Category: CANA News

Several children, including a one year old child born in the United States were among the latest batch of Haitians deported from the United States on Thursday to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

Haitian authorities confirmed that the child arrived here on the ICE Air Global X charter flight A6196, carrying 57 Haitians, including several other children born in the United States when the second flight in a week landed in Cap-Haitien.

Deportation flights to Haiti had been occurring on average once a month, but the Trump administration has ramped up its programme following the US Supreme Court’s decision authorising the government to end Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

More than 300,000 Haitians were enrolled in this humanitarian programme, which allowed them to live and work legally in the United States due to the situation in their country. Haitian immigrant rights organizations and other stakeholders argue that Haiti remains far too dangerous for mass returns, while the DHS maintains that the situation has improved sufficiently to allow Haitians to return.

Of Haiti’s nearly 12 million inhabitants, more than half are in need of humanitarian assistance due to escalating gang violence and worsening poverty. Furthermore, nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by gangs, as many as during the 2010 earthquake, which prompted the Obama administration to grant the TPS.

Earlier this week, The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, known by its French acronym, BINUH, said at least 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured from April through June this year. It said this was about 14 per cent fewer casualties than during the first three months of the year, a modest decline masking starkly different realities across the country. By May, nearly 1.47 million people were internally displaced across Haiti, more than half of them children

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski is urging President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to deport the Haitians saying last Sunday’s massarce in Kenskoff, overlooking the capital Port au Prince, that left at least 47 dead, including 22 inside a church, underscores the security situation in the country.

‘This shows that the country is not safe, that Haiti is still a house on fire. This should cause our administration to rethink its decision to send back into Haiti over 300,000 Haitians’ he said, urging a rethink of the TPS revocation.

He said that Haitians are being returned to a country where crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and limited access to healthcare had become the norm.

‘Haiti is a tragedy, and what we’re doing is compounding it by trying to send these people back,’ he said, adding ‘even if you send a couple of planes a week, it’ll take several years before you are successful in deporting all those people.

‘And what happens in the meantime is that they’ve lost their work permits, and they’ve lost their driver’s licenses for the most part. So if they can’t work, they can’t pay their rent, they can’t buy food. Relatives in Haiti who depend upon remittances …will also be deprived of critical funds needed to educate children in the Caribbean nation,’ he added

One week after his younger brother died in a vehicular accident, the Frederick family has been plunged into mourning on Friday following the death of 28-year-old Meshack Frederick, who was killed when the vehicle he was in crashed into a wall in Vieux Fort, south of here.

The St. Lucia Fire Service *SLFS) reported that Meshack was found trapped underneath the vehicle after it crashed into a wall during the early hours of Friday morning.

The SLFS said that when emergency staff arrived at the scene, they found the car on its side with Meshack trapped underneath. Two other men, who said they were also in the car, were found by the roadside.

Firefighters pulled Meshack out from under the car. He was unresponsive and showed no signs of life. He was rished to hospital, but police later confirmed that he had been pronounced dead at the hospital.

His death came one week after his 27-year-old brother, Dane Frederick died after the motor scooter he was riding crashed in a backhoe on the Micoud Highway, south of here.

Police said their initial investigation showed the scooter was heading south when it left the road and hit the parked backhoe.

His 22-year-old passenger, who was also taken to the St Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, is reprted to be in a sta

The Limacol Women’s Caribbean Premier League has officially confirmed its overseas player roster for the upcoming season, unveiling a glittering array of international talent from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Ireland who will join forces with the region’s finest cricketers.

Defending champions Barbados Tridents have moved decisively to strengthen their title defence with four quality overseas acquisitions.

New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, a veteran of the global game, will headline the Tridents’ foreign contingent alongside compatriot Madeline Green, a hard-hitting batter making her WCPL debut.

India’s Pooja Vastrakar, a fast-bowling all-rounder, and middle-order batter Kiran Navgire complete the Tridents’ international lineup, providing captain Hayley Matthews with a formidable blend of experience and explosive potential.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors, still chasing their maiden WCPL crown, have assembled a powerhouse overseas group led by South African pace sensation Shabnim Ismail.

