Black Immigrant Daily News

Sports

Lee-Ann Kirby (left) and Natasha McLean punch fists during the Trinbago Knight Riders’ match against the Barbados Royals in their Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts on Wednesday. PHOTO COURTESY TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS. –

TRINBAGO Knight Riders (TKR) won a thrilling contest against Barbados Royals by one run in the opening match of the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) T20 tournament at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts, on Wednesday.

Royals needed 11 runs in the last over to win the contest. TKR captain and medium pacer Deandra Dottin, despite conceding a six, bowled a solid last over to lead the TT franchise to victory.

Royals, chasing 115 for victory, closed on 113/7 in 20 overs.

South African Chloe Tyron played an exceptional innings and at one stage Royals were on course for the win.

However, when Tyron fell for 38 off 26 balls (three fours, three sixes) the innings lost momentum.

Lee-Ann Kirby got the prized wicket of Tyron and some tight bowling by spinners Anisa Mohammed and Sune Luus kept Royals at bay.

Kirby ended as the best bowler for TKR with 2/32 in four overs of medium pace.

Opener Aaliyah Alleyne helped the Royals get off to a positive start with 19 off 28 deliveries.

Batting first, TKR posted 114/7 with Kirby hitting 30 off 30 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Hayley Jensen, who was excellent in the field, scored 20 not out off 18 balls and Dottin also chipped in with 20.

Royals captain Hayley Matthews was the chief destroyer taking 2/28 in four overs and Shakera Selman grabbed 2/16 in four overs.

Kirby won the player of the match award.

TKR will play Guyana Amazon Warriors on Thursday, from 3 pm.

A victory for TKR will guarantee a place in Sunday’s final at 2.30 pm at Warner Park.

Summarised Scores:

TKR 114/7 (20 overs) – Lee-Ann Kirby 30, Hayley Jensen 20 not out, Deandra Dottin 20; Shakera Selman 2/16, Hayley Matthews 2/28 vs BARBADOS ROYALS 113/7 (20 overs) – Chloe Tyron 38, Aaliyah Alleyne 19; L Kirby 2/32. TKR won by one run.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Barbados Ninja Throwdown 2022 (BNT) is back after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The action takes place on Saturday, September 3, from 2 pm at Featherbed Lane, St John.

The response to this year’s event has been overwhelming, not only from local competitors but internationally as well – attracting competitors from the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Russia, Austria, Romania, China, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam; Australia; Israel and Egypt to name a few.

This is fantastic news for brand Barbados, as many competitors will have an opportunity to experience the food, fun and attractions the island has to offer and BNT 2022 will be featured by media outlets across the globe. Major international attention will be paid to the Barbados Ninja Throwdown as it is the sole qualifying course for the National Ninja League in the Caribbean.

Organisers of the internationally- acclaimed event, mother and son duo, Monique Hinds and Delano Hinds say they are exceptionally pleased with how BNT has grown, averaging over 4,000 spectators in 2020 and are excited for Saturday’s showdown with a high calibre of competitors from as young as 6 to the over 40 Masters’ category. They promise that competition on Saturday will be a high energy and fun atmosphere as “we showcase Barbados to the world.”

Celebrating its fifth year, Barbados Ninja Throwdown will have an exciting kids’ zone and food and drinks on sale – fun for the entire family.

Tickets for Barbados Ninja Throwdown 2022 are available at the door and via ticketlinkz.com.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The culmination of Crop Over Festival was merely three weeks ago, but the National Cultural Foundation is already on the drawing board for 2023.

Amidst the buzz about this year’s Grand Kadooment route, the NCF will be leaving the decision up to the public.

During a press conference today the NCF’s West Terrace, St Michael headquarters, Minister with the responsibility for Culture in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, revealed that they will be reaching out to participants in the festival for their input.

“All Barbadians have a stake in terms of whether or not we have a successful Crop Over, and in that context immediately after this press conference, we will be releasing a survey to the public that will ask the public to input on the new route for Crop Over 2023,” Dr Munro-Knight declared while adding there will be a stakeholder survey as well.

Masqueraders, vendors and Barbadians who actively participate in the three-month festival will have a say, over the next three weeks.

The Minister added that the NCF was already in discussions with bandleaders for their opinions and recommendations for 2023.

“We want to be sure that for 2023 we have a festival that is as inclusive in terms of its design as we can make it. We are cognizant that we have worked with all of the stakeholders – the band leaders that we would have walked with in 2022 – we would continue to talk to them in 2023, but at the same time, we are cognisant that we have a multiplicity of stakeholders in the entirety of the Crop Over Festival. We want to have a process in which people can input, reflect on and make suggestions,” she noted.

Dr Munro-Knight stated that NCF should have the results of the survey by November.

“We are hoping that by November, the beginning of November, we will be able to come back to the people after we have had Cabinet’s approval to say this is what Crop Over 2023 will look like,” she indicated.

NCF chief executive officer, Carol Roberts-Reifer reported that this year’s festival was successful despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The events were “well attended” and “heavily endorsed”.

Many cried foul at the late announcement of the festival in May and several promoters shared concerns about the poor sponsorship, however, Roberts-Reifer stated that the private sector pulled through despite the turbulent economy.

“The sponsorship exceeded out expectations in this environment. COVID-19 is a health crisis but it is also an economic crisis….

“Within the context of global economic restrictions, we are very pleased with the level of sponsorship we have been able to procure,” said Roberts-Reifer.

Her comments were supported by Oneka Small, curator of the Central Bank Crop Over Visual Arts Exhibition, who described the patronage at the three-part showcase held at the Queen’s Park Gallery as “phenomenal”.

“One of the highlights of this show for me having worked in the cultural industries for a long time is the number of people who passed through Queen’s Park over the last couple of months.

For each of the shows so far, we have been averaging about 600 visitors…by the end of [the exhibit on] Saturday we are going to have at least 1, 800 people come to view visual arts in Barbados. And to me, that is fantastic, amazing, overwhelming.

“There was a strong feeling of inclusion of visual arts within the festival. We were part of events, we were there for other events…we really feel included. A lot of times the visual arts feel like they are on the outside but definitely for Crop Over 2022, there was a great feeling of inclusion,” Small added.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Financial group Scotia Group Jamaica is clarifying an announcement that GraceKennedy has entered into an agreement to acquire Scotia Insurance Caribbean.

This agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Scotia Insurance Caribbean Limited is a creditor insurance underwriting entity that provides services to Scotiabank clients in Barbados, Cayman, Turks and Caicos, Belize and the British Virgin Islands.

To this end, the GraceKennedy transaction has no impact on Scotia’s operations in Jamaica, which includes the customers of Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company (Scotia Insurance) and its ultimate parent company, Scotia Group Jamaica Limited (SGJL).

“We continue to invest in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean through the expansion of new products and services in insurance, wealth management and banking,” said Scotia Group Jamaica in a statement on Wednesday.

The bank said it would also continue to roll out of next-generation ATMs, recent upgrades to its digital banking platforms, enhancements to its mobile app and the upcoming launch of its new online platform.

In announcing the pending transaction on Tuesday, GK Group CEO Don Wehby said the acquisition of SICL is another step in GK fulfilling its strategy to grow its insurance business in the Caribbean and expand the footprint of the GF Financial Group in the region.

Wehby also said GraceKennedy would continue to pursue mergers and acquisitions as the key strategic driver of growth for GraceKennedy Group.

GK, in 2021, acquired another Scotia subsidiary, Scotia Insurance Eastern Caribbean Limited (SIECL). The business was subsequently rebranded as GK Life Insurance Eastern Caribbean Limited (GK Life).

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