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Desirée Gamble named first female CARIFTA head coach

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Desirée Gamble named first female CARIFTA head coach

For the first time, Barbados will have a female head coach for the CARIFTA Games, to be held this year in Grenada.

Noel Lynch, president of the Athletics Association of Barbados, last night at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, announced Desirée Gamble would head the team. Gamble, née Crichlow, is a former CARIFTA Games and Central American and Caribbean medallist and local record holder.

She has been an assistant coach for several years now, but has a strong support system, including Alwyn Babb, Bryan Holder and Ramon Armstrong, all former head coaches.

Lynch used the opportunity, the conclusion of the National Junior Championships, to tout the success of the programme put in place after the last CARIFTA Games and the coaches behind it.

The Barbados CARIFTA Games team (from left) Angela Jackson, Desiree Gamble, Ramon Armstrong, Althea Belgrave, Jarad Murray, Kierre Beckles, Alwyn Babb and Bryan Holder. (Picture by Jameel Springer)

“The National Junior Development Programme is not perfect, but in our opinion, it’s bearing fruit. Up to now, without including all of the events completed, we have 45 qualifiers for the Carifta Games. I don’t think we’ve ever entered a Carifta Games without so many qualifiers, but the person who is the technical director of this effort, the National Junior Programme, is Mr Gabriel Burnett, please give him a round of applause.

“And then we come here every day, . . . we big up the athletes, we big up everybody, but the people who really do the work every evening, every morning, they don’t get a chance to be showcased.”

The other members of the management team are Angela Jackson (manager), coaches Armstrong (throws), Althea Belgrave (distance), Jarad Murray (jumps), former Austin Sealy winner Kierre Beckles (sprints and hurdles) as well as Babb and Holder to assist with sprints and relays.

The 2026 CARIFTA Games will run from April 4 to 6 at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium. (SAT)

Sheryl Lee Ralph asks if USA will send doctors to Jamaica

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Sheryl Lee Ralph asks if USA will send doctors to Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaican American actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, has joined the conversation surrounding the discontinuation of the Cuban Medical Brigade programme.

“Will America now send the doctors so badly needed in Jamaica,” said Ralph in a post on social media in response to a Jamaica Gleaner news report.

The question followed an announcement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith that the longstanding programme would be discontinued.

She indicated that the decision had not been influenced by mounting pressure from the United States.

However, the Cuban government, in a statement on Friday, said the Jamaican government had capitulated to US pressure and has moved to withdraw its staff from the country.

Meanwhile, Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign and Regional Affairs, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, is calling on the government to provide Jamaicans with a detailed explanation for its decision to terminate the medical cooperation arrangement with Cuba.

The programme has been an established part of Jamaica’s healthcare system for 50 years, with Cuban doctors and other medical professionals serving in hospitals and clinics across the island.

In a release on Saturday, Scott-Mottley said the sudden conclusion of the partnership raises serious questions that the government must address.

The government said it is making arrangements with other countries such as Ghana and the Philippines, to provide health services. (CMC)

Normal operations resume at Airport

Colville Mounsey
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Normal operations resume at Airport

Operations at Grantley Adams International Airport gradually returned to normal today following Saturday’s industrial action by air traffic controllers which forced a temporary shutdown of Barbados’ airspace.

The action halted inbound and outbound flights for more than seven hours and resulted in several cancellations, diversions and delays affecting international travellers.

Airport officials said airlines were continuing to rebook passengers and adjust schedules after the interruption, which saw American Airlines flights cancelled while a JetBlue service from New York returned to JFK and an Air Canada flight went back to Canada.

Once the airspace reopened on Saturday afternoon, inbound services from the United Kingdom operated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were among the flights able to land as operations resumed.

Inside the airport terminal yesterday, the atmosphere was markedly calmer than the confusion and frustration that unfolded during the shutdown, though many passengers were still trying to secure revised travel arrangements. (CLM)

Woman arrested after shots fired at Rihanna’s LA home

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Woman arrested after shots fired at Rihanna’s LA home

A person has been arrested after a gun was repeatedly fired toward the home of Rihanna in Beverly Hills, California.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that a shooting incident happened at 1:20 p.m. PT (4:20 p.m. Barbados time) on Sunday, March 8.

They said that between five and seven shots were fired, that those shots hit the gate to the house but not the house itself, and that there were no injuries, although there were people in the house.

Police said a woman in her 30s was taken into custody.

The best-selling artist and entrepreneur had her third child just last September, having revealed the pregnancy at last May’s Met Gala. (CNN)

India cruise in defence of T20 World Cup title

Sherrylyn Clarke
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India cruise in defence of T20 World Cup title

Ahmedabad, India – India banished the ghosts of 2023 by emphatically beating New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium to defend their T20 World Cup title.

