Category: CANA News

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin was among guests attending the unveiling of a community mural in the Adjacency Zone between Belize and Guatemala.

The mural was created created by young people from the Zone to promote a culture of peace and the environmental protection of the Mopan River. The ceremony was also attended by Belize Foreign Affairs MInister, Francis Fonseca, and his Guatemalan counterpart, Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado. The Adjacency Zone between Belize and Guatemala is a territorial strip 213 kilometers long and two kilometers wide and was established in 2000 as a key confidence-building measure to preserve stability, dialogue, and peace during the process to resolve the territorial dispute between the two countries.

Through the Office of the General Secretariat in the Adjacency Zone, the OAS maintains a continuous presence dedicated to preventive diplomacy, security, and social development.

The OAS said that the mural is the result of the artistic project developed within the framework of the binational youth communication programme ‘La Zona / The Zone’ and its innovation laboratory, ‘La Zona Lab,’ implemented by the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone.

It said that the initiative brought together 17 young participants and encompassed the assessment of local problems, the collaborative design, and the painting of the mural, integrating cultural and natural elements representative of the communities of Benque Viejo and Arenal.

During his address to the ceremony, Ramdin highlighted how art, youth, and the presence of the OAS on the ground transform coexistence and build a lasting culture of peace between the two countries.

‘Community development is fundamental. If it is only about negotiations and dialogue, it is not enough; people want to see this result in an improvement in their lives. Involving young people in a peace process is critical. Ownership is needed at that level,’ h

‘This is the best way to guarantee peace and collaboration between both sides. The value lies in the sustainability of this process for the consolidation of peace,’ he added.

Belize and Guatemala have a long-standing territorial dispute with Guatemala claiming more than 11,000 square kilometers of Belizean land, islands and maritime areas.

In March 2000, Belize and Guatemala resumed discussions on their territorial dispute with the assistance of the OAS and on November 8, 2000, they signed the first Agreement on Confidence Building Measures, establishing an ‘Adjacency Line’ and a one-kilometer ‘Adjacency Zone’ on either side.

Jamaica is among countries from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) whose mayor is attending the 2026 Mayors Forum, one of the region’s leading platforms for discussing the future of cities and urban transformation initiatives to improve citizens’ quality of life.

The three day event, which began Wednesday, is being organised by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through its IDB Cities Network and has brought together representatives from Kingston, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, San José, Cali, Panama City, Curitiba, Villavicencio Montevideo, among others.

The IDB said that the forum seeks to foster cooperation and peer learning among cities to help strengthen management capacity, attract investment, and implement solutions that deliver tangible results.

The manager of the IDB’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector,

Juan Pablo Bonilla, said, ‘at the IDB, we are committed to strengthening cooperation among local governments and expanding access to knowledge, financing, and innovation to support cities in their efforts to jointly address territorial development challenges.’

Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán thanked the IDB for creating the space for exchange, ‘where cities can share experiences and build solutions that respond to urban challenges and improve the lives of millions of people across Latin America and the Caribbean.’

For the first time, the forum is being held in two host cities. Following the opening in Bogotá, participants will travel on Thursday to Barranquilla to continue exchanging experiences on topics related to fiscal sustainability, mobilization of financing, and investment to strengthen resilience and productivity.

‘Barranquilla welcomes you with open arms and with the conviction that the best solutions to the world’s challenges are born in local territories. Nearly 20 years of our governance model, working hand in hand with our people, have transformed the way our country and the world see us today,’ said Alejandro Char, mayor of Barranquilla. ‘Enjoy Barranquilla and feel the energy of a city that never stopped believing in itself,’ he added.

Through this initiative, the IDB said it will continue to strengthen a network of local leaders committed to sharing experiences and implementing solutions that improve lives across the region.

The Belize government has described as ‘false’ statements circulating on social media purporting to come from a government agency offering tax relief for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) through a tax amnesty.

‘We herby inform the General Public that this information is false. The MSME Tax Amnesty Programme 2025 concluded on December 31, 2025 with all applicants during that period being processed officially by the Ministry of Investment through the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit and the Belize Tax Service,’ the government said in a statement. The Ministry of Investment said that it has received complaints about a Facebook page ‘BTS Msme Relief hub’ and warned that ‘there is no person or organization authorized to represent, promote or implement an MSME Tax Amnesty Programme’.

‘All members of the public are asked to take heed of communication by any entity claiming to process personal or business information or accepting applications for tax relief under the MSME Tax Amnesty programme 2025’.

The ministry said that the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit has posted on its official Facebook age ‘the names of applicants that have been approved under the MSME Tax Amnesty programme 2025.

‘The public is reminded to protect their personal information, confirm all digital requests and report any suspicious activity immediately, ‘ the ministry added.

