Category: CANA News

Security officials from across the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe Friday initiated plans to establish a specialised police network to track and dismantle transnational environmental crime organisations operating in the region.

The delegates gave the green light at the inaugural meeting of the grouping following an intensive two-day Waste Trafficking Workshop geared towards confronting the rapidly escalating global threats of waste trafficking and pollution crimeThe newly proposed network will establish a structured regional mechanism to improve real-time intelligence sharing, coordinate joint investigations and dismantle criminal networks exploiting the Region’s unique geography and maritime routes.

The international and regional security experts attending the meeting held at the Trinidad-based headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), warned that environmental crimes, such as wildlife poaching, illegal logging and illicit mining, have evolved far beyond ecological threats, becoming major challenges to national security and regional governance.

Deputy Head of Mission, Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago, Evelina Melbarzde, said that these activities directly undermine the rule of law and the stability of local communities.

She said whether dealing with timber, wildlife or waste, these offences rely on the exact same networks, maritime routes and illicit financial flows that sustain other criminal markets

Melbarzde said that EU views the creation of this network as part of a genuine, reciprocal partnership between the two regions, rather than a one-sided initiative.

‘Our aim is not only to support individual activities, but also to build stronger bridges between Caribbean institutions, national law enforcement authorities and their European counterparts. In this way, cooperation with regional partners delivers value in both directions’, she said.

The Environmental Crime Lead at the CARICOM IMPACS, Virun Lutchman, spoke of the vulnerability of the Caribbean region’s geography to exploitation.

He said that transnational syndicates take advantage of vast maritime spaces and porous borders to move illegal goods, frequently combining environmental offences with document fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.

Lutchman stated that because these criminal networks operate across borders, a siloed national response was no longer viable, urging regional law enforcement to move towards a highly integrated model of policing, stressing that the proposed network was essential for closing the operational gaps that criminals currently exploit.

‘No Caribbean country should have to face environmental crime alone. The regional geography, maritime space, biodiversity and strategic trafficking routes create vulnerabilities that call for a coordinated regional response’, he said.

Key expert for Environmental Crime, EL PACCTO 2.0 Alain Lemangnen, reinforced the call for structural unity, noting the defence of the environment is a matter of regional sovereignty. He warned that illegal exploitation directly threatens food security and exposes local populations to heightened risks from natural disasters

Lemangnen asserted that international agencies stand ready to provide specialised operational training but underscored the importance of local execution and long-term commitment to the network’s success.

‘Beyond tools and structures, the long-term success of this initiative will depend on trust, continuity and shared commitment. It is about clearly stating that the Caribbean will not be a lawless zone when it comes to environmental protection’, he added.

He also urged participating States to designate national points of contact, enhance financial investigations and intelligence sharing as well as actively support the formation of permanent, specialised environmental law enforcement units

The network is supported by EL PACCTO 2.0 and CARICOM IMPACS, alongside international partners such as Interpol and the Spanish Civil Guard (SEPRONA). It aims to replicate the operational success of Latin American initiatives, like the Jaguar Network, while tailoring the framework to Caribbean realities.

Legislators and immigration advocates have strongly condemned and are expressing profound outrage over the ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) terminating the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of hundreds of Haitians and Syrians living in the country.

‘Again and again, this MAGA-corrupted Supreme Court has proven there are no lengths it will not go to disgrace itself in fealty and service of Donald Trump,’ Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

She said that Thursday’s ‘despicable ruling to allow the Trump administration to ignore the law and abandon any semblance of human decency by prematurely terminating TPS for Haiti and Syria is devastating on a scale that shocks the conscience’.

Clarke said that more than 350,000 TPS holders have now lost legal status and as a result ‘our communities will soon lose neighbours, loved ones, hardworking employees, and business leader’.

She said America’s moral standing in the world ‘continues to collapse under the weight of this president’s relentless humanitarian betrayal’.

West Indies trail Sri Lanka by 37 runs with five wickets remaining after reaching 271 for five at the close of play on the second day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium here on Friday.

