46 responses to “Tourist arrivals UP, basic services DOWN”

1. 

   David

   May 18, 2026 at 5:00 am

   
   

   We’re still waiting!

   Govt urges patience as Beryl aid stalls for some fishermen

   by CARLOS ATWELL

   carlosatwell@nationnews.com

   APPROACHING TWO YEARS since Hurricane Beryl devastated the fishing industry, some fishermen are still not back out to sea.

   However, the Ministry of Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries is asking fisherfolk to continue to be patient with the processing of loans and grants to assist them.

   There are boats in a fenced area along Prescod Boulevard, The City, in various states of disrepair. Fishermen there said they were struggling, and the money promised by Government was not coming in.

   “Two years later and we still fighting. I’m just living off my savings and that soon done. I’ve already put more than $100 000 in trying to get this boat back in the water, but I still haven’t received any payout from Government. I’m told the monies are approved, but I still can’t see not one cent,” Harvey Corbin told the DAILY NATION.

   A fisherman for 30 years, he is in the midst of transferring from the Lady Muriel, a wooden vessel, to the Lady Muriel II, made of fibreglass. He said his original boat was a “beauty” and it brought tears to his eyes when it was damaged beyond reasonable repair.

   Didn’t trust insurance

   “The official term is ‘no longer in use’, but to bring that back is too much of an expense, so I’m transferring to a fibreglass boat. It got surveyed and everything, but I can’t say when it will be ready,” he pointed out.

   Corbin said he did not trust insurance and had stopped paying the premiums.

   “It’s $20 000 a year for a boat. We had a meeting with [an insurance company] and we demanded some kind of compromise or we done. So, we done with that, but to make things worse, the fellows telling me the fish ain’t catching like before, so our earnings are down.

   “Costs and prices keep going up. The longer they take to give us that 25 per cent, then soon you won’t be able to buy much with it,” he said.

   Another fisherman, who declined to be named, lives in his boat after his home was destroyed in a fire. He said he is surviving thanks to his family.

   “I got a little something from Government but that was supposed to be monthly and it stopped. Right now I got to put in a new keel and was hoping to be on the water in a month, but now the engine giving problems. We really need help, but nobody telling us anything,” he lamented.

   When contacted, Permanent Secretary David Leacock, said: “There were grants for those who wanted to buy back boats and grants for those who wanted to repair their boat, so there were different contingencies where persons were given grants.

   “We met with the fisherfolk up to [last] Wednesday, and the Minister [Santia Bradshaw] heard from all the fisherfolk what their concerns were. We’ve entered into an agreement with the World Bank for a $50 million loan to assist in rebuilding the Bridgetown fishing harbour, as well as providing funds for those same fisherfolk who were disadvantaged. So it is an ongoing process,” he explained.

   Leacock said the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited was the local agent authorised by the World Bank to disburse loans and grants, and there were currently around 70 outstanding loan applications which were being assessed for issuance.

   He said the major concern was those fishermen who were of a certain age and would not be in a position to take out a 20- to 30-year loan. However, he added, this was brought up at the meeting last week and they were looking at solutions.

   President of the Black Fin Fleet Cooperative Society, Moonesh Dharampaul, confirmed much of what Leacock stated but queried the delay in distributing the money.

   “So, since Beryl occurred July 1, 2024, we’ve had close to 200 boats back in the water, and those boats would have had minor secondary damage. However, we still have close to 80 boats where you had a total loss of the vessel and it could not be repaired. So, those fishermen were offered a loan facility from the World Bank, which was $10 million, and they were asked to apply for these loans through the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited.

   Told money not there

   “It has been a process . . . but since July 1, up to now, we’ve not had a transition from the World Bank into where it needs to be to get it to the hands of those persons who are applying for the loans.”

   He added: “We have close to 20 people who have applied for the loans and they have been approved. But they are being told that the money is not there. I understand that the money is at the Central Bank, but it has to be transitioned . . . . The fishermen are not being treated with enough respect and we need to have a better communication situation with them.”

   Dharampaul suggested a model be used where fishermen should not have to deal with a loan in the first place.

   “In my opinion, being a person who has studied economics, I believe fishermen should have been given boats without the loan facility in place. To justify that, here’s what I’m saying: the fishing industry is one of the few industries in Barbados that has generational wealth . . . [and fish] is a value-added product, from fisherman to vendor to retailer or hotel.

   “That is a value-added product at the end of the day. I think that we have to start looking at food security and supporting the industry by allowing an easier transition into getting those fishermen back onto the water without going through a long, arbitrary process in terms of loan facilities. This was brought up in a meeting with the minister earlier on Wednesday and she said that she’s open to having more flexible options on the table,” he said.

   Source: Nation

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2. 

   Pachamama

   May 18, 2026 at 6:59 am

   
   

   What’s new?

   Are these not two of the same problems long faced

   That two ice machines are down at the same time would have taken the proverbial act of god to have happened simultaneously, given preventive maintenance.

   And in tourism, Tom Adams accused a former Chairman of the then Tourist Board of doing more harm than a hurricane, the history books state, seems not dissimilar.

   We’ve been hearing about increased arrivals for decades, as though an expected refrain, a political football, what has that meant? With war to be renewed, tens of thousands of flights being cancelled because of escalating fuel prices, recession and depression on the horizon, who is this regime seeking to fool with propaganda?

   Really, we’ll prefer to think that after 60 years of ‘independence’ more intractable problems than the mundane are the ones to which national energy should be grappling with, but no, more of the same!

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3. 

