Peaceful Assembly
Children and youth take to the streets to call for peace
On 7th February 2025, hundreds of primary school children from four primary schools in the St. Michael area marched through the capital city of Bridgetown. This anti-violence march launched the Saving Our Sons initiative developed by the New Orleans Community-Police Outpost. The march encouraged children to “use words instead of weapons”.
Community marches after killing of 13-year-old boy
On 29th March 2025, residents of Christ Church took to the streets in protest after 13-year-old Shawnaton Chase was shot and killed while watching a netball match. The fatal shooting sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for urgent action to address rising gun violence.
Dozens of community members joined a solidarity march, carrying placards bearing the names of others lost to shootings in recent years. Protesters expressed sympathy for Shawnaton’s family and denounced what they described as a “cycle of violence” claiming young lives and undermining neighbourhood safety.
Preconco workers walk out over pay and safety grievances
On 25th March 2025, over 40 unionised workers at Preconco Ltd. staged a walkout to protest what they described as long-standing grievances over pay, health and safety conditions, and mistreatment by management. The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) backed the industrial action, citing “deep-seated issues that were simmering for years”.
Workers said the immediate trigger was the alleged unfair targeting of a colleague and claims that their duties exceeded their contractual roles. Management, however, denied the allegations, stating that employees had not previously raised these concerns through formal channels.
The dispute prompted ongoing negotiations between the BWU and company management, as both sides seek to resolve the conflict and prevent further disruption. Negotiation is ongoing.
Association
CTUSAB accuses government of sidelining union body from ILO representation
On 15th March 2025, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) accused the government of undermining its role as the national trade union centre after being excluded from the country’s delegation to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva.
CTUSAB’s General Secretary said the organisation has faced “ongoing marginalisation” since the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) withdrew from its membership. He called on authorities to adopt a rotational system allowing both CTUSAB and BWU to alternate in representing workers at ILO meetings, arguing that this would uphold fairness, good governance, and the integrity of the industrial relations system.
The government has the right to choose its delegation, but it must also recognise CTUSAB’s rightful place. If there is a preference for the BWU, then alternate the positions annually. Even this, the government refuses to accept, and that tells us there’s more in the mortar than in the pestle.
- Dennis DePeiza, CTUSAB General Secretary.
However, the Minister of Labour rejected the claims, citing Article 3(5) of the ILO Constitution, which requires governments to nominate the most representative workers’ and employers’ organisations. The minister maintained that the BWU currently meets that criterion, underscoring the government’s position that its selection aligns with international labour standards.
Expression
Government faces criticism for lack of transparency in sale of Holetown Civic Centre
Since February 2025, the Barbados Government has faced backlash over its decision to sell the Holetown Civic Centre in St. James to a private hotel developer. The move has sparked criticism from opposition parties, historians, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), and the Barbados National Trust, who accuse the government of lacking transparency.
Initially, the Senior Minister of Infrastructure and Planning assured residents that the project was “not a done deal”, but later confirmed both the sale and the relocation of the civic centre to another site outside Holetown.
Civil society argued that the decision disregards the site’s historical and cultural significance and undermines public trust. The controversy has reignited debate about heritage preservation, community consultation, and accountability in public land transactions.
State broadcaster CBC enters major restructuring to go fully digital
The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Barbados’ state-owned media network, has begun a six-to nine-month restructuring process aimed at becoming fully digital. The overhaul, which started in April 2025, involves making all staff redundant, with some employees reportedly being selectively rehired under new operational arrangements.
The BWU is participating in negotiations, securing severance terms of four weeks’ pay for each year of service. CBC’s Chief Executive Officer said the transition will modernise the broadcaster’s operations and ensure it remains competitive, assuring the public that viewers will not experience any “major disruptions” during the process.
CBC operates several radio stations, a Multi-Choice cable network, and remains Barbados’ only television channel. The restructuring marks one of the most significant transformations in the country’s media landscape in decades.
Other developments
Concerns over heritage project and stalled reparations highlight unresolved colonial legacy
On 10th January 2025, activists, spiritual leaders and historians in Christ Church demanded that the government halt work on its flagship heritage project, claiming it desecrates one of the largest known burial sites of enslaved Africans in the Western Hemisphere. Their petition urged authorities to suspend construction on the Barbados Heritage District, launched in 2021 to honour nearly 600 enslaved persons.
According to media reports, Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII), the project developer, held consultation meetings with members of the burial ground committee and representatives from the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. After that meeting, the burial committee sent a letter summarising their concerns. According to the burial committee, the BTII promised further consultation before starting the project. A committee representative said the consultation did not occur, yet work began at the site.
In late January 2025, the BTII alleged no graves were disturbed, and they conducted a geological survey. They further agreed to work with key stakeholders, and that parts of the monument will be constructed “off-site”.
Meanwhile, the National Task Force on Reparations (NTFR) is reviving efforts to seek reparations for Drax Hall Plantation, currently owned by British MP Richard Drax. The government previously dropped plans to buy the land after public backlash over paying a descendant of enslavers. Talks have since stalled, with the NTFR planning a public campaign to pressure Drax to fund reparations for the plantation’s 53 acres. Presently, the parties involved have stalled negotiations.