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Man charged in $40,000 cannabis importation case

Nationnews Desk
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Man charged in $40,000 cannabis importation case

A St. John man has been charged following the seizure of cannabis valued at an estimated $40,000.

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Man charged with firearm, serious bodily harm offences

Nationnews Desk
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Man charged with firearm, serious bodily harm offences

Update

Davio Nate Harding, 23, of Blackman Field, Pineland, St. Michael, was remanded to Dodds after being charged with use of a firearm and serious bodily harm.

Harding appeared before Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable offences.

The case has been transferred to District ‘A’ Criminal Court #2, with the next hearing set for Thursday, 16 April 2026.

*****

Earlier story

A St. Michael man has been formally charged in connection with a firearm-related incident earlier this month.

Davio Nate Harding, 23, of Blackman Field, Pinelands, has been charged with use of a firearm and serious bodily harm in relation to an incident involving Suergo Brathwaite on March 11, 2026.

Harding is scheduled to appear before the Oistins Magistrates’ Court today.

Man charged with serious bodily harm

Nationnews Desk
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Man charged with serious bodily harm

Update

Sheldon Rondelle Atherley, 49, of Clements Avenue, Bush Hall, St. Michael, was remanded to Dodds today after being charged with serious bodily harm in connection with an incident involving Derrick Bynoe on 7 March 2026.

Atherley appeared before Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable offence.

The case has been transferred to District ‘A’ Criminal Court #2, with the next hearing scheduled for Thursday, 16 April 2026.

*****

Earlier story

A St. Michael man has been charged in connection with a serious bodily harm incident earlier this month.

Sheldon Rondelle Atherley, 49, of Clements Avenue, Bush Hall, has been formally charged with serious bodily harm in relation to an incident involving Derrick Bynoe on March 7, 2026.

Atherley is scheduled to appear before the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on today. 

Fire guts old Pierhead property in The City

Nationnews Desk
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Fire guts old Pierhead property in The City

Update

Fire officers remain on the scene of a blaze which gutted the old Pierhead property in The City overnight.

Station Officer Roger Bourne said the Barbados Fire Service received the call late last night and, on arrival, the building – identified as the former DaCosta Manning property – was “well alight.”

Units from the Port, Bridgetown and Worthing fire stations responded, supported by a water tanker, with a total of 16 fire officers involved in the operation. The fire was brought under control at 4:08 a.m.

Bourne said crews are still dealing with hotspots and have cordoned off the area to ensure public safety. A nearby construction site has also been closed for the day due to smoke affecting the area.

No businesses were affected as the buildings were unoccupied and the location had long been earmarked for development. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

*****

Earlier Story

Fire officers responded to an early morning blaze in The City which destroyed the old Pierhead property overnight.

The structure was gutted by the fire; however, no businesses were affected as the area had long been earmarked for development and the buildings were unoccupied.

More details as they come.

AOPT welcomes relief on fuel and dashcam costs

Colville Mounsey
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AOPT welcomes relief on fuel and dashcam costs

Head of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael has welcomed Government’s Budget measures in relation to energy, describing them as a timely cushion for operators grappling with rising global oil prices.

Speaking after the 2026 Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement were delivered on Monday, Raphael said the interventions come at a critical time for the public service vehicle (PSV) sector, which remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels and increasingly exposed to global shocks stemming from conflict in the Middle East.

Camera systems

Raphael said the short-term cushioning measures would provide some relief, but warned that the sector remains highly vulnerable if prices continue to climb.

He also highlighted a specific Budget measure that he believes could bring immediate benefits to the sector – the removal of duty and VAT on dashcams and other camera systems.

“I think it is very welcoming for the PSV industry,” he said, urging operators to take advantage of the limited concession period.

Raphael said the introduction of cameras could help address long-standing issues related to disputes and insurance claims.

“When the vehicle is in an accident, there is no way of knowing who was in the vehicle at the time,” Raphael said. “We have had cases where persons make claims, and the driver cannot recall whether that person was even on board.”

With dashcams and onboard cameras, operators would have access to verifiable evidence.

“This would allow us to confirm exactly who was on board and what took place. It will help reduce fraudulent claims and protect operators,” he added.

