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[constructioncaribbean]

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[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 21/5/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap Thursday 21st May, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

PMS MOTTLEY AND TRUDEAU ‘MEET ON PANDEMIC’ – Prime Minister Mia Mottley and her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau today held virtual talks on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Canadian government has revealed. It said the duo exchanged information on ongoing efforts by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Canada to halt the spread of the viral illness which the World Health Organisation today said was approaching five million cases worldwide. According to a statement from the government in Ottawa, the discussions centred on protecting the health, safety and economic well being of all citizens, especially the most vulnerable. Prime Minister Trudeau said he recognized that the pandemic has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in CARICOM countries and both leaders agreed that the pandemic underscored the need for strengthened global leadership committed to building a fairer, more inclusive world for all countries. The prime ministers reinforced their commitment to close collaboration between Canada and Barbados and other CARICOM countries, including to foster international action that addresses the unique challenges faced by small island states around the world, such as vulnerability to climate change, natural disasters, and access to financing, according to the statement. Trudeau emphasised the “strong and warm” ties between Canada and Caribbean countries and said he looked forward to future engagement with CARICOM leaders, the statement concluded. (BT)

JORDAN: NO FLOOD OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PAYCUTS – There has been no influx of complaints to the Labour Department regarding companies cutting the wages of their employees because of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Minister of Labour Colin Jordan. Reacting to the charge by the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) over the weekend, Jordan, however, said he was mindful of the philosophy: “The absence of evidence is not the same as the evidence of absence”. He has, therefore, asked workers to draw these matters to the attention of the Labour Department so they can be immediately investigated.  Jordan acknowledged there was an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the workforce and employees were at an increased risk of exploitation. (DN)

LABOUR MINISTER BELIEVES SALARY CUTS SHOULD ALSO COME AT THE TOP – The Cabinet Minister who oversees industrial relations matters in this country is suggesting pay cuts for managers who require their workers to take a reduction in salaries. Colin Jordan, the Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations said today the burden must be shared proportionately as the country tries to navigate the current economic and social difficulties. “My position is, you cannot ask your line people to take a pay cut, if you in management are not prepared to take a pay cut,” Minister Jordan told Barbados TODAY. “So when I talk about equity in sharing the burden, it has to be across-the-board,” he added. “When we are talking now about burden, we are talking about a couple of things… We are talking about people and wages. We are also talking about commercial banks; we are asking them to give people an ease on their mortgages and loans and on the interest payments. That means they are taking some of the weight as well,” the Minister said. He conceded that the employees may have to bear some weight as well. “The workers, if they are asked to bear weight, then that weight-bearing has to be across-the-board. In my view, if it is to be equitable, it has to be across-the-board,” Jordan emphasized. However, when asked if he supported wage cuts in any circumstance he told Barbados TODAY it would not be proper for him to publicly declare a position on that, bearing in mind that a related matter was now before the Labour Department for adjudication. He was referring to a case in which the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) has taken the construction firm Preconco before the department claiming the workers’ salaries were cut. “There is a matter before the Labour Department. To respond to you might come over as prejudicing what my ministry is doing. I don’t think it would be right for me to do  that,” Minister Jordan pointed out. “I don’t want to prejudice any conciliation efforts…any discussion,” he added. Jordan also had a message for employers and employees in order to achieve win-win situations, especially when times are challenging. “I recognize that the big issue in most industrial relations issues is dialogue. People are not sitting down and talking…not talking through…thrashing out…coming to an agreement. I think that needs to happen,” suggested the Minister who has a background in  human resources. “The second thing I would say is that the laws that are on the books are still on the books. The state of public health emergency has not removed any laws from the books. So nobody should get it in their minds, whether a worker or employer that any of the laws on the books have disappeared because we are in this extraordinarily difficult situation,” he cautioned. He also suggested that everybody has to recognize that the country is in an extraordinarily difficult situation. “And so, as we dialogue, that has to be up front and centre. So people have to be respected and everybody has to understand that these are unusual times,” he stated. (BT)

SENATOR QUESTIONS BREACH – Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn is questioning the validity of the charge which the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has brought against one of its senior medical specialists. Franklyn, who is also a trade union leader, is today claiming that the hospital’s allegation that consultant general surgeon Dr Maurice Walrond breached or was in violation of his contract when he spoke on a radio call-in programme without the expressed permission of the board, is not a listed offence. “Speaking to the press without their permission is not one of the offences listed in the rules. That was left out,” the outspoken Opposition Senator told Barbados TODAY, noting that he has a copy of the rules. It is understood that Dr Walrond, who could not be reached for comment, has retained the services of an attorney at law. When contacted this afternoon, Executive Chairman of the QEH Juliet Bynoe-Sutherland would only tell Barbados TODAY “I do not comment on matters related to employees of the hospital. “Dr Walrond continues to be a valued member of our team.” His bargaining agent, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) met last night to discuss the kind of support and guidance it can provide Dr Walrond. However, the acting BAMP President Dr Geoffrey Lafond today confirmed that BAMP would not comment on any decisions of the meeting at this stage. Dr Walrond was notified of the charge against him in a letter dated May 18, 2020, and signed by Bynoe-Sutherland which said that disciplinary action is being contemplated and could include possible dismissal. “The offence for which you have been charged at paragraph 1 of this letter is a major offence. If the charge against you is upheld, it may result in disciplinary action against you as provided at rule 5.2.1 of the Terms and Conditions, up to, and including dismissal as provided by rule 5.2.28 of the Terms and Conditions,” Bynoe-Sutherland wrote in her correspondence to Walrond. The hospital is accusing the doctor of speaking to the press without the expressed permission of the board as stipulated in the employees’ contracts when on two occasions last week, he called in on Starcom Network’s Down To Brass Tacks and made remarks which “have brought, or are likely to bring the QEHB [Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board] into disrepute.” Speaking on behalf of a group of fellow surgeons, Walrond called the programme and lamented the inadequacies in operating theatres at the QEH and claimed that the hospital’s leadership was not doing enough to keep the environment COVID-19 free. The consultant general surgeon even suggested that patients who were COVID-19 positive but needed general surgery could find themselves at risk if transferred to the QEH for surgical procedures. But the Executive Chairman told Walrond in her letter that his statements made without her permission, were in breach or violation of rule 4.9.1 of the Code of Conduct set out in the Terms and Conditions of Service for employees of the QEH. Bynoe-Sutherland also informed him that an enquiry would be launched into the alleged offence or misconduct and he was told of various rights which are available to him. Two days after calling the radio programme with his concerns, the doctor wrote BAMP outlining similar issues he and his fellow surgeons were experiencing with the operating theatres at the QEH. In his letter dated May 13, 2020, Walrond said a patient room has been retrofitted for the emergency surgical care of COVID-19 patients at the Enmore complex opposite the QEH. “It is inadequate, unsafe for patient care, and places medical staff working in that facility at increased risk of infection,” his correspondence stated.  He itemized what he termed a subset of deficiencies including that the facility was too small and did not meet certain International Health Facility guidelines. (BT)

MASSY DROPS SEAWELL AIR SERVICES – The Trinidad & Tobago-based Massy Holdings Group is still awaiting the Barbados Fair Trading Commission’s (FTC) approval of its sale of Seawell Air Services to Goddard Enterprises Limited (GEL). This was outlined in the most recent six-month unaudited financial filing by the regional conglomerate. In a statement from chairman Robert Bermudez which accompanied the financials, shareholders were told there was a 12 per cent decline in the half-year profit before tax, due in part, to the Seawell sale. Last October, chief executive officer of GEL Anthony Ali confirmed that Goddard Enterprises was moving to acquire the operations and assets of the ground handling company which is based at the Grantley Adams International Airport. “The transfer and pending sale of Seawell Air Services incurred a TT$24 million (BDS $8 million) loss arising from severance costs required and an impairment on the value of the assets transferred,” he pointed out. The chairman noted too, that the novel coronavirus had also impacted investment income earned by Massy United Insurance. According to Bermudez: “With lower tax rates in Barbados, the Group’s half year profit after tax decreased by eight per cent from TT$ 286.8 million [BDS$ 95.6 million] in 2019 to TT$262.7 million [BDS$ 87.5 million] in 2020.” He added: “While these are uncertain times, your directors are confident that the Group’s core portfolios will continue to perform well. However, given the immediate challenges, significant uncertainties of the duration and direct knock-on impact to economies regionally and globally, we believe a prudent dividend declaration for the half year is appropriate.” As such, Massy, which in 2008 took over Barbados’ largest conglomerate, Barbados Shipping & Trading, declared a half-year dividend of TT$0.50 (BDS $0.16). This is a nine per cent decline from the same period last year. “As many of the countries in which the Group operates are initiating the process of re-opening their economies at different rates and with different perspectives on appropriate risk to take, our Group will remain vigilant in implementing protocols to keep our employees, customers and general public safe.” (BT)

SAFETY FIRST, SAYS SIMMONS –  Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds said today that the Grantley Adams International Airport remains closed to commercial traffic until June 30, however, there is no guarantee airlines will resume flying to Barbados at that time. The minister said safety is critical in determining when flights will be allowed to resume and the decision will be “data driven". He said, too, that protocols would have to be implemented before travel can resume. A statement issued through Barbados Government Information Service said Symmonds was speaking during his promised bi-monthly media briefing on the tourism sector, via a Zoom press conference. “I cannot give you a date on which the airlines will be returning. We have taken a position that the airport remains closed to commercial traffic until the 30th of next month. If the happy circumstances arise that you have significant improvements, and we can feel confident that it is easy to reopen, then that decision will be taken, but until such time we are going to be very guarded on this matter, and go as fast as the data and the circumstances allow us to feel comfortable. “Going about it phase by phase and step by step gives us an opportunity to protect our people while giving us an opportunity to develop some economic activity which is absolutely critical to the same people as well,” Symmonds said. Commercial traffic into the island came to a halt from mid-March this year as a result of the novel coronavirus( COVID-19) pandemic. However, the Minister said safety was a priority for Barbados, and any decision taken to reopen the sector will “not be date driven, but rather data driven”. “I want to make it clear that we have not settled yet on any definitive course of action, not just in Barbados, but across the Caribbean and also with the airlines,” he said, disclosing that Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet, both chaired a “useful meeting” with all the airlines that service the region last week. “The airlines understand what we are trying to achieve. . . . Their interest as well is safety. The take away from that meeting is that there is no competitive advantage that anybody has over the other in terms of being safe. “We all want the highest degree of safety that we can have. Nobody feels comfortable in reopening until you have been able to secure, first of all, the well-being of the people in your country and the workers and, secondly, the visitors to the island,” he stated.Symmonds said regional protocols were also being examined. These include possibly implementing a COVID-19 rapid test, which could be conducted on departure from the source market, on arrival to Barbados, or at both points, if cost allows. “This is a discussion that is being had around the region. In the absence of that, we are going to have to rely on the airlines being very robust partners, in the context of that which they do, to make sure there is a contaminant free corridor between, for example, when you leave JFK and when you arrive in Barbados,” he explained. The Minister said temperature testing and prior knowledge of travel history would be required. Protocols were also needed for the appropriate levels of quarantine space for people who may eventually test positive. According to the statement, Symmonds said domestic protocols also needed to be settled because while there was a common understanding at the regional level, each country would have to implement standards. “Bottom line is, the perfect scenario would be to have a vaccine, . . . but that is several months away . . . In the meantime, life has to go on and we will have to exist with this threat we call COVID-19, until this time comes. So, therefore our [approach] has to be about managing the risk, minimising the risk and making sure that we can still do business, while we protect people as best as humanly possible,” he said. (BGIS)

