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Cuba’s tourism plummets as US tightens sanctions

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Cuba’s tourism plummets as US tightens sanctions

The number of foreign travellers visiting Cuba has plummeted since the beginning of the year amid tightened US sanctions, figures released by Cuba’s national statistics agency suggest.

Fewer than 360 000 people visited the Communist-run island in the first five months of 2026, a decrease of 58.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to Onei.

The Trump administration has targeted the tourism sector, a key source of income for Cuba’s beleaguered government, as part of its pressure campaign against the island’s leadership.

As a result, a number of foreign airlines and hotel operators have stopped operating in Cuba, further driving down visitor numbers.

Earlier this month, Air Canada announced it was suspending its flights to Cuba indefinitely, citing the “ongoing political and economic uncertainty” as its reason.

The carrier had already stopped flying to the island in February because of a shortage of aviation fuel on the Caribbean island.

The move comes as a particular blow as Onei figures suggest visitors from Canada constituted by far the largest contingent of foreign tourists to Cuba this year.

Spanish hotel chains Meliá and Iberostar also halted their operations at a significant number of hotels ahead of a June 5 deadline set by the US government for companies to cease doing business with Cuban conglomerate Gaesa.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Gaesa, which is controlled by Cuba’s armed forces, of acting as a “state within a state”.

In a speech delivered in Spanish and directly addressing the Cuban people, Rubio said Gaesa “hoards the profits from its businesses for the benefit of a small elite” as well as “repressing anyone who dares to complain”.

US sanctions and an effective oil blockade have exacerbated already existing shortages of fuel, medicines and food in Cuba.

Cubadebate, a state-run news site, reported on Monday that the survival rate for children with cancer had fallen from 85 per cent to 65 per cent since January, when US President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on any country or company providing Cuba with oil.

The lack of fuel has paralysed large sectors of the economy, including rubbish collection, leading to piles of garbage piling up in city streets.

Frequent, lengthy and wide-spread power cuts have triggered rare protests on the island, where public dissent is often punished with long prison sentences. (BBC)

Police investigating unnatural death off Holetown beach

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Police investigating unnatural death off Holetown beach

Police are conducting investigations into an unnatural death last Saturday off Holetown Beach, Holetown, St James.

A Barbadian-registered vessel was travelling from Bridgetown towards Speightstown when there was a collision around 12:45 p.m. involving a male snorkelling in the area, police said.

Ambulance personnel were summoned and the man was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Police did not state whether the deceased was a local or visitor.

Anyone who may have any that can assist is asked to contact the Holetown Police Station at 419-1700 or 419-1701. (PR/SAT)

Maxwell residents fed up

Carlos Atwell
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Maxwell residents fed up

Someone in Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church, has made his or her feelings crystal clear regarding the staff of Sandals Royal parking in the road there.

Attached to two utility poles across from the luxury resort are signs reading: “Stop parking in the RH road. Sincerely, Maxwell residents.”

Some residents told the Daily Nation they did not know who placed the signs, but they mostly agreed with them, as they have struggled with indiscriminate parking for far too long.

One man said he was forced to create a stir the day he came home and found himself unable to park on his property.

“When they (Sandals) have functions, out here is a mess because the staff aren’t allowed to use the Sandals parking, as I’m told it is reserved for patrons. One night, I couldn’t park in front of my house because my gap was full of cars, so I blocked their parking lot with my car. The police came and everything, but I was told I was right,” he said.

He added that he wholeheartedly agreed with the signs and wished there were more, pointing out the numerous no-parking and private property signs, as well as the cones he and his neighbours were forced to place along their gap.

“Sandals has to find a solution, or there will be a bigger issue,” he warned.

Another neighbour expressed frustration at the long struggle he has had with people parking in front of his house and blocking him from accessing or leaving his driveway.

“Sandals puts cones to stop people from parking in front of the hotel entrance, but when we put cones for a similar reason, it’s a problem. The staff even move the cones and park still. I have had to go to security and ‘get on bad’ more than once. One time, someone broke the gas line trying to park and I had to pay to get it repaired. It’s ridiculous!” he lamented.