United States Congressional representatives have strongly condemned what they described as the Trump administration’s ‘dehumanization’ of Haitian nationals and the deportation of thousands who have been denied Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Legislators, Yvette D. Clarke and Ayanna Pressley, co-chairs of the Haiti Caucus in the US House of Representatives have issued a joint statement condemning the situation.

‘Today, thousands of Haitians are in chains because Donald Trump decided their lives are a crime. They broke no laws, yet that did not stop the Trump administration from forcing them into the grips of Haiti’s violent gangs and instability.

‘The Trump administration has declared Haiti unsafe to travel to; and, in recent days alone, gang massacres have left dozens dead, more have been kidnapped, and some of the Haitians this administration deported have already been killed.

‘The American people are sickened by the suffering and blatant targeting this administration has inflicted upon thousands of Haitian nationals, who contribute to our communities and whose Temporary Protected Status was unjustly taken away,’ said Clarke, who is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Pressley who represents Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District.

They said instead of listening to the American people, the Trump administration has doubled down on ‘its cruelty’ and that there is no excuse for treating neighbours with such contempt.

The two legislators said while the deportations of Haitian TPS holders may have only started weeks ago, ‘the vicious dehumanization of their communities began long before.

‘Cruelty to Haitians is a policy choice,’ said Clarke and Pressley, adding that the US Congress has ‘the power to stop it.’

They are calling on the US Senate to ‘immediately take the long overdue step of passing our legislation to restore TPS for Haiti,’ adding ‘the lives of Haitians and Americans alike are at stake’.

The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has also condemned the ‘horrific violence and atrocities’ in Haiti, calling for armed groups to put down their guns, stop the violence and ‘allow Haiti to heal, rebuild and prosper’.

HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef is calling on the Trump administration and the international community to strengthen measures to stop the flow of illegal firearms into Haiti, including guns originating in the US.

The state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Wednesday said it had recorded ‘continued strong performance’ on the domestic airbridge, carrying 75,149 passengers between Trinidad and Tobago in August during the 2026 peak summer travel season.

‘The domestic airbridge is much more than a route network, it is a vital link that brings families together, supports businesses, enables access to essential services, and connects communities across Trinidad and Tobago,’ said CAL acting chief executive officer, Varma Khillawan.

‘We are proud to have served more than 75,000 passengers in August and to play an important role in helping people stay connected. As demand continues to grow, Caribbean Airlines remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and convenient service, ensuring that our customers can travel with confidence whenever they need to move between the islands.’ Caribbean Airlines thanks its customers for their continued support,’ Khillawan added.

CAL, which last month had announced that it would discontinue the direct routing of its Trinidad/Tobago/Barbados return services, effective September 2, ‘as part of on-going schedule optimization across its regional network’, said the performance on the domestic bridge ‘ followed a strong performance in July, when the airlines transported 66,814 passengers between the islands.

‘In response to anticipated demand, the airline increased capacity in phases; first in midJuly, followed by a further increase at the beginning of August and additional capacity for the Great Race weekend. ‘

CAL said that this responsive approach enabled the airline to better accommodate peak travel demand, provide customers with greater access to seats and support reliable connectivity between the islands during one of the busiest travel periods of the year,’as it thanked its customers ‘for their continued support’.

The South Korean government Wednesday said that two Korean nationals working in Haiti and abducted on July 31, this year, by heavily armed men have been released.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the men had been kidnapped near the La Paix Hospital while driving to work.

‘One of them was released August 18, followed by the release of the other on Tuesday. Their health conditions are good,’ the ministry said in its statement.

The South Korean government had established a task force and worked closely with Haitian authorities to secure their safe release, after eceiving a report of the kidnapping to the Korean Embassy in the Dominican Republic, which is also accredited to Haiti.

The statement said that the incident occurred amid deteriorating security conditions in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, where gangs wield significant influence over parts of the country.

Korea has imposed a travel-ban on Haiti since May 2024, and Koreans require special permission to use their passports to stay in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two Koreans had been staying there after obtaining such permission for business activities.

Last year, a Korean businessman was kidnapped and released three days later and in 2021, a missionary couple was abducted along with three other foreign nationals and released 17 days later.

The Commission of Inquiry, appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the July 18 capsizing of the M/V ‘BARIMA’ that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people, says it is committed to conducting its work ‘independently, impartially, thoroughly and expeditiously, without fear or favour’ and in accordance with its terms of mandate.

The MV Barima, an 87-year-old state-owned passenger ferry capsized and sank off the coast of Guyana as it made its way from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, a small village within the Barima-Waini administrative region, resulting in Guyana’s deadliest maritime disaster with 73 confirmed deaths and 30 others missing and presumed dead.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips had despite the official manifest indicating that 116 passengers and a crew of 17 had been on board the vessel, the authorities believe that 179 people including the crew members were on the vessel when it capsized after being hit by a large wave.