The fiery quick, who has claimed 16 wickets across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, will spearhead the bowling attack alongside compatriot Nadine de Klerk.

Australian all-rounder Erin Burns, who notched two half-centuries for the Warriors in 2024, will anchor the batting unit with support from South African stars Chloe Tryon, a dynamic all-rounder, and top-order batter Tazmin Brits, the only member of the Warriors’ overseas contingent making her WCPL debut.

Newcomers Jamaica Empress have wasted no time in making their presence felt, securing the signature of Australian legend Meg Lanning.

The former Australia captain, boasting over 200 international white-ball appearances and more than 150 franchise T20S globally, is set for her maiden WCPL campaign.

The 34-year-old Lanning will be joined by Ireland wicketkeeper-opener Amy Hunter, South African left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, and New Zealand seamer Rosemary Mair.

Pakistani spinner Syeda Aroob Shah, also a tournament debutant, rounds out the Empress’s international contingent.

Trinbago Knight Riders have complemented their strong regional core with world-class overseas talent. South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, with more than 200 T20 franchise matches to her name, will make her WCPL debut alongside Australian duo Laura Harris and Madeline Penna.

Harris brings valuable WCPL experience, having represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in five matches in 2025 and Barbados Tridents in 10 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Leg-spinner Penna is expected to lead the Knight Riders’ spin attack at Kensington Oval, while Indian wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia joins the squad for the 2026 campaign.

The Trinbago Knight Riders elected to field after winning the toss against the Barbados Tridents in the 19th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at the Queens Park Oval here on Friday.

Teams:

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS: Nicholas Pooran(c and wk), Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Sunil Narine, Matthew Tromp, Kieron Pollard, Jyd Goolie, Dominic Drakes, Akeal Hosein, Abdul Raheem Toppin, Usman Tariq

BARBADOS TRIDENTS: Chris Green(c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Zachary Carter, Shian Brathwaite, Rivaldo Clarke, Kevlon Anderson, Sherfane Rutherford, Gudakesh Motie, Daniel Sams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ramon Simmonds

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says while the avian influenza A(H5) continues to circulate in the Americas, the

As a result, PAHO is urging countries to maintain and strengthen surveillance in both animals and humans to promptly detect any changes in the behavior of the virus.

According to a new PAHO epidemiological update, between January and 15 July this year, 10 countries in the region reported 455 outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5) in animals, including 386 outbreaks in birds and 69 in mammalsIt said this represents a 25.7 per cent decrease compared with the 612 outbreaks reported during the same period in 2025. The decline was particularly pronounced among mammals, where outbreaks dropped from 196 to 69, a reduction of nearly 65 per cent.

The update also shows that, as of August 2026, no human cases of avian influenza A(H5) have been reported in the Americas this year. Between 2022 and the end of 2025, 75 human infections caused by A(H5) viruses were reported in five countries in the region: Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States. The most recent human case in the Americas was reported in November 2025.

Globally, between 2003 and 7 August 2026, a total of 1,002 laboratory-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1), one of the A(H5) virus subtypes, were reported in 25 countries, including 479 deaths. In 2026 alone, nine human cases, including two deaths, were reported worldwide.

The virus continues to circulate in animals around the world. Between October 2025 and July 2026, a significant increase in detections among wild birds was observed, particularly in Europe.

Available scientific evidence indicates that sustained person-to-person transmission has not been demonstrated. Most human infections reported worldwide continue to be associated with direct or indirect exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments.

PAHO said nevertheless, the continued presence of the virus in wild birds, poultry, and mammals underscores the need for close surveillance.

While the joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) maintains that the global public health risk remains low, the risk is considered low to moderate for people with occupational or frequent exposure to potentially infected animals.

