The Bajan Bugle

Bridgetown, Barbados | Thursday, April 9, 2026

The news from the island that runs things, whether or not anyone admits it.

PRESCOD: THIS ISLAND IS FORGETTING ITS HERITAGE

Minister for Pan-African Affairs and Heritage Trevor Prescod has renewed calls for stronger history education in Barbados schools, warning that the island risks losing touch with its identity by teaching generations too little about their own past. The Minister’s concern is noted. Whether the curriculum will change, and how quickly, is the bureaucratic question. Barbados has a remarkable history. It would be a shame if the people who live here had to learn it from a podcast.

OISTINS FISH FESTIVAL: IN NEED OF A RETHINK

Opposition Senator Ryan Walters is calling for the Oistins Fish Festival to be radically rethought, citing falling vendor profits and public concerns about crime. The festival is a beloved institution. It is also, by several accounts, not working as well as it used to. Vendor numbers are down. Security issues are up. The Senator argues this is the moment to reimagine the event rather than defend it unchanged because it has always been this way. The Bugle takes no position on festival reform but notes that the flying fish is a Barbadian symbol and any event in its honour should reflect well on the island.

CRIME: JURORS WARNED, REMANDS ISSUED

Justice Carlisle Greaves this week warned jurors in ongoing cases that any attempt to contact or influence them must be reported immediately, calling such interference a serious matter. Separately, a 20-year-old St Michael man was remanded to Dodds Prison on charges of stealing a vehicle key and a motor van. The island’s courts are active. The justice system grinds forward.

HEALTH: GASTRO CASES ON THE RISE

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has recorded an increase in gastrointestinal cases. No specific outbreak has been declared. Citizens are encouraged to observe food safety practices, wash their hands, and avoid anything that has been sitting out in the heat since midday. Standard guidance.

CRICKET: BARBADOS PRIDE HEADS TO JAMAICA

Barbados Pride will face Jamaica’s Scorpions in the first round of the 2026 West Indies Championship, starting April 12 in Jamaica. Pride captain Kraigg Brathwaite has acknowledged the strong rivalry while making it clear his team will not be complacent. They have not lost to Jamaica in first-class cricket in approximately a decade. Brathwaite said: “you cannot take any team for granted.” Translated from cricket captain language, this means: we are expecting to win but we are not going to say so out loud. The Bugle expects Barbados to win. This is not a bold prediction.

BARBADOS AND THE CARIFTA GOLD

President of the Barbados Golf Association Damian Edghill has praised the performance of Emily Odwin at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The CARIFTA Games wrapped up with regional athletes performing admirably. The island’s sporting culture continues to punch above its weight. This is not news to anyone who has been paying attention. It is simply a fact worth stating again.

THE FARM SCHEME: FEWER NEW RECRUITS

Barbados’ overseas farm labour scheme to Canada is still active but sending fewer new recruits, as Canadian employers increasingly request returning Barbadians who already know the operations. This means the scheme’s most experienced participants are its most in-demand. Whether this represents progress or a ceiling depends on your perspective. The Bugle observes it without further comment.

The Bajan Bugle is a raised-eyebrow account of the week’s news from Bridgetown. Sources: Barbados Today.