Home Blog Page 54

Fast bowlers Alzarri and Shamar back in West Indies squad for Sri Lanka Test series

Philip Spooner
-
0
Fast bowlers Alzarri and Shamar back in West Indies squad for Sri Lanka Test series

Fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph have returned from injury and were named in the 15-man Test squad on Tuesday for a two-match series against Sri Lanka. Both missed tours of India and New Zealand last year – Alzarri Joseph with a lower back injury and Shamar Joseph with a shoulder ailment.

Shamar Joseph is coming off a Player-of-the-Series performance in the West Indies 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka in the T20Is which ended on SundayThe pair last featured together in a West Indies Test squad during the home series against Australia last July.

Roston Chase will continue to lead the squad, which includes the return of wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva, who scored 996 runs across the last two seasons of the West Indies Championship, with the best score of 220 last month for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. He was captain as they won their regional four-day first first-class title in 20 years.

“Every Test series is an opportunity for us to grow as a team and strengthen our identity. Sri Lanka are a quality side … we’re excited about the challenge ahead,” head coach Darren Sammy said in a media release.

The first Test bowls off on Thursday, June 25 and the second on July 3, both at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. The two-match rubber is part of the ICC Men’s World Test Championship.

FULL SQUAD: Roston Chase (captain), Jomel Warrican (vice-captain), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales

(PS)

MP wants returning nationals to fund their drug costs

Antoinette Connell
-
5
MP wants returning nationals to fund their drug costs

Barbadians returning home to live should be made to pay towards their health care rather than receiving it for free.

That is the suggestion of Member of Parliament for St Philip North Dr Sonia Browne, who was speaking on the Barbados Medical Products Bill, 2026, in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Browne acknowledged that she will probably get some “lashes” from the public in relation to the payment proposals.

“Right now the private service contributes to their drugs in terms of dispensing fee and so on, but we still have a big gap in the public sector, for instance, like polyclinics . . . . There are many people who enter the polyclinic for medication – a lot of them returning nationals that get their pensions from overseas, never contributed to our system, never paid NIS (National Insurance) in our system, but are happy to sit down with a book in the polyclinics for hours to get free medication that somebody else pays for,” she said.

Browne, a former minister of state in the Ministry of Health with responsibility for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), reasoned that her proposal was only fair and it would lift some of the cost of the health care burden.

‘Only fair’

“I think it is time, as I said with the exceptions, that some of these individuals are required to contribute to the cost of drugs. It is only fair, and it can lend to less burden on it, and hundreds of people visit the polyclinic on a daily basis.

“It would lend to the burden of the medication, the cost could go to some other part in medicine, but I think it is about time that we have a look at that, or relook at it, so that they will lend to the cost of it,” the medical doctor said.

The legislation is paving the way for the establishment of the Barbados Medical Products Regulatory Authority, to oversee the regulation, licensing, monitoring and quality control of medicines and other medical products to be manufactured here.

Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw shunned the payment issues.

“I think there is value in letting people know what the cost is to the country . . . , but I will not engage in an exercise of insisting on people paying for things for which, on many a day, they do not feel that it is worthy of that payment,” she told colleagues.

Rather, said Bradshaw, they should be looking to “place the same emphasis, the same role, initiative and the energy into making sure that the day-to-day things that affect the ordinary Barbadian in our health care system, that those things are equally front of mind and not simply the semantics that we so often like to share, not only in this place, but in other places as well.”

Bradshaw, who is also the minister of environment, national beautification and fisheries, pointed to initiatives coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic like the delivery of medication, rather than going back to having patients waiting for hours in long lines at the QEH’s pharmacy.

“Perhaps we need to go back to the drawing board to see whether those facilities that arose out of a crisis, whether some of those facilities can be extended, whether they can be improved [to accommodate] the little old ladies that I encounter that say they’ve been waiting from even two hours, sometimes, before the pharmacy opens”. ( AC)

Bystanders rush to rescue aircraft passengers after fiery Texas crash

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Bystanders rush to rescue aircraft passengers after fiery Texas crash

Nearly a dozen bystanders and first responders rushed to the scene of a private jet crash on a Texas motorway on Tuesday to help free trapped passengers.

Using what appeared to be a shovel and a sledgehammer, the passers-by and emergency officials helped several passengers escape through an opened door, video shows.

The aircraft was flying from Los Cabos, Mexico, to Austin, Texas, when it reported major mechanical issues to Laredo airport, Gilberto Sanchez, the airport’s director, told the New York Times.

