Category: CANA News

The Guyana Amazon Warriors elected to field after winning the toss against the Jamaica Kingsmen in the 26th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Providence Stadium here on Friday.

SQUADS

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS: Imran Tahir (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mavendra Dindyal, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Quentin Sampson, Mohammad Nabi, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph, Dwaine Pretorius, Khary Pierre.

JAMAICA KINGSMEN: Rovman Powell (captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Kirk McKenzie, Keacy Carty, Hassan Khan, Usman Khan, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Jediah Blades, Hunain Shah.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that India will host the first-ever Women’s Champions Trophy in early 2027.

India has been named as a replacement for Sri Lanka, with the tournament slated to be held in the cities of Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28.

The Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will be the venues for the landmark tournament, which will bring together six of the world’s leading women’s cricket teams – Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka but will now be staged in India as Sri Lanka Cricket continues to make the requisite reforms outlined at the ICC’s Annual Conference in July. The ICC assessed three candidates -Bangladesh, India and South Africa – against its established host evaluation criteria before recommending India as the replacement host, a decision ratified by the ICC Board on September 2.

ICC chairman, Jay Shah, said: ‘The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket. As the inaugural edition of the tournament, it will bring together the best teams in the world in an intense, high-quality competition, while creating even greater incentive for teams to continue rising through the rankings and competing for a place on the global stage.

‘With a marquee ICC women’s event now taking place every year, we have a significant opportunity to build greater momentum, provide more consistency and create a stronger rhythm for the women’s game, its players and its fans around the world.’

The National Assembly (DNA) Thursday night postponed to Monday, the consideration of a private members motion proposing an amendment to the Suriname Citizenship and Residency Act.

Political observers say that the proposed legislation is significant as the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country’s national football team seeks to attract overseas players born to Suriname families.

The private member’s bill was first introduced on August 19 by government legislators Ebu Jones of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Steven Reyme of the Democracy and Development in Unity (DOE/A20) Jeffrey Lau of the National Party of Suriname (NPS) and Edgar Sampie of the General Liberation and Development Party (Abop).

The debate on the proposed amendment was due to have started on Thursday but after lengthy internal consultations, it was decided not to immediately proceed to the substantive debate. Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath said the government is convinced of its responsibility to be present during the parliamentary proceedings.

Speaker Ashwin Adhin said that various perspectives have been sent to Parliament and it therefore makes little sense to hold an in-depth debate with the movers of the legislators and the government before the amended text is available.

The memorandum of amendment must be made available no later than Friday so that the parliamentary groups can study the document over the weekend.

Opposition legislator, Asiskumar Gajadien, says President Jennifer Simons must be present at the meeting on Monday, saying that Parliament must hear directly from the Head of State which policy direction the government advocates.

Another legislator, Jerrel Pawiroredjo said that Surinamese citizenship is about both ‘national pride’ and ‘national interest’ and believes the subject deserves careful preparation.

The Bermuda government says St. Lucians will require a multi-re-entry visa issued by the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada to enter the British Overseas Territory as the David Burt government has announced new initiatives aimed at strengthening the island’s borders, addressing sham marriages and enhancing the integrity of the immigration system.

Economy and Labour Minister, Jason Hayward, said the changes will also protect key entry-level insurance and reinsurance roles to ensure greater employment opportunities for Bermudians. He told a news conference that protecting Bermuda’s borders and its people is a top priority for the government and that the island must have strong systems in place to manage the movement of people into the country and to safeguard the job opportunities available to Bermudians.

‘This is vital to our national security and shared prosperity,’ he said, adding that the government would be updating the Bermuda Immigration and Protection (Prohibition of Entry) Order.

‘The purpose of the Order is to ensure that travellers to Bermuda are security vetted before they arrive and, also, that there is continued access for visitors and residents travelling to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other destinations, through regular commercial air service.’

Hayward said that it is important to emphasise that the border policy of the British Overseas Territory must also account for changes to border, transit and visa policies in the United Kingdom.

‘Given Bermuda’s geographic position and the limited number of commercial air routes available to the island, the United Kingdom provides a key, flexible commercial aviation pathway. As a result, changes to UK border requirements can have a direct impact on Bermuda’s ability to facilitate secure and efficient international travel.’