Neighbours said the problem was greater than just access to their homes, as the number of cars parked on the road during events at Sandals turned it into a single lane, resulting in many an altercation between stubborn drivers travelling in opposite directions. It also proved an obstacle for the Sanitation Service Authority.

“I’ve called Sandals already because sometimes the garbage truck can’t get to us. If that happens, we either have to take our garbage out to the truck once we’re home or wait until the next collection.

“Another thing is emergency vehicles. If there is a fire or other emergency, and out here blocked up, then they can’t get in,” said a frustrated woman.

Another resident declared: “They came and found us here, but now act as if we are inconveniencing them.”

There is another, smaller parking area, owned by the nearby Maxwell Del Mar Hotel. Residents said it was usually nearly empty, but Sandals staff did not use it.

When contacted, a staff member of Maxwell Del Mar, who like the residents requested anonymity, declined to speak about Sandals and would only say they made sure to inform their guests to utilise their car park.

“We advise them not to park in the road and to use our car park. The police have started giving out parking tickets along here because it causes serious congestion. I do not know who called the police, but I welcome them,” he said.

However, not everyone supported the signs on the poles. One woman said while she agreed with the message in general, she did not like the wording. She also said they did not seem to be working anyway as people were still parking on the road, sometimes directly beneath the signs.

When reached last night for a response, management of Sandals asked for the queries to be sent via email for it to discuss the matter. (CA)

Still mum on BiMPay cost

Colville Mounsey
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Still mum on BiMPay cost

Questions about the cost of Barbados’ new BiMPay platform remain unanswered after Central Bank Governor Dr The Most Honourable Kevin Greenidge again declined yesterday to disclose the price of the project, despite repeated public interest in how much was spent developing the system.

Asked directly during a press conference at the Tom Adams Financial Centre, The City, how much the Central Bank had invested in creating and launching the national instant payment system, Greenidge refused to provide a figure, maintaining that the focus should instead be on the benefits the platform will deliver to the country.

“As much as you would like to hear, I ain’t putting no figure on this,” he said. “Everybody knows what matters. Are you going to pay for it? No. So why do you want to know it for? Read our financial reports and you’ll see it embedded in there.”

The Governor’s comments drew a swift response from University of the West Indies law lecturer and former Democratic Labour Party president Dr Ronnie Yearwood, who argued that the Central Bank remained accountable to the people of Barbados and therefore had an obligation to disclose the cost of the project.

In a social media post, Yearwood rejected the suggestion that the public did not need to know the figure.

“Let’s be clear, the Central Bank of Barbados is an agency of the people of Barbados and Government,” he stated.

Yearwood pointed to the extensive oversight powers exercised by the Minister of Finance, including appointments to the Bank’s board and senior management positions, approval of capital increases and the establishment of overseas offices.

“The Central Bank is therefore not an entity floating in the air on its own, with no accountability regarding its spending or management,” he wrote. (CLM)

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Cancer support advocate Jan Lynton passes

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Cancer support advocate Jan Lynton passes

Barbados has lost one of its key voices in the fight against cancer.

Janette “Jan” Lynton, founder of Cancer Support Services, has passed away.

The organisation posted a heartfelt message on social media today in memory of the woman who dedicated most of her life to bringing comfort and compassion to those battling the illness in all its forms.

“Because of her, thousands of Barbadians never faced cancer alone – on Ward C12, in screening clinics, in their homes,” the message said.

The idea for (CSS) was born out of Lynton’s own struggle, pregnant at age 20 when she quit her job to care for her mother who was ill with cancer.

“I saw the challenging struggle that our family had with my mother, being that all of our siblings were working and I was the last and to find someone to really care for her like how we would care for her, we made that sacrifice,” Jan said in a 2023 interview with The Nation.

“I saw a need for this kind of care at the grassroots level and to give back to the community.”