One of the six people on board died in the crash, said police. The five survivors were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition.

The individual who died has yet to be identified.

One vehicle was struck by the aircraft as it crashed on to the motorway, though it is unclear what part of the plane struck the vehicle, said Jose Baeza, an investigator with Laredo Police Department.

Videos of the aftermath shared on social media show thick smoke and flames surrounding the plane. Five first responders were ultimately treated for smoke inhalation, said Baeza.

The crash happened near Laredo airport, 150m (240km) southwest of San Antonio.

The crash has forced the major motorway, Loop 20, to shut down while the investigation proceeds. Baeza said it was expected to remain shut to traffic on Wednesday as the investigation, which will include the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), continues. (BBC News)

Bill key to regulate abuse of medications, says Forde

Antoinette Connell
-
0
Bill key to regulate abuse of medications, says Forde

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde is sounding a warning about the abuse of over-the counter medications or leftover prescription drugs mixed into dangerous concoctions by young people.

The practice was causing concern for the Cabinet, said Forde, a pharmacist, adding that the Barbados Medical Products Bill, 2026, passed in the House of Assembly yesterday, was important to regulate the abuse.

He said the medication was acquired from some establishments that were not pharmacies and, using the Internet, young people researched the different combinations and their effects.

“Because those things were passed from regulatory bodies before you can go any place, once they’re commercial enterprises, you can go and take them off the shelf. Now, the danger in this, and that’s why I’m happy that this new law, when it’s passed, in this august Chamber . . . that it has that regulation where there will be officers, inspectors at any place that has a pharmaceutical product,” said the parliamentary representative for Christ Church West Central.

The oversight would target instances in which substances such as codeine and panadine and codeine, found in common medications, are mixed with Sprite and sweets to create something called “lean”.

“After they’re taking these products, they can’t remember the activities that they were involved in. I believe that this is one of the biggest fights that we must now, as a country, come together and unite and fight against – the polydrug use by persons in Barbados and, unfortunately, the young people in this country,” he told the House.

Some of the drugs were imported under the guise of vitamins and that is where the pharmaco vigilance becomes important, Forde added.

“This is where the vigilance at the level of your organisation speaks to having the labs to test. This is where the vigilance comes into play. Because if you are saying that it is yohimbe or ginseng in capsule form, when it is tested randomly, the lab report must come to show that it is indeed yohimbe, ginseng, or any other vitamin, and not methamphetamine, as is the case sometimes.

“That is how drugs are moved across borders in the world, in the international sphere. That’s how it happens across the world, by coming in under the guise of other medication,” he said.

Meanwhile, his colleague Dr Sonia Browne had concerns about items being removed from the shelves of establishments, especially harmful fade creams, being returned because of a lack of enforcement.

She wants regulation for herbal medications, sexual enhancement medication and fade creams.

Browne said that as a member of the Pharmacy Council, she was aware of problems with entities importing dangerous fade creams that could wreak havoc on the user’s immunity system. She spoke of a case where someone died in Jamaica after constant use of fade cream resulted in her body being unable to fight off illness.

“We had cases at the Pharmacy Council, where you cleared out an area one day, no backing from the Police Service – the legislation said that we could. But the next day, the products or new set of products were back on the shelf. I am hoping that this authority now will have the teeth to see these things through, where people cannot – and they see it in the legislation – bring in, import things willy-nilly and put it on the shelf and market it to unsuspecting individuals.” ( AC)

US Congress urged to restore benefits for Caribbean immigrants

Nationnews Desk
-
0
US Congress urged to restore benefits for Caribbean immigrants

New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 22 other attorneys general in urging United States Congressional leaders to restore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) benefits and eligibility protections for Caribbean and other immigrants.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.

The attorneys general also urged Congress to reject efforts to reduce food assistance for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working people.

In a letter to US Senate leadership and the leaders of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the coalition warns that recent federal SNAP cuts – the largest reductions to food assistance in modern history – are increasing hunger, creating new bureaucratic hurdles for eligible families, and shifting billions of dollars in costs onto states and local governments.

They say as the Senate considers the next Farm Bill, it has an opportunity to reaffirm a bipartisan commitment that no American and immigrant should go hungry because they cannot afford food.

“SNAP helps millions of Americans put food on the table and supports the farmers and grocers that feed our communities. Our representatives in Washington need to understand the consequences of these cuts and the families, veterans, and seniors they are hurting.

“I am urging the Senate to reverse these cruel changes and restore the food assistance that millions of Americans count on,” James added.

