Local

RUN BARBADOS IS BSCK

RUN BARBADOS IS BACK!

-new location, same fun-

The biggest sporting event in the Caribbean has returned! Run Barbados 2022 will take place December 10^th-11^th 2022 on the beautiful and iconic East Coast.

This year’s event will feature new coastal routes that offer spectacular views, cool ocean breezes and the opportunity to run in a rustic part of the island. With the breath-takingly beautiful view of the ocean to one side and the hilly, green pastures to the other, runners will get the best of both worlds as they compete in this year’s event. This, coupled with the increase in entertainment and music placed along these new routes, ensures that competitors will have a great time this year.

Speaking during yesterday’s press conference, Zary Evelyn, Race Director, revealed that this year’s event will be bigger and better than previous editions.

“This year, we are moving to the East Coast and this has been well-received so far by runners locally and internationally. We hope that this will also continue to boost participation as registration continues,” he said.

“This move to Bathsheba means less concern from runners about running with cars and buses on the road.”

Additional changes include moving the 5K Walk and Hike along the spectacular and rugged trail from Bathsheba to Glenburie, St. John.

Evelyn added that winners of the marathons in the Women’s and Men’s Division will receive an attractive prize money with return airfare and hotel accommodation.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc’s (BTMI) Director of Caribbean, Latin America and Sports, Corey Garrett, highlighted that they were excited for the return of the event after the two-year pause.

“The event has attracted international attention, once again showcasing Barbados’ ability to compete on the international scene. In the region, Barbados can be considered an award-winning destination experience and so we are looking forward to hosting a great event,” Garrett said.

Fresh looks

This year the Run Barbados logo has been refreshed to reflect the new and improved event that BTMI plans to offer this year.

The medal design this year has also been redesigned and take the scenery and environment to reflect the real uniqueness of the East Coast. It will be a token of destination Barbados and the BTMI and Run Barbados are especially proud to showcase them this year.

Market activities

As BTMI continues to raise the standard of the event, Director Garrett revealed that relevant source markets based in the US, Canada, UK, Europe and the Caribbean, Latin America, continue to promote the event and have launched initiatives to further propel Run Barbados in the various source markets.

BTMI will be hosting ESPN Run and ESPN Women franchises on island, during the Run Barbados Weekend, and they will be capturing the races and speaking to some of the local sportsmen and women who have been excelling on the international scene this year.

Corporate Call

“We are continuing to work to develop the island that is not only for leisure or romance tourists but also an island that is known for sporting tourism. We have taken on a model this year to gain sponsorship acquisition with the private sector here in Barbados and on the international spiel,” said Corey Garrett, Director, Caribbean, Latin America, sports, BTMI.

“We are happy to announce that we have brought on local sponsorship consultant, Richard Haynes of South Central Entertainment and his sole purpose is to recruit sponsorship locally for the event. We are happy to announce that we have partnered with Eco Sky Barbados, Gildan, RBC and Chefette Frosteez.”

“This year, all shirts used for this year’s event have been graciously donated by Gildan and we thank them for this generous donation.”

Run Barbados is inviting corporate Barbados to partner with them as they continue to raise the standard of the event and further invest in the sporting industry of the island.

Strategic partnerships

The partnership with Marathonfoto was also announced. This is an international photography company that specialises in sports events and this year, the company will bring a professional crew to the island to take photos of the events at different stages, but what is most exciting is that they are looking to train a small cohort of local photographers.

Director Corey Garrett revealed that five or six local photographers will be chosen through the BTMI’s vetting and outreach programmes, and will be given the opportunity to train with this prestigious company.

Run Barbados is also teaming up with Sports Stats. They will be the official timing company for the event.

“They have worked with us in the past as well and they have all the gadgets to make sure timing is accurate and timing is posted almost instantly. They will make sure we have an internationally standard event,” said Zary Evelyn.

Scheduled events

Saturday, 10^th, 2022 -5K and 10K Races; 5K Walk and Hike

Sunday, December, 11^th, 2022 – Half Marathon and Marathon Races, 3K and 7K Races and 5K Walk and Hike

Event #1: 5k Walk / Hike on Sat. 10^th and Sun. 11^th.

Event #2: 5km Run on Saturday Dec. 10^th at 4.20pm

Event #3: 10km Run on Saturday Dec. 10^th at 4.15pm

Event #4: Half Marathon on Sunday Dec. 11^th at 5.30am

Event #5: Full Marathon on Sunday Dec. 11^th at 5.30am

Event #6: 3k Run on Sunday Dec. 11^th at 6am

Event #7: 7k Run on Sunday Dec. 11^th at 6am

Local

SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

Local

FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

Local

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