The organisation grew from a small service to one of the pillars in the local fight. Cancer Support Services adopted Ward C12 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and installed a transition room at the facility to allow relatives to spend time with their loved ones, hold their hands and be with them in their final hours.

In the 2022 Independence Awards, in recognition of her service to the country, Lynton was awarded the Silver Trident of Excellence.

CSS says their services will continue “with brief interruptions expected.”

“We have lost our founder, our leader, our friend…we will honour Jan by carrying on the work she started. We ask that you remember Jan’s entire family in your prayers.” (SAT)

Cape Verde frustrate Spain on stunning World Cup debut as Vozinha stars

Nationnews Desk
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Cape Verde frustrate Spain on stunning World Cup debut as Vozinha stars

Cape Verde announced themselves on the World Cup stage with a stunning 0-0 draw against Spain on Monday, frustrating the European champions who dominated possession and had 27 goal ​attempts but could find no way past 40-year-old keeper Vozinha.

The African side built a blue-shirted barricade in front of Vozinha and dared Spain, who dominated almost everything ‌in the Group H draw except the scoreline, to find a way through.

Spain had almost 75% possession, but Cape Verde’s first match at a World Cup became a heroic exercise in resistance, discipline and occasional survival.

At the final whistle, Vozinha was named player of the match and left the pitch in tears after a performance that turned him into the face of Cape Verde’s historic night.

For Spain, ​it had uncomfortable echoes of their 2022 World Cup round-of-16 exit to Morocco: endless passing, a defensive wall at the other end and a growing sense ​that all the possession in the world means little if the penalty area is locked shut and you cannot find the ⁠keys.

Cape Verde defended deep from the start in a five-man low block, often crowding their own box with almost the entire team. Spain moved the ball from side ​to side, probing for cracks, but the African debutants were organised, stubborn and impressively calm under pressure.

Despite having their backs against the wall, they conceded just one foul – ​the fewest by any team in a FIFA World Cup match on record since 1966.

Luis de la Fuente’s decision to start with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the bench against theoretically easier opponents removed much of Spain’s usual thrust. Ferran Torres and Gavi, used wide, struggled to provide the pace and one-on-one menace that have made Spain so dangerous in recent years.

“It just wasn’t to be; there’s little to ​criticise. We knew it would be a game of patience; they sat deep, we created chances, but we couldn’t score,” Spain captain Rodri said.

“It’s difficult against such ​a physical, defensive side. The positive is that they barely created anything against us, but we need to improve our finishing.”

Marc Cucurella, recently announced as a major signing for ‌Real Madrid ⁠from Chelsea, sent an early long-range effort just over, before Mikel Oyarzabal failed to bring under control a promising through ball inside the area.

Then Vozinha took centre stage. The Cape Verde keeper produced a superb save from Pedri in the 36th minute before Spain almost broke through three minutes later, when Ferran’s strike rattled the crossbar. From the rebound, Vozinha somehow clawed away Oyarzabal’s header with one hand.

Ferran then wasted a fine chance in the 45th minute, shooting tamely at the keeper, before Vozinha again flung himself across ​goal to palm Aymeric Laporte’s header round ​the post shortly before halftime. (Reuters)

Cousins ordered to pay victim

Nationnews Desk
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Cousins ordered to pay victim

Three men who beat their cousin earlier this month were each placed on a six-month bond to keep the peace and ordered to pay him $400 in compensation before July 31.

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Fish markets to close early following death of Chief Fisheries Officer

Nationnews Desk
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Fish markets to close early following death of Chief Fisheries Officer

All fish markets and fish landing sites across Barbados will close early today, Monday, following the sudden passing of Chief Fisheries Officer Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox.

The Ministry of the Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries said the facilities will shut at 2:00 p.m. to allow staff to access grief counselling and to mark respect for Dr. Cox’s service to the sector.

Markets and landing sites are expected to resume normal operations on Tuesday, June 16.

The Ministry thanked the public for its understanding, noting Dr. Cox’s long-standing commitment to advancing Barbados’ fishing communities.