James said SNAP provides critical support to more than 2.9 million New Yorkers, including Caribbean immigrants and children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families struggling with the high cost of living.

She said new federal restrictions passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including expanded work requirements and additional administrative hurdles, make it significantly harder for New Yorkers to keep their benefits or threaten to push them off the program altogether.

In their letter, the attorneys general  argue that expanded work requirements and administrative hurdles do not create jobs or reduce poverty, but cause eligible families to lose assistance because they are unable to navigate increasingly complex bureaucratic requirements.

They also argue that new cost-sharing provisions require states to shoulder billions of dollars in new costs while imposing substantial new administrative burdens, “a significant shift from SNAP’s longstanding federal commitment to ensuring that Americans do not go hungry during times of need.”

In New York alone, James said these changes could cost well over one billion US dollars annually beginning in 2027.

The attorneys general warn that these unprecedented shifts could force states to make impossible choices between cutting other essential services or reducing SNAP support for vulnerable residents.

They are urging the Senate to take a different approach from the House-passed Farm Bill, which fails to reverse recent cuts to food assistance. They are calling on the Senate to restore SNAP benefit levels and funding, reverse or delay new cost-sharing requirements, and roll back expanded work requirements and eligibility restrictions.

In December 2025, James successfully secured a federal court order preventing “unlawful disruptions” to SNAP benefits and fought to ensure families could continue to access to SNAP during the October 2025 federal shutdown. (CMC)

Schools start to get summer upgrades

Diara Springer
-
0
Schools start to get summer upgrades

Thirty-five schools across Barbados are set to undergo major structural upgrades this summer as the Ministry of Education Transformation launches a wideranging school improvement programme.

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!

Messi hat-trick equals scoring record as Argentina dazzle against Algeria

Nationnews Desk
-
0
Messi hat-trick equals scoring record as Argentina dazzle against Algeria

 Lionel Messi scored a majestic hat-trick to equal the all-time World Cup scoring record, answering doubts about his influence at age ​38 and firing up Argentina’s title defence with a 3-0 Group J win over Algeria on Tuesday.

He drew level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16 goals in total and became the ‌oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick — exactly 20 years to the day since his first goal at the global tournament.

The opening game in Group J at Kansas City Stadium saw another masterclass from the Argentina captain, who turns 39 later this month and was marking his 200th cap for his country as he became the first player to compete at six World Cups, and the oldest to score a ​hat-trick at the tournament.

He had the crowd celebrating what they thought was a dream start with a goal in the opening five minutes but it was ​chalked off for offside.

So it felt inevitable that it was the star forward who would rise to the moment for the raucous sea ⁠of sky blue and white, with what seemed like every fan in the stands wearing a shirt bearing his name as he gave them another moment of magic.

Messi netted his ​first in the 17th minute when he collected a brilliant through ball from Rodrigo De Paul, who slipped a perfectly weighted pass between Algeria’s back line.

Messi drove forward before unleashing ​a rocket from about 25 yards out that glanced off the fingertips of goalkeeper Luca Zidane — son of France great Zinedine Zidane who was in the crowd — and into the top-right corner.

He struck his second in the 60th minute when Alexis Mac Allister fired a low drive from 25 yards that Zidane fumbled badly, the ball spilling awkwardly off his chest and dropping invitingly for Messi, who guided it into the ​net.

“There are no words to describe it,” Mac Allister said of Messi’s enduring brilliance. “I think if anyone thought this team was better without Leo, today it became clear that ​Leo is the most important player of all. And that we have to build a team around him, where he feels comfortable.”

Messi almost completed his hat-trick about five minutes later, but Zidane leapt ‌to push ⁠his shot over the bar, yet he did find the net again in the 76th minute with another blistering strike, teed up by substitute Nico Gonzalez.

“What makes the difference is they have a player who doesn’t forgive,” Algerian defender Aissa Mandi said of Messi. “Almost every chance ends up in the back of the net.

“He’s a player, maybe the best player of all time, so that’s his efficiency, and it’s formidable. We knew it, we tried to limit him as much as possible, but it didn’t work.”

Algeria’s Fares Chaibi had ​briefly celebrated what he thought was the opening ​goal a couple of minutes after ⁠Messi’s disallowed effort, but it was also ruled offside.

Algeria fans screamed for a red card when Messi stepped on Mandi’s calf in the first half, but there was no sanction against him.

Argentina are aiming to become the first men’s team to retain the World Cup ​since Brazil in 1962.

