On Saturday January 17, 2026, KWEST International Inc. hosted a youth discussion at the YMCA under the theme “Together We Can” unity the key
On Saturday January 17, 2026, KWEST International Inc. hosted a youth discussion at the YMCA under the theme “Together We Can” unity the key
On Saturday January 17, 2026, KWEST International Inc. hosted a youth discussion at the YMCA under the theme “Together We Can” unity the key in light of the increased crime in Barbados. This was a call for youth leaders, churches, corporate Barbados, the Government and the people of Barbados to unite as we have lost men to suicide and have witnessed many deaths due to stabbing and gun violence. The initiative featured panelists Kim Ramsay Criminologist Office Of The Attorney General, Toney A. Olton – Principal Consultant, The Potter Centre, Sean ‘Apache’ Carter – Creative Artist and BACA President, Roger Husbands – Director of Drug Education and Counselling Services (DECS) and H.E. Charles Johnson, Board member of KWEST International Inc.
A consensus of us needing to do more together, understand the nature of the problem, mentorship and including the voice of the youth whilst we address their issues need to be on the table for the changes we desire to see.
Founder and President of KWEST International Inc. Barbados and USA, Min. Karlos Cobham expressed “this is a call to action for unity putting aside our pride to uphold our industry, culture, morals and ethics as a people.
He believes though small in size, we are a people who are known globally for intellectualism, excellence and competence in any field we are placed.
From Sir Garfield Sobers, to Obadele Thompson, to the right excellent Robyn Rihanna Fenty the list can go on with the names that represented our nation at the highest caliber in career success.
He underscored this call goes beyond the recognition of names, status or background, but a call to refocus our attention to who holds us together as a people on this rock. He further mentioned we must move away from the social distractions through media and AI and become once again God centred. It is of the belief that we have pivoted as a people, shifted our focus more on things and people and not on who made us. Before people, there was God who made the people, so God should be first.
We need Jesus to arise once again and be lifted high above this national crisis.
We also need each other to band together, pray for and with one another and be our brother’s keeper.
Min. Karlos thinks we have lost love and respect for each other, a sense of identity and challenged us to reflect on questions. Is this what we are known to be? Is this Barbados?
He noted this is not the future we want for our children and our children’s children and that we need a nation where we can feel safe again, no matter the hour we go outside. We need our people to get back to God and to look out for each other.
Today is an emergency call for UNITY! Strategy! and Execution! Faith without works is dead. We must therefore put God at the forefront but also move with God and lean on Him to give us ideas to solve this problem together.
Join the KWEST for unity, love and a safe Barbados again.”
A special thank you to the YMCA – Ramona Smart and team, Chalkboard Pizzeria, Deaconess Nellis Cobham, Natasha Birkett-Sealy, MOV Enterprises, The Morris Institute For Young Minds Inc., Koscab, Southpaw Grafix – Kathie Daniel, Frontline Trading – Patrick Niles, the media of Barbados, Empowered Lifestyle Network, Paul Clarke – Trident10TV Barbados, The Sound Guys – Kevyn Callender, Neil Newton and team, Ken Holder, Pastor Andre Ifill, Lyrical, RAE, Dynamo and MC, Simon Alleyne.
Many thanks to the KWEST International Inc. team Dave Sahadath, Rev. Charles G. Kearse, H.E. Charles Johnson, Eileen Marcial, Cicely Spencer-Cross and Azaniah Israel.
This initiative truly exhibited that indeed “Together We Can” and we look forward to a better Barbados unity being the key.
