The Eyrie House

By Akeel Lovell The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has announced number changes to this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, (CSEC) examination and The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council Dr. Wayne Wesley on Thursday 26th, 2020, at a news conference said “The Council recognises the impact of COVID-19 on the education system in general and, more specifically, on the schedule of CXC’s regional examinations and accordingly, the Council has proposed a revised examinations strategy to yield valid grades and minimize the disruption to the education system during these unprecedented times.” The changes are to the exams are: 1. Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments); 2. School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates; and, 3. Award final grades based on the moder...

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce POSTPONEMENT of the Olympic Games could be a bittersweet pill for the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA). BOA president Sandra Osborne said yesterday with a proposed date for next year on the cards, an increase or decrease in athletes making the qualifying requirements to compete in Japan was likely. During an interview hours after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the decision to put off the summer games due to the threat of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 which has claimed more than 16 500 lives globally, Osborne said several factors must now be considered. BOA President Sandra Osborne

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce POSTPONEMENT of the Olympic Games could be a bittersweet pill for the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA). BOA president Sandra Osborne said yesterday with a proposed date for next year on the cards, an increase or decrease in athletes making the qualifying requirements to compete in Japan was likely. During an interview hours after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the decision to put off the summer games due to the threat of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 which has claimed more than 16 500 lives globally, Osborne said several factors must now be considered. BOA President Sandra Osborne. “The reality is that the athletes who were potential qualifiers may change. There may be people who are not able to sustain training for another year and then there are others who may come on the horizon who maybe able to go. “It all goes down to what the qualifying criteria is. We have no idea what that will look like. A lot needs t...

By Adriana Murray  Here we delve further into the linguistic origins of one of our incredible oral traditions: The call and response which permeates our Caribbean folk music, calypsos and storytelling.   Call and Response is a rhythmic conversation between two musicians, one playing a sound (the call) which is answered (the response) by the other musician.   The cultural tradition seems to be ingrained in the African community since the beginning of time. Nathan Keegan described the method in his article like this “The call-and-response…has likely existed since the dawn of Africa's language-proficient communities.” The practice truly depicts strength of a people and remarkable retention. Often used during spiritual practices and at large social gathering.   It is said to have permeated through communities which are south of the Saharan Dessert. Today we can hear this African cultural practice is interlaced into popular music such as Jazz...

By Adriana Murray How much of our modern day language and colloquialisms are distinct markers from our past? Let’s take that classic staple in Bajan vernacular called a “stupse”. The stupse sometimes called a “suck teeth” is a sharp piercing extended sound that’s understood by all trained Caribbean ears. Historian Dr. Trevor Marshall explains the origins of this onomatopoeia.   He states that this sound was derived from the tense and strained relation that existed between the slave and the ‘massa’ (slave master). A relation built on what was thought to be property or a commodity the African man faced the brunt of cruelty   as mere property at the hands of a Caucasian or white man. The right to freedom of expression was out of the question for a slave. Any rude words, rebuttals or smart remarks were punishable by death or loss a limb. Of course the African man being the creative soul that he was found a nifty way to air his concern and disdain.  ...

By: Symphony Griffith Photo of Maria in Columbia, taken by a family member.   Maria was born and raised in Colombia, a country that she described as “lively,” an impression she said not seen by the majority of people in the world. She had a carefree childhood and recalled children in her neighbourhood taking part in various activities like riding bicycles, playing basketball and other games such as “Rayuela,” which is also known as “hopscotch.” These were the most dominant memories that she held dear to her heart. However, that chapter of her life was closed when she had to leave Columbia with her parents at the age of nineteen to live in Venezuela. Her life was never the same. At that time, political upheaval rose its ugly head in Venezuela and it was not easy for her as a Columbian to get a job when she arrived. “Venezuelans did not like Columbians,” she said, as she was turned down by almost every company after taking a on...

By Tonisha Rock-Yaw Trustee  for  the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust Pippa Challis donated $25,000.00 to the participants and officials of  Sport s  for   Life -(Photo by Tonisha Rock-Yaw) This was what veteran sports administrator Kathy Harper-Hall told parents whom she suggested were not playing as great a role in the lives of their children as they ought to. Harper-Hall, the Director of a youth developmental programme called Sport for Life, was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of the 38- week programme at Kensington Oval last weekend. The former educator said the main gripe and concern she had was that parents today were maintaining that they were too “busy” to parent. “So they give them a gadget but children need more than that,” she lamented. “Parents are so busy now the fastest thing they do is buy fast food for a child, the children say I want Cheffette are KFC and because they are too busy to even cook they just buy fast food ev...

Sean's love for baking has led him to be recognised by a top international hotel chain. (GP) By Kimberley Cummins Sometimes it is hard not to get discouraged when you think you are deserving of something and are told to wait for a call–ever so often. This was the case for Sean Duke on several occasions in the past. The 20–year–old, who was born with a condition called congenital hip dislocation (CDH), has heard the dreaded “not right now” more often than he would have liked, especially on his quest to secure a job. However, by affirming the mantra that failure isn’t the end, unless you let it be, today he is responding to naysayers by basking in the celebrations of being recognised with the 2020 Pace Setter Award of a top rated international hotel chain Sandals. “I would go on job interviews and I would feel as though no one wanted me, like if no one really needed me. .  . . On the are occasion I did get the job during the internship period some weren’t as welc...

By Akeel Lovell The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has announced number changes to this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, (CSEC) examination and The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council Dr. Wayne Wesley on Thursday 26th, 2020, at a news conference said “The Council recognises the impact of COVID-19 on the education system in general and, more specifically, on the schedule of CXC’s regional examinations and accordingly, the Council has proposed a revised examinations strategy to yield valid grades and minimize the disruption to the education system during these unprecedented times.” The changes are to the exams are: 1. Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments); 2. School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates; and, 3. Award final grades based on the moder...

by Anmar Goodridge-Boyce Combermere Clinched the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Under 19 football league title despite being held to a nervy 1-1 draw at Massiah Street. The Waterford, St Michael boys needing only a point to secure the cup, were gifted a first half lead when Lamar Catlyn found the back of his own net in the fifth minute. Nathan Skeete whipped a dangerous free-kick into the box from 20 yards out and Catlyn in an effort to clear his lines booted past Joshua James in the Lodge goal. Combermere, like the school motto says were up and on but seconds later referee Clifton Garnes reduced them to 10 men, dismissing Shaquanie Phillips in an encounter where a total of five players received cautions. The numerical advantage seemed to be of little help to Lodge as James was forced to make a double save with Ajani Straughn poised to give Combermere a two-goal lead. As the game grew old, frustration filled the Society air as Lodge failed to convert a number ...