What's in the news?

The news usually include a good mix of what could be seen as funny or odd stories. This last weekend, Barbados, in keeping with its title of "entertainment island", was holding a world records festival, giving participants chances to beat a series of bizarre world records and maybe get an entry into the Guinness Book of Records. Five Barbadians ate, ran and hopped their way to Guinness World Records on Saturday at the Barbados World Record Festival at the National Stadium (see full story from The Nation newspaper).

Eighteen-year-old Rommel Griffith, a former athlete, claimed several of the prestigious records; he had initially been present to officiate but decided that some events needed more competitors. He and a partner won the three-legged race. He hoisted his slimly-built 50-year-old mother atop his back and broke the world record in the 100 metres piggy back race; the mother is herself an athlete, who performs in the Senior Games. Griffith also won the one-legged race. While Samuel Grazette, 43, spent no time grazing and apparently had spectators wide-eyed when he gulped down a raw onion in 48 seconds with three bites; the previous record was held by an Italian. The winner said "I love anything that is raw...I will be breathing in people's faces all day," he smiled. The proceeds from the events went to the Hope For Children Charity.

Higher forms of culture also took place with the "Exotic Treasures" orchids festival, which I missed but Therese, Rhian and Georgette enjoyed.

Finally, bloggers and the local papers are having a field day over two events. Of course, the unfolding Cricket World Cup (CWC) fiasco of unfulfilled expectations with very poor attendances, low numbers of tourist visitors, lamentable performances from the host West Indies team. Barbados' government has just put in place a "crisis committee" to respond to "serious challenges" facing the country as a result of "a sequence of events" surrounding CWC. The government in Antigua hastily bought several thousand tickets to give away so that the stadium there would look full. Not just cynics are speculating about what "creative marketing" will be seen in Barbados.

The second story revolves around the Tourism Minister and his heated exit from a radio call-in program ("Down to brass tacks") on Sunday, March 25, following the reading of an e-mail questioning the source of his financial (see Barbados Free Press report). This has brought out the two major papers (The Nation and The Advocate) into a "war" about rights of free speech and limits of responsible journalism. The radio host, David Ellis, made a public apology the following day; he is already controversial because of his dealing with "hot" topics and a style which some find belittling and vindictive, though he claims to be merely probing.

As Barbados runs up to its next general election, these two stories are likely to be more in the news than who can hop fastest or eat an onion quickest.