Barbadians here and in the diaspora now have the opportunity to hear narrated stories about this island’s history and ‘characters’ through the National Library Service’s (NLS) “Radio Bimshire: Voice of the National Library Service Barbados” audio online platform.

The platform was launched today at the NLS’ Fairchild Street headquarters.

Director of the NLS, Jennifer Yarde, and its former Deputy Director, Evonda Callender, encouraged all Barbadians to listen to the stories and expressed how happy they were to have reached such a significant milestone in preserving and sharing Barbados’ oral history.

Ms. Yarde stated that “Radio Bimshire emerges as a bold new chapter” in the NLS’ offerings, where persons can listen to the lived experiences of people from every parish and walk of life. She said the audio platform, https://bit.ly/radiobimshire, offers free online access to these stories while promoting digital literacy and inclusivity.

“It is more than a streaming platform; it is a cultural sunscape built to honour, preserve, and share the spoken word legacy of Barbados, from the market vendors in Bridgetown to the elders recalling village life, from the rhythms of the tuk band to the recollections of the historic moments of the 1937 disturbances. Radio Bimshire turns these stories into a living archive. Now, through streaming and podcast, people from all over the world can connect with Barbados’ culture anytime, anywhere,” the Director said.

She also stressed that sharing Barbados’ oral history is important in understanding its heritage and identity.

“It is through our oral history that we hear not just about great national events, but about how ordinary people lived, worked, celebrated, mourned, and made meaning of their world. It could be a formal interview, or it could be a story passed down from generations, from folklore to family stories. Oral history is how we always make sense of our world, or pass on what matters most,” Ms. Yarde stated.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Callender explained how the information was gathered for “Radio Bimshire”.

She disclosed that in 1986, while at the NLS conducting interviews for its oral history project, she felt it was important to have first-hand recorded accounts from persons on subject matters of historical significance, including the 1937 Riots, the Constitutional Conference, the train service to Belleplaine, St. Andrew, and the process of turning flour bags into clothing.

Ms. Callender said: “We went out to collect and preserve the history of Barbados, … the real history of Barbados, without sugarcoating or hiding important details, in all its formats, whether it was popular or unpopular, it needed to be said.”

The former Deputy Director stated that the NLS should continue to carry out its mandate of collecting, preserving, retrieving, and providing in-depth information in all formats to enrich, empower, and inform the public, especially on the history of Barbados.

“We need to collect it. We need to gather it; it’s going to be controversial, … but we are the library. We have no political alliance to no one. What you’re supposed to do is collect the history of the country in every format, both print and non-print, and make it available to all the generations to come. The library’s mission is to collect the heritage of Barbados in all formats, whether it’s from a rum shop, whether it is a brothel, wherever it is you go, collect it,” Ms. Callender stressed.

People who visit the website will hear recordings such as Dumplings in De Stew – One For The Road, Ossie Moore stories, and others written by Jeanette Layne-Clarke and Addington Forde, and narrated by Alfred Pragnell, Marvo Manning, Tony Thompson, and others. 

The NLS aims to upload more content soon to the site on the History of Barbados, including the 1937 Riots, events during the 1940s and 1950s, the Birth of Adventism in Barbados, and more, as told by the late historians Dr. Karl Watson, Trevor Marshall, and Professor Pedro Welch. (PR/GIS)

Caption: West Terrace Primary student, Yuri Nicholls, performed the “ceremonial turning on” of  Radio Bimshire at the National Library Service while “Grandma” looks on

A continued decline in the number of children entering Barbados’ schools is poised to transform the island’s education sector, with government officials actively reviewing how resources are allocated and considering school amalgamations and repurposing.

Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands confirmed on Tuesday that the shrinking student population will inevitably prompt adjustments to the educational framework. Her comments came following this year’s sitting of the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (11-plus) by 2,981 students – a slight decrease from 3,011 in 2024.

“Yes, we have a decline in our population overall,” Husbands told reporters during a site visit to Frederick Smith Secondary School in Trents, St James. “And we are beginning to see it turn up in the registration of births, and the number of children therefore, will be reduced coming through the school system.”

With enrolment figures projected to continue falling, the Ministry of Education has begun reviewing how best to allocate resources in response. According to the minister, ministry officials have already drafted plans for consolidating and repurposing schools that are underutilised.

Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw reinforced this, revealing that an analysis has been completed to identify schools suitable for amalgamation.

“We’ve completed an analysis of the schools that should be amalgamated. That paper is right now before the minister of education for him to provide the feedback, but we looked at a number of criteria to determine which schools should be considered for repurposing,” Archer-Bradshaw explained. “The criteria involves school roll. We look to see whether there were emerging housing areas within the school location, [and] we also look to see whether the bus route was one that made sense.

“There are a number of factors that we considered in terms of proposing which schools should be reconsidered for repurposing and refurbishing. I can’t say at this stage [which schools] – I need to get the feedback from the minister and of course, the Cabinet.”

Three schools have been recognised for their efforts in promoting healthy lifestyles through the implementation of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy (BSNP).

George Lamming Primary, St. Giles Primary, and The Rock Christian School were honoured by the BSNP Implementation Committee during a special ceremony on Wednesday at the George Lamming Primary School, in Welches, St. Michael.

The overall winner, George Lamming Primary, and the two other schools, each received $4,000 in vouchers to support their health-focused initiatives.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, commended the schools for their leadership, highlighting the significance of turning policy into action.

“This is one of those moments where we must reward, appreciate, and acknowledge progress…. We are moving in the right direction. It’s one thing for policymakers to develop ideas on paper, but it’s in moments like these that we see policy come alive and truly transform lives…. You’re proving that good health begins with each of us,” Mr. Ishmael said.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, also praised the students and school communities for their dedication.

“Winning isn’t just about trophies or prizes, it’s about the teamwork, the creativity, and the commitment you’ve shown in reshaping your school environment. Your participation sets an example that will inspire not just your classmates, but your families and communities to live healthier lives. This is just the beginning of your journey – keep making smart, healthy choices,” Dr. Archer-Bradshaw stated.

The event was also attended by PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, other officials and stakeholders involved in the policy’s rollout, principals, teachers, and students. 

The BSNP Committee applauded the schools for fostering healthier environments, underscoring the importance of early intervention in addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases. The initiative forms part of a national effort to promote wellness and improve long-term health outcomes for Barbadian youth. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of State in Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw; PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Amalia Del Reigo, as well as officials and stakeholders involved in the School Nutrition Policy, pose with students and principals of the George Lamming Primary; St. Giles Primary; and The Rock Christian School, at the ceremony