Key recommendations include strengthening surveillance among people at higher risk of exposure, such as poultry workers, veterinarians, laboratory personnel, and rural producers; enhancing biosecurity measures in animal production facilities; expanding genomic surveillance to promptly detect changes in the virus; and ensuring the rapid notification and investigation of new outbreaks or suspected cases.

In addition, PAHO recommends monitoring people exposed to infected animals for 14 days following their last exposure to identify symptoms consistent with the disease and enable early action if infections occur.

PAHO is also reminding the public that there is no evidence that avian influenza is transmitted through the consumption of properly cooked poultry, eggs, or other poultry products.

The Suriname government is to provide a 15 per cent salary increase to public servants, even as negotiations with their trade unions are continuing.

According to a joint statement issued here, the salary increases go into effect from the end of September this year.

The statement was signed on behalf of the government by Minister of the Interior Marinus Bee, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Commission, the Director of Finance Vincent Fernandes, while representatives of Ravaksur PLUS, BVL/ALS, the joint education unions, and security unions signed on behalf of the trade unions.

The statement explicitly states that no agreement has been reached between the two parties with President Jennifer Simons telling a news conference that the discussions with the trade unions are continuing.

According to the statement, the two parties have agreed to establish a joint working group, consisting of eight representatives from the government and seven from the trade union movement.

The working group has been given three months to develop concrete proposals for the further elaboration of employment conditions and the financial framework.

The Guyana government has sought to clarify a statement made recently by President Ali regarding the establishment of a national oil company.

In a statement, Georgetown said what President Ali meant when he made reference to estabishing a national oil company is one that not be a state-run firm producing or investing in oil, but rather an entity built around a domestic refinery to bring down fuel costs and protecting Guyana from global price shocks.

‘The clarification matters because Guyana, despite producing crude oil offshore, imports all of the refined gasoline and diesel used at the pump. This means every spike in global fuel prices is passed on directly to Guyanese consumers and businesses,’ the statement said.

It quoted President Ali as saying ‘we cannot have crude oil and don’t have security of supply’.

Ali further explains that a refinery would give the country control over its own fuel supply and ‘some shield against shocks that are currently existing.’

‘(The national oil company is) not as an investor but… one company that looks holistically at the entire ecosystem in terms of the supply,’ he said when asked directly about plans for a national oil company.

The statement said Ali made it clear that the plan would also require expanding the country’s fuel storage capacity, which he said currently falls short of ‘the development aspirations of our country.’

Storage options being considered range from 30 to 120 days’ worth of supply with Ali indicating that longer term the refinery and expanded storage could also position Guyana as a fuel supplier to the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.

‘We must be an important supplier in the energy market,’ he said.

Guyana exported just over 260 million barrels of crude oil in 2025, generating an estimated US$17.8 billion in export earnings.

The government says it will intensify the trucking of water to communities across the island as drought conditions continue to place severe pressure on the country’s water supplies.

Water Minister Matthew Samuda said the prolonged lack of rainfall is affecting the country’s primary water sources, making water conservation increasingly critical.

He noted that rainfall over the past three months has been below average during a period when precipitation would normally help recharge aquifers, replenish wells and rivers, and restore water storage facilities.

The situation is particularly concerning ahead of the reopening of schools, when water demand from households and institutions is expected to increase.

The government has already spent approximately J$86 million on emergency water trucking through Members of Parliament to assist communities experiencing water shortages.

However, with drought conditions expected to worsen, Samuda said the cost of the emergency response could increase substantially, potentially reaching J$500 million.

Municipal authorities will be provided with additional resources to assist communities that are outside utility service areas, while the National Water Commission will receive further support to prioritise critical infrastructure.

Samuda said requests for water deliveries must be made in advance, noting that priority will be given to hospitals, health centres, schools and places of safety, followed by vulnerable members of the population.

Meanwhile, more than 400 farmers have benefited from water supplied by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) since the start of the ongoing drought.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green provided the update while speaking at the official opening of the Farm Road Project in the southern parish of St Elizabeth, on Wednesday.

