Good Morning #realdreamchasers!. Here is your daily newscap. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today Online (BT) or Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).
BAJANS TO PAY MORE - BARBADIANS CAN BRACE themselves to dig deeper into their pockets with the introduction of the new two per cent National Social Responsibility Levy. Major stakeholders in the business community told the WEEKEND NATION the increase in prices was unavoidable. In fact, Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Eddy Abed said Barbadians should expect a greater rise in retail costs than two per cent, adding the initial price rise would probably be felt in supermarkets first.“By the time the levy hits, the market will compound it to probably four to five per cent. I’ve heard members of the chamber say they cannot cut expenses, such as supermarkets, so they will have to pass it on to consumers so I expect an increase in retail prices as little as two weeks after September 1,” he said. (WN)
UNIONS GIVE NCC DEADLINE TO PAY - THE BARBADOS WORKERS’ UNION (BWU) has given the National Conservation Commission (NCC) until September 30 to pay their former workers the monies owed to them.The union’s general secretary Toni Moore made that clear yesterday, saying that the employees had suffered enough and needed to be paid as promptly as possible.“The proposal that we put at the meeting that we had last week Tuesday was that we wanted those workers paid in full, and that we wanted them paid in full no later than September 30,” Moore said during a press conference at the union’s headquarters at Solidarity House.“That is taking into account the red tape that is involved and giving more time than is necessary for those issues to be worked through so that workers can get their dues.” (WN)
COMMISSION’S LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER - ATTORNEY AT LAW David Comissiong has taken his concerns about the proposed Hyatt hotel directly to the man ultimately responsible for signing off on the project.Comissiong hand-delivered a letter addressed to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, to Government Headquarters yesterday, outlining his concerns.Specifically, he asked the Prime Minister as Minister responsible for Town Planning to carry out a proper environmental impact assessment on the hotel project.“There is still a lot of work to be done where this application is concerned and I have said to the Prime Minister that they need to go back to the drawing board on this matter,” Comissiong said. (WN)
PLAN CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL - GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATELY-OWNED enterprises operating in the Holetown, St James area were today advised that their ability to survive the impact of a hazard depended heavily on their preparation for such an event. Judy Thomas, who noted that before a plan could be written, it was necessary to understand what the vulnerabilities were and the level of susceptibility to the hazard impact. Referencing Wednesday’s earthquake in Italy which has left hundreds dead, and significant damage, Thomas challenged those present to think about what they would do if something similar occurred in Barbados. The disaster management expert explained that everyone, whether individually or collectively, could be considered as emergency personnel. “The first person to respond to an event is the person in the event who has survived it,” she explained. She added that it was important that if persons found themselves in an emergency situation that they were able to carry out the duty thrust on them [to respond]. Failure to do so, she warned, would be to sentence those most in need to death. (WN)
WATER WOES STILL IN THE NORTH - One day after the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) opened a desalination plant in the north of the island, residents are continuing to complain of slow water pressure and dirty water in their taps.However, they are holding on to hope that the newly installed plant at Hope, St Lucy will improve the quality and supply of the precious commodity.The plant is expected to provide an additional 300,000 gallons of water a day to the Alleynedale, Lamberts and Boscobel systems. When Barbados TODAY visited Hope this morning, workmen from the Ionics Fresh Water Limited owned by businessman Ralph Bizzy Williams were busy cleaning the line of pipes to ensure clean water would be pumped to the taps of residents. (BT)
DAUGHTER NOT MAD - “MY DAUGHTER IS NOT MAD!”That is the cry from a frustrated Mitchelle Marksman, who does not understand why management at the Government Industrial School (GIS) is sending her teenage daughter to the Psychiatric Hospital for treatment.In tears and inconsolable at times during an interview at her home in St Michael, Marksman told the WEEKEND NATION that although her 15-year-old daughter did not suffer from any mental condition, she was being treated regularly at the hospital.The 37-year-old mother of seven readily admitted that her daughter “was not a saint”. Marksman revealed that she had been sent to the GIS in 2014, following an incident in which she kicked a boy in the groin.
GEORGE RAMSAY PASSES - WELL-KNOWN REALTOR George Ramsay has passed. He died this morning at his home at Welches, St Thomas.Ramsay, 66, who was chairman of the group of companies which included George A. Ramsay and Co. Limited, was a realtor for more than 40 years.Ramsay leaves to mourn his wife Zenaida and sons Art and Gary.
