Home Blog Page 44

Spinner bowls Lodge to victory

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Spinner bowls Lodge to victory

by PHILIP HACKETT

A penetrative spell of off-spin bowling from Donicko Wilson complemented a disciplined batting performance by captain Z’dari Scantlebury and inspired Milo Lodge to a comfortable victory by 22 runs over St Leonard’s Boys’ (SLB) in the final of the Everton Weekes Under-13 Cricket Competition at Kensington Oval yesterday.

Wilson earned excellent figures of four for 16 from seven overs to restrict St Leonard’s to 130 for seven off 33 overs in reply to Lodge’s 152 for eight off 33 overs.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Scantlebury was the key batsman around which Lodge’s innings was built. His innings of 43 came off 55 balls and included five fours.

Off-spinner Najee Millington took two for 20 while fast bowler Alex Ifill-Jones, who sent down one over with speed, took two wickets for one run.

In reply, St Leonard’s openers Carrington and Godson Bowens posted 24 off six overs to give the run chase some early momentum but Daisley broke the stand by removing Bowens (16) by the lbw route.

The dismissal of Carrington, caught by wicketkeeper Azhari Wilkinson Butcher, triggered a collapse in which Wilson was the architect. When Went slapped a delivery from pacer Daisley to Jovanni Forde in the covers, St Leonard’s had lost five wickets for the addition of 25 runs. They never recovered as the lower order struggled to maintain the required scoring rate as the overs elapsed. (PH)

Gunman told: Bring money

Heather-Lynn Evanson
-
0
Gunman told: Bring money

A High Court Judge has warned a self-confessed gunman to come prepared to pay any fine in full.

This Content Is Only For Subscribers

Please subscribe to unlock this content. Enter your email to get access.
Your email address is 100% safe from spam!

Expert sounds alarm on coral reefs

Josue Ramirez Nelson
-
0
Expert sounds alarm on coral reefs

The race to protect Barbados’ coral reef has reached a make-or-break moment, with 90 per cent of the island’s coral polyps either ill, destroyed or stressed.

According to head of the Regional Secretariat for the Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission-UNESCO, Dr Lorna Inniss, should this course continue, the country’s underwater ecosystem could be left with less than five per cent viable coral reef by 2030.

“That means that by the time your grandchildren come along, there may not be any living coral reefs. That’s a serious thing. But it can be reversed. It can be if we do the right thing,” she added.

Coral reefs are home to 25 per cent of all marine life, accounting for millions of fish and other species that find shelter and food among the coral. The reefs are also vital for the protection of coastlines from storms and waves that can cause flooding and erosion.

Inniss said the impact of the coral reef deterioration could already be identified here in the spread of Sargassum seaweed across the island’s coastline.

She was speaking during yesterday’s student engagement session on the Caribbean Hurricane Ocean Glider field experiment, held at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Husbands, St James.

She said the matter had become a global issue with 80 per cent of the world’s reefs affected by rising temperatures which, in turn, placed greater emphasis on climate initiatives to help preserve the marine ecosystem.

“When you see the electric bus fleet in Barbados, we don’t think of coral reefs. However, every little bit that is put together around the world to reduce the acceleration of global temperature benefits coral reefs.

“Corals take one to 300 years to get to a particular size. They grow very slowly and the problem is that they are very sensitive to temperature changes. There’s only five to ten degrees in any direction that they can be healthy. The sea surface temperature in Barbados extends way beyond that, especially in the summer.

“That is a stressor on the corals and they’re much more susceptible to coral diseases and to death. Every summer, when the sea surface temperature goes up, the corals are stressed again,” she added.

Efforts to restore the reef are under way in a project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), led by the Coastal Zone Management Unit and Roots To Reef.

CDB operations manager Antonio Rowe said the project involved micro-coral fragmentation, which is a technique used in coral reef restoration to accelerate the growth of coral colonies by cutting them into very small pieces.

