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St Lucia PM: Resuming hangings won’t be simple

Nationnews Desk
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St Lucia PM: Resuming hangings won’t be simple

CASTRIES -Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre says the resumption of capital punishment in St. Lucia is something his administration will have to “think of very, very carefully”  even as a petition is receiving significant support for the government to actively consider the enforcement of capital punishment.

The petition follows the murder last week of a 24 year-old mother, whose bullet riddled body was found in the driver’s  seat of a vehicle. Her estranged husband has since turned himself into law enforcement authorities.

The last execution in St. Lucia took place on October 17, 1995, when Joseph Solomon, a convicted murderer  was hanged. Since that time, the country has maintained a de facto moratorium on the death penalty. There are three people on death row so far this year.

“That is a serious, serious issue in the country. Every day someone tells me, bring back hanging every day. It’s complex, it’ has become an international issue and there are countries who suffer reprisals if they introduce again,” Prime Minister Pierre told the post Cabinet news conference.

“So it is, it’s a matter that we have to think of very, very carefully. I will not venture to give an opinion on it now,” Pierre said, noting that for example, the Roman Catholic Church opposes capital punishment.

“You’re aware of that, right? So it’s a very complex issue. It’s not an issue that we can just proclaim on. At this point I’m not willing to see, nor am I in a position to see whether we will bring back hanging or not.

“But I can tell you, many people, many, many people in the country are asking for the return of hanging, of capital punishment. Many, many people. People are saying you can move from hanging to the lethal injection,”  Pierre said, reiterating “I will not venture an opinion at this time”.

Pierre said all governments in St. Lucia have had to deal with the crime situation, especially murders and recalls a “maxim in law,” which he said states “it’s better a million men go free than one innocent man gets punished.

“It’s a very hard situation because you know again, you must look at our history,” Pierre said, noting the emotional nature of the debate on capital punishment as response to the crime situation.

“We come from a history where people were just accused of doing things that they never did. People were lynched for committing a crime,”  he said, insisting that his  administration has provided financial and other assistance to the police.

“Our history is that there must be independence of the judiciary. There must be no matter how painful it is. And I know it’s painful …it’s painful. It hurts. It hurts me  But we have to understand there must be independence of the judiciary,”  he said, noting that the government has spent million of dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) on providing buildings for  the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Justice.

Pierre defended the work of the police and their intelligence operations, telling reporters “you would appreciate that I can’t come in public and say to the public of St. Lucia that we have intelligence….

“How can I come to the public and say to them how much intelligence we have? So what’s the use of intelligence? And let’s be realistic. I hear some people, for their own political reasons, throwing that around the place.”

Pierre said that for much of the crime in this country, “if it wasn’t for intelligence, it would have been worse.

“It would have been worse if the intelligence didn’t exist. And I want to congratulate the police for the way they use that intelligence, but they cannot go out and tell you what they’re doing,”  he  said, adding “the people who ask that have been unrealistic, and they’ve been political.

“All I can tell you that in the most of the crime in St. Lucia, most of the crime in St. Lucia, that is solved,  there is some level of intelligence driven in, most of it. I can say that for now, most of it.

“We see the cameras, they are in the country. There are CCTV cameras in the country. There can be more, there will be more, but I will not tell you where they are. I can’t, apart from what you can see.

‘Constrained’ MSME sector needs support

Shawn Cumberbatch
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‘Constrained’ MSME sector needs support

Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) remain central to Barbados’ economy, but they are operating under persistent constraints that have changed little over the last ten years.

Furthermore, unless MSMEs receive targeted financing support to build resilience while maintaining operational viability, existing vulnerabilities at the firm level may translate into broader systemic risks for the economy.

These are findings of The State Of Small Business In Barbados, a national survey of the MSME sector, which was commissioned by the Small Business Association (SBA), funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with Professor Dwayne Devonish of the University of the West Indies (UWI) the lead researcher.

The research, which is the first of its kind carried out since 2016, and is based on a 2025 survey and insights from MSME operators, concluded that “the current configuration of the sector does not yet position the country for sustained expansion, export competitiveness, or economic resilience”.

