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AAB names 60 for Barbados CARIFTA Team

Sherrylyn Clarke
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AAB names 60 for Barbados CARIFTA Team

A record 60 athletes were named tonight to represent Barbados at the 53rd CARIFTA Games in St Georges, Grenada from April 4-6, 2026.

The Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB) continues to give as many athletes as possible the chance to represent Barbados at this level, up from 52 last year.

Prior to the announcement of the team, president Noel Lynch briefly explained why some people were omitted.

“Our selection rule says this, because you make the qualifying standard that is not a guarantee that you’ll make the national team. We’ve got some people, unfortunately, who have made the standard who didn’t make the team this year. I say that for the media before you start to ask … but some people didn’t make it,” Lynch said.

“They were strong enough in their events, but unfortunately, there were people that were better than them and also qualified.”

Among the 60, four are overseas based and 13-year-old Jalino Hamlet of St Leonard’s Boys’ School also got the nod.

Meanwhile, Desirée Gamble, the first female to be named head coach of a Barbados CARIFTA Games team stated her intentions to the athletes and parents in the audience.

“Before me, I’ve had three former head coaches who are here on this management team. It is my intention to maintain the high standard that we’ve had over the years as a management team,” she said thanking the coaches, parents and athletes.

“We’re looking forward to increasing our medal tally from last year for sure. We’re looking forward to some good performances and bringing back home everybody safe and sound.”

The names as announced by secretary Renée Layne are:

Under-17 Girls: Eden Gittens, Gia Greenidge, Haley Merritt, Jahzara Inniss, Jahzara Ward, Laila McIntyre, Lashay Wilkinson, Savannah Thorne, Shamyra Scantlebury, Shania Boyce, Shania Mottley, Siearra Burrowes, Taylor-Rai Wiggins, Tianna Millar and Tiara Mc Clean.

Under-17 Boys: Ajalah Cumberbatch, Alec Simmons, Asher Brandford, Darran Skeete, Jaiko Devonish, Jalino Hamlet, Josiah Gill, Kamaal Armstrong, Rashawn Holder, Taje Coward, Tyrell Clarke and Zindzele Renwick-Williams.

Under-20 Girls: Afia Greenidge, Alika Harewood, Aniya Nurse, Ashlyn Simmons, Danya Skeete, Kadia Rock, Kenedra Morgan, Krystal Bentham, Kyeshea Husbands, Leemiah London, Nyema Taylor, Semara Olton and T’Nia Lashley.

Under-20 Boys: Aaron Massiah, Aidan Moore, Amari Browne, Azari Edey, Dahrion Belgrave, Jahkye Brewster, Jayden Green, Jayden Walcott, Jazzair Best, Kevion Newton, Luke McIntyre, Matthieu Clarke, Nadal Seale, Rashad Gibson, Renceo Brooks, Shamari Addison, Shamari Greenidge-Lewis, Tarrell Johnson-Rouse, Tevon Cadogan and Zachary Wall.

The management team was previously announced.

Sri Lanka declares weekly Wednesday public holiday to conserve fuel

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Sri Lanka declares weekly Wednesday public holiday to conserve fuel

Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a holiday for public institutions to conserve fuel as the island nation grapples with possible shortages in the wake of the United States and Israel’s war with Iran.

“We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best,” President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at an emergency meeting with senior officials on Monday.

This is the latest in a series of belt-tightening measures undertaken by Asian countries since the war choked off the Strait of Hormuz, which used to carry millions of barrels of oil from the Gulf into the region.

Nearly 90 per cent of all the oil and gas flowing through the strait last year was bound for Asia, which is the world’s largest oil-importing region.

Sri Lanka’s new four-day week will also apply to schools and universities, but it will not affect state institutions providing essential services, such as the health and immigration authorities, officials say.

Authorities picked Wednesday instead of Friday as the additional off day so that government offices would not be closed for three days in a row, they added.

Motorists are also now required to register for a National Fuel Pass which rations the amount of fuel that people can buy.

This has sparked some unhappiness among some Sri Lankan who feel that the fuel quotas – 15 litres for private cars and five litres for motorcycles – are too low.

The rationing mechanism was first implemented in 2022 during the country’s worst economic crisis which saw it run out of foreign reserves and unable to import essential items and buy enough fuel.

Oil prices have soared since the US and Israel started bombarding Iran late last month, and is currently hovering at around $100 a barrel. (BBC)

Rollout of BiMPay delayed until June 12

Sherrylyn Clarke
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Rollout of BiMPay delayed until June 12

The rollout of BiMPay, Barbados’ national instant payment system, has been delayed until June 12, 2026.