He noted, however, that the sustainability of the procedure required a healthy environment where corals could exist, stressing that trying to restore corals in a poor environment was not beneficial. (JRN)

Barbados launches new climate finance initiative with OPEC Fund

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Barbados launches new climate finance initiative with OPEC Fund

Barbados has partnered with the OPEC Fund for International Development to launch the Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Compact, a new initiative aimed at helping climate-vulnerable countries access more affordable financing.

The launch took place at the OPEC Fund Development Forum in Vienna and brings together 78 climate-vulnerable economies and more than 15 development finance institutions.

The Compact is a joint initiative between the OPEC Fund and the Government of Barbados in its role as Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and its V20 Finance Ministers.

According to officials, the initiative is designed to provide vulnerable countries with access to more affordable capital, longer repayment terms and financing that is better aligned with national development priorities.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said the Compact addresses the challenges faced by countries that contribute the least to global emissions but are among the most affected by climate change.

“Countries lead, and finance institutions align,” she said.

Mottley added: “This Compact is about securing not just survival, but viability and prosperity. Our countries deserve sustainable pathways to development, and that can only happen by unlocking affordable capital.”

The V2V Compact will focus on strengthening water, education and health systems in participating countries while improving access to development financing and reducing fragmentation in support programmes.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid AlKhalifa described the initiative as a reflection of “solidarity, partnership and practical action”, noting that the organisation has provided US$17 billion in support to V20 countries over the past five decades.

A White Paper outlining practical mechanisms for implementing the Compact is expected to be launched during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Bangkok in October.

Barbados said the initiative builds on the principles of the Bridgetown Initiative and forms part of the ongoing effort to reform the global development finance system for climate-vulnerable nations. (PR)

St George Primary student secures top 10 place in BSSEE

Ashminnie Moonsammy
-
0
St George Primary student secures top 10 place in BSSEE

St George Primary student Tyriq Goddard placed tenth overall in this year’s Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE), following the release of results on Monday.

Tyriq, who was among the 12 top performers, achieved an overall score of 243.59 and earned a place at Queen’s College.

Speaking during a breakfast outing with his family this morning, Tyriq said he did not have to make significant sacrifices and while he chose to reduce some activities, he did not stop them completely.

“It was like a talent that I had that I just needed to work on it a bit and I didn’t really have to sacrifice anything to achieve this goal,” he said.

Tyriq said Queen’s College was his first choice because of its sporting opportunities and convenient location.

“Because it has the choices that I want like basketball and volleyball and it’s near my parents’ workplace so I can get there in the morning; so it’s really convenient for me,” he said.

His father, Rasheen Belgrave, said he was proud of his son’s achievement.

“I’m extremely proud of my son and what he has accomplished. I wouldn’t say I had any doubts that he would have gotten where he wanted to go. I support him along the way. I’m extremely happy,” he said.

His mother, Karen Goddard, was delighted when the results were released. 

“I was very happy. I didn’t doubt for a second that he wouldn’t have made it to his school of choice,” she said. 

She added that Tyriq had always been dedicated to his studies and consistently demonstrated strong work habits both at school and at home.

The family celebrated the achievement with a dinner at Champers on Monday night after the results were announced and said they would continue to celebrate him and let him know that his achievements meant a lot. 

Central Bank advises on “penny test” deposits

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Central Bank advises on “penny test” deposits

The Central Bank of Barbados is advising the public about the use of “penny test” deposits as part of efforts to correct incorrectly formatted account information that affected salary payments.

The Bank said some commercial banks, credit unions, Government agencies and private sector employers are carrying out the test to verify that account details on file are correctly formatted.

Under the process, one cent is deposited into selected accounts to confirm that the information is valid. If the transfer is successful, the account details are confirmed as correctly formatted. If it is rejected, the information is corrected and revalidated.

The Central Bank said customers who see a one-cent deposit should not be alarmed. It added that not all institutions are conducting the test, as some resolved formatting issues prior to the transition to the BiMPay payment system.