The findings of the study included:

Without targeted and coordinated policy intervention, the MSME sector will continue to function as a survival-based ecosystem rather than a growth-oriented engine of development.

 Services’ relatively low export intensity constrains foreign exchange earnings and limits the sector’s contribution to external balance.

 While female participation has increased and aggregate revenue has grown, scaling, productivity, export depth, and resilience remain limited.

 Agriculture and manufacturing remain under represented in both employment and enterprise scale.

 Improving access to finance, specifically for working capital and early-stage expansion, is essential to enable firms to scale.

 Financial constraints within the MSME sector pose a significant risk to climate resilience, as firms lack the resources to invest in adaptation and risk mitigation measures.

“Addressing all aforementioned challenges will require coordinated, size- and sector-sensitive policies that go beyond entry support to actively enable firm growth, resilience, and long-term competitiveness,” the report stated.

Devonish, who is director of The School for Graduate Studies and Research at UWI’s Cave Hill Campus, said in the publication that “the findings highlight a sector that is both vital and resilient but severely constrained”.

“While MSMEs continue to demonstrate adaptability, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19, persistent structural challenges remain,” he reported.

“These include limited scaling beyond the micro level, low export participation, concentration in domestically oriented services, and ongoing barriers related to finance, labour, and technology.

As a result, the sector is not yet fully positioned to drive sustained economic growth, export expansion, or long-term resilience.”

Devonish added: “At the same time, the report underscores significant opportunities for transformation. Expanding participation in agriculture and manufacturing, strengthening export-oriented enterprises, improving access to finance, and aligning skills development with sectoral needs are all critical pathways for enhancing the contribution of MSMEs to national development.”

SBA chief executive officer Dr Lynette Holder explained in the report that “during the past decade much has transpired to affect the business community, most notably were the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions on account of wars in the middle East and and Europe, and several climatic events”.

“It was therefore imperative that we assessed the state of small businesses today, with a view to identifying what effect those exogenous shocks had on the sector and what are the policy and programmatic responses needed to assist MSMEs to pivot to a position of growth,” she noted.

“This 2026 research featured an assessment on variables including inter alia, the sector’s size, age and gender distribution, contribution to exports and employment, and the revenue generation of firms.

“However, the disruptions in the last decade necessitated a review on the COVID-19 impact on the business community, the preparedness of the sector for digitalisation and the level of resilience of MSMEs to climate change.”

Michael Hall, financial sector senior specialist at the IDB, said in the publication that the research findings were “intended to inform policy dialogue and action by grounding decision-making in empirical evidence”.

“Such analysis is particularly valuable for the IDB as it advances operations aimed at improving the lives of the people of Barbados. Addressing the challenges identified will require coordinated, multi-stakeholder interventions to foster a sustainably productive MSME sector,” he stated.

“In this context, the continued efforts of organisations such as the SBA remain essential in promoting entrepreneurial development, representing MSME interests, and supporting firms along the pathway to scale and resilience.”

Arthur Seat bridge hazard dragging on, say residents

Josue Ramirez Nelson
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Arthur Seat bridge hazard dragging on, say residents

Residents at Arthur Seat, St Thomas, are calling for an urgent fix to the bridge in the area which they say has been a hazard for far too long. 

The bridge, residents said, was damaged more than a year ago and a wooden barricade was constructed on the cracked section to protect road users. 

However, they added that the placement of the structure had been the cause of many accidents and close shaves. 

Resident Ondre Taitt said that several times, motorists had crashed into the barricade or risked collision by trying to avoid it. 

“It wants dealing with. Everyone comes in and hits that. What happen is that people coming this way believe because they have the right of way that they’re not supposed to stop. It will take some dealing with for real. We get around it because we live here and we know how to manoeuvre around it but people who don’t know run into problems,” he said. 

Xeron Lovell offered the same verdict, noting there were accidents in the area every week.

“They only came and put the barricade up but that ain’t really doing anything. Right now the wood rotting and falling to pieces, and the nails fall into the road and puncturing people’s tyres. It really wants fixing,” he said.