He noted that the measure could also improve transparency and public confidence in the PSV system.

“The public can also benefit, because when issues arise, the only way we can properly address them is if we have evidence,” he said. (CLM)

Concern over weed smoking in public

Josue Ramirez Nelson
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Concern over weed smoking in public

The National Council for Substance Abuse (NCSA) is concerned about what it describes as a dangerous and widespread misunderstanding among Barbadians that recreational cannabis use is now legal, warning that possession and use of the drug remain offences under the law despite recent amendments.

The NCSA’ acting deputy manager Makeada Bourne, in an interview with the Weekend Nation yesterday, said the misinterpretation of changes to the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act has contributed to increasingly open use of marijuana in public spaces, a trend she warned could have serious legal and public health consequences.

“It is clear that the public does not understand that, one, marijuana is still illegal in Barbados and two, according to the health service regulations, smoking in public places is also banned,” Bourne stressed.

She explained that while amendments to the Act introduced a measure of decriminalisation, they did not legalise cannabis. Recreational use, she stressed, remains prohibited, including smoking in public, cultivating plants at home, or engaging in the importation or exportation of the substance.

‘Still illegal’

“Recreational marijuana, which people think they can just be anywhere smoking, that is still illegal. Recreational meaning you cannot import or export marijuana and you cannot be just smoking it or growing it in your backyard,” she said.

Her comments come amid growing concern from authorities about the visibility of cannabis use across the island, particularly in public areas where smoking is expressly banned under health regulations.

A clarification from the Barbados Police Service yesterday also reinforced the NCSA’s position that cannabis possession, even in small quantities, continues to constitute an offence, albeit one that might not lead to a criminal record if handled under the fixed penalty system.

Police Public Affairs and Communications Officer Inspector Ryan Brathwaite explained that individuals found with less than 15 grammes of cannabis are still deemed to have committed an offence. However, instead of facing prosecution in the courts, they might be issued a fixed penalty notice, he further explained.

“It still remains an offence, it’s just that it’s been decriminalised,” Brathwaite said. “If you’re held with marijuana, with an amount under 15 grammes and you accept that it’s yours, then you’re issued with a penalty ticket, which carries a fine of $200.”

He said offenders were given 30 days to pay the fine, effectively discharging any liability that would arise from a conviction for that offence once

the penalty is settled.

The legal framework is outlined in Section 6A of the Act, which provides police officers with the authority to issue fixed penalty notices to individuals found in possession of small amounts of cannabis, defined as 14 grammes or less.

However, the NCSA believes that this system should not be interpreted as a green light for casual or public use. Instead, it is intended to reduce the burden on the judicial system while maintaining cannabis as a controlled substance.

The legislation also places particular focus on rehabilitation, especially for younger offenders. Individuals under the age of 18 who are found in possession of cannabis are required to undergo counselling through the NCSA for a period determined by the council. Adults may also be referred for assessment and counselling at the discretion of the issuing officer.

Bourne noted that while there is no consolidated data readily available on the number of individuals referred to the NCSA under this regime, the organisation is increasingly encountering cases linked to cannabis use, signalling what she described as a growing challenge.

The issue extends beyond marijuana, she added, pointing to continued breaches of regulations governing tobacco-smoking and vaping in public spaces.

“The health service regulations that define what is a public place include properties that belong to the Government,” Bourne explained. “So NCC beaches, parks and other Government-owned spaces fall under these rules. You’re not supposed to smoke on those premises, or in any enclosed or semienclosed space where the public gathers.”

The NCSA is now urging Barbadians to familiarise themselves with the law and to avoid conflating decriminalisation with legalisation, warning that failure to do so could result in fines, mandatory counselling, and continued strain on public health resources. (JRN)

Mooney, King carry Aussies to comfortable win in series opener

Nationnews Desk
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Mooney, King carry Aussies to comfortable win in series opener

Beth Mooney’s masterful half century and Alana King’s bowling heroics helped Australia Women register a convincing 43-run victory over West Indies Women in the opening T20I here on Thursday.

Mooney overcame a slow start to bludgeon 79 off 55 balls and was the main reason the visitors got up to a competitive total of 164 for six in 20 overs after choosing to bat first at the Arnos Gale ground.