St Elizabeth – the island’s ‘bread basket’ is among seven parishes currently under water prohibition orders as authorities seek to manage dwindling water resources.

The government recently announced an additional J$60 million for drought mitigation measures aimed at assisting farmers. This is in addition to the J$149 million previously allocated to support the agricultural sector.

Green also outlined a number of measures being implemented to help farmers cope with the continuing drought as the government seeks to protect agricultural production and safeguard livelihoods.

The authorities have urged Jamaicans to conserve water as the country braces for the possibility of further deterioration in drought conditions.

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred exacted revenge on Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the USA by storming to victory in record time at the Zurich Diamond League here on Thursday.

Alfred raced across the finish line in a career-best time of 10.70 seconds, setting a new national record in the process at the Letzigrund Stadium. Jefferson-Wooden, who handed Alfred her first defeat of the season at the Silesia Diamond League meet on Sunday, was given the same time but had to settle for silver this time around.

Alfred got off to a much better start on this occasion and fired down the track in front of a capacity 25,000-strong crowd to edge Jefferson-Wooden by just five-thousandths of a second with a savage dip at the line.

For the second straight race American Sha’Carri Richardson rounded out the podium in a time of 10.97, just ahead of Jamaica’s Tina Clayton (10.98), while newly crowned European champion Amy Hunt was fifth in 11.04.

The Government of St. Lucia has guaranteed a US$20 million (EC$54 million) financing facility between the St. Lucia Development Bank (SLDB) and Taiwan Eximbank, in what Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has described as the largest investment in housing in the country’s history.

The agreement was formalised earlier this week during a signing ceremony at the headquarters of the SLDB here.

‘This investment of EC$54 million is the largest investment in housing in the history of this country,’ Pierre told the ceremony, drawing applause from those in attendance.

‘And for the first time, the government is guaranteeing, for a bank, a substantial investment, with the support of a foreign financial institution, which is the EXIM Bank of Taiwan,’ he added.

The financing facility is expected to expand affordable housing opportunities for low- and middle-income households while improving access to long-term mortgage financing at appropriate rates.

Particular attention will be given to first-time homebuyers and groups that have traditionally faced difficulties obtaining financing through conventional lending institutions.

Pierre said the initiative was designed to address the country’s significant housing shortage, particularly the lack of affordable options for families unable to meet the requirements of traditional financial institutions.

‘There is a housing deficit in this country, and that is an understatement,’ Pierre said.

He stressed the importance of distinguishing between affordable housing and low-cost housing, explaining that the programme is intended to provide opportunities for people who may not have the income or financial resources required by conventional lenders but are willing and able to meet their loan obligations.

‘Affordable housing means that people in the population who do not have the wherewithal or do not have the income to deal with traditional financial institutions have the ability to borrow,’ Pierre said, adding that borrowers must demonstrate the will, discipline and commitment to repay their loans.

The agreement forms part of a broader government strategy to increase housing opportunities across the island.

The government is also pursuing a land rationalisation programme involving the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Physical Development to make government-owned lands available for residential development.

Other initiatives include the National Site and Service Programme, which provides serviced lots at affordable prices, and the National Housing Assistance Programme, which addresses basic housing deficiencies among low-income and indigent households.

In addition, Invest St. Lucia has partnered with a regional real estate developer on a 10-acre housing development in Canaries and is holding discussions on a similar condominium-style project in another area.

Housing has remained a major area of focus for the SLDB over the past year. In 2025, the bank approved approximately EC$11.5 million in concessionary housing financing as part of efforts to expand home ownership and support home improvements among lower- and middle-income households.

Bank officials said housing continues to be one of the most significant areas of the SLDB’s intervention and will remain central to its agenda.

The new US$20 million credit line from Taiwan Eximbank is expected to significantly increase the country’s capacity to finance housing and help address continuing supply shortages.

Tuesday’s ceremony formally sealed the financing agreement among the Government of St. Lucia, the SLDB and Taiwan Eximbank.