Holder’s heroics with three big sixes seals thrilling series win for Windies

Philip Spooner
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Holder’s heroics with three big sixes seals thrilling series win for Windies

A stunning late assault from Jason Holder carried West Indies to a dramatic five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the decisive third T20 International at Sabina Park in Kingston under lights on Sunday night, securing a 2-1 series triumph.

In a close contest which swung back and forth, West Indies held their nerve in the closing stages to chase down Sri Lanka’s 169 and complete a memorable comeback victory before a jubilant Jamaican crowd. Sri Lanka appeared to have gained the upper hand for much of the chase after their bowlers applied pressure through the middle overs. West Indies lost wickets at crucial times and found themselves needing 29 off the last two overs as the required run rate climbed.

Sherfane Rutherford provided the backbone of the innings with a composed 54 not out from 40 balls, which included three fours and four sixes. His partnership of 81 with Rovman Powell, who made 33 off 27 balls, revived the West Indies from 53-4 in the ninth over.

Then, it was Holder who delivered the magic moments – when he blasted three sixes in the penultimate over off fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera – whose four overs went for 64 runs. The giant allrounder unleashed a whirlwind unbeaten 21 from just five balls and won the match and the series in spectacular fashion.

Earlier, Sri Lanka made 169 all out from their 20 overs after being sent in to bat. West Indies were kept in the contest by an outstanding bowling display from fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who had five for 33 – the best figures of his career. He was named Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series.

The two teams will now travel to Antigua for the next stage of the series – two Test matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, starting Thursday, June 25. (PS)

BRA gives top-up tax guidance

Shawn Cumberbatch
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BRA gives top-up tax guidance

The clock is ticking for multinational enterprise (MNE) groups required to comply with corporation top-up tax requirements and the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) is making sure that they have all of the information needed for them to meet the requirements.

The BRA has issued five guidance notes on its website to help the MNE groups and other stakeholders meet the June 30 compliance deadline.

It “strongly encourages” taxpayers to review these notes thoroughly and seek professional advice where necessary for compliance assistance.

The six-page guidance note on Payment of Top-Up Tax makes clear that there are financial consequences for late payment of the tax, specifically penalties and interest.

“Where a qualifying entity fails to pay domestic top-up tax by the statutory due date, penalties and interest may apply.

Penalty

“A qualifying entity that fails to pay domestic top-up tax; or pays the tax after the prescribed deadline, may be liable to a fixed penalty of $1 000 payable to the [Revenue] Commissioner; and interest at a rate of one per cent per month on the outstanding amount,” the BRA advised.

“Interest accrues monthly on the highest amount of unpaid domestic top-up tax and accrued interest outstanding during the relevant period until the liability is paid in full.”

This latest stage of the process tied to the enforcemennt of the global minimum tax overseen by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development follows Barbados’ recent signing of the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) for the GloBE Information Return (GIR).

The GIR MCAA enables automatic tax data exchange for the global minimum tax and eases duplicate reporting across member jurisdictions.

The Authority published the notes after stakeholder engagement and seminars, reinforcing its commitment to taxpayer support and compliance.

The new tax regime was introduced through the 2024 Corporation Tax reform and the enactment of the Corporation Top-Up Tax Act, 2024-16.

The top-up tax requires in-scope multinational groups to pay at least a 15 per cent effective tax rate on profits in each jurisdiction where they operate.

Engagement

Revenue Commissioner Jason King welcomed stakeholder engagement and renewed his commitment to supporting taxpayers.

“The introduction of the top-up tax is a significant development in international tax,” he said.

“We recognise that the requirements can be complex for affected entities. These guidance notes give practical information on filing and payment. They also explain other essential aspects to help taxpayers navigate the process with confidence.”

King added that the BRA continues to engage stakeholders, including through recent information sessions with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados and BIBA, the Association for Global Business.

“We are committed to a smooth transition to the new reporting and payment framework. Taxpayers can very shortly expect more information on the GIR and details on how to make payments,” he added. ( SC/PR)

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