Another resident, who opted to remain anonymous, said that because the bridge was at the bottom of the incline, the speed with which motorists approached the area sometimes left others with little room to manoeuvre. 

“People that don’t know this area drive down here and see that, and they stop abruptly. On a busier day with a lot of cars coming down it also causes a lot of traffic back-up because of the cars trying to move around it,” the resident said. 

When contacted for comment, parliamentary representative for St Thomas, Gregory Nicholls, said he had observed the state of the bridge and would have it rectified.

“There was work done on that area, but not on the bridge. The road was paved in Arthur Seat, so what I will commit to doing is to speak to the minister to clarify what is the position there and see whether it can get rectified as soon as possible. That bridge is an important transit point, so it has to be rectified,” he said. 

Nicholls also expressed concern about the danger caused by speeding drivers, which he said was raised by several residents.

“My concern is not only the bridge but the speed at which people are coming down there, especially public service vehicles. I have also had some encounters there because the road is being paved from the top to the bottom, and that is now creating another challenge. 

“In fact, during the election, people were asking about getting some speed humps in the area there and making sure there’s an adequate sidewalk.”

The MP said that some roads and several bridges in St Thomas had seen better days and added that the necessary attention should not be too far away.

“You can see some improvements coming to St Thomas and I’m being patient. It is the biggest concern for residents in terms of the state of the roads but the bridges also need to get some attention. 

“I’m very, very hopeful that attention is coming soon. Given that the roadworks are really coming to a state of completion in two of the major arteries in St Thomas, the roads are being completed and infrastructure being improved,” he said.
(JRN)

Air of nostalgia at BARP concert

Colville Mounsey
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Air of nostalgia at BARP concert

Music, memories and a spirit of generosity filled the air at the Barbados Museum’s Walled Garden Theatre recently as scores of patrons turned out in support of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) Charitable Trust fund-raising concert.

The event brought together some of Barbados’ well-known entertainers for an evening dedicated not only to showcasing local talent, but also to raising funds to assist vulnerable senior citizens.

From the very first performance, the atmosphere was electric as patrons clapped, swayed and sang along to a wide range of classics and local favourites.

One of the night’s standout performances came from Sonny Meraki, whose smooth renditions of songs by Morgan Heritage and Beres Hammond transported many in attendance back to earlier years, sparking visible nostalgia among the crowd.

Veteran entertainer The Most Honourable Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter also received thunderous applause as he delivered a commanding performance that blended social commentary with humour and culture, while Mikey, Paula Hinds and several other performers added variety to the entertainment through reggae, soul, calypso and contemporary hits.

But while the music drew the crowd, organisers stressed that the heart of the event remained firmly centred on helping seniors who continue to struggle quietly behind the scenes.

Chair of the BARP Charitable Trust, Theresa Marshall, said she was overwhelmed by the support shown by patrons and corporate Barbados, especially considering the increasing number of charitable causes competing for public attention.

“I think so. You see, the thing is that there’s a lot of different kinds of philanthropy. But what we concentrate on is the generosity of our members. So almost everybody you see in there today has bought a ticket to come to support seniors. So, obviously, we have a lot of corporate support, but it is those who show up and help us that we value very much,” Marshall said.

She explained that although the trust was formed in 2016, operations only began in 2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted many of its activities and fund-raising efforts. However, despite the setbacks, the organisation continued trying to meet the needs of struggling seniors.

Marshall said the trust primarily focuses on three key areas – assisting seniors in distress, helping with housing difficulties and supporting research related to ageing.

“Our seniors in distress sometimes have medical issues and they don’t have insurance or they simply can’t afford the treatment that they need. So we would step in and help where possible. Largely, these are small grants because we obviously cannot pay for a $200 000 operation or anything like that, but we try to provide assistance that can still make a meaningful difference in somebody’s life,” she explained.

She added that housing support had also become increasingly important as more elderly Barbadians faced financial hardship.

“Then, if they have housing issues or housing difficulties, again, this is where we would step in.

“We also fund an annual postgraduate scholarship at Cave Hill to do research in areas of ageing. We’ve had a variety of research topics over the years and we’ve awarded seven scholarships so far,” Marshall said.