   Terence Blackett

   May 18, 2026 at 7:15 am

   
   

   @TheBlogmaster

   GOOD NEWS ALWAYS COME IN DRIPS & DRABS – OFTEN LACED WITH A PINCH OF SUBTERFUGE & CLASSIC IRONY

   Let the so-called leaders in BIM*, pray that the “DEMENTED OCCUPANT” in the White House (SO APTLY TITLED), “HOGTIED BY HIS SLAVEMASTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU” do not escalate tensions in the “Strait of Hormuz” (ANY FURTHER) and/or begin #PhaseIII of what will be an apocalyptic war & possibly #WW3!!!

   If any of these variables occur -” KISS YOUR TOURISM GOLDEN CALF GOODBYE”!!!

   I do not have to elucidate or adumbrate the “CONSEQUENCES” of such an outcome – we all know the end-results & the “SPIN-OFF”!!!

   EVEN THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE PLAGUE ISLAND CALLED #Denial KNOW THIS ONLY 2 WELL

   So much 4 the #StormClouds that are gathering!!!

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4. 

   Pachamama

   May 18, 2026 at 7:48 am

   
   

   These former “fishermen”, we’ve seen some of the best fisherwomen in China, are effectively out of business, except in Barbados.

   Given that things have been tight with the government, even as this same government talks about having the best people to do the jobs.

   It would require an abandonment of common sense to presume that fishermen, unable to go to sea for two years, are still properly in business, are even skilled fishermen anymore.

   And if boat ownership and labour are separate functions, that owners are still waiting for largesse, suggest a flawed business model.

   That two years could pass waiting for government handouts suggest that such should not have been promised at all.

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5. 

   David

   May 18, 2026 at 8:09 am

   
   

   @TB

   For some of us on the rock, we have to find time to prioritize and fix problems that are local. Geopolitical issues although they impact us are out of our control – we must do what we can to do both; fix local problems while negotiating and navigating the global place.

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6. 

   John A

   May 18, 2026 at 10:52 am

   
   

   The ice makers issue for the fishermen is unacceptable. Is there no private company that makes ice that can be contracted by the state in the short term to supply ice to this entity? Imagine Bajan fishermen have to go to Grenada to buy ice! In the end it is us the consumers that will carry this burden at the register.

   As for the tourism staffing change the loyal supporters must be recognised and awarded. Done wid dat.

   Now as for the minister of Roads I would suggest this job be given to Dunksie (Dunksman), who shows us on Facebook more road issues in need of address than anyone.

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7. 

   Hants

   May 18, 2026 at 1:14 pm

   
   

   tirty tree mil ?

   “The Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) is set to spend almost $33 million to repair minor roads across the island.

   This was revealed by Senior Minister Kirk Humphrey, who disclosed that close to 50 roads in residential areas had already been identified.

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8. 

   Hants

   May 18, 2026 at 5:04 pm

   
   

   Major minor.

   https://barbadostoday.bb/2026/05/18/major-work-on-minor-roads-coming/

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9. 

   David

   May 18, 2026 at 5:31 pm

   
   

   American tourist given an ass whipping by lawless youngsters in Barbados.

   https://videos.files.wordpress.com/VvORhTRn/fcc29d97-43ce-42fd-87e3-b153525b3937.mp4

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10. 

    David

    May 18, 2026 at 5:35 pm

    
    

    We are having too many of these lawless incidents to not call it what it is, Barbados is headed quickly in the wrong direction. We continue to push our heads in the sand but some of us are bold enough to call it. We are in a crisis situation- Houston, we have a problem. Stop with the sentimentality.

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11. 

    Hants

    May 18, 2026 at 8:46 pm

    
    

    Boss lady.

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12. 

    David

    May 19, 2026 at 5:57 am

    
    

    All is well.
    Strong-looking’ tourism season

    BARBADOS IS TRENDING towards another strong tourism performance in 2026, following on the heels of last year’s record-breaking 727 310 longstay and 817 950 cruise visitor arrivals.

    Chief executive officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) Andrea Franklin said the island has already recorded around 214 000 visitors for the first quarter of the year.

    “Across all of our markets we are seeing the resilience and the strong performance,” she said, while reporting on Barbados’ tourism performance and plans to travel trade media from around the world at the justended Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Travel Marketplace in Antigua.

    Franklin said last year Barbados saw “expanding international airlines” to the destination. “We saw our cruise activity also strengthen, in particular our homeporting activity, as well as our global competitiveness and our connectivity,” she added.

    She based her positive projections for 2026 on “double-digit growth coming out of Europe, strong growth out of Canada as well as encouraging signs from the United Kingdom, United States and Caribbean markets.

    Air connectivity “remains the cornerstone of our strategy for tourism growth on the destination”, Franklin said, pointing to Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill’s strategy of expanding airlift into Barbados.

    The Lagos, Nigeria airline Air Peace will begin a monthly charter service to Barbados and Antigua next week, a development which the BTMI chief said is the beginning of building awareness and connectivity to the destination.

    “We will continue to forge relationships and conversations with other carriers to see how we can be a hub for the rest of the Caribbean from the African continent,” Franklin said.

    Quizzed on Barbados’ ability to sustain a direct flight from Africa, she replied: “Barbados may not be able to fill an aircraft to a full flight, but we certainly can use it looking at Barbados as a hub . . . with the connectivity to our neighbouring islands who have all expressed interest in terms of the African market.”

    Franklin said Barbados had just opened a tourism office in Nairobi to give the island a physical presence in the African market. She added it will serve the African and Gulf Cooperation Council region – which comprises the Arab nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

    However, it was noted that seasonality remained an issue for Barbados and for other tourismdependent Caribbean countries, which experience a substantial drop in visitor arrivals during the summer months.

