The Eyrie House

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce Local football is set to score big following a decision by the region’s governing body Concacaf to fast-tracking an annual subvention of US $175,000 to all member associations amid the global coronavirus outbreak. The advanced payment is welcoming news to the  Barbados Football Association (BFA)  despite president Randy Harris reporting last month that the entity is financially stable to withstand the economic threat posed by the deadly virus, which has brought international sports to a standstill. “What usually happens is Concacaf would give their members money and usually you have to submit the areas that it will be used for. In this case of  COVID-19 , they are accelerating the funds to the members, so that any problems that may have arisen financially due to the virus, it would give them some immediate assistance. All members are entitled to this,” Harris said  during a telephone interview. BFA President Randy Harris

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce Local football is set to score big following a decision by the region’s governing body Concacaf to fast-tracking an annual subvention of US $175,000 to all member associations amid the global coronavirus outbreak. The advanced payment is welcoming news to the  Barbados Football Association (BFA)  despite president Randy Harris reporting last month that the entity is financially stable to withstand the economic threat posed by the deadly virus, which has brought international sports to a standstill. “What usually happens is Concacaf would give their members money and usually you have to submit the areas that it will be used for. In this case of  COVID-19 , they are accelerating the funds to the members, so that any problems that may have arisen financially due to the virus, it would give them some immediate assistance. All members are entitled to this,” Harris said  during a telephone interview. BFA President Randy Harris ...

By Tonisha Rock-Yaw Take care of your health because what doesn’t happen in a day can happen in a year. That was the advice of Joycelyn Millar who has suffered with Diabetes for 27 years. On top of that, the 50-year-old woman also has to contend with weekly dialysis treatments due to her kidneys issues that were identified about two years ago. “After about 10 years of having diabetes, I went over to the hospital and then randomly they give me a blood test to check my kidneys every year, one day I went I would never forget when I went the doctor told me test is showing that the toxic levels in my blood is getting higher and higher. One day when it got to a certain level which is chronic they told me I have to go on dialysis to take the toxins out the blood.” She added, “The first time the doctor told my kidneys failed I honestly sat in her office and cried but then when I come home and spoke to my family we prayed about it. I just asked God to take me through it but rig...

By Akeel Lovell Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world off its axis and put it into a constant spin of disrepair, many of us have been eagerly anticipating and guessing when the world will return to some sense of normalcy. This unfortunate paradigm shift has left people thousands of people either unemployed or working from home with businesses and schools being closed.  This of course means children will be out of school. At such a critical time in the educational sector, term 3 of the school year, many wonders when school will reopen. They also query what alternative method would be used to ensure that students preparing for exams, such as the Barbados Secondary Schools' Entrance Examination, will not be disadvantaged. E-learning has been touted by Government as that alternative. However, given this country’s diverse socio-economic-demographic, many cannot and do not have access to the needed  resources to do so. So, are we ready for E-learning? A...

by Adriana Murray Although the enslaved people were oppressed by their masters. They found a way to make life more palatable for themselves. How was this possible? The African Slaves returned to their roots using a tool to communicate and entertain. The enslaved sometimes did this through the unwitting help of the plantation owner. The drums are synonymous with Africa and slaves used their drums to communicate with each other. Slaves were able to use the drums to send messages to each other from one plantation to another. The British colonizers believed that music was a motivator. Surely it was used to strengthen and motivate rebellions. It was through this belief that slave masters banned the beating of drum. Ultimately the use of the instrument was banned in 1675. It seems the British felt threatened by the beating of the drums. In 1688 all drums and loud instruments were burnt. Despite this attempt to suppress the drum, Tuk music was born in the 17 th century on the plan...

                                                                                                                                                         photo by BTMI by Adriana Murray Some of the elements of the plantation alluded ...

Cancer couldn't beat Windell "Fergie" Fergusson but the coronavirus did. (Guest Ph By Kimberley Cummins When Windell Fergusson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the early 2010s it was one of the most devastating pieces of news he had ever received. This was compounded by the fact that he would have to deliver this information to his family. This was a difficult prospective but one, that one of his close friends, who asked not to be named, said Fergie, as Fergusson was affectionately called, took with stride. He fully embraced  it because he resolved to be a survivor and not a victim. A couple years later in 2013, Fergie underwent an operation to remove the cancerous tissues that were found in his prostate region. It was a success.  He wasn’t 100 per cent back to his usual self but he was happy, his family was overjoyed by his improving health and he embarked on living life to the fullest.  However, this reignited fire was prematurely exting...

