Straughn: Customs on guard against drugs, guns Lourianne Graham25/08/20260130 views As Customs faces increasingly sophisticated attempts to smuggle banned goods into Barbados, Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn has stressed the department’s efforts to strengthen border security and prevent illegal firearms,… Read more
Power bill increase looms Emmanuel Joseph24/08/202601.4K views Electricity consumers face higher bills to help pay for multimillion-dollar upgrades to Barbados’ power grid, but the size of any increase will not be known until a future rate review.… Read more
Symmonds warns of economic exposure from volatile oil markets Ricardo Roberts24/08/2026092 views Barbados’ heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels is leaving the country vulnerable to global oil shocks that can send its fuel import bill soaring by hundreds of millions of dollars,… Read more
One-third of Customs staff set to retire Lauryn Escamilla24/08/202606.5K views About one-third of the Barbados Customs and Excise Department’s staff are expected to retire over the next two to three years as the agency continues its push towards redevelopment, retraining… Read more
Caribbean digital commerce falls behind North America – minister Jenique Belgrave20/08/20260154 views The Caribbean is lagging behind North American markets in digital commerce, with only four to five per cent of business transactions in the region being conducted digitally, Senior Minister Kerrie… Read more
Economist flags potential policyholder impact after ICBL investment diluted Emmanuel Joseph19/08/202601.4K views Insurance Corporation of Barbados’ (ICBL) stake in a Canadian company has been diluted after additional shares were issued, prompting economist Jeremy Stephen to warn that the development could have implications… Read more
New York trade mission prepares first-time exporters Shamar Blunt19/08/20260149 views Nearly 30 small and medium-sized businesses are undergoing an intensive export-readiness exercise ahead of a mid-September trade mission to New York, designed to help first-time participants turn international exposure into… Read more
Suarez Bros circus relocation linked to water protection – minister Lourianne Graham18/08/20260448 views The beleaguered Suarez Brothers Circus was moved from the Belle, St Michael, after it began operating without all required approvals at the site, a government minister said. But the withdrawal… Read more
Cost-of-living relief ‘unlikely’ as Price Compact return questioned Shamar Blunt18/08/20260465 views Economist Jeremy Stephen has warned that the government is unlikely to have the fiscal room or market conditions to restore its Price Compact in its original form, despite mounting pressure… Read more
Export opportunities identified for small biz Shamar Blunt18/08/20260226 views Small and medium-sized businesses have significant untapped opportunities to export products and services to markets across the Caribbean and Latin America, according to the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries (BCSI).… Read more