GRIEVING MOTHER SUCCUMBS TO CANCER - MAXINE LASHLEY was battling cancer, but according to a close family member it was the recent death of her son Romario Lashley which ultimately took her life. Lashley passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday around 4 p.m., two weeks after burying her son, who was killed by police.According to the family member who requested anonymity, Maxine’s cancer had been in remission. However, since the shooting death of her son on July 26, he said Maxine’s cancer had returned.Romario, 20, had been on the police’s wanted list when he met his death after police executed a search warrant at 4th Avenue, Harts Gap, Christ Church. (WN)
FEMALE DRUG USERS - The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) said it was concerned about the number of girls between the ages 12 and 18 involved in illegal drugs either directly or indirectly. “For some time, we have been involved in the juvenile courts, and a lot of times when these young girls are charged for wandering . . . there is some type of drug abuse involved. They are either running away from it; they are actively involved and that is a way, just to leave home to do what they have to do; or it is actually happening in the schools,” NCSA Manager Betty Hunte said Wednesday following a ceremony to present 52 participants from across various agencies with Training and Certification Programme for Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention (PROCCER) certificates.Hunte stressed that the issue of drug use in Barbados was no longer just a “boys on the block” issue, and that the NCSA was looking to develop programmes targeting girlsIn addition, the NCSA Manager said it was becoming more difficult to manage and police the different trends, with new synthetic drugs entering the market. (BT)
BURGLARY AT PARLIAMENT - Police are investigating a burglary at the west wing of the Parliament building.A number of artefacts were discovered stolen at about 7:40 a.m. yesterday morning.
SHOOTING DEATH IN ST. LUCY - Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of a 47-year-old man of St Lucy. According to police spokesman, Acting Station Sergeant Roland Cobbler, preliminary investigations suggest that sometime after 10 o’clock last night the deceased was confronted by two armed assailants during a home invasion.He was shot several times and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The individual’s identity is being withheld at the moment.Anyone with information that can assist with the investigation is asked to contact the police emergency number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), Crab Hill Police Station at 310-7700/310-7701, or the nearest police station. (BT)
3RD MAN CHARGED WITH WHARF SHOOTING - A third man has been remanded to prison on charges relating to the recent shooting on Wharf Road.Police have arrested and formally charged Cyle Shaquille Sargeant of Bourne’s Land, Silver Sands, Christ Church with the offences of Serious Bodily Harm and the Use of a Firearm.Sargeant appeared at the District A Magistrates Court today and was remanded to prison until September 22.Last Friday two men appeared in court in connection with the shooting.Orlando Diego Romell Elliss of Morris Gap, Westbury Road, and Kadeem Jalani Maycock of Nelson Street, The City, were charged with thirteen offences.They are accused of using an unlicensed firearm on August 7, as well as one count of intentionally causing serious bodily harm to two individuals.They are also facing five counts of unlawfully and recklessly engaging in conduct which placed five people in danger of death or serious bodily harm.Elliss and Maycock are on remand until September 9. (BT)
DRAMATIC PLEA - He appeared in the District “A” Magistrates Court on a theft charge but Damien Shimar Griffith wasted no time in pleading for help for a drug habit.Griffith, 24, of Mayers Land, Lower Richmond Gap, St Michael is accused of stealing 16 bottles of perfume belonging to Cave Shepherd and Company Limited.He is charged with taking the items valued $2,736.48 from the company’s Sheraton branch.The accused was not required to plead to the charge after it was read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No 1 Court.“Sir, I turned in myself. I have a child that is due in November. I have found myself [among people] who have encouraged me to smoke . . . cocaine Sir,” Griffith revealed.“I am not here to ask to be freed nor I am here to ask to be incarcerated. I [am] just here asking for some help because I can’t do this on my own Sir. I can’t Sir.”However, Frederick remanded him until September 8 when he will appear before the District “B” Magistrate, since that was the district in which the alleged offence occurred. (BT)
BAJAN FLYERS - THE BAJAN GEMS look like they are World Cup bound.The Barbados Under-21s completed their third successive victory at AFNA Youth World Cup qualifiers in St Maarten yesterday with the help of one of their regular mainstays.The Gems brushed aside St Kitts-Nevis 56-20 with Shonica Wharton converting 31 goals from 34 attempts.With three games still to play, the Bajans are favoured to win one of the places for next year’s Youth World Cup in Botswana. (WN)
ATHLETES NEED HELP - BARBADOS’ OLYMPIC GAMES’ medal hopefuls need proper preparation before going to the starting line, and psychological motivation to cross the tape. Private people and public entities also need to pull their pockets if multi-eventer Akela Jones and other talented athletes are to get on the Olympics podium.Those suggestions were among many made by two officials of the Barbados team which attended the Rio Olympics after a nine-member contingent returned home without silverware to little fanfare and no official welcoming party at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday.“I think we need to prepare our athletes a little better. Unfortunately, there are spread all across the world and they are not really at home [but] I think we need to have, in addition to the coaching, a psychologist on board to help them to rise to the occasion when necessary,” chef de mission Dr Adrian Lorde said. (WN)