    Franklin said it was an issue which Barbados was actively addressing by targeting the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) market; pursuing more sports tourism and pushing more summer events and festivals like Crop Over in a bid to generate business to fill the gap.

    For the second consecutive year, Barbados will have no cruise ships calling at the Bridgetown Port during the summer, as major cruise lines have redeployed ships to the northern Caribbean and Europe.

    However, the BTMI projected summer 2027 will see the Bridgetown Port again busy with cruise ships. (GC)

    Source: Nation

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13. 

    David

    May 19, 2026 at 6:01 am

    
    

    Knowing when enough is enough

    A FEW WEEKS AGO, I drove through Six Men’s Bay in St Peter. The first thing that struck me was not the architecture, nor the promise of a luxury resort, nor the glossy renderings of what is to come. It was the road itself. It felt small to me, smaller than I remembered as a child travelling that road frequently.

    On one side, the sea has been relentlessly reclaiming the coastline.

    On the other, a massive new development now rises from the landscape.

    The contrast was impossible to ignore and as a young Barbadian, I found myself asking a question that many in my generation are quietly wrestling with: How many more hotels do we need?

    Barbados has often been celebrated as a global leader in sustainability, yet increasingly, our coastline tells a more complicated story. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley recently shared that the Pendry development at Six Men’s Bay includes a planning gain that will support the rebuilding of the fish market and the creation of a community space inspired by the Oistins Bay Garden.

    Severe erosion

    She noted that the area had suffered severe erosion, with homes already lost to the sea, and emphasised that the Government, investors and the Coastal Zone Management Unit would work together to restore the beach and strengthen coastal protection.

    To me, this approach is commendable, but it also raises a profound contradiction.

    If we know that climate change and coastal erosion are already threatening our shores, why does our economic model continue to place some of our largest investments directly on those same vulnerable coastlines?

    The new Pendry Hotels & Resorts development is undeniably impressive.

    Scheduled to open in 2027, it will feature about 80 ocean-front rooms, 46 luxury residences, a 110-berth marina, a yacht club, spa and high-end dining experiences. Its developers describe Barbados as the destination generating the most excitement worldwide.

    That excitement is understandable. My country is beautiful, but beauty alone should not justify unchecked expansion.

    Tourism remains essential to our economy, creating jobs and attracting foreign exchange, yet there comes a point when development begins to compete with the very ecosystems and communities that make this island extraordinary.

    When mangroves are removed, beaches engineered and communities transformed to accommodate luxury living, are we building prosperity or just packaging paradise for sale?

    This is the tension between capitalism and environmentalism.

    Capitalism encourages constant growth, larger investments and new opportunities for profit.

    Environmentalism reminds us that our island has ecological limits. It reminds us that our coastlines are not infinite and our fishers cannot relocate their livelihoods as easily as investors can relocate capital.

    The truth is that our young people notice.

    We see the cranes, the construction and the promises of economic opportunity. But we also see the bleaching reefs, the disappearing beaches and the increasing sense that access to our own coastline is slowly being redefined.

    Development should not mean displacement and progress should not require us to sacrifice public spaces, marine ecosystems and cultural heritage.

    Perhaps the real question is not whether Barbados needs more hotels. Perhaps it is whether Barbados can pioneer a new model of development where communities benefit first, ecosystems are genuinely protected and economic growth respects the natural boundaries of a 166-square-mile island.

    Because if Barbados truly wants to lead the world on sustainability, we must be willing to ask uncomfortable questions.

    I believe not every empty space needs a resort, not every coastline needs a marina and not every measure of success should be counted in room keys and real estate values.

    Sometimes the most visionary act is knowing when enough is enough.

    Just my two cents worth.

    Ashley Lashley is youth advisor to the United Nations Secretary General on climate change and executive director of the Ashley Lashley Foundation.

    Source: Nation

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14. 

    Donna

    May 19, 2026 at 8:00 am

    
    

    David,

    What is the backstory to this violent attack? Any news? Or do I have to subject myself to Naked Departure again?

    Also, what you said about the need to focus on fixing local issues even in the face of international conditions is spot on.

    I maintain that there are things that are within our control. Neo-colonialism is not colonialism. There is wiggle room in neo-colonialism. And until we are re-colonised, we should wiggle well.

    Those who wait only on the Lord to end these troubling times and those who wait only on the mushroom cloud, would lead us regular Barbadians to exactly the same place in the meantime, a place where we throw in the towel. And yet, the world has never been a place of peace or justice. There is indeed “nothing new under the sun”. Life has always been “a struggle and a puzzle” as my grandmother used to say.

    And as my son now says, “We must do what we can do, and not worry about what we cannot do.” Worry drains us of the energy and the will to do what we can do.

    I goin’ out to the lil kitchen garden and mini orchard bith to tend and to to reap what I have sown, and what my parents sowed before me. I leave the Iranians to fight the war against neo-colonialism and re-colonisation. I can only seek to educate a few people online as my contribution. My son does the same. Then promptly, at 8.30 am, he sets about earning some foreign exchange. Often, I have to stop him.

    Minds are changing worldwide. The Western jig is up. Amidst the current despair, there is yet a ray of hope. We want to be around to see what happens. For that, we will need food and money.

    I late ahready! I gone! Dumb Donna now goes where Simple Simon probably is already. Foolish women, no doubt.

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15. 