She added that the latest scholarship recipient is conducting research into the connection between non-communicable diseases and early onset dementia – an area she said could prove increasingly important as Barbados’ population continues to age.

She also praised the performers and organisers who gave freely of their time and talent to support the initiative.

“This is our second fund-raising concert. We did the first one last year and we were blown away by the number of artistes who stepped up and said they would play for us either for free or for a very small honorarium. So we are getting their support as well to the cause, and we are extremely grateful for that,” Marshall said.

(CLM)

Govt moves to give ordinary Bajans chance at regional projects

Colville Mounsey
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Govt moves to give ordinary Bajans chance at regional projects

Ordinary Barbadians could soon be given greater opportunities to invest in major regional projects as Government moves to ensure they benefit more directly from economic growth across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn said Government was already working with banks and credit unions to create frameworks that would allow people to participate more actively in investment opportunities both locally and overseas.

Speaking after yesterday’s opening of the IDB Group Sustainability Week 2026 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle, Straughn said Barbados also needed to become more outward-looking economically in order to strengthen resilience and generate additional income streams outside the island.

“The other part is we need more Bajans investing abroad. You heard from the CEO of the bank from Suriname saying that they have a lot of investments to take place and not enough money. Bajans have money,” the minister said.

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Tristan explains motives after backlash

Philip Spooner
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Tristan explains motives after backlash

Fresh from her run-of-a-lifetime and which landed her a life-changing prize, Tristan Evelyn has written an impassioned note to justify and fully explain her decision to participate in the much-talked-about Enhanced Games.

She declared she ran as a “non-enhanced” (drug-free) competitor but there has been backlash in international circles following the fact that the made-for-TV, which attracted an online audience of close to a million, was not sanctioned by any reputable global agencies or governing bodies.

Evelyn declared her clean victory proved winning took “more than just chemistry” but added that she hoped it would not diminish interest in the Games in the future. The World Anti-Doping Agency pleaded that it was very concerned that the participating athletes would tempt more young people into using performance-enhancing drugs; but the organisers bullishly countered and called it “the future of sports and human performance”.

Before the event’s start on Sunday in Las Vegas, there was widespread condemnation of the activities as participants were allowed to use performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Evelyn, the 28-year-old two-time Olympian, ran the race of a lifetime and came away as one of the biggest winners. She was first through the line in the women’s 100-metre dash and pocketed $500 000 for her 11 seconds of newfound fame.

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31 killed, 40 hurt in Lebanon as Israel intensifies strikes

Nationnews Desk
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31 killed, 40 hurt in Lebanon as Israel intensifies strikes

At least 31 people were killed, including several children, and 40 were injured in Lebanon after more than 100 Israeli air strikes targeting what the Israeli military said was Hezbollah infrastructure and combatants in the south and east of the country.

Lebanon’s health ministry said two children and three women were among 14 people killed in Burj al-Shamali, just outside the southern city of Tyre, amid the bombardment on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday — some of the most intense since an April 16 truce between Israel and the Iran-backed militia.

At least six people were killed and six injured in nearby Maarakeh and another 11 people were killed in strikes on three other communities across the south, according to the health ministry.

Hezbollah claimed it hit Israeli forces and tanks with drones, rockets and artillery as they closed in on the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya.

The escalation came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to step up attacks from the air and on the ground to gain control of “strategic areas” and the United States hit Iranian missile launch sites and Iranian mining boats in southern Iran.

“We are deepening our operation in Lebanon. The IDF is operating with large forces on the ground and seizing dominant terrain. We are fortifying the security zone to protect the communities of the north,” Netanyahu told a meeting of the security cabinet on Tuesday.

“Concurrently, we are leading a massive national effort to advance creative and innovative solutions against explosive drones,” he added.

Netanyahu said Monday that Israel needed to respond to Hezbollah’s targeting of northern Israel in recent weeks with fiber-optic drones capable of getting past Israeli air defenses.

Israel renewed its military operation on the territory of its neighbour in March in a bid to shut down Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel, mounting air strikes and sending ground forces deeper into southern Lebanon to establish a buffer “security zone.”