Scores

SRI LANKA 308.

WEST INDIES 271-5 in 84 overs (Amir Jangoo 78 not out, Roston Chase 42 not out, John Campbell 39, Brandon King 31, Joshua Da Silva 20 Kavem Hodge 16; Asitha Fernando 2-25, Milan Rathnayaka 2-45).

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness is leaving Guyana on Friday after the two countries signed a series of agreements across various sectors that President Irfaan Ali said could lead to a ‘stronger, relentless, resilient and sustainable partnership’. between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and his Jamaican counterpart, Kamina Johnson-Smith, signed the agreements that included the protocol amending the agreement on economic, cultural and technical cooperation, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture, the MoU between the Guyana Defence Force and the Jamaica Defence Force on defence and security cooperation and the the MoU on the development of financial services. Holness told the signing ceremony that there has always been a ‘great fraternity between Jamaica and Guyana’ and that he was also pleased with the ‘excellent arrangements that have been made for this visit.

‘Today we sign various MOUs, but that should not be interpreted as the entirety of the engagement. Those are just what we could formalise within the time. The breadth of our exchanges and the potential of our collaboration and cooperation is extensive,’ Holness said.

‘We have discussed energy, security, tourism, financial services, agriculture, housing, all kinds of things we have discussed, including regional and diplomatic issues. And it is clear that Jamaica and Guyana are very much aligned, and we have a similar outlook on the world, similar understanding of the changing dynamics and the new nature of global politics,’ Holness said.

But he said the two countries also share a ‘very positive outlook on our economic prospects’ and that both are very prospecting’ in terms of our leadership, always looking for opportunities and seeing where we can make the most out of the resources that we have’.

The Jamaican prime minister said that the two leaders ‘particularly share a focus on the efficiency of our public sector,’ praising Ali for the several changes ‘in your administration that would be very much aligned with the growth that your country will naturally have.

‘We in Jamaica, we struggle with the same thing. We are making progress. We are changing our bureaucracy. So it was good to come and see in your country many of the changes in motion, the changes working. And it has been very stimulating, Mr. President, to see the progress being made here.’

Holness said that there are some ideas that he will take away from the visit here ‘to stimulate in Jamaica as well,’ adding ‘this was a very worthwhile and meaningful engagement’.

Ali said that even though the visit was supposed to have been classified as ‘an official’ one, Holness work ethic caused him to question that description.

‘This is just an extremely intense working visit and I just want the people of Jamaica to know of this extraordinary leadership I’ve seen, and a commitment to advancing the cause of the Jamaican private sector, and a commitment of advancing the cause of the Jamaican people, finding ways in which we can advance priorities for both countries.’

Ali said he is confident that the discussions have ‘really laid the basis through which greater trust, greater confidence, greater partnership will emerge.

‘I am very confident about that,’ he said, adding that both men share the ambition of having efficient governance, efficient implementation, and delivering services ‘where our people can enjoy the experience of having those services.

‘Services that allow the citizens to feel as if they are valued. And that is important for both of us, and we are both committing on a pathway with the use of technology to advance this cause.’

Ali gave the assurance that Guyana will deploy a team to work with its counterpart in Jamaica ‘and to have maybe what is missing over the decades, that is greater integration at the technical level also, so that they can learn from each other and understand each other, what they’re doing.

‘In energy, the opportunities are enormous. We have to scope our comparative advantage, your infrastructure and our infrastructure, and to find a way in which we can have a common vehicle through which both of us benefit, but also the region benefit.

‘And we are committed to having a working group examine this closely and to come up with recommendations and options as to how we can collaborate in the energy sector. And there are some exciting ideas that we’re already talking about.

‘In tourism, you have distinguished yourself globally in the orange economy .Everybody, they’re always amazed at the presence of Jamaica, the name Jamaica, and scenes from Jamaica in Hollywood, the depth of the culture, the food,’ Ali said, adding that ‘all of this rests on the people, and the people understanding of what nationalistic thinking is all about, and the pride in country.

