Two people are nursing gunshot injuries after being shot at Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael around 7.55 p.m. on Tuesday.
Police said they received reports of gunshots being fired in the community around 8 p.m.
Investigations revealed that a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger were travelling along Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, towards Brittons New Road when they encountered a motor car travelling in the opposite direction.
Police said gunshots were reportedly fired from the motor car, resulting in injuries to the motorcyclist and a female bystander.

The female bystander was reportedly transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) by private vehicle, whilst the rider of the motorcycle was transported to the QEH by ambulance. A car was also damaged in the incident.
Anyone with information on the incident should call the Hastings/Worthing Police Station at 430-7608, Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest Police Station.

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Police are investigating the unnatural death of a man at Morris Gap, Westbury Road, St Michael.

Assistant Superintendent in the Criminal Investigation Department Victor Forde told reporters  that police received reports of gunshots heard in the area. After arriving at the scene around 8:15 p.m., they found the body of a man lying on the road with what appeared to be gunshot injuries to the body.

The victim, believed to be 30, was pronounced dead by a police medical officer.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Criminal Investigation Department at 430-7189, Police Hotline 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest Police Station.

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Leroy Fitzgerald Brathwaite was granted $8000 bail after appearing before Magistrate Kim Butcher in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on multiple charges related to counterfeit goods.

Brathwaite, 58, of Wanstead Garden Heights, St James was charged with

1) Unauthorized use of Trademark Nike.

(2) Possession of goods bearing unauthorized trademark Nike.

(3) Unauthorized use of trademark Puma.

(4) Possession of goods bearing the trademark Puma.

(5) Unauthorized use of trademark Louis Vuitton.

(6) Possession of goods bearing the trademark Louis Vuitton.

(7) Unauthorized use of trademark Jordan.

(8) Possession of goods bearing the trademark Jordan.

He was not required to plead to the offences.

The charges stem from a search warrant executed by officers from the Financial Crimes Investigations Asset Recovery unit on September 7, 2021 at a store owned by Brathwaite.

During the search police discovered a large quantity of goods which were suspected to be counterfeit which included Nike, Jordan, Louis Vuitton and Puma. These items were seized and kept in police custody. The accused was arrested and charged on June 9, 2022.

Brathwaite will return to court on November 16.

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Three people were injured in a stabbing incident that occurred at Palmetto Mall in The City around 2 p.m.

Acting Police Public Relations Officer Station Sergeant Michael Blackman told Barbados TODAY, one man was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital via ambulance and the other two persons to the Brandford Taitt Polyclinic via private vehicle.

Police are continuing investigations.

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Police are continuing investigations into the unnatural death of Romain Mayers of Greens, St George.

Mayers was fatally shot at Fairview Heights in the same parish in the wee hours of this morning.

According to lawmen, officers from the District “B” Police Station responded to reports of gunshots being heard in the area around one o’clock and discovered Mayers’ lifeless body with injuries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, the District “B” Police Station at 437 4311 or any Police Station.

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Police  are investigating a violent incident that reportedly involved students from a secondary school in St Michael that occurred on Friday afternoon along Barbarees Hill.

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Police are investigating the unnatural death of 86-year-old Gloria Eudora Leacock.

Her body was found around 10:10  this morning at her home at Church Street, Speightstown, St Peter.

Police from the District “E” Station went to the residence after friends and family members reported that repeated efforts to contact Leacock were unsuccessful.

The body was identified by a close family member at the scene.

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Police are on the scene at Long Beach, Christ Church where the bodies of two men have been found.

Video by BT’s Haroon Greenidge

(more details as they come to hand)

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Police have released the names of the two men whose bodies were discovered at Long Beach, Christ Church on Tuesday morning.

They are Loris Malik Rasheed Gittens, 22, of 10B Bottom Close, Wildey, St Michael and Michael Keenan Blackett, 27, Block 2C , Flat Rock, St George.

They were both identified by family members.

