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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church

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Barbados Meteorological Services Enhances Early Warning Capabilities

The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) yesterday launched its upgraded Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), named Seawolf, and a new spotter buoy, marking a significant step forward in the island’s capacity for early warning and disaster preparedness.

The launch ceremony, held at the Barbados Coast Guard Base, was attended by Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information, Wendy Odle; Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Brigadier Carlos Lovell; and Director of the BMS, Sabu Best; and other key stakeholders.

Mr. Abrahams emphasised the importance of a collaborative, whole-of-government approach to hurricane preparedness, highlighting the involvement of various agencies, including the BDF, the Coast Guard, the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, the National Conservation Commission, and the Department of Emergency Management.

“Ours is not a one-man ministry or a one-department ministry,” he stated, acknowledging the crucial role of PS Odle and the heads of departments, in managing the diverse responsibilities of his Ministry.

Minister Abrahams stressed the need for early warning systems and proactive preparation, especially in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

He noted the effectiveness of the USVs in providing early warnings during past weather events and explained that the new equipment will further enhance the BMS’ ability to monitor sea-state conditions, tropical cyclone intensity, and other critical meteorological data.

“This…picks up wind speed; it gets sea swells, ocean temperatures, [and] currents. All these are the things that we need to know to develop our modelling and to make evidence-based decisions we can put up relating to the sea,” he said.

The Minister also expressed confidence in the BMS, stating: “Barbados Met Services, I dare say, is the best functioning Met Services department in the entire Caribbean,” and reiterated the Government’s commitment to providing the necessary resources to further strengthen its capabilities.

He added: “The June start [of the hurricane season] is no longer relevant. Things have shifted from what we knew before. Our Government has a target of operational readiness for the hurricane season from the first of May.”

In his remarks, Mr. Best also stressed the need for collaboration, emphasising that the achievements were a result of the combined efforts of multiple agencies and departments. He acknowledged the significant impact of climate change on Barbados and the importance of continued cooperation to mitigate its effects.

“Collaboration…is important. It really is. I can’t stress on it…. This success is not BMS’. It isn’t. It’s all these agencies. It’s BMS, BDF, NCC, [and] the entire Ministry’s. There are a lot of agencies and departments working together to make this happen,” he stated.

In addition, the Director highlighted the significance of the newly launched technology, noting: “This spotted buoy and this drone…. This represents a lot of improvements.”

The development of these advanced monitoring capabilities is crucial for Barbados, particularly in the face of increasing climate change impacts and the unpredictability of weather patterns. They will provide more timely and accurate information, enabling better preparation and potentially saving lives and property during severe weather events. (PR/GIS)

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Barbados 4-H Foundation Launches “Grow with 4-H” Garden Competition

The Barbados 4-H Foundation is thrilled to introduce the “Grow with 4-H Garden Competition”, an exciting initiative designed to inspire young 4-H members in schools, and communities to embrace sustainable gardening. This competition, aligned with the Agriculture and Natural Resources component of the 4-H Fourward Curriculum, will runfrom March to November 2025.

The “Grow with 4-H” Garden Competition aims to cultivate environmental awareness, hands-on learning, and creativity while promoting sustainable agriculture and healthy eating habits. Participants will engage in practical gardening activities that encourage collaboration, leadership, and a deep appreciation for nature.

Key Objectives:

✅ Enhancing Environmental Awareness – Educating youth on sustainability, biodiversity, and the vital role of plants in ecosystems.

✅ Encouraging Hands-on Learning – Reinforcing key subjects such as science, agriculture, and nutrition through outdoor education.

✅ Promoting Healthy Eating – Encouraging 4-Hers to grow their own fruits and vegetables to foster better eating habits.

✅ Developing Teamwork & Responsibility – Teaching leadership and collaboration as teams work together to create and maintain gardens.

✅ Beautifying Schools & Communities – Creating vibrant, green spaces that boost morale and community pride.

✅ Fostering Creativity & Innovation – Inspiring 4-Hers to develop uniquegardening solutions like vertical gardens and water conservation methods.

“We are excited to see young people in our schools and communities come together to embrace gardening in a way that fosters education, sustainability, and creativity,” said Dr. Roxanne Waithe, Chairman at the Barbados 4-H Foundation.

“This competition is a fantastic opportunity for our young people to learn valuable skills while making a positive impact on their surroundings.” The competition is open to 4-H Clubs across Barbados. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2025. (PR)

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EBC Officers Conducting Verification Of Addresses Exercise

The public is advised that Registering Officers from the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) are in the field conducting a verification exercise to confirm the address of each registrant. This activity is in accordance with the Representation of the People Act Cap 12, Section 12.

EBC Registering Officers will be wearing the department’s branded T-shirts with the official ID prominently displayed as they visit residents in districts across the island.

Householders are encouraged to cooperate with the Registering Officers and secure their pets or animals during the visit. (PR/GIS)