Motorists who are driving around with dark tinted vehicle windows have been put on notice to comply with the law or face the consequences.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley warned that this action would not be tolerated as she addressed the nation during a press conference on Thursday, at Ilaro Court.

“We have laws that govern tints on vehicles; they don’t allow dark tints. It must stop and the Government has set a target date that no later than the 14th of October, persons who are not having tints that are compliant, in other words, the light tint, will be fined….

“If you are involved in behaviour that leads to those tints still being there, such that the police or anybody passing through can’t see you, and you believe that you can just drive around with impunity, … start paying some fines,” Ms. Mottley said.

She also indicated that the regulation of number plates is another area of concern. “This notion that any and everybody can make a number plate – those days are done – and there will be strict regulation, and the fines will be high…”, she stressed.

The Prime Minister spoke about the trend where some persons were walking on public highways with masks and shirts on their face.

“It stops the police and other legitimate people in this society from seeing and knowing who it is that’s standing next to them, or who it is that’s doing something opposite them…. The Highways Act passed in 1925, 99 years ago, made it an offence for people to walk on the streets or be in a public place with masks….

“Unless you have the permission of the Commissioner of Police, you cannot be wearing these masks, and you cannot be wearing these T shirts on your face to conceal [it]. The operative thing will be concealment, so, there may have to be an amendment to the actual section, but the section talks about masks….”

Ms. Mottley noted that those employed on construction sites or in landscape may need to have their face covered while working, and she pointed out that transparent masks could be used, so faces could still be seen.

She also disclosed that she had asked Attorney General Dale Marshall and Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw to meet with the owners in the hired cars industry.

“If your car is going to be used as an instrument of crime, remember that one of the first pieces of legislation that this Government passed…was the Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Crime Act, and that means that it can be confiscated and forfeited.

“Having said that, we don’t want to set about doing that, we believe that there is room for greater levels of regulation and greater Know Your Customer guidelines for anybody wanting to hire a car in this country,” the Prime Minister said.

During the wide-ranging address, Ms. Mottley stated that because of the misuse by some of 3D printers, persons would require a licence to import them.

“We will bring a regulatory framework for 3D printers, and it will also include the right of law enforcement to periodically inspect those who have these printers to ensure that they are not being used for nefarious purposes,” she added.

Cabinet members attending the address included Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw; Attorney General Dale Marshall; Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds. (PR/GIS)

The two vessels which sunk at the Port of Bridgetown during the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024, have been removed from the inner basin of the harbour.

The last remnants of the vessels were raised off the seabed on Monday, September 16, 2024, bringing a close to the two-week salvage operation executed by the Trinidad-based company PK Solutions Salvage, an associate company of Ocean Marine.

Deploying a team of divers and utilising heavy-duty land-based equipment, the first salvaged component of the 24-meter-long, 141 Gross Tons Jolly Roger – the hull, was lifted on August 27, 2024, and assessed by its owners.

The 98 Gross Tons, 31 metres long MV Dream Chaser was cut into three pieces before being raised.

Efforts were made throughout the period the vessels were underwater to protect the coastal environment against leakage of contaminants or pollutants. A complete sweep of the seabed yesterday, September 17, 2024, ensures there is no remaining debris or impediments to the berthing of incoming cargo and cruise ships.

Barbados Port Inc. worked in collaboration with the Coastal Zone Management Unit, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Ministry of International Transport, to ensure the safe disposal of the wrecks. Towed to a final resting place at Carlisle Bay, they will serve as artificial reefs.

Barbados Port Inc. extends its appreciation to all parties who assisted in the salvage operations, including CG United Insurance, Trident Insurance and Sentry Insurance Brokers. (PR/GIS)

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has made an impassioned plea to the youth in Barbados to aspire to greatness just like the new Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Lovell, and to stay clear of a life of violence.

Ms. Mottley made the appeal yesterday after the 45-year-old Chief of Staff took the Oath of Allegiance before the President, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason and the Acting Private Secretary Juana Franklin-Leacock, at State House.

She promised to address the country later this week on matters of citizen security and referred to a discussion with the Attorney General about the unfortunate circumstances in which a young man was now facing murder charges. She said: “I thought to myself that this is truly a story of two Barbadoses.”

The Prime Minister declared that any child can achieve greatness like Lt. Col. Lovell, “once we put all of the guard rails and the rooting and the mentorship in place as was then for the majority of us”.

Ms. Mottley stressed: “That this fine gentleman has emerged and has been able, through discipline, hard work, capacity and mentorship, to rise to where he is today, as compared to others who choose a different path, is a story that I want all Barbadians to reflect upon. The choice is yours for your children and for yourself and I could not want a better metaphor, a better example, to show people what is possible in this country.”  

The Prime Minister reiterated her government’s intention to expand the ranks of the Barbados Defence Force to 800 personnel by the time it reaches its 50th anniversary.

Ms. Mottley acknowledged that the problem was not young people wanting to engage in “risky things, but we have now the reality that there are tools available to people that have a disproportionate impact on our lives”.

The Prime Minister added: “I could not let today pass without highlighting what is possible.  A fine young man who rises to the highest ranks in this country, or young men who want a pathway to either Coral Ridge, Westbury Cemetery, or Dodds [Prisons]; the choice is ours.  I do not believe that it is a difficult choice, and I thank God that we have examples like you and others in The [Barbados] Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force and the other protective services to show what it is really like.

“The Commissioner spoke to the country and indicated that we’re dealing with a core of people, but we know that behind that core of people we have been too lapse in being able to control and to ensure that our young people are rooted, but equally, have guard rails along the pathway to adulthood and then in early adulthood,” Ms. Mottley underlined.

The Prime Minister noted that government would continue to do all that it can to steer the youth on the right path, pointing out “you will continuously hear me address what I know to be the truth, that who we are as people is 90 per cent determined by how we are raised”.

“I have every confidence that this fine gentleman and tomorrow I will be able to call him a different rank, but today, Lieutenant Colonel Lovell will help us along with the team, Commander Peterson and others, to be able to ensure that the excellent work done by Commodore Shurland, in helping to bridge the transition of the Barbados Defence Force at this very, very unique time in our history…. The Barbados Defence Force has shown that every step of the way, it has been an essential component in the governance of this country,” Ms. Mottley surmised

The Prime Minister noted that as the BDF continues to modernise its operations, she is confident that with Lt. Col. Lovell and Commander Peterson would oversee a seamless transition at a time when the country “needs the Barbados Defence Force, more than ever, to stand up and to play its role, not just in citizen security in its broadest sense, but also in the efficiency and protection of the country from cyber security, normal security”.

Meanwhile, Lt. Colonel Lovell, in brief remarks, said it was a privilege and an honour and a “humbling experience that the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the people of Barbados had “reposed such a responsibility in a relatively young person”.

He continued: “I am humbled by this experience…humbled by this responsibility but I look forward to the challenges. I know I have a strong team behind me. So, as we always say, once we work together in the Barbados Defence Force, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome, and we look forward to doing that over the next four years.”     

Also in attendance were Attorney General Dale Marshall, other members of Cabinet, and senior government officials. (PR/GIS)