    David

    May 19, 2026 at 8:59 am

    
    

    Agree with you @Donna, extremism will never add value. It will likely lead to an opposite reaction. The Bay Street incident with the tourists looks like lawlessness by a group of wayward young men.

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16. 

    Hants

    May 19, 2026 at 10:05 am

    
    

    Really ?

    https://nationnews.com/2026/05/19/strong-looking-tourism-season/

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17. 

    Hants

    May 19, 2026 at 10:38 am

    
    

    Green water ?

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18. 

    David

    May 20, 2026 at 5:40 am

    
    

    @Minister Gooding-Edghill

    Please fix the old Brokeback conveyor baggage handling belts at the airport.

    Govt making room for more aircraft

    WITH AIRLIFT TO BARBADOS EXPANDING, Government is moving to accommodate more aircraft at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).

    Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill announced yesterday that construction would begin next month on an additional three parking aprons at the airport.

    He was piloting debate on the Civil Aviation Bill, 2026, which was later passed, in the House of Assembly.

    The minister reported further success in acquiring more airlift to Barbados, but confirmed that American Airlines had cancelled its New York to Barbados service for the upcoming winter season.

    “The expansion of airlift into Barbados has also given us cause to look to see how best we can expand and improve parking positions for aircraft at the Grantley Adams International Airport,” Gooding-Edghill said.

    “I’m pleased to announce that work should commence next month on expansion of the parking apron at the Grantley Adams International Airport. We currently have 23 parking positions there.

    “Based on the volume and the number of flights that are coming into Barbados, it is in our best interest at this point in time that we seek to increase the number of parking spaces at the Grantley Adams International Airport. Therefore, we’ll be adding additional three gates.”

    He added: “Work will commence next month and by the end of November, we should complete all of the cutting of the rock and all the concrete works that are necessary, so that when those jets land in Barbados, they won’t be compromised and they wouldn’t have any construction going on within that area.

    “If you go to the airport, for example, any weekend, you will see an inordinate number of flights on the tarmac. The challenge for us now is that you’re almost juggling for space and that is why we have to extend the gates by an additional three.

    On American Airlines’ winter service between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and GAIA, the minister said it was “very unfortunate that American Airlines has made a business decision in their own right and in their own commercial interests to adjust the New York route . . . but not withstanding that it will not be a substantial blow to US airlift”.

    “We continue to have major carriers that are servicing us. JetBlue has agreed to increase the double dailies out of New York from June through August, so that will give us even more seats coming into Barbados and we are still in discussions with American Airlines and we have not closed the door with respect to that particular New York flight,” he told the Chamber.

    “We recognise the very strong partnership that we have with American Airlines, there is no issue relating to the Charlotte flight, no issue relating to the Philadelphia flight and of course, no issues relating to the Miami flights as well. Those are all secured, but we will continue to ensure that Barbados maintains very strong connectivity.”

    Gooding-Edghill also announced British Airways “will commence their third daily service into Barbados, I believe it begins October 25, . . . out of Gatwick”.

    “We also have the double daily from Virgin Atlantic . . . that is very strong, very secure,” he said.

    The next winter season will see Canadian carrier Air Transat having two weekly flights out of Montreal.

    He said Barbados’ tourism was continued to hold its own “notwithstanding the highly competitive and the highly tense global geopolitical situation”, which was having an impact on oil prices. (SC)

    Source: Nation

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19. 

    David

    May 20, 2026 at 5:41 am

    
    

    $20 million boost for new civil aviation airport

    MORE THAN $20 million will be invested in new civil aviation airport at the Grantley Adams International Airport and a number of air traffic controllers are now being trained.

    Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill gave this update to the House of Assembly yesterday during debate on the Civil Aviation Bill, 2026.

    “We are moving to eventually performance-based navigation. We . . . are going to be spending maybe more than $20 million replacing equipment and adding new equipment for the Air Navigation Services Department,” he said.

    “We are building out a lot of equipment for the Civil Aviation Authority. We have the funds in our possession.”

    The minister said the authorities were currently working on securing and procuring more equipment because it was “very important that we build out air navigation services”.

    “When you look around the aircraft coming to Barbados, there is a lot of new technology . . . and we have to adapt.”

    The minister said 15 people were now training to become air traffic controllers, with another 15 to start in August and another 15 after that.

    “We . . . addressed a number of matters relating to the air traffic controllers. We’re still obviously having those discussions with respect to the Ministry of Public Service and Talent Development to ensure that all the necessary requests [are fullfilled],” he reported.

    “Our negotiations continue, we meet with them once a month to ensure that we settle those. Barbados is not alone in respect of shortage of air traffic controllers, but fortunately, Government has recognised that it is an area that we have to pay attention to.”

    The Member of Parliament for St Michael West Central also told the House that the Ministry of Finance “graciously agreed to . . . allow us to procure three simulators. Those simulators are used to train the air traffic trainees who later become air traffic controllers”.

    “Those three simulators will be in Barbados very shortly, Gooding-Edghill said. (SC)

    Source: Nation

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20. 

    David

    May 20, 2026 at 5:44 am

    
    

    Minister, any monies collected please fix the old ass conveyor baggage belts. No problem with adding cost to an already high price destination, seems the easy decision to make.

    Barbados ‘must step up’ airspace game

    BARBADOS MUST introduce the necessary equipment and policies to ensure that it no longer misses out on revenue from aircraft transiting the country’s upper airspace.

    Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn said this was an important step the island needed to take considering that other CARICOM countries may be collecting money that rightfully belonged to Barbados.