They arrived wary, however, of another stumble, mindful of how their past two World Cup campaigns had begun with ​a shock defeat to Saudi ⁠Arabia in 2022 and a frustrating draw with Iceland four years earlier.

Questions lingered too over this side’s credentials, with Lionel Scaloni’s team having gone years without facing European opposition until a 3-0 friendly win over Iceland last week, their first match against a European opponent since the last World Cup.

On Tuesday, however, those doubts were swept aside as the holders delivered a composed ⁠and authoritative performance ​that signalled they will again be a formidable force.

“While we had the experience of the last World ​Cup, where we started, perhaps not in the best way, and ended up winning, we know how important it is to start with a win, to gain confidence,” Mac Allister said.

Argentina play Austria on Monday in ​Arlington, Texas, while Algeria face Jordan the same day in Santa Clara, California. (Reuters)

Public has a ‘right to know’

Maria Bradshaw
-
0
Public has a ‘right to know’

Governor of the Central Bank Dr The Most Honourable Kevin Greenidge is facing mounting public criticism over his refusal to disclose how much the BiMPay digital payment app cost to develop.

Cybersecurity specialist Niel Harper and former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Member of Parliament Donville Inniss led the pushback yesterday, accusing the Governor of arrogance and disputing his claim that the Central Bank does not use public funds.

Writing on LinkedIn, Harper, who is based in Germany, said the suggestion that the public had no right to know the cost amounted to “arrogance at its highest”.

“The Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados refused to answer questions about the costs associated with BiMPay. His claim was that the [Central Bank] is selffinanced and doesn’t use public monies.

This is misleading by all accounts. He also basically stated the public didn’t need to know the costs if they are not paying for it. This is arrogance at its highest,” he stated.

Owned by Barbadians

Harper argued that under the Central Bank Act, the Bank’s capital is “entirely for the account of the Government of Barbados, meaning it is ultimately owned by the people of Barbados . . . . ‘Not using taxpayer money’ does not mean ‘not using public money’,” he wrote.

He noted that after the reserve requirements are met, Central Bank profits are transferred to the Consolidated Fund – the Government’s main treasury account – meaning every dollar spent on BiMPay is a dollar that would otherwise eventually flow back to Government and, by extension, benefit taxpayers.

“When the Bank’s assets fall below its liabilities and capital, the Government is legally required to inject securities to restore the balance sheet, hence taxpayer money is the [Central Bank’s] safety net,” Harper stated.

He added that as a statutory body created by Parliament, the Central Bank’s spending is accountable to the public, and that the International Monetary Fund and international best practice for central banks strongly emphasise transparency and public accountability, not just financial independence.

“The [Central Bank] does not have freedom from public accountability for its expenditure decisions.”

In a separate blog post analysing the benefits of such apps from a Caribbean perspective, Harper said public trust in digital technologies would be central to BiMPay’s success, and that the Bank had not yet made a convincing case to citizens.

“The Central Bank hasn’t built a strong enough case for people to trust this platform and use it as a daily fixture in their lives. They haven’t comprehensively addressed the concerns of citizens around privacy, security, fraud prevention and resilience with regard to BiMPay.

Add to that the recent history of several Government departments being hacked, mistrust is expected.

Most important, they have not answered the burning question from the average man or woman on the street: How does this solution make my life better?”

Asked, from his expertise, what the cost of developing such an app might be, Harper declined to speculate.

“There are lots of variables to consider, and I don’t want to commit to any figures with insufficient knowledge,” he said.

Inniss, a former DLP Cabinet minister, also took the Governor to task, calling his conduct “arrogant” and unbecoming of the office. He charged that Greenidge had become too comfortable in the role and was being dismissive of legitimate questions.

“This response to a question as to what it costs is a mass of arrogance.

It’s not becoming the office of the Governor of the Central Bank.

And maybe Kevin has become so comfortable in the office that he feels he can be dismissive to those who ask honest and simple questions.”

Answerable

Inniss reminded the Governor that he is answerable to the people of Barbados, not to the occupants of the Tom Adams Financial Centre, and that the question from the reporter had deserved a straight answer rather than a flippant dismissal.

“You are answerable to the Minister of Finance, and the Cabinet of Barbados, and by extension to the public of Barbados. So the question asked by the reporter was a good question, and one that is deserving of an answer, to give a figure, not to be flippant and dismissive . . . .

Come on Kevin, who do you think you are? You don’t work for yourself,” Inniss stressed.

He warned that the Governor’s stance risked drawing unnecessary scrutiny to the Bank and its spending, citing what he described as a tremendous increase in expenditure at the Central Bank alongside a reduction in profit over time.