As a result, the Bank said the absence of a penny deposit does not indicate any error in an account holder’s information. It added that customers do not need to take any action, as banks or credit unions will contact individuals directly where corrections are required.

The Bank also noted that similar validation exercises were previously carried out for selected pension payments and Government interest payments, with further checks planned for upcoming disbursements.

The Central Bank reaffirmed its commitment to working with financial institutions and Government to ensure affected workers receive their salaries promptly and to prevent further disruptions.

It also reiterated that individuals and businesses earning less than $10,000 daily do not pay to use BiMPay. (CentralBank)

Murder accused: They threatened my mother

Heather-Lynn Evanson
-
0
Murder accused: They threatened my mother

The police sergeant who interviewed accused Jakobe Jaheem Yarde spent a third day on the witness stand as the court watched the DVDs of that interview when Yarde’s murder trial continued in the No. 3 Supreme Court yesterday.

This Content Is Only For Subscribers

Please subscribe to unlock this content. Enter your email to get access.
Your email address is 100% safe from spam!

Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in blockbuster deal

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in blockbuster deal

Giannis Antetokounmpo wants more championships. So do the Miami Heat.

Their interests are officially aligned — and the Heat finally have another superstar.

Ending a marathon watch for the next great Miami get, the Heat landed Antetokounmpo — a two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star — from the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in exchange for a massive haul of players and draft picks.

Per multiple reports, Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are heading to Miami for Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis. In the deal, Milwaukee also gets the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a first-round swap in 2030, first-round picks in 2031 and ’33 and a second-round pick in 2033.

Heat receive:

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo
  • Bobby Portis

Bucks receive:

  • Tyler Herro
  • Kel’el Ware
  • Jaime Jaquez Jr.
  • Kasparas Jakučionis
  • No. 13 pick in 2026 NBA Draft
  • First-round picks in 2031 and 2033
  • Pick swap in 2030
  • Second-round pick in 2033

Antetokounmpo had been mentioned in trade talks countless times in recent years, with the Bucks always insisting — with words and actions — that they had no interest in trading their best player and one of the best players in the history of the franchise.

But this time, it seemed different.

The Bucks, who fired Doc Rivers as coach after the season, don’t have a roster that would be considered a championship contender. By trading Antetokounmpo, they can essentially start over with four players (and the Heat were high on all of them) along with draft capital.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time, right, because if Giannis does play somewhere else we’re going to get a lot of assets. … You’ve got to get it right,” Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said in May, when the team introduced new coach Taylor Jenkins — who was told that Antetokounmpo may or may not be with the franchise when next season starts.

Jenkins and the rest of the NBA now has the answer: Antetokounmpo won’t be there.

Antetokounmpo had spoken highly of Miami many times over the years, even when the Heat and Bucks were going head-to-head in the playoffs. He also shares an agent with Heat star center Bam Adebayo, who was the only player Miami clearly was not willing to part with in order to make this deal happen.

“They’re going to play tough and they’re not going to stop playing,” Antetokounmpo said after Milwaukee played Miami on March 12. “That’s the Miami Heat culture.”

Little did anyone know that night that those words were coming after what would be the next-to-last game for Antetokounmpo in a Bucks uniform. He played three nights later against Indiana, then was held out of Milwaukee’s final 15 games of the season.

The Bucks said that was for injury-related reasons. Antetokounmpo said he wanted to play.

He had some bouts with injuries this past season: Antetokounmpo missed four games in late November with a left adductor strain and sat out eight games in December with a right calf strain, then he injured the right calf again in January.

He landed awkwardly on a dunk in that March 15 victory over Indiana and didn’t play again due to what team officials had labeled as a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo said the last few weeks of the season that he was healthy and wanted to play, a dispute that resulted in an investigation by the league office. (NBA)

DLP wants closer scrutiny of two bills

Nationnews Desk
-
0
DLP wants closer scrutiny of two bills

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling for rigorous scrutiny of the Citizenship Bill, 2026, and Immigration Bill, 2026, warning that Barbados must safeguard the integrity of its passport against growing international exploitation.