NO FINAL WORD ON PLANS FOR CLASS 4 RETURN – No final decision has been reached regarding the logistical issues to be worked out before Class 4 students return to school next month, but Acting Chief Education Officer Joy Adamson has said UNICEF would be supplying all personal protective equipment (PPE) for the re-entry into schools.  Last Saturday, Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw announced that students sitting this year’s Common Entrance exam would do so on July 14, with schools set to reopen on June 15 for Class 4 students and some senior secondary students to complete their school-based assessments. General secretary of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Herbert Gittens confirmed that a another meeting was held yesterday between Ministry of Education officials, BUT, the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union, Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, the Association of Public Primary School Principals and the National Union of Public Workers.  That meeting follows on the heels of a meeting held on Monday between Ministry of Education officials and BUT heads. (DN)

BL&P: POWER RESTORED IN MOST AREAS – Barbados Light & Power representative Jennifer Blackman said power has been restored to most areas affected by an outage which occurred about 8 p.m. today. Blackman said the power outage was a result of a fault on one of the 24 transmission lines which tripped some of the generators. This led to outages scattered across the island. Crews were dispatched immediately, according to Blackman, and most of the faults were resolved within 15 minutes. She said power should have been fully restored by 9 p.m. (DN)

WINGS SALE DRAWS CROWDS – Bajans will have access to almost two containers of chicken wings from the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) before a two-month ban on imports goes into effect in a few days. From early Tuesday morning, one day after Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir announced a temporary suspension on the importation and sale of chicken wings and other poultry products by the BADMC from next Monday, Barbadians have been standing in long lines to purchase the popular Bajan item. And when Barbados TODAY visited BADMC’s Princess Alice Highway location today, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Glendine Bartlett said since the announcement, wings have been selling so quickly that she doubted there would be any left by the end of the week. “You are seeing the long lines because we are selling until the stock is exhausted. A lot of the customers have turned out to ensure that they get some. They figure this is the last lap so they are rushing to make sure they get the amount they want. “We had up to two containers that we were trying to push off, which is over 2 000 boxes and about 26 pounds in a box. And right now we don’t know if we will have any left by the end of the week but by Saturday we will complete sales,” she said. The lines stretched from the BADMC to as far as Courts Bridgetown, as persons patiently waited to purchase the chicken wings being sold at $132.25 per box. Minister Weir explained that the move would create additional space in the domestic market for local poultry producers who are facing a situation where they have excess poultry in cold storage, as a result of reduced demand and consumption since the shutdown of the tourism industry. Meanwhile, Bartlett said BADMC is also encouraging small businesses, as opposed to the large supermarkets, to purchase the wings. “Before the end of the week, maybe by tomorrow we should be finished. I would hope that all the small shops and businesses can get some, but it is until the stock lasts,” Bartlett said. (BT)

MILKED OUT DAIRIES IN TROUBLE - Dairy farms are in a very fragile state, veteran dairy producer Paul Davis declared today, suggesting that a once-thriving industry struggles against a slew of issues. Now he and other milk producers are pinning their hopes on Argentina, one of the world’s biggest dairy-producing nations to come to their rescue. Davis blamed a declining national herd count, poor nutrition, drought and a lack of access to modern technology for the struggles facing farms across the island. The dairy producer raised the issues in a virtual meeting of the Argentina-Barbados Milk Sector Table Cooperation. He said, many dairy farmers are also facing cash problems since many of them are owed VAT [Value Added Tax] refunds. Davis said the dairy industry was affected by the recession between 2011 and 2012 because customers’ spending power were weakened. He said that reality was followed by a difficulty to increase the national herd size because the required resources are not available on the island, or within the Caribbean. Davis, the owner of Walkers Dairy Farms, explained that dairy farms must replace 20 per cent of their herd every year or risk having older cows that develop health conditions and do not produce as much as is required. He further explained that while there are some farms that replaced their own heifers, other farmers are finding it difficult to accomplish this task due to the genetics and nutrition of the animals among other factors. Davis said: “Some farmers would have had to take a more expensive route and import animals from the US [United States]. So we have had two or three shipments of animals over the last four years. Our milk production last year was about 3.5 million litres. “So we are in the process of trying to rebuild the national herd, but as a result of the economic crisis and the COVID-19 crisis, we also have a cash problem because lots of us are owed VAT refunds. So we actually are in a very fragile state at this time. “A lot of farmers would definitely benefit from better record keeping because you have to have targets in place and you have to be able to measure what you are doing constantly. “You have to measure your milk production, how many calves the cow has, how old the cow is, all of these things are very critical. It is a complete situation where we have to manage the pennies and once you manage the pennies you will get the pounds.” Barbados is working with Argentina to form technical cooperation and trade links between the two countries’ dairy value chains. Davis said Argentina’s assistance was needed to help the local dairy industry recover. Other members of the dairy industry also related their concerns to Argentina’s Ambassador to Barbados Gustavo Martinez Pandiani. He announced the dairy and cattle powerhouse is to work with Barbadian farmers and dairies. As a second phase, a group of Barbadian milk producers is to visit Argentina’s famous milk plants in Santa Fe province. Ambassador Pandiani told Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir that his country wants to help the sector facing many challenges through technical cooperation and technology transfer. “We just want to humbly offer our expertise in this field,” Pandiani said. Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul, who also attended the virtual meeting, noted that it is now left to farmers to take advantage of the assistance to improve their operations. “We need to address the issues along the supply chain to try to ensure that we can get greater efficiency and also for greater coordination between the various actors along that supply chain,” Paul said.(BT)

HAVANNA NURSING TEAM, HUGE ASSET - The Cuban nurses who are treating COVID-19 patients are settling in well and are proving to be a huge asset to the short-staffed health care system, according to a senior hospital official. The QEH’s head of nursing services Henderson Pinder said health authorities are thankful to have the nurses working with them during the pandemic. The 65 Cuban nurses assigned to the Harrison Point isolation centre have been split into alternating 12-hour shifts. Pinder said: “The nurses working at both the Harrison Point Isolation Centre and Clinical Decision Unit are settling in well. This is thanks in part to Dr. Adolfo Fernandez Munoz, a Cuban doctor currently employed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital who spent a significant amount of time orientating the nurses to living and working in Barbados. “Additionally, the nurses working in the clinical decision unit are working alongside Cuban-trained doctors and operations assistants who are bilingual. This arrangement has greatly assisted with their orientation and function.” The nursing have taken a “team approach” to patient care, Pinder said, by working together to ensure patients’ needs are met, whether they need to be cleaned, fed, have vital signs taken or given medication. The Cubans are also working closely with their QEH counterparts, he added. Pinder said: “The Cuban nurses at the clinical decision unit are responsible for patient care both for in-patients awaiting COVID-19 test results, as well as assisting in swabbing of patients to facilitate COVID-19 testing.” The team of Cuban doctors and nurses arrived in Barbados on April 5 on two LIAT charter flights from Havava. The medical professionals were described as “respiratory therapists”. Minister of Health Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic said the Cuban medical team came to give support to local medical personnel, some of whom have been working long hours to help the country contain the spread of the virus. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remains at 90. There have been seven deaths, and the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory has now completed 4,322 tests – or about 1.5 per cent of the population. (BT)

24HR CURFEW STILL ON AG SAYS – Barbados is still under a 24-hour national curfew. That was made clear by Attorney General Dale Marshall, who said the intention is to keep as many Barbadians at home while the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat, even as Government has partially reopened some businesses and individuals are allowed in public at various times during the day. The country’s chief legal advisor made this clear as he responded to queries into what led the Royal Barbados Police Force to make numerous arrests recently which saw some individuals being charged with breaching curfew, though they had been in public outside of the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. period. In one instance, people from Bawdens, St Andrew were charged while being out after noon, and in another, numerous people attending a nightclub before 8 p.m. were apprehended by police.Marshall told the DAILY NATION the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was a regulation within the national shutdown which allowed essential service workers to facilitate movement, but the overarching aim was for Barbadians to stay in their residences as much as possible until the curfew was lifted. (DN)

CITY MAN JAILED FOR SHOPLIFTING – A 29-year-old man will spend six months at HMP Dodds for entering a supermarket and walking out without paying for several items. A security guard on duty at Popular Discount Supermarket kept Dario Renaldo Brathwaite, of Pickwick Gap, Westbury Road, St Michael under observation when he entered the establishment around 9:30 a.m yesterday. He subsequently left empty-handed, only to return around 2:42 p.m. He was again observed by security who saw him placing a number of items — three deodorants, three bottles of lotion, three perfumes, two packs of toothpaste, a mosquito coil and two packs of drink — into a haversack which he had over his shoulder. Brathwaite attempted to leave the supermarket without paying but was detained by a security officer, Sergeant Edwin Pinder revealed to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. He began to “scuffle” with the guard hitting her on the hand. Other officers intervened and Brathwaite was subdued. Before Magistrate Douglas Frederick today he pleaded guilty to the theft charge and to assaulting Euphyne Bascombe occasioning her actual bodily harm. Brathwaite, who is known to the court, was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing the items totaling $141.64 and convicted, reprimanded and discharged for the assault. A restitution order was granted for the items to be handed over to the supermarket. (BT)

HARPER RECALLED HOW HE “FOUND” A SHINY, LOADED GUN THREE YEARS AGO – David Wayne Harper was walking through a track near Ellerton Pasture in St George when he found a loaded firearm and decided to keep it in May three years ago. On May 26, 2017 the vehicle in which the Bibby’s Lane, St Michael resident was travelling was stopped by police doing traffic checks along Jack-in-the-Box Gully. His actions during that time caused lawmen to become suspicious and a search was conducted with his consent. A silver and black 9mm semi automatic pistol along with several paint brushes were found in a haversack. “The gun is mine I find it,” he said when asked to account. A further check discovered that the gun was equipped with a magazine containing seven rounds of ammunition. Harper was taken to the Holetown Police Station where he was told of his rights to an attorney. “No I don’t want a lawyer. When I go court I will get one,” he told police then. Today Harper’s case was heard via Zoom with Justice Randall Worrell presiding from the No. 2 Supreme Court. From his location at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds he pleaded guilty to the two-count indictment. Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas detailed the facts while his attorney-at-law Sian Lange listened in. The prosecutor said when police questioned Harper about the illegal gun and ammunition he told them he was not in possession of a licence nor a permit for the items. “No officer I don’t. I know it is an offence to got them.” Harper, a painter, who was 46 years old at the time, also gave police a statement. He disclosed that he was at a shop lime in Ellerton “some time” in the beginning of May 2017 around 4 p.m. He subsequently left, and while passing through a track saw, “this thing” shining on the ground. “I see it was a gun and I took it up and went home,” he said. Harper said he stashed the weapon in the back of his residence for a few days but eventually removed it and placed it in his bag because it began to rain. On May 26 he decided to go job hunting, took up the bag, and while going through Jack-in-the-Box Gully he was held with the firearm. On his arrest he told police he did not tell anyone about the gun because “I don’t deal with no one like that.” He said he did not report his find to the police. “I was scared I would get charged. I duh plan to keep it.” He was taken back to the Ellerton were he pointed out the area where he found the gun. Lawyers for the prosecution and defence will put forward mitigating submissions in the case of the first-time offender, on Wednesday, May 27. The time he has spent on remand in connection with the two charges will also be read by a prison officer on that day. A pre-sentencing report has already been complied on him. (BT)

