CBC News Barbados

The Ministry of Housing is working to identify new building designs and innovative building technologies as it seeks to upgrade housing schemes across Barbados. Minister of Housing Dwight Sutherland says they have committed to providing 2000 housing solutions yearly between the public and private sector. He was speaking at the Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference. Among the new technology being considered is sugarcrete, which is sugarcane bagasse mixed with sand mineral binders to produce bricks that have a carbon footprint six times smaller than traditional bricks. Furthermore, officials are seeking to integrate the autoclaved aerated concrete products into the island’s building design and construction practices, with a view to reducing indoor air quality issues. Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Sandra Husbands says rebuilding the built environment will provide the world with trillions of dollars in gross domestic product.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Tuesday said that several items found by members of the public at Mosquito Creek in Oropouche, south of here, were not suspected military “warheads”. The police said that officers of the Southern, South Western Divisions and Coastal and Air Support Unit, visited the scene on Sunday and discovered several “cylindrical projectiles” amongst the rocks on the banks of the Godineau Rive. “Whilst the items did appear similar to military munitions, a team of specialists from the TTPS Explosive Detection and Disposal Unit, ‘Bomb Squad,’ with the assistance of international partners, further examined the objects and they were positively identified to be parts belonging to Concrete Piercing Tools used in the construction industry,” the police said. “However, a number of major components for the functioning of the items were not present and in the interest of public safety, the items were seized and removed from the site.” The police said that further investigations are being conducted and that the “TTPS would like to thank the members of the public for the information shared and urge everyone to continue to support the organization as we work together to maintain safer neighbourhoods and communities”.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley believes significant change has been made since proposing the Bridgetown Initiative, and according to her, Bridgetown 3.0 will be released this week. Ms. Mottley is among several Caribbean and world leaders in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. During an SDG Lounge session at UN Headquarters, the Barbadian leader provided insight into Bridgetown 3.0.