    “For as long as I have known myself, I have heard that there is another CARICOM country that has been collecting the revenue for planes transiting our airspace and therefore, if we are going to take what is ours, then we have got to up our game to make sure that when we assert that this is ours, that we have the capability to enforce,” Straughn said speaking during debate on the Civil Aviation Bill, 2026 yesterday in the House of Assembly.

    He added: “And therefore these measures are important for us to be able to say, ‘well, when you look up in the sky and you see the plane passing in the higher altitude, they have got piece of change for Barbados’.

    Validate airspace

    “But if we can’t validate that that is our airspace up there and that whatever the tail number of the aircraft passed in this time, then the little revenue for the Civil Aviation Authority they are going to come and ask me for the money.

    “So I want them to get the equipment fast, to upgrade so that we can get that money and I am being very serious because as we are now repositioning . . . this country to take on more of this type of activity then I would expect, as we are bringing aircraft from Africa and the Middle East . . . from Latin America and the like, that we must know what is happening in our airspace.”(SC)

    Source: Nation

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21. 

    John A

    May 20, 2026 at 9:47 am

    
    

    David have you hear any official condemnation from those in power about the attack on an American Visitor that occured by Savvy?

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22. 

    Donna

    May 20, 2026 at 10:21 am

    
    

    I am still waiting on the story of what “provoked” the attack. Surely there must have been something! Of course, what transpired would still qualify as excessive force. But these silly youngsters must have believed there was some justification for their actions. They were being recorded, for heaven’s sake. They are easily identifiable to people who know them.

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23. 

    David

    May 20, 2026 at 12:35 pm

    
    

    @John A

    Heard Alan Kinch defending talk about improved security. He stated there are 4 guards, not sure why there was no quick intervention by his security.

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24. 

    David

    May 20, 2026 at 12:36 pm

    
    

    We are hearing on the news that AA will be discontinuing its service from JFK to Barbados?

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25. 

    David

    May 20, 2026 at 4:50 pm

    
    

    @Donna

    The visitor chose to fightback. They wanted his necklace.

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26. 

    John A

    May 20, 2026 at 6:14 pm

    
    

    So who was the victim and wife patronising before they were attacked? Where did these vagabonds come from so quickly, or do they just wait outside of Bay Street establishments for victims to come out?

    There is more here that we need to know before we can form an accurate opinion.

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27. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 4:58 am

    
    

    ‘Troubling’ trend

    CHAIRMAN OF THE Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Javon Griffith says the private sector body is “profoundly troubled” by the recent escalation of violent crime across Barbados.

    Griffith said yesterday the BHTA “strongly believes that urgent, visible and decisive national action is required to restore confidence, strengthen community safety and reassure both residents and visitors that Barbados remains committed to maintaining law and order and social stability”.

    The hotelier reiterated that tourism remains one of the primary engines of the economy and Barbados “cannot afford complacency when it comes to public safety and national reputation”.

    Delivering remarks at the BHTA’s first quarterly media briefing, the chairman suggested that “several immediate and long-term measures be prioritised nationally to stem the tide of crime and to reinforce and protect Barbados’ internationally respected image as a safe destination.

    Outlining several measures he suggested ought to be taken to address the problem, Griffith said: “There must be a significantly increased and more visible police presence across tourist districts, nightlife zones, beaches, major events and high-traffic commercial areas. Visitors and residents alike must feel safe and protected throughout the island . . . ”.

    He also suggested acceleration of investment in modern surveillance and security infrastructure, including expanded CCTV coverage; improved street lighting; stronger collaboration among the Barbados Police Service, tourism stakeholders, community organisations and business owners.

    “We strongly support greater investment in intelligence-led policing, border security enhancements and stronger action against illegal firearms and organised criminal activity.”

    Griffith added that Barbados must place far greater emphasis on youth intervention, education, mentorship and employment opportunities” while

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    zoom-in
    Griffith gives positive report on tourism

    asserting that “the underlying social and economic factors contributing to crime, particularly among vulnerable young people who may feel disconnected from opportunity and national progress”, must be addressed.

    The BHTA chairman aired his concerns while also giving a positive report on Barbados’ tourism performance. He noted the island recorded 727 000 long-stay visitor arrivals and close to 818 000 cruise arrivals last year, “reaffirming the island’s position as one of the Caribbean’s leading tourism destinations”.

    That positive momentum, Griffith said, continued into 2026 with forward bookings which continue to show encouraging demand patterns across Barbados’ key tourism source markets, especially the United States, Canada and Continental Europe.

    “Business on the books for winter 2026/27 also remains encouraging, with many hotels reporting strong advance bookings from the United Kingdom, continued growth in luxury accommodation demand, improved group and incentive business and increasing interest from the South American and Latin American markets,” Griffith reported.

    He said Barbados must remain agile, innovative, collaborative and relentlessly focused on quality, safety and competitiveness.

    “The opportunities ahead for Barbados’ tourism are substantial but so too is the responsibility to continuously protect, strengthen and elevate the national tourism product for future generations,” Griffith said. (GC)

    Source: Nation

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28. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 4:59 am

    
    

    @John A

    Drug heads!

    Owner: Savvy still a safe space

    OWNER OF SAVVY ON THE BAY Alan Kinch assured that the establishment remains a safe space despite a violent incident over the weekend involving a visitor.

    Speaking with the DAILY NATION following a meeting with police officials yesterday, Kinch said that he liaised with lawmen to ensure there were additional police patrols during surge times.

    “They came and looked around and saw what cameras and security we had and gave us some suggestions, and it was a very good meeting. They asked what were the busy periods and that they are going to send through patrols at those times,” he said.