AMBASSADOR CONDOR QUITS – With two weeks to go before the St Kitts & Nevis general election on June 5, that country’s Ambassador to the United Nations Sam Condor has resigned from that posting. He is set to make an official statement tomorrow on his future. Condor previously served as the twin-island federation’s Foreign Minister in then Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas’ St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party government. He was Deputy Prime Minister between 1995 and 2013 before quitting the party and joining the Team Unity Alliance. Condor played a key role in Team Unity Alliance winning the 2015 general election under current Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris. Tonight, speaking to Barbados TODAY as to the reasons for his resignation, Condor said he would be holding a press conference tomorrow to discuss that but added he did not believe the Timothy Harris administration had done enough during its tenure to introduce and implement its good governance agenda on which the 2015 general election was fought. He explained that this would be a major issue again in the upcoming general election. Condor suggested that the Labour Party lost the last general election despite having a number of good programmes. “I believe the main issue will be the new government’s agenda. I could say the election is not about programmes. The Labour Party had tremendous programmes, they had a number of projects going on, the economy was going well and they were paying back the IMF debt they had borrowed. In fact, they were ahead [of] schedule in repaying the debt, the SIDF [Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation]. So it was not a question of programmes and policies, and so on, not even the health of the economy, it was a question of the good governance agenda. The functional deficits, those were not addressed,” he said. He noted that five years ago the election boundaries were an issue and these was only decided a couple days before the election, where the matter went before the People’s Council. He said five years had now passed and the incumbent Government still had not addressed the boundaries situation. “As a matter of fact, people are wondering which boundaries they are going to go to now, five years later. So those are some issues that are going to [be highlighted] in the election campaign,” he said. Condor stated some of the governance issues which he expected to be raised in the general election would include transparency and corruption. “Transparency, accountability, freedom of information, public accounts committee, the whole works, the whole gamut, the whole range of good governance issues. Election campaign funding, you name it, nepotism, corruption,” he remarked. Condor explained that in the last election there were people who thought it was the time for a new dispensation and they voted accordingly. He said there was a sense of the same thing now ahead of next month’s general election. “They wanted to have things done differently [five years ago], they are looking for a new way [in 2020]. I think what has happened is that they have seen their hopes and aspirations dashed. And again some people have become very cynical that ‘boy look, they are the same’. So I think we have some of that happening,” he said. Condor, however, gave the Harris administration credit for the manner it had handled the COVID-19 pandemic so far. “I think the government has done fairly well with the pandemic but I think they have missed an opportunity to get the whole country on board. But that being said, I think they really tried. People feel that the curfew has been excessive because we had 15 cases and all recovered. We don’t have any now and we didn’t have any deaths. “Our borders are still closed. There is a general view that there have been a little excessive. Some church people are questioning whether they should be allowed some limited worship . . . but there would always be some people who would want to do things differently,” he said. Condor said the general election would be a very close contest but he believed the Labour Party could recapture the government. (BT)

CAMERON SENDS LEGAL LETTER – FORMER PRESIDENT OF Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dave Cameron has written to the region’s governing body for cricket in the wake of a leak audit report of CWI’s finances. Word of this from CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave during an interview with NATION SPORT. “We received a letter yesterday from representatives of Mr Cameron and we haven’t responded as yet, but I expect us to respond in the next couple of days,” Grave said. It comes after former West Indies fast bowler and cricket commentator Michael Holding brought the situation to light, apparently exposing the alleged financial mismanagement of the CWI board. (DN)

W.I TO FACE COVID-19 TESTS – If the anticipated tour to England bowls off in July, West Indies players will have to undergo frequent testing for the novel coronavirus. The United Kingdom has over 200 000 confirmed cases of the virus with close to 36 000 deaths recorded and chief executive officer of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Johnny Grave, confirmed that following ongoing discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board, it has been agreed to have players examined often for their health and safety amid the pandemic. “I don’t think they will be tested every day. We will test everyone before they leave, test everyone on arrival and then we will have regular sample testing throughout the period. Medical practitioners will also monitor temperature checks but not full-blown testing,” Grave told NATION SPORT yesterday during a telephone interview. (DN)

The world is facing the rapid spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. As we continue to do our part in Barbados please remember to stay home but on the days you have to go out wear your masks, practice social distancing (stand 6-10 feet away from each other), practice good daily hygiene, eat healthy, exercise and keep your mind active. There are 225 days left in the year Shalom!  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell #coronavirusinbarbados #nationalresponse #dailynews #thechasefilesblog

[ablaqmajic]

@Regrann from @spartananimalkingdom - #Repost @saltorwha ・・・ 🇩🇲 Kestrel liner agencies CACS has chartered a schooner vessel the 'Admiral Bay 2' to take relief supplies to Dominica on Tuesday. 🇩🇲 The vessel can carry 125 tonnes and has space of 480 square metres.⛴ Williams Industries has already committed to sending supplies.🔨 Glacial Ice: water💧. Jada builders: supplies 🔧 and Preconco: supplies🔩.Innotech: supplies also🛠. Popular Discount food items. 🍪 If you or any of your family members wish to send relief supplies to Dominica private individuals can bring big items to the Port on Tuesday. 🇩🇲 Small items in boxes can be taken to warehouse #19 Gas Alley Cane Garden st Thomas (which is close to Structural Systems) from 9.00 am on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday until 730 pm. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL.📦 CACS will wrap them an place them on pallets for shipping. 🚚 Let's come together and help our brothers and sisters in their time of need. For more information contact 2316261.🇩🇲 - #regrann

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 10/11/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Wednesday, 11th October, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing MidWeek Nation Newspaper (MWN).

EXPOSED – Controversial businessman Mark Maloney is being praised by an unlikely source for what has been described as “saving” ordinary people from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart. St James Central Member of Parliament Kerrie Symmonds issued the praise while charging that  Government was prepared to put scores of low-income tenants into the Valery apartments at Brittons HiIl, St Michael without basic finishes such as floor tiles, kitchen units and bathroom cabinets. However, Symmonds said fortunately for the tenants, Maloney, who awarded millions of dollars in Government building contracts and who has been the target of ferocious Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) attacks, stepped in. Symmonds said Maloney saved the Valery high-rise project by ensuring quality finishes, though they ended up adding more than half a million dollars to the cost of the buildings. Addressing a BLP St Michael South branch meeting at Graydon Sealy Secondary School, Symmonds produced supporting documents dating back to 2012 when the apartments were built. He commended Maloney, the principal official of Preconco, for insisting that Government not open the apartments to occupants unless the floor tiles, kitchen units and other finishes were included. Speaking of what he said was poor treatment of taxpayers by the current Government, Symmonds said to his party faithful, “You understand how the Government that is elected to represent you and to lift you up is in fact a Government that is prepared to cut you off at the knees and drag you down?” When contacted this evening, Minister of Housing Denis Kellman said the building of the high rise housing complex was before his time, and since he was appointed in 2013 he was not aware of the situation. Repeated efforts to reach his predecessor Michael Lashley were unsuccessful. (BT)

NEW HIVE – They are all former candidates of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party.However, tonight Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Dr Maria Agard (second from left), former St Michael South Central representitive David Gill and former St John candidate Hutson Griffith came together at Notty’s Bar, Haynesville, St James, in support of the United Progressive Party, led by attorney Lynette Eastmond. Agard, who is yet declare who she will be representing in the next election, seems at home in the UPP camp. (BT)

AG’S PLEA – Barbadians will be talking crime and violence today. Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite has issued an open invitation to all stakeholders and members of the public to come out and participate in the discussions to find solutions to the spiralling crime situation which has plunged Barbados in a state of fear for the past eight months. The event comes off at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex and is expected to draw input from the church, community groups, the police and the average citizen from 8:30 a.m.  “I want to invite as many members of the public as possible . . . . What worked [in the past] may not work [now]; we need to re-evaluate what works and canvass all ideas as the [ordinary citizen] may have ideas [the scholars and experts] do not. (MWN)

ZERO INTEREST – Retired school principal Jeff Broomes will not be carrying the ruling Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) banner in the next general election. In fact, don’t expect him to represent the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) either, since Broomes is today making it clear that he has no interest whatsoever in running for any political party. However, Broomes said while it was true that some DLP members had informally broached the idea of him being the ruling party’s candidate, he had not been formally approached by the Freundel Stuart-led party. Speculation has been rife over Broomes’ next move after he delivered the DLP’s lunchtime lecture on August 25 this year. But while making it clear that he was prepared to speak to any organization or group that thought he had a valid contribution to make, Broomes pointed out that that he had previously addressed two BLP branch meetings and one similar gathering of DLP supporters. He also stated that he would always give service to Barbados whenever he could, while stressing that “I do not need to be in the position of an elected politician to do that”. So far the Opposition BLP has confirmed that tourism consultant Colin Jordan will carry its banner in St Peter with apostle Lynroy Scantlebury also announcing plans to contest the seat which is currently held by independent member Owen Arthur, who has represented the constituency in Parliament since 1984. With the ruling party yet to choose its representative for the northern riding, the DLP’s General Secretary George Pilgrim explained to Barbados TODAY that persons who have an interest in contesting a seat usually write to the party. However, he made it clear that Broomes had not done that. In fact, Pilgrim said attorney-at-law Dave Cumberbatch was the only person who had written the party expressing an interest in being its St Peter representative. Elections are constitutionally due here by the middle of next year. (BT)

UWI FEAR – A crisis may well be looming in Barbados with only the children of the well-to-do being able to access higher education. This stark warning came yesterday from principal of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Professor Eudine Barriteau, while addressing a scholarship presentation by the Optimist International club to student Akilah Jordan-Watson. “As you know, the challenge of funding higher education is becoming quite acute and, in essence, a crisis may well be looming. We have taken higher education for granted,” she said. Enrolment levels have dropped at Cave Hill ever since Government’s decision to end taxpayer funding of UWI tuition fees in 2014, going from 8 711 students in 2013 to 4 203 for the current academic year.  (MWN)

