A 61-member Barbados team is off to this year’s Huntsman Senior Games in Utah. The squad, which comprises 33 track and field athletes, 4 cyclists and 24 supporters, departed the island on Wednesday to participate in the annual event. Long-standing athlete and Hall of Famer Kathy Harper-Hall, who has won 104 medals since Barbados first competed in 2003, believes Barbadians athletes will perform well.

(CNN) — Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, the state is bracing for another potentially devastating blow from a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Milton formed in the western Gulf on Saturday morning just hours after it became a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Centre said in a special alert. The 13th named storm, which uses the letter M, is running ahead of pace – it doesn’t usually occur until October 25. Milton is forecast to strengthen and bring life-threatening impacts to portions of the west coast of Florida next week. The storm is expected to “quickly intensify while it moves eastward to northeastward across the Gulf of Mexico and be at or near major hurricane strength when it reaches the west coast of the Florida Peninsula mid week,” the Hurricane Centre said. As of Saturday afternoon, it is expected to make landfall in Florida as at least a Category 2 hurricane. Hurricane watches, as well as storm surge watches, will likely be issued for portions of the Florida coast on Sunday – a dangerous storm surge is expected for some areas that were just affected by Helene. “Regardless of development, locally heavy rains could occur over portions of Mexico during the next day or two, and over much of Florida late this weekend through the middle of next week,” the NHC said. The storm threat comes after Helene made landfall September 26 on Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 and created a 500-mile path of destruction with catastrophic flooding, damaging winds and power outages. Local authorities have reported more than 200 deaths across six states and fear that number could rise. Helene was one of the largest storms the Gulf of Mexico has seen in the last century. The latest storm forecast at this point calls for widespread totals of 4 to 6 inches of rain across almost the full length of the state, from Gainesville down through Key West, with isolated higher amounts up to 10 inches possible through Thursday. Tampa has already already seen more than 20 inches of rainfall above normal for the year. Cities like Melbourne, Jacksonville, Naples and Fort Myers all have more than a foot of surplus rainfall so far this year as well. There is also an increasing risk of storm surge for the western Florida Peninsula as early as late Tuesday or Wednesday. Damaging winds, tornadoes and waterspouts will also be possible next week. The Hurricane Centre is warning people in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, as well as the Bahamas to closely monitor this system this weekend and early next week for any impacts.

CMC (British Virgin Islands) – Deputy Premier Lorna Smith has responded to claims that popular Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, is being contracted by the government to perform here later this year. Speaking recently on local radio, Smith expressed her disapproval of the news, which she, along with many others, had heard. “I do not support it and I have no problem in saying so.” She urged that this matter should be addressed promptly, stating, “I hope that it can be nipped in the bud in terms of government support.” Smith highlighted that it would not be appropriate for the government to engage in such an activity at this time, given the pressing issues that need to be prioritised. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley endorses this event featuring the Jamaican artist, whose real name is Adidja Palmer. Vybz Kartel was released from Jamaican prison earlier this year after serving 13 years, following the quashing of his murder conviction by the UK Privy Council. His first known concert is scheduled to take place in Jamaica, later this year.