Jordan Dominic Oneal, age 15, of Upper Carlton, St James who was reported missing on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, has been traced and is safe.
Iran strikes energy facilities in Qatar and United Arab Emirates
Iran on Thursday attacked major energy facilities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after vowing to retaliate for Israel striking its gas field a day earlier, escalating a war that is driving up energy prices and rattling global markets.
Qatar said Iranian ballistic missiles struck its Ras Laffan Industrial City, the centerpiece of the nation’s LNG production and export, while the United Arab Emirates said its Habshan gas facilities and Bab field had come under attack.
Several liquefied natural gas facilities at the Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is responsible for about one-fifth of global LNG supplies, were struck early Thursday, igniting what state-owned QatarEnergy said in a statement were “sizeable fires.” Extensive damage was reported.
Two of three fires that ignited from the attack were contained as of 5 a.m. local time Thursday, according to a statement from Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior.
Iran attacked the complex’s Pearl gas-to-liquids facility late Wednesday, which was dealt “extensive damage” and prompted emergency teams to be deployed to the site.
Rockets launched at the UAE facilities were successfully intercepted, but falling debris prompted Abu Dhabi authorities to respond to unspecified incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and the Bab gas field, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement.
The facilities have been shut down in response, it said, adding that no casualties were reported.
Iran also targeted gas facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, but all projectiles and drones were intercepted, its Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The attacks mark an escalation in the war, and come after Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest resources of natural gas.
Israel’s attack was condemned by several countries, including Qatar. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said it was “a dangerous & irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region.”
“Targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a threat to global energy security, as well as to the peoples of the region & its environment,” he said in a statement.
Following Iran’s attack on Wednesday night, Qatar gave Tehran’s embassy officials 24 hours to leave the country. (UPI)
Wales back on track with win
by Morissa Lindsay
Defending champions Weymouth Wales sent a clear warning to their rivals in the Barbados Football Association Premier League recently.
Any doubts about their title defence can be put on hold after their ruthless 5-1 demolition of Bagatelle at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey, St Michael.
After a stuttering first round that left them sitting fourth on 19 points alongside Brittons Hill, Wales needed a statement performance to ignite their campaign. They delivered emphatically, combining clinical finishing with set-piece dominance to overwhelm a Bagatelle side that showed flashes of promise but ultimately had no answers.
Wales wasted no time asserting themselves. Just four minutes in, Ackeel Applewhaite’s pinpoint corner found the head of towering centre back Akeem Hill, who powered home an unstoppable effort past goalkeeper Kevon Allsop. It was an early sign of what would become a long night for Bagatelle’s defence.
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition for the full story.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOSand Android.
Guilty grandfather to know fate next week
All the submissions are completed and the grandfather, who was found guilty of disposing of his granddaughter’s body over 20 years ago, will find out his sentence when he reappears in the No. 4A Supreme Court next week.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
Please subscribe to unlock this content. Enter your email to get access.
Winfield Nurse, 80, of Accommodation Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, was found guilty of unlawfully disposing of his 12-year-old granddaughter Rasheeda Bascombe’s body, between January 2, 2002, and May 30, 2013.
He is being represented by attorney Lennox Miller, while Principal State Counsel Olivia Davis, State Counsel Tito Holder and Senior State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce are prosecuting.
Justice Donna Babb-Agard set March 24 as the date for her sentence. Nurse remains on remand at Dodds Prison.
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition for the full story.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.
St Michael man on firearm and ammo charges
Police have arrested and charged Keimar Orlando Payne, 42, of 1st Ave Eckstein Village, St Michael with possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition on Saturday, March 14th, 2026.
Barbados to host Americas Netball Qualifiers
The Barbados Netball Association has stepped in to host the Americas Netball Qualifiers for the 2027 Netball World Cup. Americas Netball made the announcement on Monday night. The event is expected to be played from October 19 to 26 at the newly refurbished surface at the gymnasium at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. The facility recently underwent multi-million dollar upgrades and is fit to host major sporting events.
St Vincent and the Grenadines were slated to be the original hosts but withdrew. It was revealed that plans to upgrade the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex to an indoor facility were not going to be completed in time to host the championships.
The next NWC will be hosted in Sydney, Australia from August 25 to September 5, 2027. The hosts, Australia, have qualified to be invited alongside New Zealand (second), Jamaica (third), England (fourth), South Africa (fifth) and Uganda (six) in keeping with the World Netball rankings on December 1, 2025. The remaining ten teams will qualify to be invited through five regional qualifiers taking place this year.
Former England cricketer Roland Butcher’s wife passes away
London — It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Roland Butcher, former Barbados, Middlesex, and England cricketer, announces the passing of his beloved wife, Cheryl Denise Butcher, in the United Kingdom.
Cheryl was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, whose warmth, strength, and unwavering love formed the foundation of her family. Roland and Cheryl shared an extraordinary life together, having been
married for 46 years and united in love and partnership for over 50 years.
She leaves behind a loving family who will cherish her memory always: her children, Paul Butcher and Michelle Butcher; and her adored grandchildren, Leevon Butcher, Leighenna Butcher, and Chase Butcher.
