Black Immigrant Daily News

Decked out in tropical attire, patrons converged on the Frank Collymore Hall for the opening night of the Barbados Jazz Excursion and Golf weekend.

Though rain had caused the four-part concert series to be shifted from the Hilton Hotel, nothing could dim the spirits of those familiar with the exceptional entertainment package synonymous with the brand.

The event is hosted to raise funds for the Headstart Music Program and attendees could participate in a silent auction or the raffle for attractive prizes including staycations.

A true Taste of Barbados was provided by a full lineup of Barbadian artistes. Students of the Headstart Music Program got the evening started. Though understandably it was hard to keep the nerves at bay, the audience members rallied them on with their support.

The talented cast included The Three Pans, featuring Hashim Durant, Judah Goddard, and Mark Forde. They whet the appetites of the music-hungry patrons with a diverse range of music selections. Durant even showed his sentimental side when he serenaded his girlfriend with the classic Can’t Help Falling in Love. The trio was fantastic and the amalgamation of their skills in the impromptu jam session was highly entertaining.

Excellent musicianship was on further display when GP Horns hit the stage. They kept the energy level high and their playful banter at intervals gave an intimate feel to their eclectic set.

For his introduction, Trotman gave visitors to the island a front-row seat to the essence of Crop Over creating a Kadooment Day-like spectacle that included costumed dancers, shaggy bears and stiltmen. He regaled patrons with some of his chart-topping hits including Island Gal along with some material from his latest album. He even showed his vocal ability with a Bob Marley selection in a sing-along session with attendees.

The afterparty continued with deejay music in the foyer after the concert closed.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor for the White Horses Division in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, Hubert Williams, has upbraided his fellow councillors from both sides of the political aisle for remaining silent about what he described as the dreaded road conditions in the parish.

“We can’t sit down as the local authority and watch this (the bad state of the roads) keep on going on.

“… And if we just sit and be spectators, the people dem nuh need fi vote back fi none a we fi return here!” thundered an impassioned Williams at Thursday’s monthly municipal meeting.

On September 5 and September 6, taxi and bus operators, as well as residents, mounted roadblocks to protest the poor state of some roads in the parish that are affecting students and other commuters traveling to and from areas like Bath, Lyssons, Port Morant, Dalvey, Leith Hall, among other communities in the parish.

The transport operators and residents of the parish have and still blame delays on the ongoing work under the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP). They said with the project, many roads were dug up and have yet to be paved.

Though the protests have largely stopped, the poor state of the parish’s roads remain, hampering commerce in the parish and leaving residents fuming about the slow pace of travelling throughout the parish or travelling to Kingston, according to an irate Williams.

In highlighting the roadway from Botany Bay to Morant Bay as an example, Williams described it as being “sick” like other roadways in the parish.

“It is sick, and (the municipal) council need to play a greater role in ensuring that the lives and the well-being of the people of the parish are maintained at a level,” the councillor contended.

“I’m coming this morning (Thursday) and there are going to be two trucks and they going to want to load one time.

“Now, we know the road bad already, but at least there has to be some management in terms of what going on the road,” he suggested.

According to Williams, the road situation in West St Thomas, where the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) James Robertson is the Member of Parliament (MP), is just “as bad as over east (St Thomas)”.

He is imploring Robertson to urgently intervene on behalf of residents, as the road situation is also affecting the parish’s economy.

“I am saying the MP needs to manage – get on top of what is going on over west. It is destroying business, (and) commerce is really at the lowest in the parish,” he claimed.

“If you have to go and pick up something in Kingston, it take you the entire day. You can’t come back and do nothing at all. Nothing at all!

“If you lef yuh yard and guh pick up something in the parish capital, it takes you two hours to go and two hours to come. Half of the day done!” asserted Williams.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Urgent – Immediate Broadcast Requested Heat Advisory

…Excessive Heat Advisory in Effect for Antigua and Barbuda 10 am to 3:30 pm Until Tuesday…

Heat Index or Feels-Like Temperature: Up to 41 °C or 106 °F

Location: Antigua and Barbuda

Timing: 10 am to 3:30 pm until Tuesday.

Synopsis: The combination of relatively high temperatures, high humidity and light winds will result in hot conditions.

The threat of health problems is moderate, for mainly sensitive people. An excessive heat advisory is issued within 12 hours of the onset of hot conditions.

The threshold for this advisory is when the maximum heat index temperature is expected to be in the range of 38 to 41 °C or 100 to 106 °F, for any length of time, for two or more consecutive days, with the winds 16 km/h (10 mph) or less.

Sensitive groups: While extreme heat can put everyone at risk for heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for the elderly, young children, people with chronic illnesses such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions or psychiatric illnesses, people who work or who exercise in the heat, homeless people and low-income earners.

Potential health implications: Heat illnesses, including heat: rash, edema, syncope/fainting, cramps, exhaustion and stroke.

Heat illnesses can lead to long-term health problems and heat stroke can lead to death.

Caution: If any symptoms of health illness are present (such as dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, headache, rapid breathing and heartbeat, or extreme thirst) immediately move to a cool place and drink liquids; water is best.

The most dangerous heat illness is heat stroke, with symptoms that include complete or partial loss of consciousness or confusion and high body temperature. If caring for someone with those symptoms, call 911 immediately.

While waiting for help, cool the person right away by moving them to a cool place, applying cold water to large areas of the skin or clothing and fanning the person as much as possible.

Everyone should stay alert and take precautions – stay cool and hydrated. Check on vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.

Those who take medication or have a health condition should ask their doctor if it increases their health risk in the heat and follow their recommendation.

Stay tuned to updates coming out of the Met Office via antiguamet.com and facebook.com/abmetservice

Dale Destin

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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An amendment to a section of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act was tabled before the House of Parliament this week.

The amendment seeks to raise the age for a compulsory driving examination for Senior Citizens from age 70 to 75.

We get the details in this report from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal.

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SOURCE: Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Teenager Louis Wilson upstaged more seasoned opponents to convincingly win the Barbados Chess Federation’s (BCF) VEXX Tournament.

The 17-year-old Wilson overcame the challenge of senior Barbados representatives Justin Parsons and Emar Edwards to comfortably take top spot when the five-day event ended on Wednesday night at the Coles Building on Bay Street, Bridgetown.

Wilson, the older brother of reigning ladies national champion, Hannah Wilson, finished with six and a half out of a maximum seven points, ending a point and half more than both Parsons and Edwards, who were part of Barbados’ team at the 44th FIDE Olympiad in Chennai, India in August.

A former national Under-16 champion, Wilson, who was seeded at No. 4, emerged as the favourite to win the event after defeating second seeded Parsons on Sunday night and third seeded Edwards the following night. He duly took the top prize after beating veterans Othneil Harewood and Cyprian La Touche in the final two rounds.

Wilson’s quest for a 100 per cent winning record was denied when he had to settle for a draw in the third round against top seed, England-born Chris White, one of four new players entered in the tournament.

Both Parsons and Edwards finished with five points but Parsons took second place on account of winning the head to head clash in the third round.

Twelve-year-old Chanon Reifer-Belle, who won gold medals in the online rapid and blitz events at the Pan American Youth Championships earlier this year, placed fourth with four and a half points. Among her victories was an upset win against Parsons in the last round.

Harewood took fifth place on the tie-break ahead of La Touche and Alex Sargeant after all three players ended on four points.

The tournament, which was not open to players who finished in the top three spots at the National Championship and Ladies National Championship in April, attracted 16 players. Among the newcomers to BCF competitions was president of the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, Dr Alfred Sparman.

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