Investigations are continuing.

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Police are investigating a shooting incident at Eagle Hall, St Michael.

(more details as they come to hand.)

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There will be zero tolerance to gun and gun-related matters in Barbados.

That warning from Acting Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce following a brazen daylight shooting on a public service vehicle on Thursday.

The incident in which a man received gunshot injuries to his back is the latest in a spate of gun violence plaguing the country in recent times.

Boyce in a televised press conference assured the public that the officers of the Barbados Police Service will target criminal elements relentlessly and with vigor.

“Let me say that the Barbados Police Service will not tolerate any [criminal] behaviour and will bring the strongest arm to end or eliminate the use of firearms and violence in our society. We are purposefully resolved to bring this to an end, and I speak for every member of the Barbados Police Service.

“The Achilles’ heel approach will ensure that there is zero tolerance to gun and gun-related matters, and we will be pursuing all offences however small they are. We want you to rest assured that we are targeting the criminal activity with vigor and relentlessly and at every level,” the top cop said.

(More on this story in tonight’s online edition)

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Prime Minister Mia Mottley is urging Barbadians to give the Government and police time to deal with the worrisome crime situation on the island which she says needs societal support.

“This is a battle that is going to require the entire cooperation and effort of the majority of Barbadians, and not in a week, or a month or even a year. It is going to have to be sustained, because whether we like it or not guns don’t walk and talk on their own, do they?”

Mottley said even though several initiatives had already been implemented and others were in the works, they would not produce results overnight.

Last month the Prime Minister revealed that additional courts and judges would be added to help reduce the backlog of criminal cases.

Additionally, she said amendments to the Firearms Act, hiring much-needed police and community officers and the appointment of Corey Lane as Minister of State in the Attorney General’s Office with responsibility for Crime Prevention, were all aimed at arresting the crime situation.

However, speaking during a press conference at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) on Tuesday evening shortly after returning from overseas travel, the Prime Minister said the measures would not provide a quick fix.

“I put arrangements in place, with respect to changes both at the ministerial level and initiatives that we discussed with the police service and I will take a briefing from them as to what they started to implement. But, they will take time to implement the measures that have only been announced two and a half weeks ago and therefore we need the country also to recognize that this is not the battle of any one group; not the police or the Government or civil society alone.

“…At the end of the day the first thing we need to do is to be able to reduce the flow of guns, get what guns we have here and to start to deal with the mindset of those who believe it is ok to kill somebody,” Mottley said.

The Prime Minister stressed that while steps had been taken to address the problem, Government would not instruct police on how to do their job.

She said Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce was in full control of the Barbados Police Service’s operations.

Mottley disclosed that Boyce had cut his leave short to return to the office from yesterday.

“I become expansive on matters to deal with alternatives on the ground socially because I can do so expansively. On operational matters that is a matter for the Commissioner of Police,” Mottley said.

“…It will be a dangerous thing in this country when a Prime Minister or a minister in charge of the police can direct police on operational matters. On operational matters we leave it to them. Having said that, all of us will expect the police to be fully, fully engaged and doing their job.”

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb

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The local private sector is to have urgent talks with the government and police top brass to discuss what it describes as very frightening and deadly gun violence in the country.

Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) Trisha Tannis said on Tuesday that while the violence has not yet impacted that sector, she fears that the current unease on the island could keep potential shoppers indoors, particularly during this Christmas season where the outlook for business appears better than last year’s.

The private sector head said she is particularly concerned that crime is growing more “aggressive and deadly”.

“You talk about assault weapons. Those sorts of things could cause mass casualty damage, several persons at once. It’s a very frightening situation and a concern for us. So we look forward to urgently discussing this matter at the national level, and for the private sector to come alongside with what the government is doing to assist it,” she said.

Though there is no timeline set as yet, Tannis expects the proposed talks would also include the leadership of the Barbados Police Service (BPS).