The Commission said it is ‘working assiduously to commence the Inquiry later this month’.

The Trinidad-based Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL), a financial services holding company operating across the Caribbean, Wednesday announced the appointment of Dominic Rampersad as its new chairman.

The company which operates in 21 countries across the English and Dutch Caribbean, said that Rampersad succeeds Robert Almeida, who will complete his term on September 30, this year.

‘It is a privilege to take on this role at an organisation with Guardian Holdings Limited’s history and standing in our region,’ said Rampersad, who has served as a GHL director since April 2023, and has sat on the boards of several companies across the group.

‘My time on the board has given me a clear appreciation of the strength of this group, the depth of its people and the trust our customers place in us. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and the management team to build on the foundation Robert and those before him have laid,’ he added.

Almeida said that GHL has been shaped by leaders who understood both the privilege and the responsibility of stewardship.

‘It has been an honour to serve. I am confident that in Dominic, the board has found a chairman with the experience and judgement to carry this organisation forward and I wish him and the group every success,’ Almeida said.

In its statement, GHL described Rampersad, who will assume the chairmanship from October 1, as a seasoned business leader, bringing more than three decades of experience spanning executive leadership, strategy, finance, operations, technology and business development.

It said that as president of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, for 11 years, he led regional expansion, international acquisitions and technological advancement as well as his membership in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

The GHL said that Rampersad brings considerable experience in corporate governance, risk management and capital markets.

Belize authorities are advancing discussions on a national robotics education pathway that would connect secondary school students directly to tertiary study, engineering and technology careers, competitive robotics, and emerging industries.

Representatives of the University of Belize, the Ministry of E-Governance, the Belize Robotics Federation, and VEX Robotics, met on Tuesday to explore how existing programmes, training resources and national initiatives can be aligned to strengthen robotics education and workforce development across Belize.

According to a statement issued following the meeting, a key proposal advanced by Belize Robotics Federation President Jamie Lee Usher is to develop a structured high school-to-UB robotics and engineering pathway.

The statement said the initiative would help students who begin developing robotics, coding, and engineering skills in secondary school clearly understand how those experiences can lead into programs at the University of Belize and ultimately into careers in technology, engineering, education, and industry.

‘We do not want robotics to remain only a club activity or something students encounter at a competition. We want students to begin building these skills in high school and already be able to see the next step: UB, engineering, technology, teaching, research, or industry,’ Usher said.

The proposed pathway would build on work already underway at the University of Belize. UB faculty shared that robotics has been incorporated into existing programming and algorithms courses, that the VEX curriculum is currently being used in teaching, and that the University has invested in competition infrastructure while working toward developing a university robotics team.

The partners discussed how these existing strengths could be connected more deliberately to secondary education, teacher training, student recruitment, and national workforce needs.

‘If we want more Belizean engineers, programmers, technicians, mathematics and science teachers and technology professionals, we have to deliberately build that pipeline,’ Usher said, adding ‘robotics gives us an engaging way to bring students into those fields and keep them there.’

The Belize Robotics Federation confirmed its willingness to support UB and participating schools through teacher training, capacity building, and curriculum development. Under its existing partnership with the Ministry of E-Governance, BRF supports robotics education, curriculum development, and Trainer of Trainers programs.

BRF is also working directly with VEX Robotics to access educational resources, technical guidance, professional development, certification opportunities, and competition support.

VEX representative Eli Osornio who joined the meeting virtually reaffirmed VEX’s willingness to support educators as Belize expands use of the platform.

The University of Belize welcomed the opportunity to strengthen collaboration around robotics and emerging technology. Discussions included possible future electives, specialized courses, credentials and academic pathways, subject to UB’s established curriculum development and approval processes.

UB President Dr. Vincent Palacio expressed support for continued partnership and for strengthening the connection between secondary education and the national university.

‘The University of Belize embraces the opportunity for partnership. If we can create stronger connections between what students experience in high school and the opportunities available at the national university, we can strengthen enrolment, develop local expertise and prepare more Belizeans for the areas in which our country will increasingly need skilled people.’

The chief executive officer in the Ministry of E-Governance, Jose Urbina also emphasized the importance of ensuring that robotics education translates into practical national applications.

‘The objective is to ensure that these partnerships lead to national impact. Competition is important because it motivates young people, but we also want to see these skills translated into practical solutions for Belize. Government can help provide the bridge among education, technology and the needs of the country,’ Urbina added.

The statement said that potential areas of application discussed included agriculture, environmental monitoring, automation, sensors, drones, logistics, electronics and other sectors where emerging technologies can support national development.