Cheryl’s presence touched all who knew her. She will be remembered for her kindness, grace, and the deep care she showed to her family and community throughout her life.
Roland and the family ask for privacy during this difficult time as they grieve this profound loss and celebrate Cheryl’s life and legacy.
Further details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared in due course.
‘Long-term Scotland District solutions needed’
St Joseph MP Ryan Brathwaite has thrown his full support behind the 2026 Budgetary Proposals And Financial Statement, pointing out that it would bring tangible relief to his constituents.
At the same time, he advocated for long-term structural solutions for the Scotland District.
Speaking during debate in the House of Assembly yesterday, Brathwaite, a backbencher, who noted that he was making his contribution as the youngest post-Independence MP to represent St Joseph, reflected on the legacy of political giants who came before him, including Sir Grantley Adams, Charles Lindsay Bolden, Sir Richard Cheltenham and Dale Marshall.
“I stand here today not only as a representative for St Joseph, but as the youngest member in a post-Independence Barbados to represent that constituency,” Brathwaite stated.
“I am fully conscious of the legacy upon which I now stand,” he added, while vowing to build upon that legacy.
Turning his attention to the specific needs of his constituency, he listed several infrastructure projects he anticipates in the new financial year, including housing developments at Ginger Works, a new pavilion at Lammings and the completion of Melbourne’s Bridge and Airy Hill Bridge.
However, he appealed for the re-establishment of a Scotland District Authority. Brathwaite argued that St Joseph and the wider Scotland District faced unique geological and infrastructural challenges that cannot be managed effectively through fragmented ministerial responsibilities.
“It is time, Sir, that this Government revisits the establishment of the Scotland District Authority, one that can coordinate, manage and address unique challenges that face the Scotland District,” he said.
In terms of the budgetary proposals, the businessman highlighted key budgetary measures, pointing to the increase in the reverse tax credit from $1 300 to $1 700 and the introduction of a $100 monthly cost-of-living allowance for pensioners earning under $50 000.
“For low-income families, for young workers trying to find their footing . . . this is meaningful support,” Brathwaite said.
He added that the increase in the Trust Loan ceiling from $10 000 to $20 000 would open doors for young entrepreneurs who possessed the ambition but lacked the capital to start enterprises.
MISSING: Jordan Dominic Oneal
Police are seeking help in locating missing boy Jordan Dominic Oneal, 15, of Upper Carlton, St James.
He was last seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 around 4:30 p.m., wearing a long black jeans, a white T-shirt, white slippers and carrying an ‘Elmo’ haversack.
The student is about 5’ 5” tall, slim and has a dark complexion. The teenager has small hands and a bloodshot left index finger. The well-mannered, soft spoken young man is known to frequent the Speightstown Bus Terminal, Speightstown, St Peter.
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Oneal, is asked to contact the Central Police Station at 430-7676, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or any police station.
Ishmael wanted more from Budget
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Davidson Ishmael has praised the Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement as people-centric, but he is “slightly disappointed” that it did not focus on reducing non-communicable diseases (NCD).
This included the need for more policies to make healthy foods more affordable for Barbadians.
The Member of Parliament for St Michael North raised the issue yesterday during the Budget debate while reiterating the ministry’s concern that “eight out of ten adults in this country are dying as a result of largely preventable illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory illness and, of course, many varied forms of cancer”.
“It is not just the fact that we’re losing citizens, but there is a cost of about $375 million and that can go upwards to $825 million per year, that is spent and allocated towards treating NCDs in our country,” he stated.
Ishmael said these diseases “are largely preventable because they are usually tied to lifestyle choices: how we eat, if we move or don’t move, how active we are, if we smoke, if we drink too much alcohol”.
On the Budgetary Proposals, he said: “If there is one area that I’m slightly disappointed in, in terms of the Budget presentation, I wish I would have heard more relative to how we can work together to reduce these NCDs as an issue.
“But I know that I’ve been working with the Ministry of Finance, and we have tabled a few policies that we will discuss further and I know that with time, and once we work out the metrics – the figures and the dollars and the cents of it all, the economics of it all – I’m sure that we’ll be able to see them come in maybe a future Budget presentation, or even in between.
“But I wish I had seen more relative to how we make our healthy foods more affordable for our people. In his first one, he [Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn] did expand the basket of goods, which included more healthy items.
“And I was hoping to see a continuation of that within this Budget presentation, but maybe in your third one,” he added.
Ishmael vowed to continue having conversations on the issue “because I want to see healthier foods becoming more accessible and affordable to our citizens”.
“Because when we engage with the general populace in Barbados about eating healthily, their first concern, and maybe sometimes their only concern, is the affordability,” he said.
“It is not as affordable, and sometimes we have to educate [them] and show them that if you look at the right items, [if] you look in the right place, you will find that you can access more affordable, healthy items.”
Ishmael praised Straughn’s presentation, calling it one that will in history be “one of the more impactful and transformative Budgetary Proposals that we have heard”.
“If I had to title it, I would call it a people-centric Budget. I believe that this Budget represents that it is not only a Budget of the people, but it is a Budget for the people. The initiatives, the proposals, the programmes that were discussed and presented yesterday [have] people at the centre,” he said.