She noted: “We are extremely concerned. We are not seeing the impact yet other than persons being very, very cautious how they go about their daily lives. But what we don’t want to see is persons remaining indoors, not being at rest with how they go about shopping and hustling and bustling for fear of something strange happening.

“I would add that the fact that gun violence is at the gates of our schools and not inside of our schools has not given us any comfort whatsoever. We haven’t begun to see an impact yet, but we don’t want to,” Tannis contended in an interview with Barbados TODAY.   

The BPSA head said the business community which will deploy a greater level of security during this period, is no longer faced with the “average” shoplifter or pick-pocket, but with bolder and more hostile types of criminals who are using assault weapons.

Tannis is hoping that the surge in crime and violence would be significantly contained in short order to avoid the possibility of the country losing the economic gains achieved over the past year and a relatively favourable 2022 and 2023.

“I think that the economy is certainly in a better position than it was last year. It is not out of the woods yet, but it is still very dampened on the ground. It is close to peak season or we are hoping it is peak season, where essentially it is good news for retailers and distributors. Therefore, we do hope that it is a very buoyant season,” the business leader declared.

Tannis also has high hopes for the tourism sector in the coming year but suggests that it needs to be stabilised in order to reap maximum and lasting benefits for the country.

“We hope to have a better season than we had last year. That is a very positive development in terms of our economic growth,” she said.

Touching on the challenges which importers have been experiencing with high freight rates and delays, Tannis was encouraged by recent developments.

“Of course the cost is still very high, but the good news is that freighting is finally beginning to normalise. The challenge is though, that you are not likely to see the impact of that until 2023 because of the inventory that is in stock at the moment which is carrying a higher freight price,” the private sector leader disclosed.

She however pointed out that even if there is a stabilisation or reduction in freight costs by next year, the business community will be faced with another price issue that could be passed onto consumers.

“We are seeing materials themselves…are very expensive and trending up. So even as the freight costs begin to drop, we have materials stock that has gone already (out of stock). It remains to be seen how it actually pans out. But I think at least, we should not be seeing a worsening of the overall net position as we head for 2023.

“Hopefully, once we stabilise materials costs and raw materials input as we get into the deeper part of 2023 that we can finally see relief in terms of feed-in price reductions globally,” the chair of the private sector organisation stated.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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A 34-year-old man is said to be in stable condition after he was shot at Haynesville Housing Area, St James on Tuesday night.

According to police, an anonymous caller reported that a man was shot in the area of the Bailey canteen around 8:20.

Police said the caller disclosed that a car was seen driving through the area before multiple gunshots were heard.

The victim received a gunshot injury to his upper torso. He was transported by private transport for medical attention.

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       Police were called to attend a reported stabbing incident, which occurred about 8:58 p.m. on Saturday, 18th February 2023, in the Sandy Crest area, Sunset Crest, St. James.

A 16-year-old male was the victim of a stabbing. He was seen by medical practitioners at the Sandy Crest medical facility prior to being transported to the QEH by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead whilst receiving medical treatment.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Parliamentarian and economist Marsha Caddle is calling for an end to corporal punishment in schools which she views as “state-sanctioned abuse of children”.
During her brief remarks at Wednesday’s I am A Girl workshop for female secondary schools students, held in recognition of International Women’s Day at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Caddle said that as society tries to eliminate various forms of abuse, the use of corporal punishment needs to be re-examined.
“The way I grew up also gave me examples of things we as a society should let go. One of those, I believe, is corporal punishment and what amounts, I think, to the state-sanctioned abuse of children. If we say that it is not okay for me as a stranger to walk up to you at the bus stop and slap you, if that is not okay, why is it okay for me as a teacher or somebody in authority to come into your school and slap you?”
“In the first case that is assault, in the second case we consider it discipline, and I strongly believe that in our education reform programme, in all of the things that we do now and in the future, that teaching ourselves how to deal with conflict will mean getting rid of those options as a way of resolving conflict.”
Meanwhile, Caddle encouraged students to be fearless when given the opportunity to lead and advised them to carry out that leadership with a sense of responsibility and love.
“One thing I learnt about growing up as a girl in Haggatt Hall is the importance of being able to lead with love, the importance of being able to lead with justice, and the importance of being able to lead in the community. There is no hope of us improving our society if we try and forge ahead alone,” the MP for St. Michael South Central said.
“If we find ourselves on a path and we do not have other people around us that we are bringing along with us, then we are not leading. I am not saying bring along behind us, [but] bring along with us.”
(SB)