On the same ground they wilted under pressure and expectancy two and a half years ago against Australia in the 50-over showpiece, the co-hosts romped to 255 for five – two more than they managed in Thursday’s semi-final against England – in front of a crowd of more than 100 000 jubilant supporters.

The top three all made the most of supreme batting conditions, with Sanju Samson crashing 89 from 46 deliveries, Abhishek Sharma a 21-ball 52 and Ishan Kishan 54 from 25.

Their total could have been even greater but for Jimmy Neesham taking three wickets in the 16th over. Shivam Dube hit 24 from the last to ensure New Zealand’s respite was only brief.

Tim Seifert whacked 52 from 26 balls but around him New Zealand lost regular wickets in pursuit of a lost cause, including Finn Allen, the Black Caps’ semi-final centurion, for nine in the third over.

The majestic Jasprit Bumrah bamboozled the lower order to finish with 4-15 as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

The win means India – the first side to defend the men’s T20 World Cup – have now won the past three men’s white-ball tournaments – this, the 2024 title and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

For New Zealand, also beaten by India in Dubai last year, this defeat goes alongside their near misses in the World Cup finals of 2015, 2019 and 2021.

Summarised scores:

India 255-5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52, Shivam Dube 26 not out, Hardik Pandya 18; James Neesham 3-46). New Zealand 159 in 19 overs (Tim Seifert 52, Mitchell Santner 43, Daryl Mitchell 17; Jasprit Bumrah 4-15, Axar Patel 3-27). India won by 96 runs. (BBC)

Kidney disease on the rise in Barbados

Tonisha Rock-Yaw
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Kidney disease on the rise in Barbados

The Barbados Kidney Association has raised concern about the growing number of Barbadians developing kidney disease and requiring dialysis, warning that the island’s healthcare system is facing increasing pressure as cases continue to rise.

President Sadie-Ann Sisnett revealed that while there were about 260 dialysis patients in 2023, that figure had now climbed to more than 400, creating challenges for facilities such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which must accommodate the rapidly growing demand for treatment.

She was speaking as the association began its observance of World Kidney Week with a church service at St Cyprian’s Anglican Church.

Sisnett stressed that many cases were linked to lifestyle factors such as diabetes, hypertension, poor diet, lack of exercise and dehydration, and encouraged the public to get their kidney function tested early, noting that kidney disease was often a “silent killer” with very few symptoms in its early stages. (TRY)

Harewood, Seale book Carifta spots

Nationnews Desk
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Harewood, Seale book Carifta spots

By Morissa Lindsay 

As the CARIFTA Games’ numbers continue to soar, hurdler Alika Harewood, of Talons Club, and Extreme Velocity’s Nadal Seale became the latest athletes to reach the qualifying standard.

On the opening night of the three-day Athletics Association of Barbados National Junior Championships at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex on Friday, Harewood, under the watchful eyes of her coach and former national athlete Jesse King, came out blazing in the Under-20 Girls’ 100-metre hurdles to cement her place in 14.00 seconds, dipping under the 14.30 seconds required.

Five Under-20 boys have already reached the qualifying standard in the 400m and during the preliminaries for a chance to enter the final, they all maintained their form.

The standard to reach is 48.35 seconds and Seale won his heat in 48.09 seconds and Aidan Moore, of Elite Distance Programme, clocked 48.34 seconds to qualify.

Jymarian Mallet ran 48.57 seconds for third place overall going into the final and was just outside the asking time. However, Mallet has already met the standard of 1:55.40 in the Under-20 Boys’ 800m, clocking 1:55.34 last month at the Louis Lynch Championships.

Apart from Seale and Moore, Shamari Greenidge-Lewis, of Extreme Velocity (47.40 seconds), Zachary Wall, of Quantum Leap (47.77 seconds), and Keiron Haynes, of Talons (47.94 seconds), have already qualified for the Under-20 Boys’ 400m.

Rashad Gibson, of Bosen Academy, had every reason to celebrate, clocking 14.18 seconds to reach the qualifying standard for the Under-20 Boys’ 110m hurdles, adding to his previous qualification in the 400m hurdles.

Elite Distance Programme also stole the spotlight in the distance races with CARIFTA qualifiers. Luke McIntyre, in the Boys’ 5 000m, reduced his previous meet record of 16:04.67 to 15:54.43 minutes and made the CARIFTA standard of 16.30.00 seem effortless during the 12.5-lap race.

McIntyre’s clubmate Zindzele Renwick-Williams has already made the standard for the Under-17 Boys’ 3 000m. He won the race easily in 9:31.12 minutes to take the crown as national junior champion.

For the women’s distance races, Laila McIntyre, the sister of Luke, won the 3 000m (10:37.69) and has already secured her place on the CARIFTA team, having dipped under the asking time of 10:50.00. Carlie Pipe, of Elite Distance, was second (10:48.20) and Lashay Wilkinson of Bosen Academy (10.58.56) came third.

