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West Indies set for historic T20 clash with Nepal in Unity Cup

Philip Spooner
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West Indies set for historic T20 clash with Nepal in Unity Cup

History will be created this weekend when West Indies face Nepal to launch their T20 International Unity Cup series in the United Arab Emirates. The two teams will meet for the first time at a neutral venue, the historic Sharjah International Stadium. The series will feature three matches with the first contest under the lights on Saturday night (11amBarbados Time).

Akeal Hosein, the left-arm spinner, will captain the West Indies for the first time, in the absence of Shai Hope who is with the Test squad in India. The 32-year-old Hosein put in a timely Man of the Match performance in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final last Sunday night to help Trinbago Knight Riders to their fifth CPL title.

“To be named captain is an honour and a privilege. We are very happy to be here and take part in the Unity Cup. We are looking forward to playing some good cricket. I haven’t played against Nepal before, but I do follow a lot of cricket and it’s good to see them making strides,” Hosein said at the pre-series media briefing on Friday in Dubai.

Nepal call themselves the Rhinos. They are being coached by Stuart Law, the former West Indies head coach. The Australian is confident ahead of the series but pointed out that the result is not as important as what followed in the T20 World Cup qualification tournament in Oman, when they will bid for one of three places available.

“It’s an exciting time. They’re an emerging nation and they have the ambition to become a Test playing nation … the passion is there and the desire is there to get it done, and not just from the players but the administration as well,” Law said.

Central bank releases new regulatory framework for payment service providers

Nationnews Desk
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Central bank releases new regulatory framework for payment service providers

 The Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) has published a new comprehensive regulatory guidance, which it says is designed to strengthen oversight of the national payment system and provide clarity for payment service providers (PSPs) operating in Barbados.

The CBB has released three key documents on its website that establish a transparent regulatory environment for payment service providers.

It said that the Oversight Policy Framework outlines the bank’s commitment to ensuring optimal payment system services that support economic growth and financial stability across and that the Licensing and Authorisation Framework provides clear guidelines for payment service providers seeking to operate in the Barbadian market, while the Supervisory Framework  details ongoing supervision requirements.

The CBB said that under the Compliance Requirements and Timeline of the National Payment System Act (NPSA), all relevant entities must now submit a formal compliance programme to the Central Bank within three months of this announcement.

It said that this programme must demonstrate how the organisation will achieve full NPSA compliance within six months, including licensing applications where required.

“These frameworks represent our commitment to fostering a robust and innovative payment ecosystem in Barbados,” the CBB said, adding “we want to ensure that payment service providers have the clarity and guidance they need to operate effectively while maintaining the highest standards of consumer protection and system integrity. The Bank therefore encourages all PSPs to review the documents carefully”.

The Central Bank said  that it recognises that implementing these new requirements may raise questions for payment service providers and are encouraging PSPs to contact the bank for guidance and support throughout the compliance process. (CMC)

Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two charges

Nationnews Desk
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Former FBI director James Comey indicted on two charges

A federal grand jury in the US state of Virginia has formally charged former FBI Director James Comey with two offences related to testimony he gave to Congress.

Mr Comey, who has long drawn US President Donald Trump’s criticism, is accused of lying to a Senate committee in 2020 about whether he authorised a leak of classified information to the media.

The indictment comes days after Trump called on the country’s top law enforcement official to more aggressively investigate his political adversaries, including Mr Comey.

Responding to the indictment, Mr Comey declared himself innocent and said he had “great confidence in the federal judicial system”.

An indictment in the US justice system is a formal accusation issued by a grand jury after they review evidence to determine if a case should proceed.

Mr Comey may have his first court appearance on Friday but his arraignment – where charges are formally read out in front of a defendant in court – has been set for 9 October in Alexandria, Virginia, the BBC’s US partner CBS reports.

The probe is being led by Lindsey Halligan, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was previously Trump’s personal lawyer and took over her new role on Monday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, urged by Trump at the weekend to pursue Comey, said in a statement that the indictment”reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people”.