‘And I think we can learn from Jamaica. We can learn from you, Prime Minister. As we grow our tourism sector, this is an important pillar and also look at the development of the orange economy,’ he said, adding ‘we will be relying on your experience in this sector to help us to define our orange economy and to shape it to meet the specific needs of Guyana and the market we can serve’.

Ali said that his Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashley Singh has said publicly before that the Jamaican financial system has a lot of maturity that the region can learn and benefit from. ‘That is why we are particularly very pleased that we are able to sign this MoU on financial services, given the fact that we are now proceeding on a junior stock exchange, the expertise of Jamaica, having our insurance company more integrated, our financial systems more integrated, our banking system more integrated, our means of settlement more integrated.

‘This is what that opens up the opportunity and there’s a lot of work in the financial architecture system that will emerge out of these engagements. ‘

Ali also praised Jamaica on having done an excellent job on the issue of security, saying ‘outstanding is an understatement, remarkable is an understatement.

‘What you have done for security and crime in Jamaica is nothing short of a model…and I hope the people of Jamaica understand what you have done. We too are doing an enormous job on crime.

‘But I think there are important opportunities that we have discussed. We are building a world-class academy. Training is important. Cyber security is important. Data sovereignty is important. So when we speak about security, we’re not speaking about it in a narrow traditional sense.

‘We’re exploring security in its entire ecosystem and we look forward to working closely with Jamaica, especially given the financial services that you provide on how we can build out this security architecture that is comprehensive,’ Ali added.

West Indies trail Sri Lanka by 140 runs with five wickets remaining after reaching 168 for five at tea on the second day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium here on Friday.

Scores

SRI LANKA 308.

WEST INDIES 168-5 in 50,1 overs (John Campbell 39, Amir Jangoo, 37 not out, Brandon King 31, Joshua Da Silva 20 Kavem Hodge 16; Asitha Fernando 2-20, Milan Rathnayaka 2-30).

The Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) is reiterating a warning to the public to exercise heightened caution amid the continued rise in investment scams, particularly those perpetrated through social media platforms and digital messaging applications.

‘This marks the Commission’s sixth official public alert on this issue, following earlier updates, and underscores the growing threat posed by increasingly sophisticated fraudulent investment schemes targeting innocent individuals,’ the TTSEC said in a statement.

It said despite the Commission’s ongoing public awareness efforts and previous warnings, scammers continue to adapt their tactics, using fake social media profiles, impersonation of legitimate financial institutions and professionals, fraudulent investment advertisements, and deceptive online communications to gain the trust of potential victims.

‘All members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant, verify investment opportunities before committing any funds, and be especially cautious of offers promoted online that promise guaranteed or unusually high returns.’

TTSEC said that among the red flags, warning signs and evolving scam tactics the public should be aware of, include scammers use social media accounts with stolen or generic photos, minimal information, and vague content to gain trust as well as ‘unrealistic returns’ in which scammers make promises of people being able to earn ‘earn $30,150 on a $2,000 investment in 2 hours’.

It said that these are designed to lure you in with impossible returns, warning people also of responding to an ad or post, in which ‘scammers shift the conversation to private messaging apps, where impersonators posing as ‘investment representatives’ give false assurances’.

‘Legitimate investment firms generally require funds to be deposited into accounts held in the name of the company. If you are instructed to send money to a personal bank account or to an individual claiming to act on behalf of the company, this may be a warning sign of an investment scam or other fraudulent activity.’

TTSEC said that people should also be wary of being promised that initially ‘there are no fees involved and that withdrawals are easy and fast,’ and that ‘after depositing funds, you may be given access to a fabricated investment platform, which shows exaggerated account balances to deceive you into thinking you’ve made significant profits’.

The TTSEC tells members of the public that before investing they should ‘be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities, especially on social media or messaging apps’ and ensure that the individual or entity and its promoters are registered with the TTSEC.

‘If the entity is not registered under the Securities Act … you risk losing your entire investment,’ the TTSEC warned.