The Windies got off to a decent start and were well placed at 76 for one at one stage, until King struck twice in the space of five balls to derail their chase and see them limp to 121 for six at the end of their 20 overs.

The win gave the Aussies – the top ranked T20I women’s side in the world – a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second match set to be played on Saturday at the same venue.

Surprisingly, it was the home side who held the upper hand early in the contest, with their disciplined bowling attack bogging down Australia.

Deandra Dottin produced an unplayable inswinger that Georgia Voll could only edge behind to wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle with 19 runs on the board.

Soon after, pacer Jahzara Claxton got Phoebe Litchfield to sky her attempted pull shot to give Jannillea Glasgow an easy catch at mid on, to see the visitors slump to 34 for two in the sixth over.

Tight bowling by pacer Chinelle Henry along with spinners Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack, then made life difficult for the Aussies, who struggled up to 57 for two at the halfway stage.

But Mooney, who had scored a run-a-ball 29 up to that stage, transformed the complexion of the match with partner Ellyse Perry during a 99-run partnership in 11 overs for the third wicket.

Mooney hit Claxton for two boundaries in the 11th over and Perry joined in on the action by smashing Ramharack for a four and six off consecutive deliveries in the next over.

Mooney, who was adjudged Player-of-the-Match, eventually brought up her half century off 42 balls by sweeping Fletcher to deep midwicket for a boundary.

Dottin returned to break the stand by having Perry caught at long on by a diving Henry for 36 off 32 balls, to leave the score 133 for three in the 17th over.

Henry then had Mooney caught at mid off in the next over after striking seven fours and two sixes, but the visitors did well to get up to their eventual total.

Dottin led the Windies’ bowlers with 3-35 from her four overs, while Henry claimed 2-28.

West Indies Women got off to a decent start thanks to some below par fielding by Australia, progressing to 33 without loss after six overs, with skipper Matthews being dropped twice in the space of four balls in the fifth over.

Those missed chances didn’t prove too costly, as King bowled Matthews for 11 after she failed to execute a slog sweep.

Opener Qiana Joseph and veteran Shemaine Campbelle, playing in her 150th T20I, then put the Windies back in contention by adding 43 runs for the second wicket.

But once Kim Garth had Joseph caught at deep midwicket for the topscore of 45 off 39 balls, inclusive of seven fours and one six, the West Indies’ innings capitulated.

From a relatively comfortable position of 76 for two, King trapped Campbelle lbw for 15 and bowled Dottin for a four-ball duck without a run being added to see them slip to 76 for four at the end of the 13th over.

It was a position they would not recover from, despite Stafanie Taylor’s fighting 28 off 25 balls, as the run rate climbed to an astronomical 16.20 runs by the end of the 15th over.

For Australia King finished with 3-14 from four impressive overs and Georgia Wareham took 2-14. (CMC)

Barbados joins temporary mechanism designed to resolve trade disputes

Nationnews Desk
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Barbados joins temporary mechanism designed to resolve trade disputes

Barbados has officially become the 60th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to join the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), a temporary mechanism designed to resolve trade disputes among participating members.

The announcement was made by Barbados’ ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, WTO, and other international organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, during the WTO General Council meeting.

The MPIA provides an alternative dispute resolution framework amid challenges within the WTO’s Appellate Body, reflecting Barbados’ strong commitment to maintaining the legal integrity of the multilateral trading system.

The two-day General Council meeting marked the final high-level engagement of WTO member states in Geneva ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, scheduled later this month. 

Barbados’ delegation to the conference will be led by Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Christopher Sinckler, who will also coordinate the 66 WTO member states of the Organization of Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) States.

During the meeting, Wilson addressed issues including WTO reform, the e-commerce moratorium, and trade priorities for small vulnerable economies. 

He also presented ministerial packages for the informal working group on medium, small, and micro economies, which Barbados chairs, and for the dialogue on plastics pollution, where the country serves as a co-convener. (CMC)

Long-stay high

Gercine Carter
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Long-stay high

Barbados recorded its best ever performance for tourism arrivals last year, with more than 729 000 long-stay visitors.

It surpassed the previous record of 704 340 in 2024 and, according to the Central Bank of Barbados, it represents a 3.3 per cent year-on-year growth, which went up by 22 970 visitors to reach 729 310 arrivals.

Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Javon Griffith described it as  a“strong performance, underpinned by discipline, resilience and strategic focus”.

In his report delivered at the first BHTA quarterly meeting for the year at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre recently, he noted last year’s record growth was driven primarily by the United States market, which expanded by just over eight per cent, while the Canadian market had “remained strong” with over 90 000 visitors for the year. Arrivals from Europe also increased and CARICOM markets supplied “over 98 000 visitors”, he added.

Griffith said the outlook for 2026 was “cautiously optimistic” with several positive initiatives in train, such as new hotel developments, refurbishment of many properties and a vital increase in airlift from major source markets.  

He pointed out there was “growing opportunity in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East” which were strategically important.

However, the chairman cautioned that all that progress could be derailed by Barbados’ current traffic congestion problem and called on the authorities to address the matter as it was “a direct threat to productivity”.

“Across our hotels and tourism businesses, we are already seeing the effects – increased staff lateness, operational delays and growing frustration among team members who are doing their best to show up and deliver excellence, but are being hindered by circumstances beyond their control.”

Griffith contended that in an industry where “timing, service standards and guest experiences are everything”, the disruptions mattered. “They affect how we operate, how we serve and ultimately how we compete.” 

It was a situation, he continued, which required “urgent, coordinated intervention”.  

Griffith said Barbados was now “in clear need of a modern, comprehensive traffic plan”.

“If we are to continue growing our tourism sector, improving national productivity . . . then resolving our traffic challenges must become a national priority,” he said.

Breakfast debate

Shawn Cumberbatch
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Breakfast debate

Business Executive Roseanne Myers is questioning why Government is starting a breakfast programme to feed all primary school children from September.

She thinks such universal access is unnecessary. Her view has been challenged by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Economic Affairs and Planning Marsha Caddle, who argued that the fact that parliamentarians, churches and community-based organisations were offering breakfast programmes was evidence of such a need.

Their difference of opinion emerged recently at the Post Budget Discussion Forum hosted by the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) PricewaterhouseCoopers at Hilton Barbados Resort.

Myers, who is a member of the BCCI council, asked why the authorities were going ahead with the programme announced by Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman “when the research has not yet been published to say how many children actually need it”.

“Having looked at this issue on behalf of the Chamber for a very short period of time, I have spoken to some persons who have been running breakfast programmes for ten years,” she said, noting that these programmes fed “one hundred per cent of the children who require breakfast in the morning”.

“So I’m trying to understand the rationale where an announcement has been made that every primary school child will be fed breakfast. We are already a nation with our children, you will only get fatter because you’re going to feed them twice.

“What percentage of the children are being fed breakfast at home? You give everybody free breakfast, they line up again and they will eat again.”

Member of Parliament Marsha Caddle FILE

Her recommendation was to “take a step back, do the research, look at the examples of who is being fed right now from privately-run programmes by the church and so on”.

“See what those numbers are and see whether we wouldn’t be better off looking at the children at the primary level that really need it, and looking at the children at the secondary level that really need it, and try to use whatever money we have to be able to feed the persons who actually need the breakfast,” Myers suggested.

Caddle had a different view, noting that “one of the things that we know about social expenditure is that often, targeting is more expensive than universality”.

“One of the downsides of targeting as well, is that people are hungry sometimes and not hungry a lot of times. And so when you target a student, which has its own challenges in a country as small as Barbados, you may not always be able to deliver the service to them,” the minister stated.

“I, as a Member of Parliament, help run a breakfast programme. Many Members of Parliament run breakfast programmes. What does that say to you? There is a need. 

“Not only are MPs doing it, churches are doing it, community-based organisations are doing it, which says that there is a need, and so I think that we have underestimated that need.”

Caddle asked: “Why do we have a lunch time school feeding programme and not a breakfast school feeding programme?

“It is likely that those who don’t have access to an affordable lunch also don’t have access to an affordable breakfast. So I am not quite as concerned as you that there is likely to be wastage.

“I also think that we are not getting the attribution right in terms of what is causing people to be overweight, because there are many people who are below the poverty line who are overweight in economies like yours, and one of the reasons for that is that they’re getting low quality calories.”

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