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world off its axis and put it into a constant spin of disrepair , many of us have been eagerly anticipating and guessing when the world will return to some sense of normalcy. This unfortunate paradigm shift has left people thousands of people either unemployed or working from home with businesses and schools being closed.  This of course means children will be out of school. At such critical time in the educational sector, term 3 of the school year, many wonders when school will reopen. They also query what alternative method would be used to ensure that students preparing for exams such as the Barbados Secondary Schools' Entrance Examination, will not be disadvantaged. E-learning has been touted by Government as that alternative. However, given this country’s diverse socio-economic demographic, many cannot and do not have access to the needed  resources to do so. So, are we ready for E-learning? According to President of...

By: Symphony Griffith Okay, let’s face it! Working from home is the new normal. Many companies worldwide have had to use unconventional measures to continue operations in order to help control the spread of COVID-19 among their employees and companies. Our island Barbados is certainly no exception. Photo of the offshore company (Online photo)   Sandra is a supervisor at an offshore company based in Barbados. Her duties range from managing administrative analysts, to making sure that all information is accurate to get into the Asian and European markets. She also ensures that the products arrive to these warehouses safely and meet the needs of their customers based on their demands. As of March 29 th , along with many other employees, Sandra was tasked with the responsibilities of fulfilling her duties from home on a now day-to-day basis. In her mind, this was still slightly different from her usual working routine, which could involve her w...

By Akeel Lovell “Hard ears yuh won’t hear, own way yuh will feel!” That was the warning issued by Barbados' COVID-19 czar Richard Carter as he expressed concern about the level of compliance with the day time restrictions under the 24-hour curfew stressing that adherence will help determine the length of the shutdown period. As the police and members of the public commented on the large numbers of vehicles and people out an about as supermarkets resumed limited operations, Mr. Carter said the authorities will review how the various measures are working. “I want to appeal to Barbadians to employ reason,” Carter said. “But if that appeal to reason does not work, there are other measures which will be put in place,” he said, hinting that there may be a longer curfew. “If you do not have to go out to get essential goods, then stay home. Barbados is closed for business in most instances,” Carter stressed. He said that when the restrictions were introduced, Government felt ...

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce Barbadian freeskier Victor White has called time on his sporting career. Following an array of head injuries, the first-ever winter sports athlete to compete for Barbados was forced to make the tough decision no competitor wants to make in order to save his life. “It was a very hard decision and not one I made alone,” White said  during a telephone interview. “Everything has a price, and even though I very much contemplated it seriously, to continue, although doctors informed me of the risk I was taking last season competing, the consequence of another crash being coma or death, as my head is extra fragile from the many severe concussions I’ve suffered was not worth it,” he said.

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce Barbadian freeskier Victor White has called time on his sporting career. Following an array of head injuries, the first-ever winter sports athlete to compete for Barbados was forced to make the tough decision no competitor wants to make in order to save his life. “It was a very hard decision and not one I made alone,” White said  during a telephone interview. “Everything has a price, and even though I very much contemplated it seriously, to continue, although doctors informed me of the risk I was taking last season competing, the consequence of another crash being coma or death, as my head is extra fragile from the many severe concussions I’ve suffered was not worth it,” he said. The Swedish born White was dreaming of becoming the first Barbadian to participate at the Winter Olympics. “I’ve lived, breathe and eaten skiing for all my life and worked for years towards the goal of representing Barbados in the Winter Olympics. At the end,...

By Akeel Lovell “Hard ears yuh won’t hear, own way yuh will feel!” That was the warning issued by Barbados' covid-19 czar Richard Carter  as he expressed concern about the level of compliance with the day time restrictions under the 24-hour curfew stressing that adherence will help determine the length of the shutdown period. As the police and members of the public commented on the large numbers of vehicles and people out an about as supermarkets resumed limited operations, Mr. Carter said the authorities will review how the various measures are working. “I want to appeal to Barbadians to employ reason,” Carter said. “But if that appeal to reason does not work, there are other measures which will be put in place,” he said, hinting that there may be a longer curfew. “If you do not have to go out to get essential goods, then stay home. Barbados is closed for business in most instances,” Carter stressed. He said that when the restrictions were introduced, Government fel...