    “There is not a day that goes by that we don’t see a police presence walk through or drive through probably three or four times a day. I would tell you that they are doing a great job, but when you get 500 youngsters come out on a Sunday afternoon or a bank holiday . . . maybe a couple more patrols at that particular time between sunset and 9 o’clock would be great,” he added.

    Over the weekend, a 25-year-old visitor was attacked by a group of men near the Savvy establishment. The visitor’s chain was snatched from his neck as he was on his way to get a taxi. When he attempted to reclaim his chain he was attacked by the perpetrator and others.

    The 25-year-old tourist sustained head injuries and other bruises about his body. He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was reported to be in a stable condition.

    Kinch who emphasised that the incident did not occur in his establishment, maintained that Savvy had sufficient security on hand, as well as cameras surveilling the area to supplement the consistent police patrols.

    “This did not happen on Savvy property. It happened on Government property, so I think that my four security [officers] that I had employed that night were more than ample to control or to be safe. The people involved in the incident were not customers of Savvy, they had actually come down through the right-of-way and they then were going back up.

    “I think there’s a need for the Government to deal with the lawlessness that’s going on. I don’t think that every establishment needs to protect the streets and the public right-of-way or the beach that is not theirs,” the owner said.

    Kinch insisted that safety is paramount at the establishment and that they will continue to liaise with police, however he called for a collective effort in maintaining a safer Barbados.

    “The way that I look at the business, is that we run Savvy and we target locals. The tourist is a gravy, that is a benefit. We run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year we are open. We have many people that live in the area that walk through here every day to go and have a swim. They need to feel safe and they have always felt safe,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, Sarah Taylor, spokesman for Savvy on the Bay called for liquor licensed establishments in the area to exercise greater responsibility, noting that some have incited poor conduct among its patrons with drinking games and inappropriate music in what is a family space.

    “These are people that are coming from this event. This is not something we can fix on our own. There has to be accountability, we are willing to listen and improve what we can do but we all need to be a part of the solution. I also do not think that the public beach is a place for vulgar music to be played where little children are around. . . I think that as adults we need to all start to take responsibility,” she added. ( JRN)

    Source: Nation

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29. 

    John A

    May 21, 2026 at 8:04 am

    
    

    So basically as we say ” em ain’t nobody fault.”

    Truth is that Lower Bay Street has proven to be a rat nest of trouble. A couple weeks back there was a shooting there as well. If these hooligans are from the area then any development to that area will be similarly plagued by them. This therefore is a private business and state problem all rolled into one.

    What I mean by that is this. Let’s say you are operating a business there that has security, your security can only protect that client until they leave your property. Once on public land that now becomes the state’s responsibility to protect you. If they don’t you could say “not my problem he wasn’t on my land” and be correct, but what does a reputation for an unsafe environment get you? At the same time what can these businesses do other than walk every visitor to the car under security detail?

    The next question as an investor in that area would be is that where I want to put my money? The state has its part to play as well as the private sector in dealing with this troubled area and in the meantime we all have to decide where it is safe for us to venture. This attitude of we can do what we want is now islandwide. From the thirty percent of uninsured vehicles on the roads, to utter lawlessness being seen daily on the same roads. The question is what is this government doing about dealing with all this lawlessness?

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30. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 8:23 am

    
    

    @John A

    That area is a hot mess. The drug heads control that area.

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31. 

    Hants

    May 21, 2026 at 9:05 am

    
    

    I hope it does not get so “dangerous” that armed police and soldiers are deployed to patrol the beaches.

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32. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 9:07 am

    
    

    @Hants

    We are a crisis people. The activity occurs daily but we ignore it until it mushrooms.

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33. 

    Donna

    May 21, 2026 at 9:07 am

    
    

    David,

    That is truly unbelievable … and stupid. Those youngsters, and there were so many of them, were vicious. Not one of them could tell the next one to come back. It seems that they felt entitled to the man’s property and incensed that he did not agree. I heard one of them call for a knife. I hope they will soon be taken into custody and I would not let them out on the streets again in that frame of mind. No, sirree! They need to be caged!

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34. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 9:42 am

    
    

    Group behavior is studied. Even ‘good’ people in groups may conform to what is the dominant characteristic. Sadly some good humans in a group often transform to animal behaviour, we observe it the bus terminal, people fighting to get on a bus for example.

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35. 

    John A

    May 21, 2026 at 10:32 am

    
    

    It also goes to what a society and law enforcement accepts along with the system. We brag about wanting to become the Singapore of the Caribbean, so let me ask you a question? Do you think this could of happened in a tourist area in Singapore, or any commercial part for that matter? If it did happen do you think days later these hooligans would not have been found, charged and jailed? We are two vastly different countries, where one is taught discipline and respect from young and the other one where the younger generation to some extent, are hooligans who are ALLOWED by the state to practice their art. Check and see what the fine is in Singapore for having an unlicensed firearm or driving without insurance.

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36. 

    Donna

    May 21, 2026 at 10:51 am

    
    

    David,

    I know about herd mentality, but as an “own way” person from an “own way” family, I never could quite get it on an emotional level.

    Strange that you should mention the pushing for the bus thing. I never could get into that either. I was usually the last person the conductor took pity on before he said, “Step down off the bus, please!” Pushing just looked too ridiculous for a human being to engage in.

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37. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 11:08 am

    
    

    @Donna @John A

    The bottom line here is that our authorities are aware of the nefarious activities over there at Bay Street.

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38. 