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LAW TO PROTECT FARMERS’ CROPS, LIVESTOCK FINALLY PROCLAIMED

By Sheria Brathwaite

Legislation to help farmers protect their produce from thieves is now in force.
The Protection of Agricultural Products Act 2022 was proclaimed on Monday, according to the March 6, 2023 Official Gazette.
And while Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir has declared it a win for the farming community, chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul has had a less enthusiastic response, preferring to take a wait-and-see approach.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Weir said the legislation was long overdue and he was satisfied that it properly represented the best interest of farmers who were key stakeholders in the creation of the document.
He said there were a few milestones about which he was especially pleased, including that under the Act, fines for praedial larceny are stiffer.
The Protection of Agricultural Products Act 2022 provides for fines of up to $100 000, imprisonment for five years, or both. Before the enactment of the legislation, the maximum fine was $5 000.
Weir added that the Act has also reactivated Operation Bird’s Eye, a collaboration that began in 2021 between the Barbados Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force to patrol targeted areas and carry out investigations.
The Agriculture Minister said farmers can also now use drone technology to secure their investment and the Act makes provision for them to use a chipping system to trace their livestock.
However, Paul said it was too early to sing the legislation’s praises.
“Legislation has been passed before and the passing of legislation is something we acknowledge, but whether or not it will have any significance is on its application. So we have to see, based on its passing, whether or not anything different will be done that has not been done in the past to reduce the stealing that occurs in the agriculture sector,” he told Barbados TODAY.
“Yes, we acknowledge it but what is the implementation plan? How do we ensure that people adhere to the tenets of the legislation? What impact does it have on investment in agriculture? One of the main issues that we have is the investment being generated. The truth is, you are not going to get greater investment than you are seeing at the moment if people don’t think that they would be able to make an adequate return on their investment; this is a fundamental thing we are not tackling. If the private sector has a level of confidence, we can have real growth in this sector so we await to see what the impact of this legislation would be.”
Earlier this week, small farmer Anthony Charles reported $2 000 worth of cassava had been stolen from his property in Ebenezer, St Philip, while chairman of the Barbados Sugar Industry Limited Mark Sealy said he was aware that a field of sugarcane belonging to at least one private farmer was hit by thieves.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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“If you break the law, we will find you and we will deal with you”.
Those were the stern words of warning issued by a tough-talking Attorney General Dale Marshall on Friday afternoon to anyone who believes they are above the law.
He was responding to a question from Member of Parliament for St Michael West Christopher Gibbs who, using a chess analogy, said some Barbadians were of the view that many individuals who are subjected to harsh penalties for gun crimes were the “lesser pieces on the chessboard” while the “bishops, kings and castles” were untouched.
“What are the strategies to go after the exporters and importers of illegal guns?” Gibbs asked.
Marshall said while he was not at liberty to disclose strategies to tackle the issue relating to guns entering the country, no one was immune to the law.
He said it was only a matter of time before those who have managed to elude authorities are caught and punished.
“I want to assure members of this chamber that as I pursue my responsibilities as Attorney General – and I know that as the Commissioner pursues his as Commissioner of Police – that there are no sacred cows. If you break the law we will find you and we will deal with you.
“If you are a king or a queen, it may be that you may consider yourself to be a little bit insulated or a little bit further out of reach, but the tools of modern policing are such that we have the ability to get to you, and rest assured that we will be getting to you. There is that old saying, ‘what ain’t catch yuh ain’t pass yuh yet,” warned Marshall.
“So let me send a warning that if there are people who believe that for some reason they are above the law, whatever that reason is, that is not a concept that is known to this Attorney General, this Prime Minister, our National Security Council, the Commissioner or any of our law enforcement agencies. No one will be beyond the reach of law enforcement.”
Endorsing Marshall’s comments, Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce assured that members of the Barbados Police Service would leave no stone unturned in their duty to arrest crime on the island. (MM)