“Don’t tell us about reading the fine print that is embedded in financial reports. The average Barbadian who is out there struggling to make ends meet has no time to delve into the financial details of a Central Bank report. They have simple, honest questions that are deserving of an answer. So my advice to you, young man, come down off your high horse a little bit. Face reality and remember that you don’t work for yourself.”

Inniss also raised questions about the cost of the app’s launch event, which was described as a “pyjama party”.

Despite the sharp criticism, he praised the app itself, calling it a step in the right direction and commending the Central Bank for rolling it out.

“I am a supporter of BiMPay. I think it’s a step in the right direction.

I commend the Central Bank for rolling it out. It’s not perfect, it will have its hiccups, but this does not detract from the fact that the Governor needs to show [a] better [response].”

Several Barbadians also called in to Starcom Network’s radio programme Down To Brass Tacks yesterday to express disappointment in the Governor’s handling of the situation. (MB)

Haaland brace in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq

Sherrylyn Clarke
-
0
Haaland brace in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq

Norway 4, Iraq 1

Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway overcame a spirited Iraq in their opening Group I game at Boston Stadium.

The 25-year-old took his tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances for his country as they made their World Cup return after 28 years, though he was denied the 55th hat-trick in tournament history by Jalal Hassan’s fine block late on.

Making their first appearance on the biggest stage in 40 years, Iraq more than held their own in the opening 25 minutes but the deadlock was broken just 58 seconds after the first-half hydration break when the overlapping David Moller Wolfe swung in an inviting low cross from the left which Haaland slid home at the far post.

Iraq deservedly levelled on 39 minutes as Amir Al-Ammari’s cross was met by a powerful downward header inside the upright by Aymen Hussein, who sealed his country’s place at the World Cup with the winner in the intercontinental play-off final against Bolivia in March.

Parity lasted just four minutes as Haaland charged down a clearance from Hassan – as the veteran keeper dawdled over a back-pass in his own six-yard box – and the ball rebounded into the net.

But Iraq finished the half on top as Ibrahim Bayesh saw a volley deflected wide, Ali Al-Hamadi was crowded out by Kristoffer Ajer in the box and Akam Hashim lashed a spectacular 20-yard volley inches over the bar.

After the interval, Manchester-born Zidan Iqbal, on as an Iraq substitute, become the first player of Pakistani heritage to appear in a men’s World Cup.

Norway substitute Leo Ostigard headed home a Martin Odegaard corner on 76 minutes to give Norway daylight and Haaland’s looping header across goal was deflected into his own net by Hussein deep in stoppage time.

At the fifth attempt, it was the first win by a European side against Asian Football Confederation opposition at this tournament. Iraq’s defeat means their wait for a first-ever World Cup point goes on. (BBC)

The Nation earns 37 CBU Media Awards nominations

Sherrylyn Clarke
-
0
The Nation earns 37 CBU Media Awards nominations

The Nation Publishing Co. earned 37 nominations in the 37th Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Media Awards, the most by any media house in Barbados.

The Nation was nominated in 17 different categories across print and digital, special and individual awards and the People’s Choice award, with multiple nominations in some categories.

The company was followed by the Barbados Government Information Service with 22 and Barbados Today with 12.

Greater Belize Media was the most nominated with 93, and Jamaica’s RJRGLEANER Communications Group second with 78 across its television, radio, print and digital platforms.

Jamaica led all countries with 105 nominations, followed by Trinidad and Tobago with 102 and Barbados and Belize joint third with 95.

The CBU Media Awards recognise “excellence in journalism while highlighting issues critical to Caribbean development”.

During this morning’s announcement president of the Board Anthony Greene spoke to the theme ““Caribbean Media and Artificial Intelligence”.

“Artificial Intelligence is no longer on the horizon; it is already reshaping how content is produced, distributed, translated, monetised, archived and consumed. It is changing how audiences receive information, how newsrooms verify facts, and how media institutions plan for the future,” Greene said.

“For Caribbean media, the question is not whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) will affect us. Let’s be honest – it already has. The real question is this – how do we respond in a way that protects our people, strengthens our institutions, preserves our culture, and positions Caribbean media to lead with confidence, credibility and creativity?”

He said the next meeting of the Assembly would be important for stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and risks of AI.

The 57th Caribbean Broadcasting Union Annual General Assembly and 37th CBU Media Awards, set to take place in Guyana, from August 17 to 19, 2026. (SAT)

1...535455...13,692Page 54 of 13,692