Its stance follows the exclusive story in the last SUNDAY SUN detailing organised overseas operations marketing Barbados as a prime destination for expectant African mothers and promoting the island’s passport as a gateway to visa-free travel to more than 150 countries as well as other significant benefits.

In a press release, DLP spokesperson on legal affairs Corey Greenidge warned Government of the need to preserve the integrity of Barbados’ passport.

“The DLP wishes to make clear that the issue is not whether any laws are being broken.

The issue is that the report provides tangible evidence of something that many Barbadians may not have fully appreciated: Barbadian citizenship and the Barbados passport possess significant value internationally,” he said.

The DLP has been highly critical of the two bills in appearances before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee.

Greenidge reiterated that the party’s fundamental issue with the legislation was its underlying philosophy.

“Throughout its submission . . . the Democratic Labour Party has consistently argued that citizenship should not be viewed merely as an administrative status or an economic tool,” the attorney stated.

“Citizenship represents membership in the Barbadian nation. It carries legal, political and constitutional consequences, and the decisions made today will have implications for decades to come.”

He said the SUNDAY SUN report served as a wake-up call, proving that foreign nationals were already successfully navigating Barbados’ existing legal framework to extract value from Barbadian nationality.

He argued that this makes the proposed bills, which potentially introduce new pathways to citizenship, even more dangerous without robust safeguards.

The DLP called on Government to slow down the legislative process to ensure the “generational value” of the Barbados passport was protected from international exploitation.

Only last week, the United States State Department revealed it had dismantled several “birth tourism” rings operating out of Europe, West Africa and North Africa, which were helping foreign nationals travel to the US specifically to secure American citizenship for their children. (MB)

Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean increase by more than 15 per cent

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean increase by more than 15 per cent

The value of goods exported from Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 15.7 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, building on the 7.8 per cent growth last year, The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) has reported.

In the latest edition of “Trade Trends Estimates-Latin America and the Caribbean,”  the IDB said  that the increase reflects faster growth in both export volumes and prices.

It said regional export growth was driven primarily by mining products, particularly gold and copper, and strong performance in agribusiness products such as soybeans, coffee, and meat. Oil exports also contributed significantly.

“The region continues to strengthen its export performance and is demonstrating a growing capacity to adapt, even amid an uncertain, volatile global trade environment,” said Paolo Giordano, principal economist in the IDB’s Productivity, Trade, and Innovation Sector and coordinator of the report.

This export momentum creates an opportunity to advance reforms that boost productivity and competitiveness, diversify participation in international markets, and strengthen resilience to external shocks.

The region’s trade outlook remains positive despite a highly uncertain environment. Changes in global prices could place additional pressure on countries that import energy and food, while benefiting commodity exporters.

However, higher fertilizer and transportation prices could impact production and marketing costs, creating both opportunities and risks for the region’s export performance in the coming months.

Total imports in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by an estimated 6.7 per cent in 2025 and 9.7 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. This acceleration was driven mainly by purchases from outside the region, while intraregional trade expanded more moderately.

Commodity prices followed divergent trends in 2026, reflecting growing fragmentation and shifts in global supply and demand.

According to the document, Barbados recorded a figure of 0.1 per cent increase for  the first quarter of this year as compared with minus 6.5 per cent for the corresponding period last year, Belize registered a minus 9.1 per cent this year down from minus 15.2 per cent last year, while Guyana’s trade increased by 37 per cent as compared with 20.8 per cent in 2025.

While the other Caribbean countries, namely Bahamas, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago had produced figures for the first quarter last year, the report showed that they did not provide figures for this year. (CMC)

1...434445...13,690Page 44 of 13,690