The Ministry of E-Governance has further supported the initiative by providing a VEX V5 Classroom Super Kit to the Belize Robotics Federation, which will support teacher and facilitator training. This complements the Ministry’s recent provision of a VEX V5 Classroom Super Kit to the University of Belize for its Jaguar Tech Studio.

The Ministry has also indicated its intention to support BRF with a VEX Air Drone system, expanding opportunities for training in autonomous systems, flight programming, sensors and drone technology.

The partners agreed that equipment alone will not build a sustainable robotics program. Training educators, developing clear learning pathways and connecting students to further study and employment will be central to the initiative.

Competitive robotics will also form part of the developing ecosystem. BRF is working to expand VEX competition opportunities in Belize and is encouraging the development of secondary and university teams that can compete locally and eventually at regional and international levels.

The proposed high school pilot would begin by working with schools already introducing foundational robotics, coding and engineering experiences. BRF and UB would explore how those skills can align with relevant tertiary programs while increasing student exposure to the Jaguar Tech Studio, UB faculty and university-level robotics opportunities.

The partners will also explore expanded participation of girls and young women in robotics and engineering, opportunities for UB students to serve as mentors and trainers, and ways robotics can support the development of future STEM educators.

‘The schools cannot do this alone, UB cannot do it alone, and the Federation cannot do it alone. But together we can create a pathway where a student discovers robotics in high school, continues that journey at UB and graduates with skills Belize actually needs,’ Usher added.

The statement said that Tuesday’s engagement marks another step toward building a coordinated national robotics ecosystem in which students can progress from early exposure and competition to tertiary education, applied research, employment and innovation.

The long-term goal is for Belizean students to become not only users of emerging technology, but its builders, programmers, engineers, teachers and innovators.,’ it added.

President Irfaan Ali has urged members of the Amerindian population not to fall prey to persons seeking to exploit them for their own personal and political interests.

‘Do not allow your grievances and aspirations to become somebody else’s escape route for their own legal troubles. Do not allow your concerns to be used as a ticket to avoid jail,’ he told the opening of the Amerindian Heritage Month 2026 at the Amerindian village, Sophia on Tuesday night.

Ali, in an Amerindian head dress, repeatedly warned against those persons whom he did not name, but may be seeking to exploit issues confronting Indigenous people for personal gains.

‘Be careful of some who claim to speak on your behalf, but whose true interests may lie elsewhere. Be wary of those who come among you seeking to sow division, distrust and disaffection. Who seek to turn legitimate concerns into grievances and grievances into political instruments for their own purposes.

‘I call them wolves. There will always be those who seek to use the legitimate aspirations of our indigenous peoples for their own selfish ends. They may speak the language of empowerment, justice, and representation but ask yourselves, whose interests are they really advancing?’ President Ali said.

Ali , who told the ceremony that his administration had made significant investments in indigenous communities, said the population of these areas must be aware of false prophets, especially those who appear in sheep’s clothing.

‘I say to you, our indigenous brothers and sisters, be careful about those who suddenly appear among you when there is a crisis – arriving in fast boats, bearing hampers and expressions of sympathy, presenting themselves as champions of your interests.

‘Be especially careful when people seek to turn your legitimate concerns into a vehicle for their own political or personal survival. Ali said in an apparent reference to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who recently used one of his own fast boats to visit a number of Amerindian communities. Mohamed and other members of the opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party had travelled to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma where they met with survivors and relatives of the more than 100 people who died when the MV Barima ferry sank on July 18.

They also donated supplies to those affected, warned them against signing government documents in exchange for cash and offered them counselling and legal services.

But Ali told the ceremony that his ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will continue to stand with the people throughout this and eery other disaster.

‘When all is said and done, it is the PPPC administration that will always remain at your side. It is this administration that has stood with you, not only when it is politically convenient, but in times of crisis. It is the PPP government that stands with you through the long journey of development.

‘Walking with you through the difficult days, building with you through the better days and working with you to secure a brighter tomorrow for generations yet to come, it is the PPP/C that will say to you, the work is not done,’ Ali said.

He said over the last five years, the PPP/C Administration invested more than GUY$41.7 billion (One Guyana dollar=US$0.008 cents) in Amerindian villages with GUY$21.7 billion injected into the Amerindian Development Fund.

‘Hydropower, solar farms, household solar. We have made those investments so that your children can become trained teachers right in their villages and thousands of your children are now becoming trained teachers in your villages,’ he said.

‘Look beyond the crisis and ask who still will stand with you when the fast boat has gone because in the final analysis you know who has stood with you for the long haul. You know who has invested in your communities and who has worked with your leaders,’ he said.

Political observers note that the Indigenous Amerindian vote, together with a sway among coastland voters, is crucial in the outcome of any general and regional elections in Guyana.