    Terence Blackett

    May 21, 2026 at 12:01 pm

    
    

    IN THE ABOVE VT, POSTED BY HANTS*, DR LEO BREWSTER POSITS THE FOLLOWING, SPEAKING TO THE SUN IN REGARDS TO THE “GREEN WATER EFFECT” OF THE SEAS AROUND WHAT IS A PRISTINE ISLAND – OR SO I THOUGHT

    It states:

    “Barbados is being impacted by a “pseudo sea level rise”, with unusually high water levels accelerating beach erosion and raising fresh concerns about the island’s long-term climate resilience…”

    “Director of the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), Dr Leo Brewster, said the recent dramatic erosion affecting sections of coastline around the island was being driven by delayed freshwater flows from the Amazon and Orinoco rivers out of South America, creating elevated water levels that were now disrupting the normal recovery cycle of the beaches…”

    “He was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Sun yesterday evening on Brownes Beach, Bay Street, St Michael, where a number of beachgoers have expressed concern about the dramatic erosion taking place at the popular spot…”

    Oceanographic science remains a challenge given 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water from “THE GREAT FLOOD”!!!

    Barbados is a “DOT” in a vast ocean of water & regardless of the “EXCUSES”, the #MottleyCrewGOV* has to clean up its act!!!

    Can we only rely on what Dr Brewster opined???

    Is this logically precise???

    His contention is that freshwater plumes reach Barbados from the Amazon & Orinoco rivers that discharges massive amounts of fresh water (Amazon: ~209,000 m³/s, Orinoco: ~36,000 m³/s)…

    These plumes are carried northwest by the North Brazil Current & then the Guiana Current…

    Barbados lies directly in the path of these plumes, typically between May & July (peak discharge during South American rainy season, delayed by travel time)…

    This is well documented and is exactly the “GREEN WATER” phenomenon he discussed earlier…

    What is however debatable is whether freshwater plumes do cause significant “PSEUDO SEA LEVEL RISE”…

    The theoretical mechanism called (STERIC EFFECT) suggest that freshwater is less dense than seawater. If you replace saltwater with freshwater, the same mass occupies a larger volume, raising sea surface height locally…

    This is sound physics!!!

    But magnitude matters, as the expected steric rise from freshwater dilution in the open ocean is typically in centimeters (1 – 5 cm), not decimeters or meters…

    In comparison, seasonal steric sea level variations in the Caribbean are usually driven by high temperature (THERMAL EXPANSION), not salinity…

    Salinity-driven steric effects are typically much smaller…

    My verdict is out, because while Dr Brewster may be technically correct, “PSEUDO SEA WATER LEVEL RISE” from freshwater is likely a minor contributor compared to other drivers!!!

    That this is the primary driver of dramatic erosion in Barbados is overwhelmingly “UNCLEAR” or “IMPLAUSIBLE”, given the oceanographic drivers of wave energy, storm events, & long-term sea level rise, which stands at – (global ~3 – 4 mm/year).

    The “NORMAL RECOVERY CYCLE” of beaches involves seasonal sand movement – winter waves erode beaches, & summer gentler waves rebuild them…

    If water levels are slightly elevated (a few cm), that alone does not typically cause dramatic erosion. It would need to be combined with higher wave energy or changed wave direction…

    Dr Brewster does not explain why the freshwater plume is arriving at a different time than usual, nor does he link it to wave conditions – was that overlooked or simply left out?

    What is missing is the role of waves & currents!!!

    Freshwater plumes carry sediment (MUD, SILT) but not sand…

    Amazonian sediment is mostly fine mud that is carried offshore or into deep canyons, not deposited on Barbados’ sandy beaches…

    Erosion of a sandy beach requires sand transport away from that location…

    Higher water levels alone don’t move sand – waves do!!!

    His public statement omits any discussion of wave climate, storm events, or changes in nearshore currents – the usual suspects for rapid erosion!!!

    Here is an alternative explanations Dr Brewster did NOT* mention, and/or considered!!!

    If beaches are eroding dramatically, more likely drivers include:

    (1) Higher wave energy (distant storms, changing North Atlantic Oscillation), where the likelihood is high, & the most common cause of beach erosion.
    (2) Changes in sand supply (offshore sand mining, coastal development blocking sediment transport) are high & are known issues in Barbados.
    (3) Global sea level rise is the (long-term background trend), already confirmed @ ~3 – 4 mm/year – slowly accelerating.
    (4) Tidal anomalies (spring tides, perigean tides), remain moderate, but can add 10 – 20 cm temporarily.
    (5) Storm surge (even from distant hurricanes) is also moderate, but can add 50 – 100 cm temporarily.
    (6) Freshwater steric effect (Dr Brewster’s hypothesis), is low, with a small magnitude, rarely documented – as erosion driver.

    My conclusion, on Dr Brewster’s theoretical suppositions – as a logical precision grade stands:

    #InternalLogicalConsistency → (B Grade), as the chain of causation is coherent (freshwater → lower density → higher water level → erosion).

    #EmpiricalSupport → (C- Grade), given his mechanism is plausible but magnitude is likely too small to explain “dramatic” erosion. Little published research linking Amazon plumes to Barbados beach erosion…

    #Completeness → (D Grade) → as it omits waves, sand supply, storms, & tides, as major drivers. Over-emphasizes a minor factor…

    #PracticalUtility → (C Grade), because it may distract from more actionable causes (coastal development, sand mining, & wave climate changes)…

    Overall Grade: (C+), due to some logically plausible but likely imprecise & potentially misleading!!!

