For more information contact
Ordrick Samuel, also known as Jicky or Montgomery, operates the MRS Radio Station from his home. He broadcasts from speakers on his roof on Monday to Saturday at 6.30 am to 7.15 am and when necessary in the afternoon. He provides Barbudans with general news, village information, notices, and birthdays. Every Tuesday morning Elder Mills broadcasts religious thoughts and music. Every Friday morning Pastor Ralph Payton of the Seventh Day Adventist Church advises on marriage education. MRS Radio also features guest DJs. Jicky can be contacted on 460 0087 within Antigua and Barbuda.
We carry the latest news as it happens in Barbuda. Moreover we feature forthcoming events anywhere in the world, for example family reunions or graduations. Use the contact us form to provide information about your activity and we will include it here.
Click archive to read news from 2004, 2005, and 2006.
The family and friends of Mary Frank Webber and Decosta Webber are planning a family reunion in Barbuda in the summer of 2008. The cost will be US$25 per family.
For more information contact |
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| Claudia Webber Arthur | 1 718 583 5697 | |
| Mr and Mrs Dion Webber | 1 203 757 7176 | |
| 1 203 768 1753 (cell) | ||
| 1 203 768 2469 (cell) | ||
| Lawrence Webber | 1 917 379 7953 | |
| Flo Webber in Barbuda | 1 772 7730 (cell) | |
This year's Caribana will be held over the Whit weekend during the second week of May. Click here for the schedule for the shows and other activities.
Barbudans have come together to form a cricket executive to improve cricket on the island. Archimore Walbrook is the president, Devon Desouza the vice president, Mohamed Walbrook, the treasurer, Dwight Benjamin the secretary, and Peter Cuffy the PRO. The executive will serve for 2 years.
Victoria James and Adosha John are to be presented with an award to commemorate their 35 years of dedicated service to the Holy Trinity School. Victoria and Adosha will receive their awards at a ceremony in the Hibiscus Room at the Jolly Beach Hotel. The Ministry of Education is holding the ceremony for teachers who retired in 2007 and early 2008. All Barbudans, 40 years and younger, have fond memories of being taught by Victoria James and Adosha John at lower school and of course by Cedric Beazer who retired in 2006. Cedric was honoured at the ceremony last year.
Decosta Walbrook, known to Barbudans as Archie, took part in the development meeting at Yasco on Sunday. He won the long jump and the high jump, qualifying in both events for the Carifta Games in St Kitts over the Easter weekend. In the long jump Archie jumped 6.95 metres, which is 22 feet 9 1/2 inches, and in the high jump he cleared 1.95 metres. This was the first time that Archie had completed in the high jump and he astonished everyone at Yasco, who stopped what they doing to watch him jump. Peter Cuffy reports that Archie used the old scissors jump to clear the bar. Peter believes that Archie has great potential in both events, especially the high jump, where he will be coaching the athlete to use the backward flop technique. Congratulations Archie, well done.
Maverick Weatherhead and Eustace Martin have the chance to make three Barbudan qualifiers for the Carifta Games. They will be running next Sunday at the development meeting at Yasco and at the Inter-Schools Championships in March. But where are the girls? Peter Cuffy is sad that they seem to have lost interest this season. So come on girls, get your kit on - don't let the guys steal all the attention.
As always Valentine's Day was special for Barbudans. Those in love had several venues to chose from. The formal Valentine's Cabaret at Park Terrace was televised. Lovers were entertained with poetry, drama, singing, and dancing after a three-course dinner. Those young in heart and body danced the night away at The Lyme, while Sir McChesney George Secondary School held a poetry evening on the lawn. Romance was in the air.
The young athletes from Holy Trinity, SMGSS, and the Falcon's Athletics Club travelled to Antigua to participate in a development meeting at Yasco. Maverick Weatherhead won the 400 metres open in 49.22 and Archimore Walbrook was third in 52.14. Eustace Martin came third in the 1500 metres in 4.43.00. The previous weekend Maverick won the 800 metres open and Archie was fourth in the 200 metres open. Unfortunately the weather caused the cancellation of Eustace's race. The meetings on Sundays are to prepare Antiguan and Barbudan athletes for the coming season when the Carifta Games will be held in St Kitts and for the Inter-School Championships at Yasco.
Peter Cuffy reports that Maverick is eligible for the first Commonwealth Youth Games in India in October and he has high hopes for Maverick to qualify for the World Junior Championships in Poland in summer 2008.
A film crew working for the Belgian film producers, La Parti Productions, arrived on the island today to shoot scenes for the feature film "The Spring Ritual". The crew will shoot at the River Wharf, River Road, Coco Point Road, Horse Pan, the Coconut Plantation and Two Foot Bay. They are also expected to film a supermarket scene in Burton's Depot. Seven Barbudans will have speaking roles in the film which is about a young man "finding himself" on a remote island.
