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The Woods

They say that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and anyone who follows the game will attest to the many uncertainties and unexpected things they have seen in and around the game of cricket.

Recently I attended a second division match at Empire Club where the home team was playing the Market Hill team from the parish of St. George. Two players caught my eye. The contrasting features between the two of them were too glaring to miss. One guy was skinny and tall and wore a grey beard. The other was a pint size schoolboy whose chin with not spring a beard for many years to come. These two players were at completely opposite ends of the age pole.

At break time I contacted the older of these players to ascertain the story. And what a story it turned out to be. He is Charles C Wood age 63 and the young lad is his 12-year-old son Charles Imani Wood. It is not often that a father and son pair would play on the same team.

Mr. Wood grew up in the small village of Middleton, St. George and attended Workman Primary School but going on to the St. George Secondary School. His young cricket days were full of inventiveness, where young breadfruits were used as balls. Green Lemons and milk totts (small tins) also stood-in as cricket balls. A knitted or rubber strand ball- made from inner tube of a bicycle tire-was the best boys in villages like Middleton could get to play with in the 1960s.

His love for cricket and his natural ability to play found no support from his father, a hard work man who thought the bat and ball was a waste of time. Charles sadly would have to rush home after school to help his father take care of the garden and livestock. Time to play cricket hardly ever came but absence made heart grow fonder and Charles never stopped loving the game of cricket.

It was only in the early 1990s while playing tape-ball cricket in Eden Lodge that he was spotted by members of the Ipswich cricket team and was invited to play for the club in the intermediate zone. This was an opportunity to cricket that Charles may have thought had passed him but as the old people say ‘what for yuh, yuh will get.’ Charles Wood became a fixture in Ipswich before he moved on to play for the Barbados Community College (BCC)after he entered that education institution. Opening the batting for BCC, Charles made a century against his former team Ipswich. His former teammates had mixed feelings about his performance.

Mr. Wood would go on to play and captain various teams; he may have had a later than hoped for start in cricket, but he is getting the most out of it that he can. He now plays for Empire in the 2^nd Division and Masters.

Charles Imani Wood just like his dad likes cricket and has good natural ability. He is more fortunate than his dad as he is getting that much needed support in his formative years. He is only 12 years old but has played lots of cricket. He has played for Workman Primary, Empire Juniors, and Empire 2^nd Division teams.

Charlie- as he is often called- is very pleased that he and his dad can be on the same side. He knows that it is something special as most of his other friends do not have fathers playing cricket. He does not feel pressured being a young boy playing on a side with men. Sure, he knows he is small, but he also knows that if he follows the correct ways of playing the game that his size will not matter. He considered himself a batting allrounder but will continue to develop his overall game before he settles into a position in the team. With Steve Smith as his batting idol and Mitchell Starc as a bowling mentor it is easy to see that he can become a batting allrounder. (Article by Christopher Williams)

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Remembrance Day Parade On November 10, 2024

Barbados will remember the servicepeople who lost their lives during World Wars I and II, with the customary Remembrance Day Parade and a short inter-denominational service at the Cenotaph, National Heroes Square, The City, on Sunday, November 10.

The parade will commence at 8:00 a.m. and will be broadcast live on national television and radio.

Several armed and unarmed uniformed groups will be on parade, including the Barbados Defence Force, The Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Legion, the Barbados Fire Service, the Barbados Prison Service, the Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides.

Wreaths will be laid at the Cenotaph by the President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason; Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Chief Justice Leslie Haynes, members of the diplomatic corps, and other dignitaries.

The service will be followed by an informal inspection of veterans and a march-past by uniformed groups. Members of the public desirous of attending the event are asked to collect tickets from the receptionist at Government Headquarters, Bay Street, St. Michael, from Monday, November 4, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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Key Reminders When Considering Investment Opportunities

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is reminding the public to exercise caution when considering investments in Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) schemes. While MLMs may present themselves as legitimate business opportunities, some can be risky or even illegal, leading to significant financial losses.

