Category: CANA News

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) leaders have approved the reappointment of Dr. Didacus Jules to a fourth term as Director General, reaffirming its confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to advancing the OECS integration agenda.

According to a statement issued here, the decision to re-appoint the St. Lucian-born Jules, who first assumed office in 2014, was taken during last weekend’s OECS summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where the leaders of the sub-regional grouping ‘commended Dr. Jules’s distinguished service and significant contributions to regional development, cooperation, and institutional strengthening over the course of his tenure’. The statement said that Jules has played a pivotal role in advancing key regional priorities, including food sovereignty, digital transformation, healthier communities, and educational reform, while strengthening the OECS’s capacity to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities facing member sates.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday in a statement recognised Jules’ strategic ‘vision, dedication to public service, and commitment to fostering deeper regional integration and sustainable development throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

”The (reappointment) decision reflects the confidence of the Authority in your leadership and acknowledges your valuable contribution to the advancement of the OECS integration agenda and the continued strengthening of the Organisation.

‘On behalf of the OECS Authority, I extend sincere congratulations on your reappointment and look forward to your continued service and dedication to the people and Governments of the OECS member states,’ Friday added.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 rattled some Caribbean island on Friday, the Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies reported.

It said that the event occurred at 7.19 a (local time) and was at a depth of 10 kilometers (km).

It was felf in the nearby cities of Point-à-Pitre, the capital of the French-island of Guadeloupe, Roseau n Dominica and St. Johhn’s the Antigua and Barbuda capital.

The SRC said that there were no immedite reports of injuries or damage.

It comes less than 24 hours following the magnitude 7.1 and 7.5 events off the coast of Venezuela that have killed 589 and injuring 2,980 acting President Delcy Rodriquez has said.

International rescue teams have joined the search for survivors in Venezuela as loccal teams searched through the the night in collpased buildings in Caracas and the state of La Guaira.

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.

West Indies Academy defeated Sri Lanka Emerging Players by 76 runs in the third and final One Day International at Nondescripts Cricket Ground here on Friday.

Scores

WEST INDIES ACADEMY 349-4 in 50 overs (Shaqkere Parris 177, Kevlon Anderson 86 not out, Rivaldo Clarke 38, Damel Evelyn 27).

SRI LANKA EMERGING PLAYERS 273 in 42.4 overs (Ranesh Silva 69, Dinura Kalupahana 54, Vishen Halambage 42, Chamika Heenatigala 32, Traveen Mathew 29; Amari Goodridge 4-56, Zishan Motara 2-46, Giovonte Depeiza 2-52).

The Guyana government says it will seek a ‘a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation’ into the death of 16-year-old Altaf King, whose death by accident on Thursday night led to residents staging protest and setting fires on a section of the Corentyne Public Road in Berbice.

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, in extending ‘deepest condolences to the family’ said ‘I wish to assure the family and the public that this matter will be the subject of a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation. ‘Every aspect of the incident will be carefully examined, and if any criminal or disciplinary culpability is established, it will be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with the law. No one is above accountability,’ Waldron said.

The Home Affairs Minister also appealled to the residents of Skeldon and the surrounding communities to ‘remain calm, refrain from actions that may endanger lives and allow the investigative process to proceed without interference.

‘I understand the grief and concern being expressed, but it is essential that the truth is established through a comprehensive and independent investigation,’ Waldron said.

In a statement late Thursday night, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said enquires so far indicate that King was riding a motorcycle ‘when he attempted to evade a Police patrol, lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a utility pole’.

The GPF said its Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has commenced an ‘immediate investigation’ and ‘will examine all aspects of the incident and establish whether there was any criminal or disciplinary culpabilit’.

Police said King sustained injuries and was conveyed to the Regional Public Hospital, where he was examined and pronounced dead on arrival.

It said also that it recognises the seriousness of the matter and sought to assure the relatives of the dead teenager and members of the public that ‘appropriate action would be taken should any criminal or disciplinary culpability be established.’

But the main opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party claimed that the cyclist was struck down by the police and is demanding ‘Justice for young Altaf that was purposely hit by Police Officer in Corriverton’.