The two-page indictment is short on detail but it says Mr Comey has been charged with one count of making false statements and another of obstruction of justice.

Both counts relate to Mr Comey’s appearance at a Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020, when he was questioned about the FBI’s handling of two explosive investigations – one on pro-Trump election interference by Russia and another on Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

The five-year statute of limitations for charges based on that hearing would have expired next week.

The first count relates to Mr Comey telling the committee he had not authorised someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about an FBI investigation into what the indictment describes as “PERSON 1”, believed to be Hillary Clinton.

The second count alleges that Mr Comey “did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede” the committee by making false statements to it.

The jury rejected a third count of making false statements.

If found guilty, Mr Comey could face up to five years in prison.

He said in a video statement: “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump.”

“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either,” he continued, adding: “And, I am innocent. So, let’s have a trial.”

The case had recently been handed over to a new prosecutor after Erik Seibert, the original US attorney overseeing the case, departed amid concerns he would be forced out. Trump later said he fired Mr Seibert, who was replaced by Ms Halligan.

The case is considered to be the highest-profile indictment of a public figure during Trump’s second term.

Trump recently voiced his frustration that prosecutions of his public critics such as Mr Comey, Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James are taking so long.

“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” Trump said on Truth Social last week.

Asked about Mr Comey hours before the indictment was unsealed, Trump called him a “bad person” but said he had no advanced knowledge of his prosecution.

Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and a law professor at Loyola Marymount University, said it will be a very challenging case to prosecute.

“It’s often the defendant’s word against someone else’s and you’re gonna have to look at the credibility of both,” she told BBC News.

“And even if James Comey got things wrong, that doesn’t mean that he knowingly or intentionally lied to Congress. So proving that is going to be the heart of the case.”

Ms Levenson also said this prosecution and Trump’s public pressure to move forward on it suggests that the traditional firewall between the White House and the US Department of Justice had “collapsed with this case Several Democrats condemned the charges, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries denouncing them as “a disgraceful attack on the rule of law”, vowing “accountability” for “anyone complicit in this malignant corruption”.

Mr Comey served as the FBI’s director between 2013 and 2017.

He had a tumultuous tenure that included overseeing a high-profile inquiry into Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s emails just weeks before the 2016 election, which she lost to Trump.

He was fired by Trump amid an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

This is not the first investigation into the former FBI boss to be launched this year.

He was investigated by the Secret Service after he shared and then deleted a social media post of seashells spelled the numbers “8647”, which Republicans alleged was an incitement to violence against US President Donald Trump.

The number 86 is a slang term whose definitions include “to reject” or “to get rid of”, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

In July, Mr Comey’s daughter Maurene Comey was fired from her role as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. She was given no reason for being removed from the office where she had worked for 10 years, according to media reports.

Earlier this month, she sued the Trump administration over her dismissal.

The Justice Department has been firing lawyers who worked on cases that angered the president, including a special prosecutor investigation of Trump. (BBC News)

Call for community to help tackle crime

Ashada Joseph
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Call for community to help tackle crime

The Supreme Counselling for Personal Development brought together community practitioners to discuss and develop strategies to tackle violence and vandalism in communities.

Through its seminar Igniting Change, Empowering Futures launched yesterday in the conference room of Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, the interactive seminar, which also featured some students from secondary school, addressed issues such as trauma and mental health in youth, strengthening families as the first line of prevention, and building safe and supportive communities, providing attendees with the necessary tools in managing these issues.

Chief executive officer Shawn Clarke made an important call to those present to get on board to create a better future because the future was shaped by decisions made today.

“The future is not waiting for tomorrow. The future is being shaped by decisions we make today. Igniting change, empowering futures, these are just not words, they are a cry for action.

