Brief

Barbados Records Damage From Hurricane Tammy’s Feeder Bands

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) received 25 incident reports following the passage of Hurricane Tammy to the north of the island, between the night of Friday, October 20, and the evening of Saturday, October 21, 2023.

These reports included property damage, such as leaking roofs and the partial collapse of a house in White Hill, St. Andrew; flooding and its secondary impacts of persons being trapped in homes and or vehicles; flooded vehicles; and impassable roads.

Deputy Director of the Department of Emergency Management, Captain Robert Harewood, added that a 78-year-old female had to be rescued by the Barbados Fire Service from a vehicle in Black Rock, and the occupants from the partially collapsed house, who had been linked with the Ministry of People Empowerment and the Welfare Department for assistance, had sought temporary shelter with a relative.

He gave this overview following assessments with Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams, and other officials, following the impact of the feeder bands on the island.

Captain Harewood said the responses were coordinated by the DEM, along with the Barbados Fire Service, the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance, and the District Emergency Organisations.

He explained that the DEM had activated a partial level of the National Emergency Operations Centre to manage incident reports and to coordinate responses. During the operation, the DEM also provided tarpaulin and sandbags to the affected.

In addition, although the island remained open for business, the emergency services were placed on alert and three emergency shelters were activated in St. Lucy, St. James, and Christ Church to provide safe shelter, if required.

The Deputy Director noted that after the system’s passage, assessments were conducted in the areas which recorded significant flooding, and included Fontabelle and Murphy’s Pasture in St. Michael, and Goodland Gardens and Chancery Lane in Christ Church.

Speaking after the team visited Fontabelle and Murphy’s Pasture, Captain Harewood noted that there was a significant amount of garbage which had blocked the recently cleared canal and was responsible for the water being backed up in the area.

“This type of situation requires us to be more mindful of our garbage situation. This is about five feet of garbage that has built up and causing the water to be backed up and resulting in a significant amount of challenges,” he said.

***Litter in the canal near Murphy’s Pasture***

Similar sentiments were echoed by Minister Abrahams who noted that after the drains were cleared of the plastic bottles that had them blocked, the water started to flow immediately. “Once this amount of rain falls in a short space of time, we will get some flooding, but we still have to mitigate the effects of those. The indiscriminate dumping all across Barbados is not making the problem better, but is making it worst,” the Minister stated. (PR/GIS)

Brief

Barbados Light and Power Supporting Grenada Electrical Team Recovery from Hurricane Beryl

The Barbados Light and Power team, led by Edward Cummins, Distribution Supervisor, is on a mission to support Grenada Electricity Services Ltd. (Grenlec) in its recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl’s devastation. Linemen Tremaine Skinner, Shamar Atkinson, Christopher Hoyte, and Donny Joseph join Cummins in this two-week initiative north of the island. This mission is facilitated by CARILEC’s Disaster Assistance Programme (CDAP), which promotes regional cooperation and joint assistance among member utilities.

Roger Blackman, Managing Director of Barbados Light and Power Company and Chairman of CARILEC joined the team at the airport to see them off. CDAP is crucial in uniting member utilities to manage disaster impacts and provide essential manpower and supplies to those in need. Their expertise and dedication underscore Barbados Light and Power’s commitment to regional solidarity and support in times of need. (PR)

Brief

Traffic Changes Around Kensington Oval On Cricket Match Days

Members of the public are advised that traffic changes have been put in place for Kensington Oval and its environs on the match days of the ICC Cricket Men’s T20 World Cup.

The Traffic Control (ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies, 2024) Rules, 2024, explain that “match day” means the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, and 29th of June, which are the dates matches are scheduled to be played at Kensington Oval.

However, where matches cannot be played on the specified dates above, there are alternative dates of the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, and 30th June, as the case may be. The traffic changes on match days, from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, are as follows:

Fontabelle Road from its junction with H. Jason Jones Complex to its junction with President Kennedy Drive, St. Michael, will be closed to all vehicular traffic.
Kensington New Road, from its junction with Baxters Road to its junction with Fontabelle Road will be a one-way road, with all vehicular traffic travelling in the direction of Baxters Road.
President Kennedy Drive from its junction with Westbury Road to its junction with Fontabelle Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic.
No person shall park any motor vehicle along Princess AIice Highway from its junction with Cowell Street to its junction with Harbour Road.
Pickwick Gap from its junction with Fontabelle Road to its junction with Westbury Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except for a motor vehicle displaying a motor vehicle access pass issued by the Barbados Local Organising Committee.
All vehicular traffic travelling along the Mighty Grynner Highway towards its junction with Holborn Circle will be diverted right only onto Prescod Boulevard Road.
No vehicular traffic will be allowed to turn left onto President Kennedy Drive or to proceed onto Fontabelle Road.
No driver or other person in charge of a motor vehicle shall park or allow the motor vehicle to remain stationary on the following roads or adjoining footpaths in St. Michael, except to pick up or set down passengers. Those roads are:
- Fontabelle Road from its junction with Lakes Folly to its junction with President Kennedy Drive
- Pickwick Gap from its junction with Westbury Road to the entrance of Kensington Oval
- Westbury Road from its junction with President Kennedy Drive to its junction with Baxters Road
- President Kennedy Drive from its junction with Richmond Gap to its junction with Fontabelle Road
- Cheapside Road
- Literary Road
- Redman Drive
- Lakes Folly
- Prescod Boulevard
- Princess Alice Highway
- Harbour Road
- Baxters Road
- Kensington New Road
- 10th Avenue, New Orleans
- Richmond Gap
- Passage Road
- Barbarees Hill Road
- Country Road
- Roebuck Street from its junction with Country Road to its junction with the James A. Tudor Roundabout
- Halls Road
- Belmont Road
- Martindale’s Road
- Eagle Hall Road
- Bank Hall Cross Road
- Bank Hall Main Road
- Mighty Grynner Highway, and
- Highway 1 from its junction with Holders Hill to its junction with Tudor Bridge.

Drivers of motor vehicles, pedestrians, riders, or leaders of animals using any of the above-mentioned roads during the times specified in the traffic rules are urged to exercise caution and comply with any order given by a member of The Barbados Police Service in uniform.

Any person who contravenes the traffic rules or fails to comply with any order given by a member of The Barbados Police Service in uniform commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500, or imprisonment for three months, or both.

These rules do not apply to vehicles used by The Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Defence Force, the Barbados Fire Service, an ambulance service, or any other emergency service. (PR/GIS)

Brief

Barbados’ New Ambassador To Cuba Presents Credentials

Barbados’ new Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Dr. Sharon Marshall, presented her Copy of Letters of Credentials to the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Josefina Vidal, on Monday, April 29, 2024.

Ambassador Marshall succeeds Philip St. Hill, following his recent retirement from the Foreign Service.

During the meeting, Dr. Marshall said it was a great honour to represent Barbados in her mother’s birthplace. She also reiterated Barbados’ commitment to cooperating with Cuba, in particular in the areas of health, education, tourism, environment, and agriculture.

Minister Vidal expressed Cuba’s willingness to further strengthen bilateral relations and promote exchanges in all sectors of common interest.

Cuba and Barbados have maintained ties of solidarity, respect and cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in December 1972. (PR/GIS)