WICB, WIPA TALKING - With two years left in the current Memorandum of Understanding/Collective Bargaining Agreement (MOU/CBA) with the West Indies Cricket Board, West Indies Players Association and players, the WICB took a proactive move to host a players’ symposium in Florida yesterday to address some of the important issues.Among the areas discussed were: MOU/CBA – WICB, WIPA and players; future tours; ICC events; finances of WICB and World Cricket; life during and after cricket. WICB president Dave Cameron said the ongoing dialogue was aimed at finding amicable solutions and the board was keen to confronting any issues as an effort was made to enhance the overall cricket product. The meeting which at points became contentious, “was solution-oriented and the WICB continues to make efforts to facilitate the best environment for players,” Cameron noted. There was a keynote presentation from former West Indies player Daren Ganga who is now a sport administrator with the University of Trinidad and Tobago and is an international radio and television broadcaster. His presentation focused on Responsibilities of a Professional Athlete.Ganga stressed the need for excellent performances on the field of play, but made a great case for work off the field as a role model “as they prepare for life after cricket.”The other officials who shared information were chief executive officer Michael Muirhead, WIPA president Wavell Hinds and chairman of selectors, Courtney Browne. Muirhead emphasised the need for dialogue and more solutions as the sport industry continued to evolve. (BT)
CUMMINS OFF TO WORCESTERSHIRE - Worcestershire have signed West Indies fast bowler Miguel Cummins for their final three County Championship matches, to stand in for Kyle Abbott.The stumbling Division Two promotion hopefuls have turned to Cummins after Abbott was called into South Africa’s Test squad for their current two-Test series against New Zealand. Barbados-born Cummins, 25, is scheduled to arrive on Monday.He is expected to play in the games against Essex, Sussex and Derbyshire. Cummins, who has taken 125 first-class wickets in 44 matches at an average of 22.44, made his Test debut in the recent series against India and picked up nine wickets on his second appearance, including a second-innings haul of 6-48.Worcestershire have twice before signed West Indies fast bowlers for late-season stints – Kemar Roach in 2012 and Shannon Gabriel in 2015. (BT)
US GOALKEEPER BANNED - Goalkeeper Hope Solo will not play for the United States for six months after being banned for calling Olympic rivals Sweden “a bunch of cowards”.The 35-year-old World Cup winner made the remarks after her side lost 5-4 on penalties to the Swedes in the quarterfinals of Rio 2016.US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said Solo’s comments were “unacceptable”. Solo, who will not be eligible for the national side until February, said she was “saddened” by the decision.Writing on her Facebook page, the Seattle Reign star said: “I could not be the player I am without being the person I am, even when I haven’t made the best choices or said the right things.”At present, Solo will only miss two games for the US, against Thailand and the Netherlands next month. However, US Soccer has yet to finalise the fixture list.They played 14 games in the same six months of the 2015-16 season.In January 2015, Solo, who has made more than 200 appearances for the US, was suspended for 30 days following an incident during a training camp.Media reports claimed she was in the car when husband Jerramy Stevens was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.Sweden lost 2-1 to Germany in the final in Rio. (BT)
GET INTO CHARITY - AN INTERNATIONAL CHARITY is looking to prepare 40 Barbadian young people for employment. The Prince’s Trust International Get Into programme was launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Kestral at the Hilton Barbados today.The programme is aimed at training workers in keeping with the needs of employers.The trust’s international project manager Susan Martin said Get Into was launched in 2004 and it has helped over 18 000 people in the United Kingdom between the ages of 16 and 25 gain real world experience. Speaking at a session during which the programme was presented to a number of businesses, Martin said it helps youngsters who may not be prepared for job interviews to get their feet wet. Businesses in the hospitality and logistics industries will be targeted in the local pilot project. If the model is successful in Barbados, the programme will be taken across the Caribbean. (WN)
ENTERTAINERS HELPING HOMELESS - The Barbados Vagrants & Homeless Society (BVHS) today launched a Building a Future for the Homeless campaign, with some well-known comedians and entertainers on board to help push the fundraising drive.Seth Xcel Bovell, Nadia No Filter Phillips, Lead Pipe & Saddis, and Rorrey Fenty, brother of pop star Rihanna, have all committed to helping the Society raise enough funds to purchase a new building to better meet the needs of the homeless they serve. BVHS president Kemar Saffrey said the organization has outgrown its Tudor Street headquarters and the building it has its eye on costs around $1.7 million. Through the fundraising drive, the aim is to reach that goal before year-end. (BT)
MUSICAL NIGHT AT OVAL FOR INDEPENDENCE - ON NOVEMBER 29, three of Barbados’ biggest and most popular bands will come together at Kesington Oval for the Digicel Barbados Is Music show in an epic independence showdown. And it will be almost guaranteed that fans of the big bands Square One, Coalishun and Krosfyah will be chanting Sak Pase all night long.Yesterday, it was announced during a Press conference at the Oval that these three bands which dominated the local music scene in the 1990s would come together for a show in celebration of Barbados’ 50th anniversary of Independence.The entertainers are also expected to pay tribute to several managers who helped build each band. (DN)
MELVY IS OUR NEWEST CENTENARIAN - Melvy Urene Harewood did a lot of good in her younger days.And as she celebrated her 100th birthday Thursday with a visit from Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave, family and friends, Harewood declared that maybe it was the good she has done that helped her reach the milestone. The mother of three, who currently resides at a St James nursing home, said she was as strict with her children as her parents were with her. Harewood, who washed and pressed clothes for a living, said a strong faith in God and the pursuit of the straight and narrow, helped her overcome obstacles along the way to 100.