    FURTHER TO –

    While the “GREEN WATER” blooms are natural, scientists are studying them as a possible indicator of a larger, long-term environmental shift…

    The concern is that they may signal a move away from the naturally low-nutrient (OLIGOTROPHIC) conditions that Caribbean coral reefs have depended on for 1000s of years…

    Prolonged or more frequent nutrient enrichment can tip the balance of the ecosystem – favoring the growth of algae over corals…

    This is evident on some Caribbean reefs, where very high levels of macroalgae exist with little live coral, even in areas far from local pollution sources. Increased nutrients are also linked to a rise in coral diseases, many of which are caused by bacteria that thrive in such conditions…

    (CONDITIONS SEEN IN THE INDIAN OCEAN)

    The “Green Water” phenomenon, although natural, is connected to a critical “MAN-MADE” problem – inadequate “SEWAGE treatment, which adds even more nutrients to the coastal environment…

    This is a major national concern because Barbados is ranked as one of the most “WATER-STRESSED” countries in the world.

    The island relies almost entirely on a thin lens of underground fresh “ACQUIFER” (groundwater) that sits on top of saltwater…

    Leaks & pollution from the sewage system, particularly on the South Coast, have been a recurring problem, threatening this fragile freshwater supply and the health of nearshore reefs!!!

    The MOTTLEY-CREW GOV*” admin. has used an innovative financial mechanism, which is the world’s “FIRST” Debt-4-Climate Resilience Swap, to fund a comprehensive solution…

    The project, funded by the “GREEN CLIMATE FUND” & the Inter-American Development Bank, (#IADB), involves upgrading the problematic South Coast Sewage Plant into a state-of-the-art Water Reclamation Facility…

    This project tackles the problem from [3] crucial angles:

    (1) Protecting the marine environment , by dramatically improving sewage treatment levels, the project will drastically reduce the discharge of nutrient pollution into the sea…

    This directly addresses one of the primary local stressors on coral reefs & helps protect them from the added pressure of regional “GREEN WATER” events…

    (2) Enhancing water security, instead of being a waste product, the treated water will be reclaimed and reused for agricultural irrigation. This creates a new, climate-resilient water source, reducing pressure on the island’s over-stressed groundwater aquifers…

    (3) Strengthening food security, as a project that will directly benefit 374 small farmers, (41% below the poverty line), by providing a reliable & sustainable water supply for irrigation, boosting local food production…

    Ultimately, the “GREEN WATER” from South America is a natural phenomenon, but the GOV* response is about eliminating the “MAN-MADE GREEN WATER” of sewage that has been damaging its own coasts, while simultaneously building resilience against climate change & water scarcity!!!

    The GOV* has to get its finger out & get the job done, for time is off the essence!!!

    #OnThatAnthropogenicNote

    #HereEndsTodaysLesson

    #CleanUpTheWater

    Ah comin’ 4 a swim

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39. 

    David

    May 21, 2026 at 12:33 pm

    
    

    We have been able to arrest the suspected culprits that perpetrated the crime over by Savvy but what about the root cause for the deviant behaviour?

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40. 

    John A

    May 21, 2026 at 3:03 pm

    
    

    Well let’s see what the court will do now as the police have done their job.

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41. 

    Bush Tea

    May 22, 2026 at 7:46 am

    
    

    “The bottom line here is that our authorities are aware of the nefarious activities over there at Bay Street.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Boss…
    Everybody is aware…
    …and have been now for YEARS.

    Question is ….What to do.

    The bottom line is that our ‘authorities’ are a bunch of incompetent women and other effeminate jokers who do not have the ability to get one shiite to work…

    Except of course to kowtow to the wealthy, accept handouts of silver pieces, …and make a lotta emotional shiite promises.

    But it is the same EVERYWHERE…
    Our Ebola flights are soon to start and…
    Even the global weather is fitting into trend.

    What a place
    What a world
    What a time to be alive!

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42. 

    Hants

    May 22, 2026 at 8:52 am

    
    

    Bico.

    https://nationnews.com/2026/05/22/maloney-group-buys-bulk-of-bico-shares/

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43. 

    Hants

    May 22, 2026 at 10:34 am

    
    

    Brown water.

    https://nationnews.com/2026/05/22/soil-the-cause-of-brown-sea-water-at-carlisle-bay/

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44. 

    Donna

    May 22, 2026 at 12:53 pm

    
    

    The misogynist in chief again behaving as though men have not been overwhelmingly in charge for most of human history in most places, across the world, including Barbados. And look where the world is now! The women only just took the reins after the decline was well in progress.

    I guess the failing men of the past have all been effeminate men. Now, we know that to be nonsense! In fact the most manly of men, the dominant, domineering men, have wrought the most destruction upon the earth, their testosterone-fueled aggression leading to warfare, colonialism, enslavement, genocide. And in the boardrooms of today, thousands of manly men make decisions that are catastrophic for the earth and all of creation.

    A serious look into history would reveal women who made stuff work. But of course, in a patriarchal society, their contributions are buried, just as in a white supremacist society, the contributions of black people are buried.

    The fact is that there are men and women who are capable of running things. It has absolutely nothing to do with genitals, since thinking takes place elsewhere.

    As a matter of fact, the genitals are known to get in the way of critical thinking, especially in men. Whereas, many women use their brain to make their genitalia work for them, taking advantage of the displacement of male brain thought activity by instinctive genital reactions to effect the transfer of great sums of money from the commercial bank and right into the hairy bank!

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45. 

    Donna

    May 22, 2026 at 12:56 pm

    
    

    David,

    Predictable. The silly creatures were on camera! They need to be caged.

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46. 

    Hants

    May 25, 2026 at 5:20 pm

    
    

    The start.

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