The other opposition party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) called for a full, independent, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the cyclist, as well as the immediate preservation of all relevant evidence, including police records, communications, and any available video footage, and appropriate action against any individual found to have acted negligently or unlawfully.

‘The timely release of the findings to the public to ensure accountability and maintain public confidence.

‘The PNCR/APNU stands with the grieving family in their pursuit of truth and justice. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a child under such circumstances without clear answers and accountability,’ the PNCR-APU said.

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’.

A retired United States soldier, who is reported to have been in an intimate relationship with the wife of a man he shot and killed in 2022, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the murder charge.

Emille Tracey, 48, of Pine Terrance Florida, admitted to fatally shooting Craig Senior, 43, a mason, on October 9, 2022, in Hart Hill District, Portland, a parish on the northeast coast of Jamaica.

Appearing before Justice Wiltshire in the Portland Circuit Court on Thursday, Tracey pleaded guilty to murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

He was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for murder and eight years for illegal possession of a firearm. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The court was told that Senior was at his home when a motor vehicle pulled up and someone called him outside. He went outside and was shot. Senior succumbed to his injuries.

Media reports said that investigators later arrested and charged Tracey, who was reportedly involved in an intimate relationship with Senior’s wife.

The following is the CANANEWS and SPORTS Schedule for Friday, June 26, 2026

NEW YORK – 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.

GEORGETOWN – Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged Caribbean countries to embrace innovation and modern technology so as to accelerate development and improve public service delivery.

ST. JOHN’S – The Antigua and Barbuda government has approved a US$10 passenger head tax increase for travellers coming into and departing the country.

PANAMA CITY – There was cautious optimism regarding Haiti’s long-delayed elections at the 56th Regular Session of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama, but regional leaders stressed that restoring security remains the country’s most urgent priority.

BRADES – Former premier, Donaldson Romeo, is calling on legislators to put aside their differences and support a resolution seeking the urgent restoration of safe, reliable, affordable, and continuous day and night medical evacuation services in Montserrat.

SPORTS:

COLOMBO – Shaqkere Parris struck a scintillating, boundary-studded century to lead West Indies Academy to a 76-run win over Sri Lanka Emerging Players here on Friday.

ST. JOHN’S – Second day of the first test match between West Indies and the visiting Sri Lanka at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

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).

Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness on Thursday said his country and Guyana would explore ways to work together on housing development.

Currently on a two-day visit to Guyana, he told the opening of the International Building Expo 2026 that there is scope for working together in the housing sector.

‘I believe there are opportunities for Jamaica and Guyana to collaborate in the housing development sphere, particularly as it relates to labor and the deployment of new technologies in construction, and I look forward to advancing these conversations with your president to see how best we can collaborate as two developing nations to improve our people’s access to housing,’ he said.

Holness recently told the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce that the country would have to eventually prepare itself for imported labour to forge ahead with the massive development projects that are in the pipeline.

According to HOlness Jamaica has already built 10,000 of the proposed 42,000 housing solutions, but the ‘greatest constraint’ to building at scale is the availability of contractors, labour and technical skills that could operate with new innovations and new materials.

He also said the speed of government itself in giving planning and construction approvals were among Jamaica’s challenges.

Holness estimated that Jamaica has a housing deficit of approximately 150,000 housing solutions, and his administration has undertaken to directly provide 70,000 through the various agencies of government.

He praised the Guyana government for fast-tracking the processing of titles for housing lands and its one-stop mechanism for processing applications.

He was also pleased to hear that the Guyana government has a taken on with great courage the efficiency of the government bureaucracy in delivering the approvals for housing, through the one-stop system that has cut approval times from as high as three years to now three months.

Meanwhile, prime minister Holness used the opportunity to thank the Guyana government and the Guyana Defence Force soldiers in the reconstruction of houses and other buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation last year.

‘I must say that the members of your defense force did quite an amazing job, and all the reports of the people who benefited is that the workmanship was at the highest standard, and please convey to them again my great appreciation, but Jamaica will recover, and we have already started to recover,’ he said.