Hayward said that under the new Order, nationals of Botswana, the Northern Part of Cyprus, Ivory Coast, Naura, Nicaragua, Palestine, and St. Lucia are considered visa-controlled and will require a multi-re-entry visa issued by the US, UK or Canada to enter Bermuda.

‘I must note that countries being removed from this list of visa-controlled nationals are Indonesia and Taiwan,’ he said, adding that the new Prohibition of Entry Order will be effective once gazetted.

Hayward said that a second step being taken to strengthen the integrity of Bermuda’s immigration system involves addressing the issue of sham marriages, noting that these are marriages entered into primarily for immigration or other legal benefits rather than to establish a genuine marital relationship.

‘While the vast majority of marriages are genuine, marriages can also be used to circumvent immigration controls. Recognising this, many countries have introduced safety measures to protect the integrity of their immigration systems while preserving the rights of genuine couples,’ Hayward said.

‘In Bermuda, we realise that there is no definition of ‘sham marriage’, nor is there the authority to investigate suspicious cases. This results in vulnerabilities and gaps in our immigration system. ‘

Hayward said that the authorities have developed a policy framework to be shared with the public which defines ‘a sham marriage as a marriage entered into primarily to obtain an immigration or legal benefit without a genuine intention to establish a shared life together as spouses.

‘We expect most marriage applications will continue through the normal registration process. However, where objective indicators generate reasonable concerns that a proposed marriage may not be genuine, the Registrar will be authorised to refer the matter to the Department of Immigration for further assessment and investigation.’

The Economy and Labour Minister said indicators could include significant inconsistencies in information provided by the marrying parties, documentary irregularities, evidence of financial inducement.

‘Where a sham marriage is established based on evidence, then immigration-related benefits a spouse gets through that marriage could be refused, cancelled, or revoked in accordance with the law.

‘We should note the policy anticipates creating a criminal offence for knowingly entering into or facilitating a sham marriage for the purpose of obtaining an immigration or legal benefit.’

Hayward said with regards to protections for working Bermudians., ythe government is moving to make updates to the Closed and Restricted Job Categories.

‘Recognising the critical role the insurance and reinsurance sectors play in our economy, we are taking steps to ensure that key entry-level positions in these businesses remain available for our people.

‘Many Bermudians have experienced notable success in these industries and can directly link their success to the entry-level opportunity they were provided,’ Hayward said, adding that ‘we consulted industry associations and clarified that the intention here is to protect the entry-level roles for Bermudians.’

He said to that end, the Closed Job Category will be updated to include entry-level underwriting administration and underwriting roles which may include underwriting assistance, assistant underwriters and trainee underwriters; entry-level insurance claims roles which may include claims assistant and claims associate and enter-level brokerage roles which may include broker assistant and junior broker.

‘Avenues for success must remain available for Bermudians, and employment opportunities such as these must remain accessible,’ hayward said, adding that these changes to the Closed and Restricted Job Categories will be in effect from September 8 this year.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Eminent Persons Group (EPG) is undertaking a visit to Haiti to engage directly with a wide range of Haitian stakeholders, including some state agencies and the international community, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat announced on Friday.

In a brief two paragraph statement it said that the visit of the EPG ‘will offer an opportunity to obtain a first-hand assessment of the stakeholders’ views on governance and security issues and preparations for elections which the Electoral Commission earlier announced will take place on 13 December 2026′. The EPG comprising former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony as chairman, the forer Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding and The Bahamas former prime minister Perry Christie, is a mediation team working to help solve Haiti’s political and security crisis. The group also works with local and international stakeholders to support governance, security, and free elections.

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) recently announced that the first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum, for December 13, this year, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7,2021.

The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.

The electoral campaign for the first round is scheduled to begin October 5 and run through December 12. The campaign for the second round is scheduled for January 10 through February 20, 2027.

The CEP said that 17 out of the 18 political groups, representing 228 political parties have received approval to contest the polls.

The Court of Appeal of Belize has awarded BDZ$15,000 (One Belize dollar=US$0.49 cent) in compensation and BDZ$7,000 in vindicatory damages to each of five detainees after ruling that two states of emergency (SoE)imposed on Southside Belize City in 2020 were unconstitutional.

In a landmark ruling the Court of Appeal also declared that the both the emergency proclamations and the mass detentions carried out under them unconstitutional.