This is an important weekend for the Barbadian juniors seeking to punch their tickets to the 53rd CARIFTA Games in Grenada from April 4-6 at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium.

Joe’s River still open to public

Josue Ramirez Nelson
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Joe’s River still open to public

Joe’s River in St Joseph remains open to the public following last November’s High Court ruling which permanently barred the erection of any obstruction along the public right of way leading to the historic Joe’s River Bridge.

A recent visit by the Sunday Sun found that the caution tape, which once blocked entry points to the gully, had been removed.

Only a few warning signs remained bolted to trees in the vicinity of Penury Estate, the property owned by Australian businessman Richard Hains.

Hains had been taken to court by a group of St Joseph residents who challenged the construction of a wall at the bridge and the placement of caution tape along the gully, arguing that the measures interfered with long-standing public access to the area.

In its decision, the High Court ruled in favour of the residents, ordering that “any structure of whatsoever kind, which has been erected in the path of the prescriptive public right of way by the defendant, its agents and or servants, shall be dismantled and be removed immediately by the defendant”.

The dispute over access to the bridge first surfaced publicly in 2023, though Hains had purchased the surrounding property in 2015 and later constructed his residence, Tenby Villa. As part of development works on the land near the bridge, he began erecting two guard walls in the area.

Residents of St Joseph protested the construction, arguing that the walls would effectively block routes they had used for years to reach the river and bridge.

Their action led to an injunction halting that phase of the project while the matter was heard before the court.

The issue resurfaced again when caution tape and signs reading “TENBY PRIVATE PROPERTY: Trespass at your risk” appeared along access points to the gully, further fuelling concerns among residents and visitors.

The Joe’s River Bridge area, which features a natural watercourse running through the gully, is a well-known rural attraction popular with hikers and explorers.

Government previously carried out renovation works there, including the reconstruction of the Joe’s River Bridge.

The river is notable as one of only two above-ground rivers in Barbados, making the location both an environmental feature and a point of interest for locals and visitors alike. (JRN)

Jalon Samuel wins seventh Gold Cup with stunning come-from-behind ride

Sherrylyn Clarke
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0
Jalon Samuel wins seventh Gold Cup with stunning come-from-behind ride

Jalon Samuel produced a masterful ride on board Public Sector to win the 43rd Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah this evening in 1 minute 51.3 seconds.

In the process, he continued to make history at the historic racing venue, winning the prestigious title for the unprecedented seventh time.

Few who watched the early going could have expected such a result.

Samuel and Public Sector sat well off the pace in penultimate place in the ten-horse field.

Deccan Prince, ridden by Rico Walcott; Bulldoze, with Kyle Walker on board; Sir London, piloted by Rocco Bowen and Portfolio Company, with Rey Williams did most of the early running.

But proving just how much of an understanding he has of the mount and the turf, Samuel made his move in the middle of the turn with just about a quarter mile to go.

He went wide – very wide – and commentator Dr Dean Springer did not have him in the reckoning, all the focus still on Deccan Prince and Bulldoze. Public Sector quickly closed in the turn and picked up even more speed on the outside, leaving the race almost too close to call.

In the end, he got home ahead of Smokin’ T, pushing Bulldoze to third place and Divin Propos fourth.

It was the second successive Gold Cup win for trainer Rommel Lovell. (SAT)

Let’s celebrate our women

Julia Haynes
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Let’s celebrate our women

This International Women’s Day, we are focusing on how the act of giving changes lives. Under the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, #GivetoGain” we are proud to share a series of features celebrating women who prove, day after day, that when we pour into our communities, we all rise.

From the quiet, daily tasks of a home care assistant helping a senior, to the bold moves of corporate decision-makers, these stories capture the true spirit of Barbadian women. In this series, you will meet a surgeon who uses storytelling to empower the next generation, a teacher who views her classroom as a family, and a frontline worker who finds dignity in protecting our environment.

The philosophy of “Give to Gain” is simple: by giving our time, our empathy, and our expertise, we gain a society that is more equitable, compassionate, and strong. These features aren’t just profiles of success; they are real-life examples of how each of us can help forge gender equality through giving. Whether it is mentoring a young professional, standing in the gap for a senior citizen, or simply sharing a meal with a neighbour, every act of generosity helps close the gap of inequality.

We invite you to join us this weekend for our special International Women’s Day edition. Pick up your copy of this week’s Sunday Sun to read about these compelling women. Be inspired by their stories and discover how your own contributions—no matter how small—can create positive change across our island.

Together, let’s celebrate the women who give of themselves so that we may all gain a brighter, more inclusive future. Read the full stories this Sunday in the Sunday Sun.

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