“They are a challenge to every teacher, every community leader, every parent, every friend sitting in this room this morning. They are a reminder that the future of our nation is written not in policy papers or headlines, but in everyday choices of ordinary people who decide to care, who decide to show up, who decide to fight for a better tomorrow,” he said.

Pointing to the recent case of deviant behaviour among schoolchildren, he said it was not a job Government alone could do but it required all

entities, such as schools and the church, to become involved.

“Government has its role to play in terms of assisting and providing the structures and in terms of providing the funding and so on, that is needed. This is a job that churches have to come together, schools have to come together, the home and parents need to know their role in this as well.

“I would treat this the way how we used to treat tourism. This is everybody’s business and it means that we can no longer sit at home and say it has nothing to do with me because it is coming to your doorstep, whether you invite it or not,” he said.

Clarke also challenged the attendees to be the change they wanted to see.

Through the session he hoped to create a greater movement where the Government heard the views of those on the ground. He also believed a strong Government-NGO collaboration was important where a committee was put together to meet monthly and sort out the varying issues.

(AJ)

Munro-Knight gives guarantee of shorter timeframe for CARIFESTA payments

Nationnews Desk
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Munro-Knight gives guarantee of shorter timeframe for CARIFESTA payments

Where is the money?

That is the question a number of persons who worked during the ten-day CARIFESTA XV cultural event are asking as they told the Weekend Nation that this was a month since the festival ended, yet they have not received any correspondence from the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), regarding when they would be paid.

Among the disgruntled contract workers are a number of taxi drivers who were responsible for chauffeuring high-level overseas delegates to and from the many events.

“We were on call 24/7,” an upset driver stated, adding that they were contracted for $750 a day for those who had cars and SUVs while those who operated coaches received between $1 100 and $1 200. They said they were hearing that it would take as long as three months for them to receive the money.

“When the NCF signed us on they said we would receive our money after the event. We did not expect that it would take so long,” one contractor lamented.

The Weekend Nation understands that several other categories of workers have not yet been paid, including volunteers, liaison scheme officers and co-ordinators.

The ten-day cultural event took place between August 22 and 31.

When contacted about the concerns made, Akil Franklyn, corporate communications specialist at the NCF, stated that chief executive officer Carol Roberts-Reifer indicated that she would not be commenting on the matter.

Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, however, told this newspaper that they were working diligently to issue the payments.

“We are working through payments as fast as we can. There is a need to validate work and we have been working through this as quickly as we can.

“It will absolutely not take three months for payments. We can provide some guarantee on this. We are cognizant that many of those that need to be paid are small service providers,” she added.

The upset contract workers revealed that they were told that some of the major contractors had already received their money.

‘Got cheques’

“I was told that the big-ups got their cheques already. And I know people who were recently contracted to take down the structures and they have been paid. So why is it that we can’t receive our money when it was already a set amount and we worked every day?” a taxi operator asked.

In addition, the operator lamented that while they were able to reach the official from the NCF who was responsible for their deployment during the festival, they have not been able to contact him since it ended.

“We have been calling him to find out about our money and he is not answering the phone.”

Another pointed out that at the end of the festival they were all issued with receipts.

“Now we are hearing that it is going to take as long as three months to pay us because people that worked during Crop Over are now getting paid. This is not fair because we were on call 24/7. We had to take the delegates and the prime ministers wherever they wanted to go. I am working for myself so I put everything else to the side to concentrate on this job and I expect to be paid because even though CARIFESTA finish I still have my bills to pay.”

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said the breakdown of the cost for Barbados to organise the multimillion-dollar event would be released only after all vendors have been paid.

She stated: “There will be a proper accounting for the expenditure of CARIFESTA, but to rush and give anybody the figures when they are still processing and paying vendors would be an act of recklessness and irresponsibility.” (MB)

Employee charged for allegedly stealing millions from GECOM

Nationnews Desk
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Employee charged for allegedly stealing millions from GECOM

A 30 year old assistant accountant with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM, has been charged with stealing millions of dollars from the secretariat.