Acting Justice of Appeal E. Andrew Marshalleck said that using SoEs to tamp down gang violence, acts merely as ‘bandages rather than cures’ while threatening the fundamental rights guaranteed by Section 3 of the Belize Constitution.

The Court found that the government failed to provide enough evidence to justify the extraordinary measures, noting that ordinary crime and violence, even when severe, cannot automatically justify a state of emergency.

The Jamaica Kingsmen reached 159 for seven in 20 overs after being sent in by the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 26th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Providence Stadium here on Friday.

JAMAICA KINGSMEN 159-7 in 20 overs (Hassan Khan 62 not out, Maaz Sadaqat 35, Keacy Carty 18, Keemo Paul 15, Odean Smith 13, Usman Khan 10; Dwaine Pretorius 2-20, Khary Pierre 2-21).

The Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA) has launched a new tool designed to help Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries generate more reliable data on dog and cat populations and strengthen the planning of public health and animal health interventions.

‘Understanding the size, distribution, and characteristics of dog and cat populations is essential for guiding public health and animal health actions,’ said Manuel Sánchez Vázquez, Director of PANAFTOSA.

‘This methodology provides countries with a practical tool to generate reliable information, strengthen the prevention of zoonotic diseases, and support evidence-based decision-making through a One Health approach.’

PANAFTOSA, a member body of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) which launched the ‘Methodology for Eliminating Dog and Cat Populations in Latin America and the Caribbean,’ said the relationship between people and dogs and cats brings important benefits, ranging from companionship and emotional well-being to support in activities such as guarding, herding, pest control, and assistance for people with disabilities.

However, irresponsible ownership, abandonment, and uncontrolled breeding can contribute to the presence of free-roaming animals and create challenges for public health.

It said close interaction between people, dogs, and cats can also facilitate the transmission of zoonotic diseases, including rabies, sporotrichosis, dermatophytosis, Bartonella henselae infection, visceral leishmaniasis, and echinococcosis.

PANAFTOSA said that although countries in the Americas have made significant progress in preventing and controlling dog-mediated rabies, the disease continues to claim lives in the region. Between 2023 and August 2026, 62 human rabies cases were reported in the Americas, including 32 associated with dog transmission.

Each year, countries across the region vaccinate at least 50 million dogs through public vaccination campaigns as part of efforts to prevent rabies transmission and protect both human and animal health.

PANAFTOSA said sustaining and expanding these gains requires up-to-date information on animal populations and the areas where risks remain highest.

It said dog and cat populations vary depending on their relationship with people. In urban areas, for example, owned, semi-owned, community, and free-roaming animals may coexist. Understanding how these populations are distributed helps authorities design more effective interventions tailored to local realities.

To address this challenge, the methodology offers a standardized yet flexible approach that can be adapted to different geographic and social contexts while generating reliable population estimates for decision-making.

The methodology includes practical implementation tools such as adaptable questionnaires, fieldwork checklists, and guidance for data analysis. The approach allows data collection to be tailored to the demographic, geographic, and social characteristics of each locality.

Information generated through the methodology can help public health and animal health authorities identify risks, design interventions tailored to local needs and strengthen the prevention and response to zoonotic diseases.

PANAFTOSA said the publication is intended to support public health and animal health authorities in generating dog and cat population estimates to strengthen zoonotic disease surveillance and control, improve planning for rabies vaccination campaigns, and support other public health actions.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin says security and elections are the most urgent and interconnected priorities in Haiti and called on all stakeholders and the international community to accelerate efforts to restore democratic institutions through a credible electoral process.

‘Haiti stands at a critical juncture. Our responsibility is clear: to strengthen security efforts, advance electoral preparations, deliver on the commitments already made, and ensure that international cooperation translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of the Haitian people,’ Ramdin said as he presented a report to the Permanent Council on the situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. The report followed the visit by a high-level Inter-American and international delegation to Haiti from August 16 to 19.

Ramdin, who headed the delegation warned that armed gangs control between 80 and 90 per cent of the capital Port-au-Prince, while approximately 1.47 million people have been displaced and 6.4 million require humanitarian assistance.

He told the Permanent Council of the importance of providing the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with the personnel, financing, logistical support, and operational capabilities required to deliver results, while pursuing parallel efforts to strengthen the Haitian National Police and the criminal justice system.

The GSF is an international police and military force approved by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023 to assist the Haitian government in restoring law and order amid worsening civil strife and gang violence.