TEACHERS NOT SHUT OUT – Minister of Education Ronald Jones is assuring that the island’s teachers have not been shut out of the process of decision making in relation to the soon-to-be established Teaching Service Commission. Following an announcement made by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last week that the commission will be proclaimed into law on October 16, Jones has also sought to make it clear that there is still room for consultation on the matter. “There ain’t no final thing . . . All we are doing is having is the Governor General’s assent to promulgation, full stop,” he told Barbados TODAY in response to concerns expressed by President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Pedro Shepherd that Government had reached the proclamation stage of the commission without proper consultation with teachers. While making it clear that the union wanted a say on the type of personnel the commission should carry, the BUT head also warned last Friday that “if it is at the stage where it is completed and ready to be proclaimed, then unless we can see it before the 16th [of October] then we might very well have some issues with the setup”. However, while pointing out that the unions did a lot of work in the 1980s and 1990s on how the commission should look and function, an agitated Jones said the BUT could hardly claim now that teachers have been shut out of the process. He also argued that as far as such commissions go, the Prime Minister was free to choose who he wants to put in charge. “I think he [Shepherd] is confusing two things. He is confusing a teaching service commission that looks at issues such as promotion, discipline and things like that, as opposed to another notion that has been knocking around for a while which deals with issues of qualifications, professionalism and things like that. That’s a totally different construct  . . . and that’s an area that we have not gone into,” Jones said. (BT)

ST. LEONARD’S DISPUTE STILL NOT SETTLED – The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) says the ball is now in the Ministry of Education’s court as far as the dispute at the St Leonard’s Boys’ School is concerned. On two occasions over the past two weeks, the school was forced to close early after teachers and other unionized members of staff called in sick at the height of the impasse over the sacking of a clerk typist on August 31. It is understood that the clerk typist was employed on a temporary basis for three years up until her termination, for which the BSTU said no legitimate reason has been given to date. However, Redman said: “It is our understanding that the Ministry of Education, rather than use their good office to ensure that the type of consultation with the Board that needs to take place should have done so . . . have sent someone to fill the post of clerk typist, something that they have no legitimacy in doing”. Describing the situation as a “very serious affront” to the entire industrial relation process, she further argued that the ministry “has no authority or legitimacy” to fill the post in the way that it has by “sending someone to perform the function of clerk/typist while we are seeking resolution of the matter”. Efforts to reach the Chief Education Officer Karen Best for a response were unsuccessful. (BT)

GET WITH IT – Minister of Education Ronald Jones is concerned that schools in Barbados are not meeting the needs of today’s students, owing to the fact that teachers are not technologically savvy enough. In fact, he suggested that the use of technology must become part of the normal teaching routine in all places of learning. The Minister of Education, who has been facing an uphill battle as he tries to get teachers on board with lifting the current domestic ban on cell phones in schools, went further to suggest to teachers that use of technology would actually make them better educators. Back in 2015, the STEP programme was piloted at eight primary schools – A. Dacosta Edwards, Belmont Primary, Boscobel Primary, St Elizabeth Primary, St Martins Mangrove, St Philip Primary, Wesley Hall Juniors and the Wilkie Cumberbatch School – with the remaining 61 primary schools due to come on board as early as next week. Participating teachers and principals have benefited from expert training from officials of the University of New Brunswick in Canada. The STEP initiative is aimed at improving school leadership and classroom teaching practices. The effective implementation of STEPs in all primary schools is expected to result in the overall improvement in student performance, especially in literacy, numeracy and science. Jones encouraged all principals and teachers to take full advantage of the opportunities. (BT)

RESPECT FOR PARKINSON – For the rest of this term, 30 students from Parkinson Memorial Secondary School will get a chance to “do great things”. They are to benefit from self-development sessions with the Barbados Youth Action Programme (BYAP). The programme, Love And Respect, which the students named themselves, will run for one hour each week. Yesterday at the inaugural session, principal Ian Holder told the fourth and fifth formers: “I believe the young men at Parkinson can do great things. When you have all finished this programme, you should be different young men from when you all started.”  (MWN)

MORE CRUISE BUSINESS FOR BRDIGETOWN PORT – The Bridgetown Port is expecting 34 additional cruise ship calls – beyond the 424 in total last year – in the coming weeks as a direct result of the impact of recent hurricanes on other ports and cruise destinations in the region. The increased activity will begin tomorrow when it welcomes close to 3 000 passengers from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Adventure Of The Seas, ending a three-week hiatus in cruise activity. This ship’s call marks the beginning of what is expected to be a busy session for cruise tourism, with six cruise lines forced to rearrange their schedules, putting Barbados on their itinerary in place of some of their regular ports of call severely affected by the hurricanes. Hurricane Maria severely affected the port of San Juan, the hub for Southern Caribbean cruises, forcing its temporary closure. However, some cruise lines have now resumed cruises to the Southern Caribbean from Puerto Rico. (MWN)

OPEN ARMS FOR COMPLEX – Businesses operating along Fontabelle are welcoming an announcement that Massy Properties has earmarked the old Dacosta Mannings Complex for commercial activity. Massy has been advertising the St Michael complex as business spaces for boutiques, shoe stores, coffee shops, convenience stores, hardware stores, barber studios, and hair and beauty supplies. Hayden Clement, owner of All Phase Electrical, said while he was unaware of the proposed complex, he saw it as something positive. “For my business marginally you may see a bit more traffic, and in terms of people getting to know where we are in Fontabelle. I believe it might have a positive impact on our business, once it is not competing directly in terms of our product line,” he said. (MWN)

COURT SEEKING BRATHWAITE – The Coroners Court is seeking Dwayne Jamal Brathwaite, alias “Blues” or “Buttseet”.  Brathwaite whose last known address is Mangrove St Philip, is being asked to report to the Coroners Court, located at the Supreme Court Building, White Park Road, St Michael, as soon as possible, or contact telephone numbers 430-7178, or 430-7179. (MWN)

BUGGERY ACCUSED REMANDED AGAIN – A 67-year-old man, accused of buggery, will remain on remand at HMP Dodds after making yet another unsuccessful application for bail. Winston Errol Bovell, of 144 Lodge Hill Terrace, St Michael, who has been housed at the St Philip penal institution since February 1, is accused of committing the act against a minor sometime between November 1, 2016 and January 28 this year. When he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today, Bovell said he would like to make “a written application for bail”. As the accused man removed a sheet of paper from the pocket of his shirt, the magistrate queried whether he had anything new to add to his previous applications. “Yes, I have contracted bronchitis and I want to make a written application [for bail],” he revealed. However, the magistrate informed him that the prison system would have the necessary systems in place to deal with his illness. His bail was denied. “I don’t understand this,” a visibly frustrated Bovell said as he was given a November 7 date to return to court. (BT)

MAN REMANDED IN CUTLASS HOME VIOLATION – A 56-year-old man has been remanded to prison for the next 28-days after appearing in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on a theft charge. David Orlando Ricardo Belgrave, of 4th Avenue Goodland, St Michael, admitted to Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today that he entered the home of Anderson Hunte on September 12 as a trespasser and stole $179 in cash belonging to the homeowner. The unemployed man could not enter a plea because it is alleged that he had a cutlass in his possession making the case against him indictable. “Ma’am can you do this case as a hybrid. I don’t want it to get caught up in the court system. I would like to plead guilty. Could I have it fast track?” Belgrave asked. The magistrate explained that the matter could only be dealt with at the High Court. Sergeant Cameron Gibbons objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence and for the accused man’s safety as well as that of society. “He invaded a person’s property and at the time had a weapon in his possession,” Gibbons submitted, pointing out that Belgrave had 15 prior convictions under the Theft Act. The accused man said he was aware that his antecedents “were a lot, but it is over five years since I haven’t been in trouble with the law”. “At this point it is only an allegation,” Belgrave added. His application for bail was denied and he was remanded to the St Philip penal institution until November 7.  (BT)

JAILED FOR LOITERING – St Michael resident Ramon Akeem Quarless will spend the next nine months in prison at HMP Dodds for loitering on the premises of West Indies Biscuit Company Limited. Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons said the 25-year-old of Harmony Hall, Hindsbury Road was found in a compactor at the Gills Road, Bridgetown company yesterday. Quarless was discovered in the machine where expired snacks and biscuits are stored after an employee informed the manager that he had seen an unknown man entering the compactor. He was unable to give a satisfactory explanation when asked why he was there. However, when the police were called in, Quarless reportedly said that he had “just smoke some cocaine and was hungry” and as a result “jumped over the fence to get something to eat”. When Quarless, who is known to the law courts, appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant, he pleaded guilty, explaining he did not want to waste the court’s time. (BT)

DODDS CALL FOR CELL PHONE THIEF – Coconut vendor Dario Jamar Cheltenham, who pleaded guilty to stealing a cellular phone earlier today, will know his fate in the next 28 days. The 25-year-old of Kings Gap, Eagle Hall, St Michael was remanded to HMP Dodds until November 7 after appearing before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant. According to the prosecutor, Cheltenham asked Dale Jones for a “lodging” the night before. However, around 5 a.m. today he informed Jones that he was leaving. Jones became suspicious and made a search of his home and discovered that his $270 cellular phone was missing. He went to the police station to report the matter. However, while there another officer brought Cheltenham into custody along with the electronic device. Today, Cheltenham told the magistrate that he had nothing to say in his defence. When Cuffy-Sargeant pointed to his previous conviction for theft of another device, Cheltenham said: “The body get back the phone.” However, the magistrate made it clear that this was not an excuse for his behaviour. Sergeant Cameron Gibbons, the prosecutor, made an application for the phone to be returned to its owner but the magistrate denied the order for the time being. “We need to be sure that the electronic device is in good working order, “ she said.  (BT)

YOUNG FIRST OFFENDER WANTS TO GO REHAB – A 24-year-old man will return to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Friday to speak with a probation officer after signaling his willingness to undergo drug rehabilitation. Chad Mario Delaney Elcock of Block 11A, Rosemont, St Michael, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant to having cannabis in his possession on September 9. Police, who were on patrol, saw Elcock smoking what looked like a cannabis cigarette. A “pungent scent of cannabis” was emanating from him when police approached, the court heard. However, he denied the officer’s suspicion even after he was seen dropping the cigarette behind his back. It was found behind his foot. A quantity of seeds was also found on a bookshelf in his bedroom when a search warrant was executed. “Dem is weed seeds I just had there and forgot to throw away,” he reportedly said. When he was taken into police custody he explained that he was under a lot of stress and needed the drug to relax. Elcock, who has no previous convictions, was granted $3,000 bail and will on October 13 know whether he qualifies for drug rehab.  (BT)

BIIG ENOUGH FOR REGION – The Barbados Olympic Association’s (BOA) Independence Invitational Games (BIIG) are likely to be expanded next year to the regional front. Chairman of the organising committee, Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne, told MIDWEEK SPORT that the meet which was launched last year, could be the forerunner to a 2018 Caribbean Games. “These Games have tremendous possibilities and are already making a difference to the local landscape and we are working to take it to the next level in 2018 and that is to broaden it to the regional Games. “I am really pleased that about 30 of the 36 national federations affiliated to the BOA are on board. I am excited about the future of these Games.  (MWN)

WINDIES UP FOR ZIMBABWE – West Indies captain Jason Holder does not foresee any decrease in intensity from his side when they take on minnows Zimbabwe in two Tests in Bulawayo later this month. The Windies left the Caribbean on Monday for the short rubber, seeking their first series victory since beating Bangladesh in a similar two-Test series in the Caribbean three years ago. Holder said the trajectory of the Windies performances was headed in the right direction and Zimbabwe presented an ideal opportunity to continue that progression. “It won’t be difficult to motivate the guys,” Holder said prior to the side’s departure. (MWN)

