider an architect and some other professions to have “serious people” not given to jumping and waving, but he set out to deliberately marry the two.

On Grand Kadooment he had a ball. Though he did not personally carry the “complicated” Harding’s Fiery March, leaving that responsibility for his friend “Kat”, it took nothing away from the pleasure he felt.

He thanked the National Cultural Foundation for their input in the costume and Wayne Smith for his collaboration in the venture.

Noting the increasing number of trucks for Grand Kadooment, Gordon said there needs to be more decorative to better reflect the culture.

In relation to the skimpiness of the costumes, he said that they are in great demand by the women.

“Though some other countries carry those and more conservative costumes, we have gone, maybe, like totally into the beads and feathers for everybody and left back the costumes that depict certain things.”

He said in Brazil they use both sets of costumes in their bands “and I think we got to look at that”.

While acknowledging the importation of costumes from China with beads and sequins, he said that a greater effort needs to be made in
the utilisation of local materials to keep that aspect of the culture alive adding that there is room for both.

Some beachgoers upset with changes to Heywoods access

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Some beachgoers upset with changes to Heywoods access

People who frequently use Heywoods Beach in St Peter, including some retired and elderly, are not pleased with the access Sandals Resorts International has put in place now that construction has commenced on the Beaches Barbados hotel. 

While the regular access point remains unchanged, some are lamenting the loss of car park space and a longer walk to the beach, especially for those who uses canes and walkers.

However, Sandals’ public relations manager David Hinds said their first priority was the safety of the public.

“We are taking all steps, in line with all jurisdictional guidelines from the relevant authorities, to ensure public safety,” he said.

Long-time water sports operator and former St James North political candidate Austin Husbands said they have been using the beach since the 1980s, and lamented that there was no consultation prior to work commencing. 

“The beach is normally used on a daily basis by people from not only within the area, but it’s also used by people who come to the old Heywoods Beach to enjoy the ambience of the place. When they place these poles here, it means that parking is restricted, severely restricted. As you can see, you can no longer drive in and turn because it will be taken away from the turning bay.

“As you look around,” he added, pointing to some of those willing to speak out, “you’ll see that most of them are in my age group or just beneath my age group. So it’s not a case of parking on the other side and just being able to walk to the beach. All of that will be restricted.

“Several people that come here use walkers and canes, and to put a long story short, it’s going to be a hindrance, to put it mildly. So that is my big concern.”

Husbands said the workers told them they were acting “under orders” but could give no more details. He was aware that work was scheduled to start on the hotel. 

“But why do you have to take up this additional 20 feet of space? What are you going to do with it? You’ve got acres of land there to be developed. This is the old Heywoods Road on my left; even that is being taken up. That was public access that was used and has been used for centuries. Why have we taken up that?” he asked.  

“Then to the south, there’s also another public car park that has been boarded, already boarded up. So people are no longer able to use that, which is another level of inconvenience to sea bathers and beach-goers.”

Francilla Haynes, who was at the beach with daughter Petra, said she never encountered so much difficulty in parking after using that beach for 35 years. 

“It’s very, very difficult for us old people. I think it’s not fair for us local people to be prevented from enjoying what we worked so hard for, what our parents and grandparents worked so hard for,” she said.

Retired educator Angela Edwards was among those surprised by the construction. She came out to find the poles going up and her car barred. She had to wait for someone to remove the red tape.

Adlee Foster, who is 76, said she found moving around the area difficult.

“We have a 90-plus-year-old woman that is part of the group and this was convenient, comfortable for her to just come in. In order to be able to get here, she has to either leave her car home and ask somebody to drop her down here, or now try to manoeuvre that narrow thing that they have for a car park. You know, I mean, you can’t really move around in there.”

In a statement, Hinds said: “The beach access remains available, and in fact we are putting up signs to remind and help guide persons where the beach access is and remains. 

“While a section of the parking lot does in fact fall inside the protective hoarding, we have allocated 16 temporary parking spaces, which is actually more than was there before, not far from where the original parking spots were. We will again be putting up signs to guide members of the public,” he added.

Another problem the beachgoers and residents have identified is flooding. 

“That road has never been flooded and all of a sudden since the construction . . . the road is impassable,” Edwards said.

In response, Hinds said: “From our understanding in speaking to residents and businesses in the area, the issue of flooding is an ongoing situation. As far as we are aware, the Ministry of Transport and Works’ Drainage Division is cognisant of the issue and we will continue to liaise with them.”

In April 2025, Hinds said Sandals would be constructing the $450 million Beaches property on the site of the old Almond Beach Village. It will have 600 rooms ranging from king suites and two queen designs, and four-bedroom suites complete with a private ocean-front balcony. 

It will feature a dedicated “Main Street” – a winding resort centre with dining and shopping opportunities – as well as family zones from outdoor performance stages to a modern sports bar and arcade. 

Boat aid moves forward

Josue Ramirez Nelson
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Boat aid moves forward

Fishermen still struggling to get their boats back on the water after the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in 2024 are closer to accessing the financial support they need. 

This is according to Minister of the Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries Santia Bradshaw, who revealed recently that
17 applications under Government’s Vessel Replacement Programme were at various stages of finalisation, while ten had been approved with $2.8 million committed.

The programme is part of the wider US$54 million Beryl Emergency Response And Recovery Project funded by the World Bank. 

Giving an update on the initiative at the Fisheries Division on the Princess Alice Highway, The City, Bradshaw, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, told the media: “We are trying to bring back a working fleet and the way to do that responsibly is through financing that owners can manage, which is why 75 per cent comes as a loan and 25 per cent as a grant facility.” 

To qualify for the grant, the amount requested must be enough to complete the construction process and represent no more than 25 per cent of the value of the finished vessel.

Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer Christopher Parker said at least 87 vessels that were damaged had returned to the waters, and about $18 million had been allocated for boat replacement loans and conditional grants, with a target to replace 70 to 75 affected fishing vessels.

“This represents a minimum commitment, but not the final word. The goal is not merely to replace what was lost, but to build back better and ensure that when the next storm comes, our fleet and our fisherfolk are more resilient than before,” he noted.

“We recognise that there has been frustration among our fisherfolk and boat owners regarding some of the delays in funding and assistance, and it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge this. We heard you and we have been working to put things in place in joint efforts to be able to provide some of what you’ve been expecting.”

Parker added: “The reality of the situation is that 90 per cent of the affected fleet was uninsured, and in this we saw that when there is no coverage, the private sector cannot alone bear the risk. It then places the responsibility for recovery with the Government of Barbados, working alongside international partners to ensure our fisherfolk are not left to face devastation alone.”

Bradshaw also defended the time it took for the funds to be accessible. 

“I am aware that getting from that point back in 2024 to where we are this morning has taken a long time. We’re just over two years in being able to stand here this morning in relation to this particular launch and it has taken longer than I believe any of us could have wanted.

“I was not minister then, but I certainly heard much of the speculation that the Government had the money and we didn’t give it, or that the funds were being redirected to other areas. The reality is that in order for us to be able to access financing globally, it is important that we make sure that we get things right . . . .

“We had to obviously make sure that we follow the application process of the World Bank and meet the condition of loaning us the money. We have to do procurement in order to make sure that the project runs to the satisfaction of the people from whom we are borrowing the funds, and that we’re able to make sure that we take into account the very peculiar nature of our fisheries sector,” she said. (JRN)

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