"The Spring Ritual" is directed by Patrice Toye, whose previous film "Rosie" was very successful. The film will be sold internationally by Funny Balloons, who have already distributed two La Parti feature films to over 21 countries worldwide. Their initial aim is to have the film selected at the Cannes Film Festival. The Barbuda Council will receive acknowledgements in the end credits.
Louise Sandiford of Caribbean Crews in Antigua is providing production services to the Belgian company while they are here. Veronica of MovieVentures, Antigua, took the photograph.
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On Wednesday morning teachers arrived at Sir McChesney George Secondary School to discover that the school had been broken into overnight. The intruder appeared to have entered through an open window in the staff bathroom. He or she forced open desk drawers and a filing cabinet in the secretary's office and the principal's office. The intruder stole a small amount of money and a Sony Walkman. He or she used a stool to smash the locks on doors to the staff room, store room, and book room. The police investigator sent various items to Antigua to be tested for fingerprints.
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Barbuda's annual carnival celebrations will run over the Whit weekend. Judith Walter,the chairperson of the Caribana committee outlined the following events.
Date |
Event |
Location |
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| Thursday 24 May | Opening Ceremony | Caribana City |
| Children's Carnival | Caribana City | |
| Friday 25 May | Afternoon Car Show | Caribana City |
| Junior Calypso Show | Caribana City | |
| Saturday 26 May | Beach Bash | Uncle Rally's Beach Bar |
| Caribbean Artists Show | Caribana City | |
| Sunday 27 May | Horse Race Fiesta | Race Course |
| Senior Calypso Monarch Show | Caribana City | |
| Monday 28 May | J'Ouvert | |
This year Caribana City has moved to the grounds of the Holy Trinity School, next to the Day Care Centre. Construction of a new Justice Centre has recently started on the old Caribana City beside the administrative offices of the Barbuda Council.
Maverick Weatherhead was honoured as the Antigua and Barbuda Young Sportsman of the Year for the 2005-2006 season. Maverick received the award from the Minister of Sport, Winston Williams, at a ceremony in the Hibiscus Room at the Jolly Beach Resort. He was chosen ahead of 11 other nominees for the Vita Malt sponsored award. Maverick received a trophy and plaque together with EC$500. Read about Barbuda's promising young athlete on our sports pages.
For the second time in two months the police officers stationed in Barbuda are staging industrial action to protest unsatisfactory living and working conditions. The sickout will not end before 29 May, one day after Caribana concludes. The officers have been promised renovated accommodation by the Barbuda Council, but the repairs are incomplete. Work still has to be carried out on the flooring, leaks, and filling the land around the police station.
Thieves broke into the Barbuda Agency of the Antigua Commercial Bank between 2 am and 3 am. They removed the burglar bars from the main door to force entry into the building. This triggered the alarm system and the thieves retreated without stealing anything. However, they struck at Lil Linc's where they broke two padlocks from the door and stole the cash register, which contained about EC$100 (US$40) in coins. The cash register was found outside the store. On Sunday 14 May 2007 thieves stole EC$80 (US$32) from the Wa O'moni Restaurant.
The Beach House remains open for the time being, following a meeting this morning between the Barbuda Council and Charles Walwyn of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The High Court has placed the hotel in receivership with the accounting partnership to manage the accounts. Randolph Beazer, the chairman of the Barbuda Council, said that the hotel owes more than EC$700,000 (US$280,000) to the Council. PriceWaterhouseCoopers will verify the amounts owed and determine whether they can be paid.
Dorothy Symister, secretary to the Barbuda Council, explained that The Beach House is operating under the guidance of PriceWaterhouseCoopers to accumulate money to pay its creditors. Mrs Symister considered that The Beach House needed a new investor otherwise the hotel would be closed eventually.
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The Super 8 (quarter final) matches of the ICC World Cup are being held on 27, 29, and 31 March and 2, 4, and 8 April 2007 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Why not visit Barbuda on the rest days? Even make Barbuda your base and travel to Antigua by plane on Carib Aviation or by the Barbuda Express ferry. Stay in one of our luxury hotels, self-catering guest houses, or in a home stay with a friendly Barbudan family.
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While you're waiting for the next match and wondering who will win, release the tension by exploring, diving, and fishing in Barbuda as outlined on our things to do and see page. Knowledgeable Barbudans offer guided tours and accompanied dives, alternatively you can rent a vehicle and explore the island by yourself. Either way the relaxing atmosphere and unspoilt environment will put your team's performance in perspective. At least cricketers can't be sent off.
Today the Barbuda Council released copies of the latest version of the Bill for the proposed Barbuda Land Act. Barbudans may collect their copies from the Council's administration office during the its working hours of 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm.