DEACONS OUTPLAY WARRENS – Deacons women handed defending champions Pan American International Insurance Warrens their first league loss in two years on Monday. They won 25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-9 when the Goddard Enterprises Division 1 volleyball league continued at the Wildey Gymnasium. De-Ann Smith and Julia Lewis were outstanding for Deacons, with only Rhe-Ann Niles standing between Deacons and a total annihilation of Warrens. On Sunday, Deacons had looked ordinary in being trampled in straight sets by the smoking hot Burger King Clapham Toners.  (MWN)

NEWBURY, BOOMERZ SHARE HONORS – Newbury and Boomerz Combine played to an enthralling 30-30 draw in the Barbados Workers’ Union Netball Tournament at the Netball Stadium on Monday night. Boomerz Combine held a handy 17-11 lead at half-time but Newbury fought back during the last two quarters to earn a share of the points. In the third quarter, Newbury scored ten goals to Boomerz Combine’s five to pull within one at the end of the quarter before the two teams fought it out tooth and nail in the final quarter. Goal shoot Beverley Marsh led Newbury’s attack by converting 21 of her 27 attempts, while Shekilla Smith and Janelle Brathwaite, who shared the goal attack bib, netted five and four goals, respectively.  (MWN)

SPEED FESTIVAL PREVIEW TOMORROW –The Twister Aerobatics Team, one of the star turns packing the eight-hour schedule for this Saturday’s Barbados Festival of Speed, will give the island a preview of the action tomorrow with two spectacular air displays in their 180mph Silence SA1100 aircraft. In their first-ever display in the Americas, they will fly from Bushy Park Barbados to Cave Hill, then back along the south coast at noon and 6.00pm.  (BT)

HOT SOCA AT THE COVE – The temperature wasn’t the only thing that was hot on Saturday afternoon at Daquiri Beach in Bay Street, St Michael. Soca queen Alison Hinds turned up the heat for more than 40 minutes, showing the scores of patrons attending the Barbados Jazz Excursion event at Pirate’s Cove just how to party and have a really good time not only at Crop Over or seasonal fetes, but whenever good music was played. From the time the Cultural Ambassador came on stage, women wearing swimsuits and men in their beach pants left where they were and came by to get a closer view. Starting with Bumpers Rolling and ending with Togetherness, Hinds sang hit after hit. The set included a total of 15 songs she had done either as a soloist or with the band Square One, such as Born Wit’ It, Grind It, Brace And Wine, Carnival Baby, Roll It Gal, Single, Faluma, Ragamuffin, Iron Bazodee and Ride Me Riddim.  (MWN)

That’s all for today folks there are 81 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[nakeddeparture]

Mia Mottley/Mark Maloney, The Atlantic Breeze Development, Chancery Lane, Christ Church, Barbados. Another project/parcel of land given to Preconco (Mark Maloney)? The houses are already falling apart?

https://youtu.be/ZMO7mOZ8424

Mia Mottley’s (and those of the DLP leaders) hands seem to be tied. Mark Maloney seems to be calling the shots in Barbados? Have your say. Naked!!

Like/share/comment/subscribe on YouTube (it costs you nothing). Press the notification bell 🔔.

[constructioncaribbean]

#Repost @preconco_limited with @get_repost ・・・ DID YOU KNOW: The structural strength and density of precast concrete makes it an ideal choice for safe rooms in houses. Precast concrete storm shelters can easily be installed for protection in hurricane-prone areas! Contact Preconco Limited today to learn about the many quality options available for your project! Or see link in bio or www.constructioncaribbean.con to read more. #structuralstrength #density #precastconcrete #saferoom #stormshelter #hurricane #hurricaneseason #preconcolimited

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 12/14/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Friday 14th December 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

CORPORATE BARBADOS TO BWA’S RESCUE – Two days after contracting company Innotech Services Limited uprooted the community water tanks it had leased to the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) over millions owed by the utility company, members of corporate Barbados today started pouring in donations of replacement tanks and other materials. It is understood that the state-owned BWA owes Innotech some $18 million accumulated over a 14-month period for the provision of various services, including arrears for the tanks which are leased at $51,000 per month for five years and rental of the headquarters building in the Pine for $1 million a month for 15 years. Chairperson of the BWA Leodean Worrell told a news conference this afternoon she was unusually lost for words to see the overwhelming generosity of Barbadians who had come to the rescue of the residents of water-scarce St Joseph, St Andrew, St John and St Thomas who have been deprived of access to potable water supplies. Unofficial spokesman for corporate Barbados and businessman Hallam Nicholls, who was present at the news conference assured chairperson Worrell, BWA general manager Keithroy Halliday and board member Andrew Dickson that whatever the BWA needs would be supplied. “Yesterday when we got the news that these tanks had been taken, we immediately sprung into action. With me today is Mark Roach from Williams Industries and many other businessmen. They called me to say, look, we want to help. I understand there are 104 tanks owned by Innotech that are leased to the water authority. What I can tell you that all of the tanks or more will be supplied by corporate Barbados. All,” Nicholls declared. He revealed that Mark Maloney, head of construction firm Preconco will supply the concrete for the base on which the tanks must be placed. He said that construction magnate Sir Charles Williams, who is in Argentina called him to pledge his support. “There are too many to mention. But what I can say to you is that whatever the water authority needs to combat this situation will be achieved with the help of corporate Barbados. I think is very unfortunate. As a matter of fact, I am prepared to say it is unpatriotic of Innotech and also insensitive for them at this time, having been the recipient of many contracts from the BWA, to take this action,” the businessman added. Roach, a director of Williams Industries and a top official of sister company H&B Hardware, told the news conference they donated four tanks yesterday and another 12 today. Roach, too, echoed the sentiments of Nicholls regarding the actions of Innotech. “As Mr Nicholls has just said, we realize that this is a very insensitive decision by the people at Innotech. We just felt we had to step forward and I am sure that’s the view of many other people in corporate Barbados,” Roach said. Paul Bridgeman, who represented Jose y Jose Liquid, Solid Waste Management Inc and Project Recycle pledged five water tanks, while Chris Maloney of Automotive Art said his company was giving 12. Like several of his business colleagues, Maloney suggested that the removal of the tanks left a bad taste in the mouth of many. “Barbados is not the place for any of our people to be so disadvantaged, that the safety supply and emergency access to water is not available to them, Christmas of otherwise. Automotive Art is here to pledge its support…we can pledge 10, 11, 12 tanks to the cause,” he assured. President of the Senate and legal luminary Sir Richard Cheltenham was also at the news conference with a cheque to buy five tanks. “The people who are directly impacted by this are people who I have represented for nearly 15 years as their Member of Parliament for the people of St Joseph…some in St Thomas, some in St Andrew, some in St John. All of those areas form part of the constituency of St Joseph, because it is below the average of constituencies in the country,” said Sir Richard. He said he would be “very” unhappy to know he was enjoying his Christmas and these people could not have access to basic amenities such as water. But the support for the state-owned water company did not only come from outside, but within as well. Flanked by members of the BWA’s division of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), spokesman for the employees and president of the division Carl Boyce said they were contributing two tanks. “The staff at the BWA and the BWU through its executive council and our general secretary, we all are onboard in this gesture. And we, both in the union and as staff, are putting out money where our mouths are and we are donating two tanks to help with this exercise, because we also have members of staff in those areas,” Boyce said. While not providing a date, BWA chairperson Worrell informed reporters that the new tanks will be in place as soon as possible.  (BT)

BWA CONTRACT TALKS IN PROGRESS –The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has started renegotiating its contract with Innotech Aquaserve Ltd for the $44 million headquarters complex. The BWA management revealed it was tied to a contract which would see the authority paying more than $171 million over 15 years before the authority could own the building. “Discussions commenced yesterday (Wednesday) with the Innotech team and the external negotiators appointed by the Government,” BWA chairman Leodean Worrell said on Thursday at the BWA’s Pine, St Michael headquarters. “They are progressing quite well. We have not yet gotten a full report, so at this point in time I can’t exactly indicate where it is, but there are indeed contracts that have to be renegotiated and this one in particular is one that needs to be renegotiated,” she added.  (WN)

COMPROMISE SOUGHT – Innotech Equipment Inc. offered to give up two years’ billings for the Rapid Response Units community tanks stationed in water-scarce areas of Barbados if the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) would pay up on its outstanding debts for 2017 and 2018. The company’s offer was made five months ago in a letter dated August 24, 2018 when its Director Anthony DaSilva also proposed that the new deal take effect at the end of that month once the BWA agreed. The letter of compromise was addressed to the BWA Chairman Leodean Worrell and copied to the BWA General Manager Keithroy Halliday and former Communications specialist Joy-ann Haigh. Innotech, now wrapped in a row with Government over the State’s outstanding debt, would have been giving up close to $1.2 million which represented $51,000 per month for at least 24 months of the initial five-year contract approved under the former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government. A copy of the letter obtained by Barbados TODAY and which had as its subject “RRU Community Tanks” also put forward two other conditions of the offer in addition to the requirement that all outstanding invoices for 2017 and 2018 would be paid “as soon as the BWA’s cashflow permits”. The letter also stipulated: “BWA will take possession of the Community Tanks currently remaining out in the field and the community tanks and the associated equipment remains the property of Innotech Equipment Inc. A source close to the situation said this “olive branch” was extended to the BWA in good faith and was the company extending its hand to save the authority and the taxpayers at least some costs. In fact, the August letter stated: “Further to communication between the BWA and Halliday/Da Silva and Worrell, we write to confirm our willingness to put the above captioned in abeyance and to forego any future monthly billings due under the contract as at the end of August 2018.” On Tuesday Innotech, in an apparent attempt to force the authority’s hand on the debt payment, started to remove the community tanks. BWA Chairman Worrell expressed shock at the development and noted that the BWA was “not given a courtesy call,” while adding that several attempts were made to bring Innotech to the negotiation table in recent times but to no avail. When asked today to explain her claim that Innotech was unwilling to negotiate against what appears to be evidence to the contrary, Worrell explained that a correspondence conveying a demand was not negotiating. “You are telling me that you are giving me the tanks that BWA paid $51,000 per month for since 2015 but we must pay up to date when the BWA does not have the money. So that is not a negotiation,” she told Barbados TODAY. She explained that it was imperative that Innotech come to negotiation table to rationalize aspects of the contract. She further noted that among the questions raised about the contract was the reasoning behind ordering 2000-gallon tanks, which were double the cost of the 1000-gallon tank. The tank size posed further logistical problems as the BWA only has one super tanker capable of transporting more than 1200 gallons and this meant that water trucks needed to make two trips to fill one tank. In addition, clarification was needed on certain clauses within the contract as it pertains to exclusivity, she said. “A lot of it did not make sense so we needed to have a sit down. The price difference between a 2000-gallon tank and 1000 gallon is tremendous. There is the fine print that we also need to go through such as the issue of exclusivity because we were essentially being held hostage. So from the time they took up the tanks that in law is repudiation because I would prefer that the water tanks belong to the BWA,” said Worrell. Barbados TODAY also contacted Innotech chairman, Anthony Da Silva, who said “The Innotech Group of Companies has operations and companies in Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and in Dominica. It is not the habit of Innotech, in the past and it will not be in the present or the future, to comment in the public domain or privately on the confidential affairs between itself and its clients.” Barbados TODAY understands that there have been attempts today to reach some solution to the impasse between the BWA and the equipment company. Chairman Worrell confirmed that talks had started with Innotech on all contracts which she said will be renegotiated, particularly the one involving the tanks. “Discussions commenced yesterday with the Innotech team and the external negotiators appointed by the Government. They are progressing quite well. We have not yet got a full report, so at this point in time I cannot say exactly where it is. But there are indeed contracts that have to be renegotiated…this one in particular is one that needs to be renegotiated,” the BWA chair said.  (BT)