Governor of the Central Bank, Dr The Most Honourable Kevin Greenidge gave the update yesterday at the Courtney Blackman Grande Salle. BiMPay was originally scheduled to go live on March 31.

“The system is ready but what we are doing now is making sure that every bank, every credit union is ready to connect reliably to the system. We’ve already built infrastructure, we built what we call the industry repayment rail. It has been tested. Our infrastructure is stable and secure,” Greenidge announced.

He said the update was being given because he has always been upfront with the public.

“When I said earlier that it will be ready and safe, I meant that it is ready. But what remains to be done, what is required by design, is that every participating institution, every bank, every credit union, the Accountant General Office, the Barbados Stock Exchange, all of them must now connect and be fully tested before we allow a single transaction to go through the system.”

Greenidge said this was not a formality, but the main point because BiMPay must be reliable across the full financial network to be a true national system. He said they would not launch a partial system.

The Governor said they were in the final stages of testing where each institution must be able to communicate with the other in real time and that was taking longer than originally anticipated.

Having undertaken an assessment, it was decided June 12 would be the start date and all financial institutions that are ready at that time will launch.

“Any institution that does not meet those standards will be excluded,” Greenidge said, “the launch will not be held back because of the tardiness of one party.” (SAT)

Case against ‘Ninja Man’ closed

Heather-Lynn Evanson
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Case against ‘Ninja Man’ closed

The case against street character Anthony Fitzpatrick “Ninja Man” Lynch is closed.

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Niles set to move to silver in 2024 World Juniors medal change

Philip Spooner
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Niles set to move to silver in 2024 World Juniors medal change

Barbadian sprinter Kishawna Niles is set to be elevated to the silver medal in the women’s 100 metres at the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships.

This comes following the disqualification of Adejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands.

Niles had originally grabbed the bronze medal with a time of 11:37 seconds and the revised results will move her one step up the podium in the global event, which was held in Lima, Peru at the Estadio Atletico de la Videna.

The Athletics Integrity Unity confirmed yesterday Hodge was banned for two years after a positive test for a prohibited substance at the event.

The ban started on August 28, 2024 and led to the disqualification of all her results from that date, but was not announced until after she won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Indoor Championship 200m title over the weekend.

Jamaica’s Alana Reid maintained her gold medal with the time of 11.17, Niles moved to second and Great Britain’s Nia Wedderburn-Goodison will now get the bronze medal with her time of 11.46.

In the 200 metres, Hodge’s gold medal time of 22.74 seconds was also erased. Gold will now go to Australia’s Torrie Lewis with a personal best 22.88 seconds, her compatriot Jessica Milat will move to bronze, also with a persona best 23.21 and Jamaica’s Shanoya Douglas will get the silver with her time of 23.10 seconds. (PS)

Openers star on final day of Barbados Pride trials

Philip Spooner
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Openers star on final day of Barbados Pride trials

Openers Kemar Brathwaite and Shian Brathwaite stole the spotlight on the final day of the Barbados Pride trial matches.

The pair added an unbroken partnership of 127 as the Kraigg Brathwaite XI defeated the Jomel Warrican XI by ten wickets at the Windward Cricket Club in St Philip.

Kemar made 65 not out, which came off 82 balls and included 11 fours and a six, while Shian was unbeaten on 55 off 77 balls with eight boundaries and a six.

Earlier leg-spinner Javed Leacock grabbed five wickets for 54 and left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop picked up three wickets for 64 as the Warrican XI folded in their second innings.

The final 13-member squad will be submitted to Cricket West Indies on Monday, March 30.

Barbados Pride will travel to Kington on Thursday, April 9 for a series of three four-day first-class matches against Jamaica Scorpions as part of the revamped West Indies Championship. The first match bowls off on Sunday April 12. (PS)

QEH: Collect discharged patients and ease bed pressures

Sherrylyn Clarke
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0
QEH: Collect discharged patients and ease bed pressures

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is again making an appeal to members of the public to collect family and wards who have been discharged from inpatient care.

In a statement, hospital management said failure to make prompt arrangements for those cleared and formally discharged was affecting the availability of beds.

“A number of patients who are fit for discharge remain in hospital because transportation or family arrangements have not yet been completed. As a result, several beds continue to be occupied by patients who no longer require inpatient care, limiting the hospital’s ability to admit patients from the Accident and Emergency Department who require urgent medical attention,” the statement said.

