With the National Senior Games track and field circuit no longer being held on two consecutive days, athletes will now have time to prepare for several events.

This was outlined recently by National Senior Games Coordinator, Ytannia Wiggins, during a stakeholders’ meeting in the school hall at Harrison College, Crumpton Street, St. Michael. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, which bears responsibility for the Games.

Ms. Wiggins noted the field events will be held on Saturday, May 31, at Queen’s College, Husbands, St. James, while the road races, involving running, cycling, walking, and skating, will take place on Sunday, June 1, on the Mighty Grynner Highway.  Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track events at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.

The coordinator also announced that a major Active Living, Active Ageing Sports Festival will take place on September 20 and 21, at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. The two-day festival, hosted in partnership with the National Sports Council (NSC), promises to be a dynamic mix of sporting demonstrations, friendly competitions, and wellness activities for seniors and their families.

Billed as a celebration of wellness and community, the festival aims to promote fun, fitness, and connection at every stage of life – from the actively ageing to the young-at-heart.

Additionally, as part of the September activities, the Ministry will partner with Q in the Community to launch the Q-Sports Series – a lively segment of short, fun activities designed especially for seniors. This initiative seeks to bring sport and movement directly into communities, encouraging active lifestyles in familiar, welcoming spaces.

Media personality Patrick ‘Salt’ Bellamy will join the festivities with his signature “40 Fuh Life” 5K Road Race, marking his transition into the Masters category of the Senior Games. The inclusion of a pre-senior, 40 – 49 age group into the games serves as a vital bridge, encouraging ongoing participation and helping to ensure the sustained growth and vitality of the Games for years to come.

Ms. Wiggins also shared that her team will be working with the We Gatherin’ Committee to host a series of pop-up events in communities across the island, throughout the year. They are designed to build excitement, increase visibility, and bring the spirit of the National Senior Games directly to the people.

In partnership with the NSC, the Games will also support daily senior fitness sessions held at the Wildey Gymnasium, from 10:00 a.m. The sessions will not only promote the upcoming Games but also align with the Ministry’s broader mandate to encourage active ageing.

Ms. Wiggins noted that the organisers hope these movement sessions will inspire more community members to get involved with the Games and embrace healthier and more active lifestyles.

She added: “The idea is simple – we’re creating a space where our elder community can come together, support one another, and embrace a lifestyle of active living and ageing. It’s about building meaningful connections and making movement a natural part of everyday life. 

“With Barbados’ ageing population steadily growing, it’s more important than ever to create inclusive opportunities that prioritise wellness, mobility, and social engagement. We’ve been having real conversations about how we can better reach and involve seniors – not just as participants, but as valued members of a thriving, active community.” (PR/GIS)

Registration for the Barbados National Senior Games 2025 will open on Monday, April 14, with athletes now able to do so fully digital, for the first time.

This was disclosed by National Senior Games Coordinator, Ytannia Wiggins, last Wednesday, during a meeting at Harrison College to provide potential athletes and other stakeholders with information on how this event, also dubbed National Senior Games 2.1, would be structured, as it commemorates its 21st Anniversary.

The meeting was convened by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, under whose aegis the National Senior Games falls.

The 2025 Games will comprise both competitive and recreational participation categories and will be held over a series of months. Whit Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track and field activities, being held for one day instead of two.

Ms. Wiggins said: “The team has embraced digital forms. While we used fillable PDFs last year, we’ve now created an online version with QR codes and shareable links – perfect for WhatsApp and other social channels. It’s currently being tested by our committee; it includes accessibility features, and provides instant registration confirmation while compiling our participant database – something that was requested by participants last year.”

Although the new method is digital, some seniors will still be able to submit hard copies of forms at specific locations. Explaining how this will be done, she stated: “At the Ministry, one of our key goals is building our relationship with BARP through capacity building and mutual support. This year, BARP will have registration forms available at their office and will welcome members to the Members’ Lounge, where they can get help filling them out. For those opting for the digital version, assistance will also be available. It’s about helping each other, sharing knowledge, and growing together as a community. Forms will also be available at various locations across the island.”

Ms. Wiggins added: “The registration forms will open on April 14 and will be available on the Games website. Our website is currently being updated to include key features such as registration, past statistics, social media links, and important updates. We welcome any feedback or suggestions as we continue to improve!”

National Senior Games 2.1 will officially launch on Saturday, May 24, with a motorcade in and around communities and end with a health and wellness fair, at Golden Square Freedom Park, The City.

The coordinator, noting that June 9, Whitsuntide Monday, has been designated as the marquee event under the Games, said the Committee’s goals were simple. “We want to look at improving participation across the communities, to strengthen partnerships and align with our national priorities on health, wellness, and inclusion. So, for us, National Senior Games 2.1 our 21st birthday is not just going to be a sporting event, we are looking at it as a national movement.

“That’s why we’ve realigned the Health and Wellness Fair – originally started in 2024 – to take place in September this year, in recognition of the Month of the Elderly. We’ll officially launch the event on May 24, with a motorcade, which will conclude in Golden Square,” she stated. (PR/GIS)

Article by David Harris & Photos by Christopher Williams

Former England’s cricketer Roland Butcher launched his autobiography Breaking Barriers-Barbados to England and Back before an appreciative audience at the Three Ws Oval of the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Wednesday night. 

Butcher, 71, the first black man to play Test cricket for England was born in East Point, St Philip on the eastern part of Barbados and moved to England at the age of 14. 

In 1974 Butcher joined the English County Middlesex, six years later Butcher an attacking middle-order batsman was selected for two One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Australia. On March 12, 1981, created history created history when he made his Test debut against the West Indies at Kensington Oval.  

The launch was hosted by the office of Pro Vice and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the UWI Professor Clive Landis. Several members of the cricket fraternity in Barbados attended the event, among them were the legendary Barbados and West Indies opening batsman The Most Honourable Desmond Haynes, ex Barbados and West Indies batsman Philo Wallace, the vice president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Calvin Hope, former  Barbados wicketkeeper Erskine King, and outgoing chief executive officer of the BCA Dr Roland Toppin.  

Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC0 Mac Fingall, president of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Randy Harris, and director of the Barbados Olympic Association Dr Adrian Lorde  

 Butcher and the book’s co-author Dr Sasha Sutherland read excerpts from the publication.  

There were video greetings from several people connected to Butcher including his son Paul, and captain of the West Indies women’s team Hayley Matthews. 

Tributes were paid to Butcher by Landis and Britian’s acting High Commissioner to Barbados Charley Williams. 

Butcher told the audience that even though he was a professional cricketer, and his wages were better than a normal job cricketer of his era played cricket because they loved the game. 

“When I said there was no money, the money was better than just a normal job. Desmond will tell you also we played the game because loved the game. We probably would have played for nothing. We had a great love for the sport and got a lot of enjoyment from it”, Butcher said.  

Haynes spoke about Butcher’s skills in the field that their former captain at Middlesex Mike Gatting once told him that “Roland was once of the best fielders in the world”. 

“I used to be very keen to see Roland fielding in the covers especially when we were playing in the Sunday League, I never saw Colin Bland (who is rated as one of greatest cover fielders, but I think Roland was fantastic fielder in the covers”, Haynes said. 

Butcher said his friendship with Haynes began in 1976 when they called to trails for the Barbados cricket team. 

“We were teammates and at Middlesex – and more recently we West Indies selectors’; and then were both fired from that job”, Butcher said to the amusement of the audience.