IN THE RED – The state-owned Barbados Water Authority (BWA) said today it is facing a deficit of $10.3 million a month. In making the announcement at a press conference at the BWA’s Pine, St Michael headquarters, general manager Keithroy Halliday attributed this position to a series of contracts which it had entered into over the past several years which did not profit the company. “Suffice to say, the net effect of it has been that the BWA now faces a monthly deficit of about $10.3 million. And this is the result of a number of contracts which we find to be very challenging and which we, over the months, have been trying to move away from and negotiate a position that at least allows all parties to benefit going forward,” Halliday said. He noted that the community water tanks was one of those contracts which gave birth to the rapid response unit at the height of the chronic water outages and shortages experienced by residents in the north and north eastern part of the island. Halliday said the unit was drawn from personnel within the distribution department, but has since been restructured to bring it in line with the company’s strategic intent which is to make sure the authority delivers on its mandate for a safe supply of water and do so in a “complete and holistic way” as far as customer service is concerned. He conceded that the BWA reached a point where it could no longer meet its financial obligations to the contractor who leased the tanks to the water utility. “The simple fact of the matter is that given the challenges the BWA has had and given the fact that we have had to take several hard decisions, one of the areas that would have been impacted would have been the inadequate equipment. We were not able to meet all of the timely payments to the contractor in respect of services delivered…in particular for the community tanks,” the general manager said. He also pointed to the fact that the BWA is required to fork out $1 million a month to pay rent for the next 13 years under a 15-year agreement for the building at the Pine that houses the headquarters. “The arrangement with the building is what we call a lease plus arrangement. There are two components. There is a rental figure of $701,000 a month and then there is a service charge figure that runs between $230,000 and $250,000 a month. So every month conceivably, the BWA has been trying to make a million dollars in payments towards inhabiting this particular establishment,” Halliday lamented. He argued that the water works was earning an average $11 million a month and was waiting on a loan. (BT)

‘NO GAMES’ – Residents of St Joseph have issued a warning to Government and the Barbados Water Authority (BWA): don’t “play games” with their water supply. Amid the ongoing debt standoff with the BWA during which the property management firm, Innotech, removed community tanks from rural districts over unpaid debt, villagers are holding the water utility accountable for any disruption in service. While many have grown accustomed to life without steady running water in the hilly, remote area, the thought of losing their community tanks is an offence for which the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) will not be forgiven. Instead, residents in Chimborazo, Horse Hill and Branchberry, St Joseph say they have entered into a contract with the BWA for the supply of water. Having been reduced to heavy dependence on outdoor tanks, they appear in no mood for excuses. Sobie, an elderly resident of Chimborazo, went as far as saying that he supported the position taken by Innotech, while calling on the BWA to improve its services. “Once they [the tanks] haven’t been paid for, I agree with them [Innotech]. If [BWA] haven’t paid me, then I am withdrawing my services. That is a fact. But so long as I’m paying my water bill, you have to let water come through here [the taps], and if there’s no water coming through my main and coming out of the tap, you don’t get a cent from me. I am different to the other people that like a lot of talk. If I can’t get nothing, you can’t get nothing. Simple as that,” he said. Earlier this week, Innotech took the drastic step of removing its water tanks in an apparent bid to force the BWA’s hand over the debt, which is reported to be at $18 million. The move was met by a defiant Minister of Water Resources, Wilfred Abrahams who said Government will not be bullied over the outstanding debt, while accusing Innotect of breaching its contract with the BWA. But rural residents who spoke to Barbados TODAY were not impressed. “We don’t know about the contracts, nor the nitty-gritty with the tanks. The tanks were a great idea. We weren’t getting any water, but if we could start getting some water through our taps and not from the tanks, we could still pay our bills, because we got water . . . . But you aren’t getting any through your taps, nor through the tank. I am not giving them a ‘yin’, not a ‘yabba’,” said Sobie. Winston Gable, another Chimborazo villager, argued that the supply of water to ‘poor’ Barbadians should not be put in jeopardy by the BWA. “If you’re not getting paid for the uses of the tank, you still have employees to pay . . . we who are paying for water are getting nothing . . . I got little animals and on mornings, you can’t get a bath, you can’t have a cup of water unless you dip it from a bucket, when you are paying for water. It is not good. “said the pensioner, who engages in small farming. “Down by Government House got water. Why must St Joseph and St John always suffer for water?” asked Henderson Cox. At Horse Hill, residents recounted receiving horrifying news that their source of water was in jeopardy. “We woke up on Monday, the water was off, and the water truck came and gave us some water at around 8:15. Then the people from Innotech came and took up the tanks. We assumed they were going to clean them and bring them back, but the people said the tanks weren’t paid for, so they’re carrying away their tanks,” said one man. “The men that moved the tanks showed some remorse. They honestly didn’t want to move it . . . because they understand our situation, but they had to do it, that is their job. Innotech had no right holding us for ransom though. They had no right holding the poor man for ransom,” he added. Those sentiments were shared by businessman James Edgehill, manager of Caribbean Consultants Ltd, who said such a move was not in keeping with corporate social responsibility as he donated 12 water tanks procured from Rotoplastics (Barbados) to the water authority. While the residents are happy to hear that they will have access to water from other tanks, they again appealed to the BWA for a permanent fix to the problem. Krystal Grant, another resident of Horse Hill, said the lack of running water continued to make life difficult, noting that over the past three years, her relatives and neighbors were even forced to endure dry taps on Christmas Day. (BT)

SOUTH COAST FIX APPEARS CLOSER AT HAND – A BREATH OF fresh air should soon be coming to Worthing, Christ Church. Likewise, the days of treated effluent flowing into the sea near the now-closed Worthing Beach from the Graeme Hall Swamp should also soon be a thing of the past. That’s because a Barbados Water Authority team – along with Ward Drilling and Morenco, ably assisted by equipment from C.O.Williams Construction – yesterday laid an 18-inch ductile iron pipe from the treatment plant to the beach. There is three times that length of 16 millimetre thick pipeline already placed outside the reef, and that length again from the beach to the reef already in the sea. The pipeline will be connected to the iron pipe tomorrow, Thursday, December 13, to allow the treated effluent to flow out to sea beyond the breakwater.  (WN)

BHTA CALLS FOR PERMANENT FIX TO SEWAGE PROBLEM – With two days to go before officials complete a temporary fix to the south coast sewage problem, tourism officials are calling for a long-term solution, complaining that the closure of the Worthing Beach has already resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses to hoteliers in the area. Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams had indicated that officials were working towards a December 15 deadline to have a temporary fix to the ongoing problem, and that a temporary outfall pipe should be functioning by early next week. After the fixes to the force main leading to the Needhams outfall failed about a month ago, officials have been working on the short-term solution from the Worthing Beach area, which resulted in a closure of the beach. However, while welcoming the news of a temporary solution, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Stephen Austin told the association’s fourth quarterly general meeting on Wednesday there was a need for a permanent fix. “Since the closure of Worthing Beach, we have had some members suffering from loss of business of over $60,000 in one month alone. This ongoing situation is a tragedy for any business in the area and we will do all possible to continue to agitate for a permanent solution to this challenge,” he told members gathered at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. He said government has given the assurance that it was actively seeking funding for a permanent outflow that should be in place by September next year if all goes according to plan. However, Austin insisted “We also need to look for a more permanent solution in terms of a tertiary treatment plant and our hope is that government will source the necessary funding in the not-too-distant future. “We support the efforts of the minister and look forward to continued updates from the authorities once this temporary fix is completed,” he said, while thanking the Barbados Water Authority for its recent work in “keeping the sewage off the street”. In March this year, when the problem was more severe, Chief Executive Officer of the BHTA Senator Rudy Grant had revealed then that some of the BHTA members had lost up to $200,000, as visitors fled hotels and other accommodation in the affected areas. Without naming the properties, Grant had said a survey in December 2017 and again in February 2018, revealed a “higher level of cancellations” during that period. Member of Parliament for Christ Church South Ralph Thorne has vowed to put pressure on the BWA to quickly rectify the sewage issue affecting the Worthing Beach which is in his constituency. Officials have already indicated that immediately after the mitigating fixes were completed, rehabilitation of the swamp should take place. This would include flushing the swamp’s effluent into the sea. (BT)

GAIA TO OFFER WORKERS SHARES – Workers at the Grantley Adams International Airport Inc. (GAIA) are being offered the opportunity to become shareholders in an arrangement which will also see the airport being run by a concessionaire. In a meeting with the workers on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley revealed that significant infrastructural work was on the way for the airport and Government was in talks with the private sector arm of the World Bank, called the International Finance Corporation, and about to conclude an agreement. She disclosed that the proposed structure, which was yet to be formally approved by Cabinet, would allow Government to retain ownership of the airport, while issuing a concession to “an outside entity that will be bid internationally”. She said this was being done to allow for significant expansion of the airport, including the addition of just under 30 000 square metres in order for Barbados to become “the hub of choice for the southern cone”. (BGIS)

SUTHERLAND BACKS VENDORS – A Cabinet Minister has apparently broken with his own ministerial colleagues on the decision to curtail the vending at the Grantley Adams Memorial School, even as he announced a national policy aimed at encouraging the sale of more nutritious options to children. Breaking his silence this morning on the issue, which captured national attention last month, Minister of Small Business Dwight Sutherland blamed instead the school’s administrators and sided with the vendors. He described as unreasonable the barring of vendors from selling on the school’s compound – a decision that was backed by the Ministry of Education. But the commerce minister contends that there is more than enough room for the school canteen and vendors to exist harmoniously. The decision led to a protest by students and staff during a two-week standoff. The stalemate quickly gained national attention, leading the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) to demand the Prime Minister’s intervention. Sutherland said the new initiative is intended to prevent another crisis by embracing the vendors and widening the healthier choices available to students, as Barbadian authorities with a rising epidemic of childhood obesity and related health issues. “The vendors now have to get on board with the nutritional value of vending, the minister told journalists. “So as opposed to eliminating, we have to integrate and make sure that they [vendors] provide nutritional value to the students. We have the space for all of them and the Minister of Education, Santia Bradshaw, and I have spoken about it. So I know that she has a plan, which will be executed with the help of BARVEN shortly. So we won’t see anymore challenges around the issue of school vending because we recognise that it is part of our culture.” he stressed. Sutherland, drawing on his own experience as a high school student, said: “I don’t think that one canteen can serve all of the students at a school, it is impossible. I went to [The] Lodge School and I bought number of my hamcutters, cheesecutters and drinks from the vendors because some days the lines in the canteens were so long that it would take half-an-hour to be served. So in order to maximise my recreational time I had to go to the vendors on the outside,” said Sutherland, who spoke to reporters following a walk-through of the Swan Street shopping strip on Wednesday. Last month, Grantley Adams students were locked in the school’s compound to prevent them from patronizing vendors on the outside during their breaks. At one stage police were called in to remove the vendors. Among the reasons cited was the competition that the vendors were posing to the canteen. After acting Minister of Education Senator Lucille Moe supported the decision, it took an intervention by Education Minister Santia Bradshaw to finally resolve the impasse, granting access only to the longest-serving vendor while others had to apply to the school board for permission. But the minister said that the argument of unfair competition did not hold water, as both business entities have shared the same customer base for decades. “This existed for years and I have never heard of school canteens not making money. I know these are tough economic times and people have to hold but my belief is that there is economic space for everyone at the schools. When you look at Grantley Adams, there were people who were working there for eons. So you can’t now tell me now that you are not making profit at this time when you were making profit before,” he argued, noting that in his experience vendors and canteen operators often existed harmoniously for the students’ benefit. (BT)