Regarding the impending elections, Ramdin recognised the progress made by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the National Identification Office but said preparations for the elections scheduled for December 13 must be accelerated.

recently announced that the first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum, for December 13, this year, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7,2021.

The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.

The electoral campaign for the first round is scheduled to begin October 5 and run through December 12. The campaign for the second round is scheduled for January 10 through February 20, 2027.

The CEP said that 17 out of the 18 political groups, representing 228 political parties have received approval to contest the polls.

In response to a shortfall of approximately one million identification cards, Ramdin told the Council that the OAS and Japan recently signed a three million US dollar cooperation agreement that will finance the acquisition of 350,000 biometric identification cards and expand mobile registration services.

He called on other international partners to complement those efforts to further ensure a legitimate election with high participation. Ramdin also confirmed that the OAS had received an invitation to deploy an Electoral Observation Mission and had begun preparations.

The OAS Council was told that the visit also helped advance initiatives in health and sustainable development. The OAS, together with the Pan American Health Organization and other partners, will work with the Haitian National Police to establish trauma care centers for injured officers.

In addition, Haiti’s accession to CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), facilitated by the OAS, was announced-a move that will provide access to approximately US$168 million in financing, technical cooperation, and development tools.

The OAS also launched a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian NGO Viva Rio to jointly facilitate opportunities for youth and women affected by violence in Haiti.

Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, Raina Forbin, emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring security and constitutional order while calling for decisive international support.

‘We must now move from solidarity to action, from commitments to implementation, and from promises to results. Two urgent priorities guide our action today: security and elections,’ said Forbin.

CARICOM Secretary General DR. Carla Barnett said that regional and international efforts must remain focused on the needs of the Haitian people.

‘Our objective must continue to be to support the Haitian people as they seek to find solutions to the present crises of insecurity and governance, so that the Haitian people can focus on long-term planning for investment, job creation, and access to essential social services,’ said Barnett.

She said those initiatives helped to strengthen coordination and build synergies by facilitating contact and exchanges of individual experiences and lessons learned among an array of international actors.

‘It also sent the message to the people of Haiti, that despite the challenges and perils of the present situation, they have not been abandoned by the international and regional communities, and that the collective commitment to support Haiti was still alive, despite the long duration of the multifaceted crisis,’ the Secretary-General told the OAS Permanent Council.

Meanwhile, Ramdin announced further OAS-led follow-up actions, including an environmental technical mission, coordination meetings with international organizations, and a meeting of the Group of Friends of Haiti to mobilize political, technical, and financial support.

He said that through its Electoral Task Force, the OAS will intensify its technical assistance to Haiti’s electoral authorities and support the implementation of the measures required to advance a credible and inclusive electoral process.

Ramdin said regarding security, the OAS will strengthen its capacity-building support for the Haitian National Police, including through the Haiti Secure initiative.

The Secretary General Ramdin also said the OAS would promote a private sector delegation to explore investment and job creation opportunities, particularly for at-risk youth, and reaffirmed that the Organization would remain fully engaged in supporting Haiti’s security, democratic restoration, and long-term development.

The Grenada National Cyber Security Incident Response Team(GSIRT-Gnd) Friday said it had been made aware of the circulation of a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child.

‘Material of this kind is described in Grenadian law as ‘child pornography’ and is referred to internationally as Child Sexual Abuse Material,’ the GSIRT-Gnd said warning that under Grenada’s Electronic Crimes Act it is a crime ‘to publish or transmit or caused to be published material in an electronic form which depicts a child engaged in sexual explicit act or conduct’.

In addition it is also warning it is also a crime to create text or digital images, collect, seek, browse, download, advertise, promote exchange or distribute material in an electronic form depicting a child in obscene or indecent or sexually explicit manner.

The GSIRT-Gnd said that the child in the video ‘is a victim of a sexual offence and every forward/share is a fresh offence,’ after indicating that a child according to the existing legislation is a person who is udner the age of 18 years.

‘Therefore, we are strongly discouraging the storing and sharing of the video and any other like it. We are also encouraging the public to report anyone sharing the video with them to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force’.

It warned also that ‘deletion’ of the material is not a defence ‘if you have already distributed it’ with the legislation providing for a fine up to EC$300,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) and imprisonment for up to 20 years.