The money was reportedly  withdrawn to pay GECOM’s polling day workers. However, it was soon realised that money was missing and police were called in. 

A total of 13 persons were detained by police and subsequently released on station bail.

The police  later reported that Dikimbie Gittens, was arrested earlier this week and subsequently charged for committing the offence of Larceny by Clerk or Servant.

He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before  Magistrate Fabayo Azore, where the charge was read to him.

He was not required to plead. 

Bail was refused, and the matter was adjourned to October 15. (CMC)

World Maritime Day – Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity

Julia Haynes
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World Maritime Day – Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity

Each year, World Maritime Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the indispensable role of shipping and its impact on the modern world. For Barbados, a small island state whose economy is deeply intertwined with both international trade and tourism, maritime operations are not just important, they are essential. From the arrival of container vessels laden with goods to the cruise ships that bring thousands of visitors to its shores, the island’s prosperity is directly tied to the efficiency and resilience of its maritime sector.

As a nation that imports roughly 95 per cent of what it consumes, from food and fuel to medicine and construction supplies, Barbados depends heavily on smooth, reliable maritime logistics. Every shipment that docks at the Bridgetown Port underscores the island’s vulnerability as well as its resilience. Beyond trade, the maritime industry is the gateway for tourism, with cruise arrivals forming a vital pillar of the local economy, generating employment and supporting countless small businesses.

The importance of Barbados’ maritime capabilities was brought into sharp focus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when uncertainty gripped the globe and many countries closed their borders to foreign vessels, Barbados made the courageous and humanitarian decision to allow ships safe harbour. Bridgetown became one of the few ports in the region to accommodate foreign vessels and provide critical services to stranded seafarers. This act of solidarity demonstrated the island’s commitment not only to global maritime cooperation, but also to the dignity and welfare of those who work tirelessly at sea.

Today, as the world looks toward a more sustainable and digitally connected maritime future, Barbados stands at the crossroads of opportunity. By embracing innovation, strengthening its port infrastructure, and bolstering international partnerships, the island can continue to safeguard its lifelines of trade and tourism while positioning itself as a beacon of resilience in the Caribbean. Today, on World Maritime Day 2025, Barbados celebrates not just the seas that surround it, but the enduring spirit of connection and cooperation that defines its maritime story.

PM appeals to ‘sisters’ at UN women’s forum

Gercine Carter
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PM appeals to ‘sisters’ at UN women’s forum

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has issued a call to women achievers around the world to share their knowledge and inspire girls to realise their dreams.

Speaking in New York on Monday at the United Nations High-Level Meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference On Women

held in Beijing in 1995, she made the appeal to “the sisters” in the room and across the world who made up the audience that included present and former female heads of governments and Nobel Prize winners.

Mottley joined other speakers who amplified the call for women’s participation in the quest for world peace.

‘Make life richer’

“Women, my friends, truly make life richer from the homes, to the halls of justice and indeed this hall that we call United Nations,” she said.

She highlighted outstanding Caribbean women such as Lucille Mair, Dame Nita Barrow, Dr Peggy Antrobus, Dame Billie Miller and The Most Honourable Dr Eudine Barriteau, all of whom “made it their life’s purpose to be able to create a space for other girls and women to follow”, and were “part of the collective movement that carried us to Beijing and have made for us a major difference”.

The Prime Minister added: “I say simply to the sisters in this room and across the world, to those who have emerged as leaders in any sphere of life, those who have dreamed but against whom the doors of equity and opportunity were tightly closed, those who have suffered our struggle for equality . . . although your journey has been difficult to this point, it has been worth taking, for while we are deserving of dignity, regrettably half of humanity has been left behind.”

Prominent

The last in a list of prominent women who addressed the forum, Mottley said a lot had been learnt from women such as famed Polish scientist Madame Marie Curie; noted American writer Toni Morrison, the first black woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature; and Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress.

