Public health law amendment meets lawmakers approval
House lawmakers on Tuesday approved sweeping reforms to the Health Services Act, introducing administrative penalties for public health violations and updating outdated legislative definitions. The move aims to streamline governance, reduce court backlogs, and address contemporary environmental and public health challenges across the nation, the government said. During the debate on the resolution […]
Opposition warns land tax changes could lead to property seizures
The government’s proposal to incorporate cleaning bills into land tax has sparked criticism from Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne, who warned that it could result in inflated bills and potential property seizures. The move, aimed at enforcing environmental standards, ignited a heated debate in Parliament over the balance between public health concerns and […]
Lupus patients gain access to life-saving medical kits
The Hope Foundation has secured significant funding to expand the distribution of potentially life-saving medical kits to lupus patients across Barbados, addressing concerns over “preventable deaths” within the community, the lupus charity has revealed. Founder and president Shelly Weir said major financial grants—the amounts she’s holding close to her chest—from the Massy Forces for […]
Historian, ‘Making of the West Indies’ Roy Augier, dies at 100
Sir Roy Augier, the eminent Caribbean historian and educator who helped reshape the region’s understanding of its own history, has died at the age of 100, just over a month after celebrating his centenary. The St Lucian academic’s death on Sunday prompted fellow historian and University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary […]
One in three public health dollars to fight disease-carrying pests
The government spent $5 million in public health for the 2024-2025 financial year, with a third of the budget—$1.6 million—earmarked to combat mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health Davidson Ishmael announced in Parliament on Tuesday. During debate on a resolution on the Report of the Joint […]
Burke 3rd in SLO CAL surfing
Barbados’ top male surfer, Josh Burke kicked off the calendar year with a second straight bronze medal over the weekend, as the World Surf League (WSL) North America circuit opened with the SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach, California, USA. A men’s and women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event, the SLO CAL featured some of […]
Sandals wows again at South Coast Hotels and Resorts of Barbados Raceday
Sandals Barbados Resort was out in full representation at the recent South Coast Hotels and Resorts of Barbados Race Day on the historic Garrison Savannah. The event, now in its fourth year, has become a staple for local horseracing fans and visitors to the island alike. Fans witnessed eight races on the day, one […]
Prosecutor urges tougher sentences for drug offences
Highlighting the devastating impact of illegal drugs on society, a prosecutor on Tuesday urged the court to impose deterrent sentences for drug-related offences. Speaking in Supreme Court No. 4A on Tuesday, Principal State Counsel Joyann Catwell insisted harsh penalties were needed to discourage drug trafficking. “We need to pay serious attention to drugs […]
In the era of Trump, time for love after love
It has barely been a week in the life of the second Trump administration but the seismic shifts in US policy to the extreme right already have profound implications for the Caribbean. Since taking office a week ago on Monday, Donald Trump has swiftly enacted a raft of decisions with direct impact on us — […]
BWA, EPD say water safe to drink
The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has firmly dismissed circulating social media claims questioning the quality of the island’s water supply. Authorities have clarified that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not issued any warnings to the Government of Barbados regarding non-compliance with its drinking water guidelines. According to the BWA, the potable water supplied […]