The Bill is for an Act to confirm and establish that all land in Barbuda is owned in common by Barbudans and makes clear that the law relating to land in Barbuda is different from the law relating to land in Antigua. The Act will codify in one statute all the laws applying to land on the island. The Barbuda Council will be responsible for the administration and development of land on Barbuda. The Act will establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate leases already granted here. A Land Registry, a Barbuda Planning Commission, and a National Park Authority will be established and will be responsible to the Barbuda Council.
Click here to read a summary of the bill.
In April 2006 Martin and Caroline Price retired from Coco Point Lodge after 25 years as managers. Patrick Kelly would like to introduce the new managers, Denise and Ray Doherty. Click Denise and Ray to meet them.
Today is the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British transatlantic slave trade in 1807. The commemoration will honour the memory of those who died and those who continue to suffer. Activities planned in Barbuda and Antigua from 26 February, include a series of public lectures with speakers from around the world, including Randell Robinson one of the campaigners for reparations. Watch this page for details of the events in Barbuda.
Barbudans elected George Burton, David Shaw, and Arthur Nibbs of the Barbuda branch of the Antigua Labour Party, and Hartford John of the BPM to represent them for two years.
Barbudans are gearing up for elections, which are constitutionally due every two years. This time four councillors will be retiring, they are George Burton, Dave Desouza, Arthur Nibbs, and Everett Thomas, who are eligible for re-election. The BPM candidates are Dave Desouza, Hartford John, Godfrey Punter, and Devon Warner, while the Barbuda branch of the Antigua Labour Party will be represented by George Burton, Reuben James, Arthur Nibbs, and David Shaw.
The Barbuda Council is currently chaired by Randolph Beazer. The parliamentary representative for Barbuda, Trevor Walker, enjoys a seat in the Prime Minister's Cabinet and was given extra responsibility for APUA during the recent Cabinet re-shuffle. Click politics to read more about the political structure of Antigua and Barbuda.
Dahved Levy of Tempo, the Caribbean music channel on MTV, visited the island for the day. He joined delegates from the organising committee of the Cricket World Cup (Team 2K7) and the Central Board of Health to take part in a presentation ceremony in Madison Square. Dahved Levy filmed the bird sanctuary, the caves, and the pink sand beaches for his show Rocking You, Rocking You. Team 2K7 and the government's Environment Division donated 250 ornamental shade and fruit trees for a beautification programme in Barbuda. Trevor Walker planted a tree in Madison. The Central Board of Health donated 1000 garbage bags.
Five fifth form students of the Sir McChesney George Secondary School attended the ABIB/PCS Career Affair at the Multi-purpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre in Antigua. The event aims to provide students with information about many different career fields. Sharima Deazle, Precious Frank, Justin Griffin, Jeralyn Morris, and Knacyntar Nedd, were amongst 81 students chosen for the Fast Trac programme. They learnt to write resumes, interview techniques, and how to dress in a professional manner. The students chose mentors, who they will be in contact with for one year and they are expected to submit a plan for a business by May 2007.
The Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer visited Barbuda to discuss the problems the island is experiencing. The PM toured the two schools, met with the Barbuda Council, and with the community in a public meeting at the Holy Trinity School. Discussions included travel between Barbuda and Antigua, expansion of SMGSS, the uncomfortable conditions in the police house, inadequate water supply, and the establishment of Barbuda as a point of entry to the country.
The agricultural science programme at Sir McChesney George Secondary School is developing with the arrival of its third batch of 100 2-day-old broiler chicks, which were imported from Barbados by Grantly Samuels of Scotia Bank. Mrs Meride Keizer, the school's agricultural science teacher, reported that the chicks will be fed and watered by the fourth and fifth form students (pictured below) as part of their school-based-assessments for the CXC examinations. The chicks will be killed at eight weeks old and sold to staff, students, and the community for between $4 and $5 per pound. The previous batches proved very popular, with more potential customers than available birds - so don't be disappointed get your orders in early!
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The chicken house (pictured above) has been put up to the west of the school buildings. The extensive grounds will allow the students to raise sheep and goats as part of the animal husbandry requirements for the CXC programme. However, the fence needs to be reinforced first to protect the animals. The school already has the necessary materials and is looking for community assistance to compete the task professionally.
Representatives of State Insurance visited Sir Mcchesney George Secondary School to award their Challenge Trophy to Lorenzo Taylor. The award is an annual one for the student with the highest results at the CXC examinations; Lorenzo is the first recipient. Lorenzo's mother, Mrs Leonise Taylor, accept the award on his behalf, as Lorenzo is studying agriculture in Guyana. Dornalyn Beazer, Bridget Richardson, and Yvette Jarvis-Samuel from State Insurance distributed rulers, pens, pencils, calendars, and mugs to the students and teachers.
Susan Taylor, the editorial director of Essence magazine, decided to spend the week vacationing in Barbuda. Susan Taylor, who is of Caribbean descent, was visiting for the second time and was accompanied by her husband, Khephra Burns. Susan had recently returned from a trip to South Africa where she joined Oprah Winfrey at the official opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.