Here are some key things to consider before making any investments:

1. Research the Company/Person(s): Thoroughly investigate the background, business model, and reputation of any of the company or persons involved. Verify whether the company or persons associated with the investment are registered and regulated by relevant authorities like the Financial Services Commission.

2. Understand the Business Model: Genuine businesses generate revenue primarily through the sale of products or services, not recruitment of participants. Be wary of models that emphasise recruitment over product sales.

3. Check for Red Flags: Promises of high returns with little effort, emphasis on recruiting others, or pressure to make large upfront investments are warning signs.

4. Consult with Experts: Seek advice based on your financial goals and wherewithal from regulated individuals or companies set up to provide such guidance.

The public is urged to approach all investment opportunities with caution and conduct their due diligence to safeguard their financial well-being.

It is an offence for persons not registered or licensed with the Commission to offer investment advice, sell financial products or deal in securities.

The public is encouraged to notify the Commission of any situations where entities or individuals engage in these practices without being duly registered and/or licensed. (PR/GIS)

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Barbadians Continue To Benefit From UNESCO Training In Cuba

Barbadians continue to benefit from UNESCO training courses in Cuba, despite the country experiencing an island-wide blackout from Friday, October 18.

Three Barbadians are currently in Cuba participating in the Caribbean Cultural Training Hub of the UNESCO Programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, which was organised by the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana, and funded by the European Union.

Historian and Genealogical Researcher, Stacia Martindale, is participating in the course Designing Small Businesses in Heritage Tourism Destinations, while Landscape Architectural Technician, Kodi Husbands, and Assistant Coordinator and Researcher of the Barbados National Register of Historic Places, Rhianna Smith, are participating in the course Introduction to the Management of Integrated Development of Historic Centers.

They shared their experiences of being in Cuba and about the courses they are studying.

Ms. Martindale said: “So far, the experience has been very amazing. I’ve been loving the culture of Cuba and the general experience in class.

It’s really been exciting for me. It’s my first time in Cuba. I think I know quite a bit about Cuba just because I’m really interested in History. I’m actually a History teacher, so to come here, where that history has happened, is really, really exciting for me.”

Mr. Husbands, who is on his second visit to Cuba, shared that the first time he visited was on a vacation. “It really resonated with me. I got to understand the culture a lot more [and] I was able to identify with the people after speaking to them about their experiences and how they live. That’s what inspired me to continue working in sustainable architecture and design, and cater for society and the people, rather than doing it for money.

“So far, I’ve found different methods or techniques and practices which can be useful for back home in my field of architecture. And different ways I can further develop my country, whether it’s towns like Bridgetown, Speightstown, or Oistins. Or even smaller communities like in the East Coast, or in St. George or more rural areas as well,” he remarked.

It is also the second time for Ms. Smith, who previously benefitted from a course in June, this year, at the prestigious International Film and Television School of San Antonio de Los Baños, on the outskirts of Havana.

“This experience has been a lot different compared to when I was in San Antonio. Havana is a lot more active and has a lot more to see. And so, I’ve been able to immerse in the culture in ways that I was not able to the first time around,” Ms. Smith said.

She added: “We have been having some tours where we have been seeing examples of not only the restoration of historic sites and buildings, but also the repurposing of those buildings for uses that really fit the community. For instance, earlier this week we visited a daycare. But it was a day care for the elderly which doubles as a day care for babies, and so on.

“And so, what they are trying to do is to integrate those two generations and, of course, develop a consciousness of caring for the elderly. Things like that have led me to conclude that it’s been nothing short of inspiring so far, and I’m just looking forward to seeing where things go.” (PR/GIS)

Caption: From left to right – Rhianna Smith, Barbados’ Ambassador to Cuba, Dr. Sharon Marshall; UNESCO Director Anne Lemaistre; Stacia Martindale; and Kodi Husbands pose for a photograph