“We believe that Rihanna and her excellence in entrepreneurship continues to inspire young girls to go where others have not gone before,” she said of the internationallyacclaimed Barbadian National Hero, singer and successful businesswoman.

“I do not take for granted the root that persons like myself have been able to make, but I recognise that even as we make the big transformations, we need to focus on the small things. We need to give girls the confidence to say no . . . . We need to give them the confidence not just to dream but to make their dreams a reality.

“I believe that this recognition of where we are with Beijing Plus 30 is an indication that we are still on track, but we have not gotten there . . . . I simply say let this be the inspiration to all who continue to fight for that recognition to be seen, to be heard.”

The High-Level Conference on the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference On Women

has been convened by president of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, under the theme: Recommitting To, Resourcing And Accelerating The Implementation Of The Beijing Declaration And Platform For Action To Achieve Gender Equality And The Empowerment Of All Women And Girls.

It commemorates the historic meeting in 1995 which brought together 189 countries, rallied by then United States First Lady Hilary Clinton, to action for women’s rights.

(GC)

IDB Lab invest millions in startups in Latin America and the Caribbean

Nationnews Desk
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IDB Lab invest millions in startups in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group Wednesday said that it’s innovation and venture capital arm, IDB Lab, is providing two million US dollars as part of a strategic investment in the 500 LatAm Seed Fund IV, managed by 500 LatAm.

It said that the fund will invest in approximately 40 early-stage tech startups in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“This operation marks a new round of investment by IDB Lab in a 500 LatAm fund, following its participation in 2020 in the 500 Luchadores III fund, which supported over 100 startups that have already generated more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and reached more than 2.6 million users in the region.”

The IDB said  that the 500 LatAm Seed Fund IV will provide pre-seed and seed capital to over 40 startups developing highly scalable technology solutions in the region. It will also provide strategic support in areas such as product development, talent recruitment, monetization, customer acquisition, international expansion, and raising additional capital.

“This investment in 500 LatAm Seed IV reflects our commitment to strengthening regional integration and driving innovation in emerging ecosystems. The fund’s strategy democratizes access to seed capital and gives entrepreneurs more opportunities to grow and scale their solutions,” said Magdalena Coronel, acting chief of IDB Lab’s Venture Capital Investments Division.

The IDB said that currently, 500 LatAm IV is accepting applications from interested startups, adding that selected companies will receive a US$300,000 investment and access to a personalised mentoring programme.

“This investment reaffirms IDB Lab’s commitment to expanding access to early-stage funding in Latin America and the Caribbean and to supporting agents of innovation in emerging ecosystems, contributing to regional growth and integration,”  it added. (CMC)

Barbados to host first-ever CPL final in 2026

Nationnews Desk
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Barbados to host first-ever CPL final in 2026

 The 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final will be held at Kensington Oval in Barbados for the first time in the competition’s history, the tournament’s chief executive officer Pete Russell has confirmed.

Providence Stadium in Guyana hosted the previous four finals dating back to 2022, and according to reports, it generated US$84 million in 2022 and a record US$101.6 million in 2023.

While official figures for 2025 are not yet available, based on figures and the number of tickets sold, it could be another record-breaking year.

Russell said he expected Barbados to hold an equally successful tournament for the 14th edition.

He said with the final slated to be held at Kensington Oval, he was predicting a much-improved performance by the Barbados Royals, who finished last in the standings in this year’s tournament.

“I think the Barbados team and I’m sure the management of the Barbados team will look at it very closely, because you want the home team, the hosting team of the finals to do well.

“I mean, we got Guyana in the finals here. It makes a big difference. But Barbados fans love cricket, so I’m sure they’ll come and watch whoever’s in the final,” Russell said.

“I think that franchise will get its act together and be very competitive next year. We’re changing the rules, of course, so everyone goes back into the draft at the end of this tournament, so the teams will look very different going forward, which is exciting as well.” (CMC)

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