Lebanon insisted it was included in the initial US-Israel cease-fire deal with Iran in early April but Israel denied that.

The United States succeeded in getting the sides around the table for the first time in three decades in mid-April, producing a cease-fire that was extended for a further 45 days in talks in Washington on May 15.

Hezbollah initially attacked Israel a day after the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023. The cross-border fighting was stopped by a U.S.-brokered cease-fire in November 2024 that, like the current agreement to pause the fighting, never fully took hold. (UPI)

Three countries impose Ebola-related travel restrictions

Nationnews Desk
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Three countries impose Ebola-related travel restrictions

The Bahamas, Canada and Thailand are imposing travel restrictions on travellers from Ebola-stricken regions, as the International Rescue Committee warns that the outbreak could worsen.

All three countries instituted restrictions Tuesday, mostly focused on the admission of travellers from regions battling the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been the epicenter of the epidemic, where the first suspected case was reported on April 24.

Since then, DRC health officials have reported more than 1 000 cases, the vast majority suspected, including ten confirmed deaths, though there are 119 suspected fatalities. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases, including one death as of Tuesday.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.

Of the three nations, Canada was implementing the strictest restrictions, mandating that all arrivals who have visited either the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days quarantine for 21 days, starting Sunday.

Ottawa was also suspending immigration documents, including previously approved permanent and temporary resident visas, for residents of those countries for the next 90 days, starting late Wednesday.

“The health and safety of people in Canada is our top priority,” Health Minister Marjorie Michel said in a statement.

“These temporary border measures will help reduce the risk of Ebola disease entering the country while ensuring that travelers are managed based on their level of risk.”

The Bahamas restrictions include enhanced public health screenings for Bahamian nationals who have been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan within 21 days of their return home, its foreign ministry said in a statement. Foreign nationals may be subject to the increased screening and possible quarantine or isolation measures if they were present in those three countries within the last 30 days.

And Thailand, which declared the DRC and Uganda “dangerous communicable disease infected zones” effective May 21, imposed a mandatory 21-day quarantine for all travelers arriving from the DRC and Uganda or transiting through the two countries.

The measure is a further restriction compared to the policy imposed May 20, mandating that arrivals from outbreak areas provide the address and telephone details of where they will be staying while in the country for a 21-day monitoring period. (UPI)

Concern over unstable trees

Tonisha Rock-Yaw
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Concern over unstable trees

Fallen and uprooted coconut trees along the eroding shoreline at Worthing Beach, Christ Church are creating growing safety concerns for business operators, residents and visitors in the area, with calls mounting for urgent Government intervention before the situation worsens.

Business owners on the popular south coast beach say the erosion has already severely affected tourism activity and is threatening livelihoods, while several trees have either collapsed or are leaning dangerously close to pathways and businesses.

David Thompson, who operates a business on the beach, said repeated complaints to authorities about the condition of the beach and the unstable trees have gone unanswered.

“I have spoken to officials myself and explained that the area needs cleaning and the trees need cutting back because they are dangerous but nothing is happening,” he said.

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Jamaica issues travel advisory

Nationnews Desk
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Jamaica issues travel advisory

KINGSTON – Jamaica cautioned against travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as the African countries grapple with an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness wishes to advise members of the public to review their travel plans and avoid travelling to or transiting through affected countries,” the Ministry of Health and Wellness said in a statement.

It said that the move follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the two countries as a public health emergency of international concern and that  that although the WHO assesses the risk as high in the African region and low globally, it has further enhanced its port-of-entry health surveillance.

The ministry said that travellers who have visited affected countries within the last 21 days and show no symptoms will be required to self-quarantine under health supervision, while symptomatic persons will be treated as suspected cases and isolated.

The ministry is also urging the public to obtain health information from official and authorised channels only.

On Monday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Ebola outbreak is outpacing urgent efforts to scale up a response adding that responders were “playing catch-up”.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral illness and the WHO said average case fatality rate is around 50 per cent, with past outbreaks ranging from 25 to 90 per cent.

The largest Ebola outbreak on record occurred between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa, when the disease spread across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia and caused more deaths than all previous outbreaks combined. (CMC)

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