Black Immigrant Daily News

Barbados is under flash flood watch.

The Barbados Meteorological Services issued an alert as of 6:15 am this morning for approximately six hours. The alert is set to be terminated at 12 non, today, Tuesday, October 11 or sooner if conditions warrant.

A flash-flood watch is issued when heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time (generally less than 6 hours) could result in flash flooding within the watch area. It does not mean that flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Reason:

Rainfall accumulations of 20.0 to 30.0 mm in moderate to heavy showers are likely as a tropical wave in conjunction with favourable mid to upper-level environment affects the island.

Advice:

Residents and visitors should note that the following impacts are imminent during this forecast period:

Significant runoff from higher elevations

Significant soil erosion is likely on exposed or scarred land surfaces

Large water settlements on roads and fields

Significant adjustments to water levels of existing water bodies (ponds etc.)

Significant delays on traffic routes with some roads possibly impassable

Large objects or debris from higher elevations may also become embedded within fast-moving water flows

Significant flooding at the foot of hillsides and coastal roads is possible.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Several communities in James Hill, which is in the northern belt of Clarendon, erupted in protest Monday over what residents described as poor road infrastructure, with residents using trees to block the main road – a major transit point to the resort parish of St Ann.

Face-to-face classes were suspended at James Hill Primary School and attendance at the Claude McKay High School was affected.

The main road in James Hill, which leads to Cave Valley and Trout Hall, had been blocked. The main road in Carty’s Hill was also blocked. Areas affected were James Hill, Park Hall, Bog Hole, and Trout Hall. Major centres such as Frankfield and Spalding were cut off. The blockades also prevented people from travelling between Manchester and St Ann via Cave Valley in the garden parish.

A section of the road in James Hill is blocked by a downed tree as residents protested on Monday.

Principal of James Hill Primary, Tracy-Ann Mahoney, said she decided to suspend face-to-face classes when she learnt of the roadblock.

“I was made aware of the roadblock after I left to go to school. On my way there I was told that I could not pass,” she said.

She added that no teacher nor the vice principal was able to make it to the school compound. She said that it was at that point she contacted her parents and informed them that classes would be conducted online.

The James Hill area falls within the constituencies of Clarendon Northern and North Western and residents said Monday that they have not seen their Members of Parliament Dwight Sibbles (Clarendon Northern) and Phillip Henriques (Clarendon North Western).

Monday’s protest was the third one in as many weeks that Henriques has had to deal with. Protestors are claiming that representation for improved infrastructure gets little or no response. They are complaining that drains have not been maintained and roads have not been bushed and have fallen into disrepair.

Protestors from the Clarendon Northern side of James Hills claim that when residents become tense, they would see marl dropped at the side of the road, giving an appearance that work would begin soon.

However, they claim that after a period of time passes and tempers cool, all is forgotten and the rains wash away the marl without the road ever being repaired.

“The road tan bad! Donkey track better than the main road and we nah settle fi no marl, we need the MP fi pull up him socks and behave strong like when him did a look vote. Him missing without a trace,” a resident named Jahnine said.

Loop News can confirm that the roads have been cleared.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

While on vacation in Antigua recently, two-time Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m Elaine Thompson-Herah dropped by Princess Margaret School to surprise a fan.

She shared video and photo highlights from her visit to the school on social media on Monday.

“It was a pleasure to take the time out and visit this school. I was on the island in Antigua for my vacation, and a fan reached out to me asking if I could come to his school, but I told him I couldn’t make it, but I turned it into a surprise,” said Thompson-Herah. “Nothing but love.”

The students were very happy to see the fastest woman alive.

On its Facebook page, Princess Margaret School described the visit as a “special day” for the school.

“Elaine Thompson- Herah visited our school and had a talk with our athletes. Why wouldn’t a champion like Elaine visit the Home of Champions? We are thankful that she came, and it was definitely a pleasure hosting her,” the post read.

Thomspon Herah visited the school, a public secondary school located in St John’s, on October 5.

Social media users reacted positively to the highlights Thompson-Herah shared.

“I’m a huge fan – had the honour of meeting you in ?? & you were so sweet & humble. Seeing you in the land of my birth ?????? encouraging young ppl further solidifies your icon status in my mind,” said one user with the handle mrtannis on Instagram

“The fastest woman alive taking time out to inspire the younger generation..all while on vacation in another Caribbean island. You have no idea the impact of your visit ok n those children. Please continue to do this as often as possible!!” said another Instagram user, gmaxprophoto.

Thompson-Herah is the first woman in history to win the sprint double at consecutive Olympics, capturing gold in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics and again at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

She became the fastest woman alive when she ran 10.54 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA, in 2021.

The tropical islands of Antigua and Barbuda are located in the heart of the Caribbean about a thousand miles to the east of Jamaica and half that distance from Trinidad, according to visitantiguabarbuda.com. The island of Antigua was reportedly born out of the sea by a volcano about 30 million years ago.

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The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling on the Cabinet to make public the signed agreement between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the St. James’s Club Antigua Limited.

Information came to the fore last week that, through an agreement signed on September 23, the Government will receive a US$6 million loan – through the National Asset Management Company (NAMCO) – from the local hotel.

The funds reportedly are earmarked to renovate the defunct Jolly Beach Hotel.

The document, deemed an employment agreement and a loan agreement, states that the lender will receive a 50 percent reduction in corporate income tax for 15 years.  This exemption is irrevocable and was to have been confirmed by the Cabinet.

This discount will also apply to all the other businesses in which the lender has an ownership interest.

Contained in the agreement are several other disturbing clauses, including that NAMCO must automatically pay US$3 million to the lender if the contract is terminated.

Harold Lovell, the UPP Political Leader, says the details of the signed agreement should be released since there is great public concern about what is now alleged about the deal.

Meanwhile, there have been too many announcements of various interests in this resort, Lovell says.

And now, he notes, the terms negotiated by the Browne Administration appear to be benefiting the investor – but doing nothing for the taxpayers but saddling them with more repayments at high interest rates.

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