The United Nation Friday said that the humanitarian situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, with new displacement recorded across several departments.

‘More than 2,600 people have been displaced in Artibonite department following clashes between armed group last week. That is what the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is telling us,’ UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, told the daily news briefing.

Dujarric said more than three-quarters of the displaced sought refuge in the commune of Marchand Dessalines and that ‘continuing violence in Artibonite is raising serious protection concerns’.

The UN spokesman said that in the West department, renewed armed clashes in Cité Soleil since June 13 have displaced more than 5,000 people and that ‘this adds to the thousands of persons who had been recently displaced multiple times while fleeing the fight in Cité Soleil.

‘Our humanitarian colleagues note that ongoing violence has severely disrupted health services, particularly for women and girls. It has forced Doctors Without Borders to suspend activities at its maternity facility in Cité Soleil on 19 June, which obviously deprives thousands of women to access maternal and reproductive health care in one of the most densely populated areas of the Haitian capital. ‘

Dujarric said these displacement and violence dynamics are occurring in a context of increasing forced returns to Haiti.

According to IOM, more than 117,000 people were returned between January and June of this year and that ’24 per cent of all forcibly returned migrants in 2026 are women and eight per cent are children.

Dujarric said that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to work with ‘our humanitarian partners to assess needs and provide assistance’ and that the US$880 million Humanitarian Appeal for 2026 is currently only 27 per cent funded.

Jamaican peace and justice youth advocate, Moesha Allen, has been named as the 2026 Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Youth Award winner

Allen, who founded Helping Youths Pursue Excellence (HYPE), an initiative that reaches more than 10,000 youths through mentorship and literacy programme, was selected from almost 1,000 applicants across the Commonwealth’s 56 member states after a two-stage adjudication process involving 57 judges. She joins 19 finalists recognised for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through innovation and community impact. Each of the 20 finalists will receive a trophy, a certificate and £1,000 (One GBP=US$1.32 cents) to support their work.

Moesha is a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) serving as Sub-Officer in Charge of the St Andrew South Community Safety and Security Unit.

‘My congratulations to you all finalists. You are already winners. To be selected from across 56 nations is a testament to your courage and your creativity. You embody the very best of our family. You have shown resilience in the face of challenge and innovation in the face of constraint,’ said Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at a ceremony on Thursday.

The Youth Awards support young changemakers aged 15-29 by scaling up their innovation. Since their inception, these awards have invested over £400,000 directly into grassroots youth-led enterprises.

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond-Gadson produced a historic triple jump performance to grab gold at the at the WACT Golden Meeting here on Friday.

Thea LaFond-Gadson

The 32-year-old leapt a world-leading 15.25 metres, setting a new national record in the process.

Her effort not only smashed the previous national record of 15.02 metres, which she set at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but also ranks as the ninth best leap in women’s triple jump history.

The National Environment Authority (NMA) Friday warned members of the population against catching, consuming, or sell fish from the Moeroekreek, a stream located in the northern part of Suriname following a massive fish die-off in the area.

NMA said it strong believes that an unknown pollutant has entered the water and that most of the dead fishes come from the area surrounding the upper reaches of the Saramacca River, near the Moeroekreek, not far from the indigenous village of Pikin Saron.

The NMA said that in collaboration with several other agencies, an investigation has been to determine the cause of the incident.

It is warning that the suspected contamination may also have spread further north with the flowing water and therefore, residents of the villages along this part of the Saramacca River are urged to exercise extra caution.

The NMA said that pending the results of the investigation, people are asked not to catch, consume, or sell dead or sick fish from the area, not to use water from the Moeroekreek and the immediate surroundings for the time being as drinking water, for food preparation, or other household purposes.

In addition, they should avoid direct contact with the water as much as possible and to report new cases immediately to the District Commissioner or other competent authorities.

‘The NMA emphasizes that the investigation is being conducted with high priority. As soon as there is more clarity regarding the cause of the fish mortality and the potential consequences for people and the environment, the community will be informed,’ it added.