“At the same time, the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department is experiencing increased demand, with a significant number of critically ill patients requiring urgent assessment, treatment and admission. These pressures are contributing to delays in patient flow across some areas of the hospital.”

Meanwhile, the QEH is trying to expedite the collection process by contacting families and caregivers.

In spite of this, the hospital said patients with critical and life-threatening conditions would continue to receive immediate care, but those with less urgent conditions might experience longer waiting times due to the current demand for emergency and inpatient services. (PR/SAT)

State support for families with multiple births

Ashminnie Moonsammy
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State support for families with multiple births

Recognising the financial strain multiple births place on families, government will be providing financial assistance to these parents until the children reach age five.

In announcing the Multiple Births Cash Grant, which will be administered through the Social Empowerment Agency, Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn said it would go into effect from April 1. Families with twins will receive $300 monthly and those with triplets or more will get $600.

He was delivering the Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement in the House of Assembly yesterday and also outlined terms of the previously announced Barbados Republic Child Wealth Fund, which would provide a one-time birthright investment to be placed in a trust for each child born on or after November 30, 2021.

“A universal birthright creates a baseline asset that cannot be taken away by bad luck or lack of opportunity,” Straughn said while presenting the proposal.

The fund is intended to ensure that every Barbadian child begins life with a financial asset that could support future opportunities.

Straughn said the initiative reflected the Barbados Labour Party’s commitment to reducing inequality while maintaining national unity.

“This programme is a national standard to which we must aspire as a republic, where every Bajan child deserves a chance to strive,” he said.

An estimated $52.1 million has been set aside to cover children born between November 30, 2021 and the end of the current financial year. (AM)

National consultation on traffic to begin next week

Ashminnie Moonsammy
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National consultation on traffic to begin next week

Government will begin a national consultation on traffic congestion next week as it moves to address growing concerns about gridlock across Barbados.

Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn, speaking during the presentation of the Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement in the House of Assembly yesterday, said poor planning and decision-making in the past contributed to the worsening traffic situation.

“The traffic is choking us everywhere we turn,” he said.

He pointed specifically to the reduction in the number of lanes on the ABC Highway from four to two in some places as well as the abandonment of proposed flyovers which were in the original drawings.

Straughn said the Ministry of Transport and Works would host a series of public consultations beginning Monday, March 23, at Deighton Griffith Secondary School, Kingsland, Christ Church. Additional meetings will be held on March 25 at Princess Margaret Secondary School, Six Roads, St Philip; March 30 at The St Michael School, Martindale’s Road, St Michael and at Alexandra School, Queen Street, Speightstown, St Peter on April 1, with all sessions starting at 6:30 p.m.

Members of the public are being invited to attend and share their views on possible solutions.

The Minister also revealed that last Thursday, Cabinet agreed to rehire the original company that was engaged to construct overpasses along the ABC Highway as part of efforts to improve traffic flow.

In addition, Government will begin planning for the widening of Highway 2A, also known as the Ronald Mapp Highway, as well as sections of the ABC Highway. (AM)

Government announces gun courts and tax breaks for security systems

Ashminnie Moonsammy
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1
Government announces gun courts and tax breaks for security systems

The Government will establish two dedicated gun courts and introduce tax concessions on security equipment as part of new measures to address the escalation in gun violence.

Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn made the announcement during the presentation of the Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement in the House of Assembly, saying the rise in violent crime has alarmed many Barbadians.

“We are all concerned about the recent escalation of violence,” he said, adding that some incidents have left the public “dumbfounded” as they appeared senseless. Straughn said the increase in gun violence should prompt families and communities to work together and cooperate with law enforcement.

To speed up the handling of gun-related offences, the Government will establish two dedicated gun courts. One will deal with offences committed within the last year, while the other will focus on clearing the backlog of older gun-related cases.

The Minister said the initiative’s intention to ensure that such matters were heard quickly and to reduce delays in the justice system.

In addition, Government plans to invest in improved facilities for police officers over the next three years, beginning with the construction of a new police station as part of the Six Roads Civic Centre.

Security measures for households and vehicles are also being encouraged. From April 1, all customs duties and VAT will be removed from the importation and installation of CCTV cameras and alarm systems at residential properties.

Motorists are also being encouraged to install dashcams in their vehicles. For one year from April 1, the purchase of dashcams and GPS devices imported for installation in vehicles will be exempt from both duty and VAT. (AM)

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