FAIR TAX – A veteran businessman hopes government would start charging Value Added Tax (VAT) on online transactions at least by April next year, to create a level playing field for local businesses. Managing Director of major swan street store, Abed’s and former Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Eddy Abed was responding to news that implementation of the tax would be postponed for the third time this year. On this occasion, the delay is due to Government’s urgent need to meet the December 31st deadline to pass legislation for the convergence of local and international tax rates to bring them in line with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiative, amid threats of sanctions. The disappointed businessman said while he understood government’s rationale for again pushing back the date from December 15th, the tax needed to be introduced sooner rather than later, to ensure fairness in the local market. “This clearly is competition that has gone on for too long without being on a level field. So I look forward to it. I think it’s important that we do it sooner rather than later, but equally I want to make sure that the mechanism is fair for all and that there is absolute clarity so there is no ambiguity,” he said. Abed also told Barbados TODAY that while he was eager to see the tax finally implemented, he wanted it to be rolled out in a sensible manner. “What we are keen to see is that the tax is implemented in a manner that is without any obstruction or any ambiguity, so that business flows. We’re still unsure as to the mechanism that government will use to collect VAT on these purchases and we would’ve liked the opportunity to discuss this with the ministry of finance in particular. Of course it must be done in a manner that will ultimately assist the brick and mortar businesses that are paying VAT, paying staff, paying overheads in Barbados,” said Abed. Indicating that government’s decision to implement the tax so late in the year, would have allowed shoppers to take advantage of Christmas shopping online before the December 15th implementation date. Abed said he hoped it could be applied well before Crop Over. “People would gear up for Crop Over perhaps two months before, so in my mind it would be somewhere around April this should be implemented, at the start of government’s new financial year. “I cannot see any advantage to implementing it in the next three months. I’d love to see it implemented for the reasons I have explained…but the reality is that you’ve missed the largest selling period,” said Abed. The businessman also dismissed as a “red herring”, a recent argument that the online tax would bring hardship to the country’s small businesses. “The discussion needs to be about right versus wrong, not big versus large. We can no longer sit idly by, when our country is in such terrible financial woes, and accept that small businesses, and I am not clear what a small business is, can import goods without paying the necessary VAT and duties. That’s just unacceptable.  If you’re going to operate in the retail industry in this country, then all businesses need to operate on a level playing field,” he said. In fact, he argued that small businesses were in some cases better equipped to absorb the cost of VAT, than larger ones. “The advantage a small business has over a larger business is that they have less overheads, and they are extremely nimble. Larger businesses have to put in orders three to six months prior to getting delivery…If it is an item that is fashionable, it may go out of fashion, and you are stuck with it. So there are advantages and disadvantages of both, but frankly an advantage of a small business cannot be that it has the opportunity to import without paying VAT. That is just unacceptable,” he said. (BT)

CONMAN PREYING ON SENIORS –The elderly are being warned to be on their guard against a well-dressed swindler prowling a St Michael district. Flagstaff, St Michael residents are on alert for a middle-aged man targeting mostly elderly people and tricking them into giving him money. The man convinces them he is either a relative or a friend of a relative and needs a loan for various reasons before disappearing with the cash. It appears he asked around the neighbourhood for information on his next victim before striking. The police have been notified about the scam, and Minister of Elder Affairs Cynthia Forde has condemned it.  (WN)

FIRE GUTS HOME IN HARTS GAP – A Guyanese family is now devastated after their home in Harts Gap, Christ Church was completely destroyed by fire. Roopchand Gopaul and the two female occupants were not at home when the fire started in the insured wooden structure owned by Mohammed Adams. Two water tankers and 11 fire officers from the Worthing and Bridgetown divisions of the fire department responded to the blaze just after 10 a.m. This is the second fire to occur in the Christ Church area in a week. Last Wednesday fire officers responded to a mysterious blaze at Ice Complex, Hastings Christ, Church which impacted four businesses housed in the building. Barbados TODAY spoke to neighboring residents of Harts Gap who said they heard a “hissing” coming from the home before seeing the house ablaze. One neighbor said he took measures to try to safeguard his family home by throwing water on the galvanize. Another neighbor told Barbados TODAY that when he arrived at his residence located a few yards away from the burning structure, the firemen had brought the blaze under control. Police were still on site when the Barbados TODAY team left the area just after midday. Police investigations are still continuing. (BT)

YARDE ON DRUG CHARGES – Roderic Al Yarde was granted bail on a drug charge yesterday, but he still has to face even more serious drug matters in the District ‘F’ Magistrates’ Court. Yarde, 56, of Mellows Hill, St Joseph, denied having cannabis in his possession on December 11, when he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Magistrate Douglas Frederick released him on $2000 bail and ordered him to return to court on May 29, 2019. However, Yarde is also facing the additional charges of trafficking, supplying and cultivating cannabis on the same date. Those offences allegedly took place in St Joseph and will be heard in the District ‘F’ Magistrates’ Court. (BT)

$10,000 BAIL FOR VINCENTIAN – After spending three months on remand, a Vincentian walked down the steps of the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today with his adoptive mother after being granted bail. Curtis Bernard Bute will be enjoying Christmas on the outside after he was released from HMP Dodds on $10 000 bail by Magistrate Douglas Frederick. The 48-year-old Bute of Holders Land, Brandons, St. Michael had been on remand since September, facing charges that he had intended to maim, disfigure or disable Deque Gittens and Devere Gittens to do them serious bodily harm on September 15, 2018. His attorney Rhea Layne, in her bail application said her client was willing to give up his passport and was also applying to have his status regularized. Once Bute’s passport was produced and prosecutor Station Sergeant Carrison Henry informed the court that the two virtual complainants were recovering from their injuries, the magistrate granted him bail, but not before issuing him a warning. “If you see them on the road, cross over to the other side. You also need to make sure that you sort out your status with Immigration,” Frederick said. Bute is scheduled to return to court on May 30, 2019. (BT)

PRISON TIME FOR DRUG TRAFFICKER – A female drug mule who was caught twice in three months trying to bring illegal drugs into Barbados will spend the next three years incarcerated at HMP Dodds. The sentence was handed down to 29-year-old Laurel Charles of 1st Avenue, Rockley, Christ Church, by Magistrate Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell, when she appeared in the District ‘F’ Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Charles, who was represented by Romain Marshall, had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, as well as trafficking, importing and intending to supply the drug on December 9, 2018. She was sentenced to three years for trafficking and convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the other offences. In giving the facts, prosecutor Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls said Charles left Barbados on December 5 and returned four days later on December 9 on a LIAT flight from St Marteen. She arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport around 6:44 p.m. and cleared Immigration, but was checked by Customs officers. The search turned up 17 black packages containing vegetable matter in a false bottom of her suitcase. The drugs weighed 7.6 kilograms and had an estimated street value of $33,000. The prosecutor revealed that Charles had been given a 12-month suspended sentence for two years for similar offences on September 20, 2018. That sentence will run concurrent to the three-year sentence. (BT)

JOBLESS MAN STEALS GUINNESS – A recently-retrenched Government worker was so stressed out that he walked into a supermarket, took up four bottles of Guinness and walked out without paying. That proved to be a costly error for Neil Linton as he was remanded to HMP Dodds after he could not find a surety to sign his bail. When he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today, the 40-year-old of St. Barnabas, St. Michael, guilty to stealing four bottles of Guinness on December 12. The stolen property belonging to Chanell Enterprise Limited was valued at $15.86. The first-time offender told Magistrate Douglas Frederick he had recently been laid off from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), where he had worked for two and a half years. “I have been under a lot of stress since being laid off from the BWA. What I did was a stupid and a foolish thing,” Linton admitted. “I am very sorry and it was foolish of me. I apologized to the manager at the supermarket and I am apologizing to this court.” The puzzled magistrate then asked Linton how stealing the Guinness would have helped his cause. “I only went for one, but the other three came along,” was Linton’s response. “Came along? I’ve never seen Guinness walk before,” Frederick quipped. He then asked Linton if he had someone to sign his bail. However, after making several phone calls, Linton was unable to secure a surety which resulted in him being remanded until Tuesday. The court heard from prosecutor Station Sergeant Carrison Henry that Linton went into the Chanell’s supermarket on Collymore Rock, walked around and left. He returned later that evening and was kept under observation by a security guard. He was seen going into the section where the hams were kept before moving on to the section where the Guinness was located. Linton was then seen taking up the beverages and putting them in his pants pockets. He proceeded to exit the supermarket but the guard shouted and alerted the manager, who stopped Linton as he attempted to leave and the drinks were found in his pants pockets. (BT)

CHARGE AGAINST EX LOVER DISMISSED – A dispute between two former lovers which resulted in one party being charged was dismissed on Wednesday when the complainant had a change of heart. Rondell Trotman, 36, of Forde’s Road, St Michael, had been charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Jamelia Daley on December 11. But when he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Douglas Frederick, Daley said she no longer wanted to proceed with the matter. After Frederick read the charge to Trotman as he stood in the dock, before he could get a chance to reply, Daley, the mother of his three-year-old baby asked to speak. “We had a dispute, but I don’t want any charges filed against him,” she told the magistrate. It left Frederick with little choice but to dismiss the matter. (BT)