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THE ABOLITION OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS A MATTER FOR CONSULTATION – ABRAHAMS

By Anesta Henry

Before any decision is made regarding abolishing corporal punishment, the Government must first consult with stakeholders and interest groups.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams made this position clear as he responded to the call from Member of Parliament Marsha Caddle for an end to corporal punishment in schools.
“This is something that has to be looked at seriously and a decision taken one way or another. Right now there is protection for children so that you can’t abuse a child.
“Even if a parent can legally punish their child, there is a point at which it passes correction into abuse and then the law can deal harshly with that parent. There is a point with teachers, it passes correction into abuse and the law will deal harshly with it. It is something that we have to look at,” Abrahams said.
Speaking during Friday’s post-Cabinet press conference, at Parliament Buildings, Abraham announced that the Child Protection Bill 2022 will be laid before the House of Assembly soon. He said the issue of making corporal punishment unlawful in Barbados has been around for many years with Barbadians being divided on their views.
“That is one that has been floating around for quite a while and if you go and do a poll of Bajans, you will get that division down the middle. You will get people who are animated on either side of the fence. Times have changed, perceptions have changed, ways to deal with children have changed.
“If you just look at our child protection legislation, our child justice legislation, even the ways of dealing with children that will guarantee a stern response before, the aim now is to try to meet that child to find out where that child is and to find the best solution for that child.
“Even talking practically, for some children, you beat a child until the cows come home and that child ain’t changing nothing. For other children, just the threat of it will change their behaviour. For some children, a lash changes them.”
On Wednesday, as she delivered remarks during the I am A Girl workshop for female secondary schools students, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in recognition of International Women’s Day, Caddle said that as society tries to eliminate various forms of abuse, the use of corporal punishment needs to be re-examined. She said she viewed corporal punishment as “state-sanctioned abuse of children”.
Minister Abrahams, who acknowledged that Caddle had the right to hold her views on the matter, said a decision on corporal punishment must coincide with the rights of the child and achieve the Government’s goals of securing the best options, future and possibilities for the nation’s children.
“Marsha as a member of this Government… everybody is encouraged to be able to embrace their views. We will not always have the exact same view. I am not saying that my view is different to hers but as a minister I have to also consider and factor the collective responsibility of Cabinet.
“So as a minister I am not at liberty to even tender my own personal view at this point in time. That is something that has to be contemplated and dealt with as a Government in terms of reform of legislation if necessary. Member of Parliament Caddle is known for speaking her views and she is in a position to do so, “ Abrahams said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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The Barbados Police Service is seeking the public’s help to locate Donnell Carl Smart who is wanted for questioning in connection with serious criminal matters.

Smart, whose last known addresses are Harpers Land, Upper Clapham, St. Michael and Block 3B Haynesville, St. James is approximately five feet, seven inches tall. He has a brown complexion and a medium build. He has a round medium-shaped head, a pointed flat nose, thick lips and a scar in the middle of his forehead.

Smart is advised that he can present himself to the Narcotics Unit, Oistins Police Station, Oistins, Christ Church accompanied by an Attorney-at-Law of his choice.

Any person, who may know Smart’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Narcotics Unit, Oistins Police Station, at 418-2626/418-2631, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1 800-8477 or the nearest police station.

Members of the public are also reminded that it is a serious offence to harbour or assist wanted persons. Any person caught committing this offence can be prosecuted.

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