Local News
BVI Barracudas Swim Team Brings Home 20 Medals from VISF 2023 Short Course Championships
The BVI Barracudas Swim Team made their mark at the VISF 2023 Short Course Championships, returning home with 20 medals.
Over the weekend, 16 swimmers ranging in age from 7 to 16 competed against the St. Thomas Swimming Association, Inc. Stingrays and the St. Croix Dolphins.
Saturday’s events kicked off with a resounding victory in the Mixed 8 & under medley relay.
The star of the show, Arun Bissoondutt, aged 9, clinched four gold medals. He secured the top spot in the Boys 8 & Under category in the 100m Individual Medley (2:02.56), 25m Butterfly (26.22), and 50m Backstroke. Bissoondutt also secured second place in the 50m Breaststroke (59.21).
William Vergel, aged 7, secured a bronze medal in the Boys 8 & Under 25m Breaststroke with a time of 33.94.
Skylar Steer, aged 8, clinched two silver medals in the Girls 8 & Under category, finishing second in both the 25m Freestyle (24.69) and 25m Breaststroke (31.94).
Naya Bissoondutt, aged 7, captured a gold medal in the 25m Backstroke (29.33) and a bronze medal in the 25m Breaststroke (33.17).
Lily Carey, aged 11, secured two silver medals in the Girls 9-10 category 50m Breaststroke (52.65) and the 100m Breaststroke (2:00.25), and a bronze medal in the 50m Backstroke (54.31).
Princess Samantha Vergel, aged 13, finishing second in the Girls 11-12 category in the 50m Freestyle (45.55) and third in the 50m Backstroke (52.27).
Jemima Peliwan, aged 11, secured a bronze medal in the 11-12 Swimmer category in the 50m Freestyle with a time of 48.18.
Charlie Potgieter, aged 14, clinched a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly (40.50) and two bronze medals in the 100m Individual Medley (1:38.30) and the 50m Backstroke (42.41).
Jack Morris, aged 16, left his mark in the Boys 15-17 category, securing a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly (38.78) and a bronze medal in the 100m Individual Medley (1:26.47).
In addition to individual success, the team performed captured the silver medal in the Mixed 8 & Under Freestyle Relay and Girls 8 & Under Freestyle Relay.
Due to the lack of a dedicated training pool and the unavailability of training flags, the team conducted their training sessions at Bananakeet Restaurant once a week and had three vital training sessions at Nanny Cay in the week leading up to the Championship Meet. The team wishes to express their sincere appreciation to these generous sponsors.
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Tola Radio Battles Legal Dispute Over Shutdown, Calls for Public Support
Tola Radio VI 100.5 FM, known as “the people’s radio,” has been off the air for 14 days amidst a legal standoff with Caribbean Cellular Telephone Limited (CCT). Managing Director Floyd P. Burnett, also known as “Heritage,” is urging public support as the station navigates what he describes as a targeted attack on freedom of speech and locally-owned businesses.
Mr. Burnett alleges that despite meeting all payment requirements and deadlines, CCT refused to accept Tola Radio’s payment and later disabled the station’s broadcasting equipment. “They physically touched our equipment and locked them off, despite written legal letters asking and instructing it not to be done,” he stated.
The dispute follows CCT’s October announcement terminating its service agreement with the radio station. CCT clarified that Tola Radio could retain its services if it became a paying customer, but according to Burnett, his payment was rejected without justification.
The controversy escalated when Burnett claimed an attempt was made to have him arrested and charged with attempted murder. “The public was to wake up and hear the radio off along with hearing I was arrested and charged, but God is greater than man!” he said.
Efforts to secure an extension for relocating Tola Radio’s equipment were also denied, Burnett said. Additionally, an urgent injunction filed in the High Court was postponed by a visiting judge until November 22 without hearing any arguments.
The ongoing shutdown has left eight employees without income, caused significant financial losses, and breached client agreements. Burnett criticized government officials for their lack of action, accusing them of failing to address the issue despite the government being a major client of CCT.
“Like most problems facing the BVI, they can’t [find] no way to help us! Even though the government is the tower people’s biggest client,” Burnett remarked.
Burnett is calling on the public to boycott CCT in protest. “Plug out the phone, plug out the chip, don’t pay your bill! We need to make a statement to corporate BVI today!” he urged.
He framed the situation as a broader fight for “freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of information,” asserting that the attack on Tola Radio sets a dangerous precedent for other local businesses.
Despite the challenges, Burnett assured Tola Radio’s listeners and partners that the station will resume broadcasting soon. “We will be back on air shortly, hopefully before the day is out,” he promised.
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