HUSBANDS SET FOR SECOND SURGERY – Marquee Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands needs another surgery in order to make a full recovery from a broken pelvis suffered during a fall in Toronto last month. The 45-year-old underwent a successful first surgery but told Barbados TODAY, that despite his improvement, there was a remaining issue which would require a small operation. Also, Husbands said he was battling severe nerve pain in his leg which now needed to be corrected, and was due to have a consultation with doctors shortly. “From the fall I still need to have surgery behind it. I still need one more surgery,” Husbands said in a telephone interview. “I was looking forward to coming to Barbados on January 30th and now I have an appointment on the 26th of January to tell me the date of my next surgery. I was actually booked [to return home] the 18th of December but unfortunately, I fell down on the fifth of December so I changed my flight. “So I have to wait and see what day they are going to schedule the operation. There are two things that I am battling with — the nerve and the operation. The operation is not a big operation. They told me that in a month’s time I am good to go.” He added: “It is just when I entered the hospital there was a little error that should have been dealt with and I just get an extra month on me because of that. It is unfortunate I have to go back for another surgery and I just have to wait on the date. “But things do happen — no one is perfect. If they [had gotten] the diagnosis right, I would not have to go back for the surgery.” Husbands is Barbados’ most celebrated jockey and one of the leading riders at Woodbine racetrack – Canada’s most prestigious oval. However, his season this year was cut short when he was thrown by three-year-old filly Islay Inlet in the parade ring, resulting in the injury. Husbands said he was now faced with severe nerve pain which doctors were trying to address. “The [first] surgery, everything went smooth, everything went well. I only have two small problems. The left side there is a muscle … I have to go on Monday to get it diagnosed,” Husbands said. “This muscle is very painful so they have me on a lot of medication — plenty medication. Since the five to six weeks with my injury, last week is the first week that I got any sleep since the fall, due to the fact that [I] have this nerve that is bothering me down my leg.” Husbands said he has had difficulty sleeping and in the 28 days he was at Sunny Brook Hospital following his injury, he had hardly slept because of the nerve pain. “That pain was quite severe. I went over to West Point Recovery Home and the first three days they kept me from 9 am to 3 pm. I had to deal with no sleep the rest of the days. I was there for three weeks. Last week Monday, they got it figured out and I got to sleep,” he explained. He continued: “At the end of the day, it is just this nerve that has me. I have to go on Monday for them to figure out what kind of nerve it is and so on. I had two visits which is one visit today (Thursday). “The visit today did not go to well. The visit today I thought it was the prep for the surgery so when I went back he told me to come back on the 26th of January and they will prep me for the surgery. “Which means on the 26th they will run through my body and put me [through] all kinds of tests and then they would tell me what time to come back for the surgery.” Nevertheless, the champion jockey said that he was anxious to return to the irons. “I cannot wait to get back riding. This is all I know; this is all I love; this is all I do. Sitting in a room and looking at the ceiling and you cannot sit on a horse, is very hurtful,” he said. Husbands assured his fans, however, that he would be back in action for the start of the new Woodbine season in April next year. “I would just like to say to all of my fans throughout the whole world to not worry. [I] will be back at opening day at Woodbine Racetrack and it is only these little issues in my off-season and it is amazing how it ended,” he said. “I prayed to God that I would not like to be crippled. I had this feeling from God that if I moved my toes, I would have been cripple. I know a lot of riders in the 34 years I was riding that have gotten crippled.  The Lord was there with me and he did not want to cripple me.” Husbands is one of the most successful jockeys in the history of Woodbine, with 3 285 victories and nearly CAN$160 million in winnings. He was the last jockey to win the fabled Triple Crown in 2003 with the legendary Wando, and was also good enough to win the Queen’s Plate four years ago with Lexie Lou.  (BT)

CERTIFICATE OF CHARACTER OFFICE RELOCATION – The Royal Barbados Police Force wishes to inform the public that the Office of 'The Certificate of Character has been relocated to Central Police Station. The office will be opened from 10:00 am on Thursday, December 13. The Royal Barbados Police Force wishes to thank you for your kind cooperation.  (BGIS)

GLEBE POLYCLINIC CLOSING EARLY TOMORROW -  The public is advised that the Glebe Polyclinic, The Glebe, St George, will close at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, December 14, to allow staff to attend a function. The Ministry of Health and Wellness apologises for any inconvenience the early closure may cause. (BGIS)

MINISTRY OF LABOUR TO CLOSE FOR CLEANING ON DECEMBER 14 – The Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Third Floor, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St Michael, will be closed for industrial cleaning this Friday, December 14. Members of the public are therefore urged to conduct their business accordingly. It is expected to reopen on Monday, December 17, at 8:15 a.m. The Ministry regrets any inconvenience which may be caused. (BGIS)

‘SIR DON’ GONE – The sudden death of legendary calypsonian and prominent business executive, Sir Don – real name Don Jose Lamont Marshall – has plunged the entertainment community into a state of mourning and shock. Calypso lovers and artistes were jolted Thursday morning as they awoke to the news that the lyrical icon had died in his sleep overnight. The veteran performer and impresario is being remembered for a gift of language and dry wit as an extremely talented writer, composer, recording artiste, calypso analyst and Crop Over Stalwart awardee. He first catapulted into the limelight at the age of 24 in 1963 with his tunes Tax Dodgers and 20th Century Husbands which earned him the Calypso Monarch title in the then Barbados Carnival. He went on to be a four-time calypso king before his last on-stage performance in 1981. A profound presence in the calypso arena, Sir Don devoted more than 50 years of his life to mentoring and sharing his talent with the likes of Romeo, Dr Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter, Colin Spencer and the reigning Pic-O-De-Crop monarch Anderson Mr Blood Armstrong. He penned calypsos for several veteran and junior calypsonians over the years and acted as a judge of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition and Richard Stoute Teen Talent Contest. In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Gabby declared Sir Don as “the real calypso king”, “a musical giant” who held the art of kaiso in high esteem.  Gabby said that he first met Sir Don in 1965 when he started competing in calypso at the age of 17. “He was teaching us how to stand up for standards and quality. All back then he was showing you that you have to respect the art form because back then nobody was respecting the art form,” Gabby recalled. “Don always talked about quality, how to dress well, speak well, look well, have manners, don’t walk about and get drunk. He said ‘They don’t have no choice but to respect you,when you respect yourself’ and that is lesson he gave me – it was a lifelong lesson,” the cultural ambassador added. Sir Don was revered for his entrancing storytelling capabilities, cleverly weaving words into humourous lyrics. Gabby praised his lyrical prowess, describing it as one of a kind. “His style of writing was always about wit and humour. His way of telling a story was unique, different, it was bright, it was special. It had an indelible mark. “Nobody can question Don’s ability to write and his ability to understand calypso,” Gabby commented. Sir Don’s love for calypso was a reflection of his father’s Trinidadian influence. Gabby told Barbados TODAY of Sir Don’s private collection of calypso recordings which was huge and dated back to the 1920’s. He was also a huge fan of Trinidad’s Mighty Spoiler who he imitated during the early years of his career. “Spoiler was the person he admired most because Spoiler was so clever and so brilliant at writing humorous songs,” Gabby recalled. Mr Blood was struggling to come to grips with Sir Don’s death when Barbados TODAY contacted him. For nearly a decade, the lyrical mastermind was the pen behind some of Mr Blood’s songs. “When I first met him I can remember thinking to myself, ‘I have the legend Sir Don in my living room, offering me a song’. We have worked together every year since then. Even when I opted to take songs from someone else he was always there to offer advice. He never gave up on that goal we had of me winning the crown,” Mr Bloodrevealed. Mr Blood referred to his mentor as “a happy spirit that you could not help but to love”. He also reminisced about how Sir Don started referring to him as King Blood years before he won the Calypso Monarch. He was speaking their dreams into existence. “My heart is heavy and I try to hold back the tears. . . I will miss him dearly,” Mr Blood continued. Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong also praised Sir Don for his contributions to the local calypso scene and the development of island’s young creative talent. Comissiong shared that Sir Don was a familiar face during the Crop Over Festival and the Richard Stoute Teen Talent competition having acted as a judge and a composer. “Without a doubt, Sir Don lived a life of great integrity, purpose and meaning, and made a deep and lasting contribution to the development of his nation and fellow citizens. It is now up to us to ensure that we add additional value and meaning to the life of this extraordinary Barbadian by embracing the wonderful artform of Bajan calypso and positively building upon the brilliant creative foundation that Sir Don did so much to construct for this artform that he loved so much,” said Ambassador Comissiong. The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) issued a statement of condolences to Marshall’s wife and children. The NCF also remembered Sir Don for his sartorial elegance and his boasts about the talents of his longtime tailor in Bridgetown. “He put great store on appearance and presentation and was often sought for advice and guidance by the younger members of the entertainment fraternity. “His charm and wit were legendary and he would deliver the most hilarious of quips with nothing more than a quiet chuckle while the others were bent over with laughter. He was a man of deep and abiding faith who loved life and his country, his family, calypso and the Combermere School in particular,” the NCF statement said. (BT)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 18 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

[constructioncaribbean]

#Repost @preconco_limited with @get_repost ・・・ DID YOU KNOW: The structural strength and density of precast concrete makes it an ideal choice for safe rooms in houses. Precast concrete storm shelters can easily be installed for protection in hurricane-prone areas! Contact Preconco Limited today to learn about the many quality options available for your project! Or see link in bio or www.constructioncaribbean.con to read more. #structuralstrength #density #precastconcrete #saferoom #stormshelter #hurricane #hurricaneseason #preconcolimited

[constructioncaribbean]

#Repost @preconco_limited with @get_repost ・・・ DID YOU KNOW: The structural strength and density of precast concrete makes it an ideal choice for safe rooms in houses. Precast concrete storm shelters can easily be installed for protection in hurricane-prone areas! Contact Preconco Limited today to learn about the many quality options available for your project! Or see link in bio or www.constructioncaribbean.con to read more. #structuralstrength #density #precastconcrete #saferoom #stormshelter #hurricane #hurricaneseason #preconcolimited

[constructioncaribbean]

#Repost @preconco_limited with @get_repost ・・・ DID YOU KNOW: The structural strength and density of precast concrete makes it an ideal choice for safe rooms in houses. Precast concrete storm shelters can easily be installed for protection in hurricane-prone areas! Contact Preconco Limited today to learn about the many quality options available for your project! Or see link in bio or www.constructioncaribbean.con to read more. #structuralstrength #density #precastconcrete #saferoom #stormshelter #hurricane #hurricaneseason #preconcolimited

[constructioncaribbean]

#BuildFaster #BuildResilient #TimeIsMoney - In the race to attract new guests and obtain positive reviews, hotel owners and investors must be focused on detail, quality and timing, from the moment that the planning process begins. See link in bio or www.constructioncaribbean.com to read the full article. #ConstructionCaribbean #hotelconstruction #precast #precastconcrete #construction #caribbean #prestressedconcrete #prefab #prefabhouse #prefabhomes #modularhome #homeconstruction #climatechange #hurricaneproof #hoteliers #buildstronger #tourism #caribbeantourism #caribbeantourism #Preconco

[constructioncaribbean]

Construction boom looms in #Dominica. Dominica faces the unique opportunity to become what Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit refers to as “the first completely climate resilient nation in the world", after confronting the 250-km winds of category-five hurricane Maria that destroyed or severely damaged up to 70% of all local structures.

See https://constructioncaribbean.com/2018/01/16/the-construction-opportunity-in-dominica/

#Dominica #RooseveltSkerrit #ConstructionCaribbean #climateresilient @preconco_limited Preconco (at Saint James, Barbados)

[stephaniefchase]

This economy can only go forward if the private sector is energized. I am not going to bury my head in the sand. Some government departments are not very efficient. They do everything to frustrate people from doing business in this country. What pains me is when I see opportunities for Barbadians to be fully engaged and fully employed frustrated by public officers and government departments who should know better...... It is the role of the government to facilitate investment not to frustrate it and I am not going to be part of any administration that will frustrate legitimate business people in this country!

Donville Inniss Minister of Industry and Business Development in Barbados 15th June 2016