Category: CANA News

The Trinbago Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the second match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here at Arnos Vale on Saturday.

SQUADS

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS: Akeal Hosein (captain), Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Mathew Tromp, Joshua da Silva, Matthew Breetzke, Terrence Hinds, Sunil Narine, Dominic Drakes, Jyd Goolie, Dexter Sween.

ST KITTS and NEVIS PATRIOTS: Jason Holder (captain), Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Kevin Wickham, Navin Bidaisee, Ashmead Nedd, Obed Mccoy, Saurabh Netravalkar, Waqar Salamkheil.

Umpires: Leslie Reifer, Ryan Banwarie.

TV Umpire: Deighton Butler.

Reserve Umpire: Christopher Taylor.

Match Referee: Denavon Hayles.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has arrested a 20-year-old Haitian national in Massachusetts who is facing criminal charges including possession of child pornography, indecent assault and battery, and extortion. ICE’s Boston field office said officers apprehended Pierre Andy Jean-Louis during a vehicle stop in Fall River, Massachusetts.

According to ICE, Jean-Louis has pending charges for possession of child pornography, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, and extortion by threat of injury.

‘There is no person more disturbing than one who stands accused of preying upon the most innocent members of our communities,’ said David Wesling, acting director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Field Office.

‘ICE Boston will continue to prioritise public safety by working tenaciously to remove alleged child sex predators from our New England neighbourhoods,’ he added.

ICE said US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested Jean-Louis after he entered the United States at Nogales, Arizona, on September 24, 2024.

The agency said CBP subsequently released him on two-year parole.

ICE said officers arrested Jean-Louis during the recent vehicle stop and served him with a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.

‘He will receive full due process under federal immigration laws,’ ICE said.

Several port employees have been taken into custody as law enforcement authorities investigate a suspected drug smuggling syndicate operating at the Kingston Container Terminal.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said the detentions followed the seizure of approximately J$1 billion (US$6.3 million) worth of cocaine earlier this week.

A statement from the JCF said a major multi-agency operation was conducted at the terminal on Friday by its Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) and the Jamaica Customs Agency, with support from the Specialised Operations Branch.

‘Several employees suspected of being part of a drug smuggling syndicate operating at the facility have so far been taken into custody,’ it disclosed.

The JCF added that the investigation is ongoing and further updates will be provided.

The Jamaica Gleaner reported that Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited was under a virtual lockdown for several hours on Friday as security forces carried out the operation.

Citing a source close to the investigation who was not authorised to speak publicly, the newspaper reported that at least eight employees were detained and that their personal vehicles were searched.

According to the newspaper, investigators had been monitoring the movement of containers as part of an operation that led to the discovery of the cocaine.

The probe has also reportedly extended beyond Kingston, with premises in St Thomas and other parishes searched as authorities followed additional leads.

The latest operation comes amid a significant increase in cocaine seizures in Jamaica this year.

In June, the FNID said more than 5,100 kilogrammes of cocaine, valued at approximately J$3 billion (US$18.9 million), had been seized during the first six months of 2026.

According to figures reported by the FNID at the time, the amount had already surpassed the combined cocaine seizures recorded during the previous six years and was more than twice the previous single-year record of 2,508 kilogrammes seized in 2024.

ARNOS VALE, St. Vincent, Aug 7, CMC- The Jamaica Kingsmen, sent in to bat, posted 167 for seven against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the opening match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) here on Friday.

SCORES:

JAMAICA KINGSMEN 167-7 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 47, Reeza Hendricks 42, Keemo Paul 16, Shayan Jahangir 13; Alzarri Joseph 3-34).

The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) says it has been vested with the title to the lands upon which the Beachfield gas processing facility in Guayaguayare, the southeasternmost village here.

It said this marks an important milestone in the advancement of the Manatee Project, a major offshore natural gas development led by Shell Trinidad and Tobago and located 100 kilometers off Trinidad’s east coast and holds an estimated 2.7 trillion cubic feet of gas. First gas production is targeted for 2027, supplying the domestic market though the NGC.

A statement from the Ministry of Energy, Land and Legal Affairs said that NGC’s freehold ownership of the lands and all associated structures, resolves a longstanding matter of occupation of the land dating back to the facility’s construction and commissioning by British Gas between 2004 and 2006.

‘The vesting of the title to these lands in NGC allows the Manatee Project to proceed without delay. These approvals also provide the necessary authorisations to undertake planned upgrades, and expansion works to the facility. As part of an agreement between NGC and Shell Trinidad, the Beachfield facility will serve as key onshore infrastructure for receiving gas from the Manatee field.’

‘The Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs is proud to have played a critical part in advancing and securing the country’s energy sector,’ said Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Saddam Hosein.

‘The Ministry stands ready to provide support to NGC, to work together through efficient and legal administrative processes to create the certainty needed for strategic projects such as Manatee to move forward. This milestone demonstrates a shared commitment to delivering long-standing value for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.’

NGC’s chairman, Gerald Ramdeen, said that the legal transfer of the state lands was a result of strong collaboration among the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs, the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands and NGC.

‘By resolving a matter that has remained outstanding for over two decades, NGC’s current leadership has reinforced the importance of good governance, disciplined stewardship of state assets and effective partnerships in supporting Trinidad and Tobago’s long-term energy security.’

ARNOS VALE, St. Vincent, Aug 7, CMC- The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons won the toss and elected to bowl first vs the Jamaica Kingsmen in the opening match of the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) here on Friday.

TEAMS:

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons XI: Evin Lewis, Rahkeem Cornwall, Tim Robinson, Jahmar Hamilton (wk), Tajinder Singh, Karima Gore, Fabian Allen (capt), Shamar Springer, Usama Mir, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales

Jamaica Kingsmen XI: Shayan Jahangir (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Shaqkere Parris, Keacy Carty, Rovman Powell (capt), Andre Russell, Hassan Khan, Keemo Paul, Hunain Shah, Vitel Lawes, Jediah Blades

Umpires: Christopher Taylor, Deighton Butler

TV Umpire: Leslie Reifer

Reserve Umpire: Ryan Banwarie

Match Referee: Denavon Hayles

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Friday welcomed The Bahamas as the latest member to join the Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas.

The PHC is a regional initiative led by PAHO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank and supports countries in strengthening primary health care and transforming health systems through coordinated investment, innovation, and technical cooperation.

PAHO said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country’s accession was formalized during a hybrid signing ceremony held in Nassau, with representatives of the government, PAHO, the IDB, and the World Bank participating in person and virtually. As part of its accession, The Bahamas established a Consultative Mechanism for Primary Health Care, a strategic platform led by the Ministry of Health and Wellness that will bring together national authorities and the Alliance partners to coordinate investments, technical cooperation, and innovation around the country’s health priorities.

‘The Bahamas is pleased to join the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas and welcomes this important partnership. For us, partnership in the Alliance is not about adding another country to a regional network, it is about adding meaningful impact where it matters most – in the lives of our people,’ said Health and Wellness MInister, Michael Darville.

‘Through this Alliance, we envisaged that technical expertise, investment and innovation would be better aligned with our national priorities; support for the implementation of The Bahamas National Health Strategy; and an accelerated transformation of the country’s health system through a primary health care approach.’

The mechanism will serve as a permanent forum for policy dialogue and technical collaboration, helping coordinate investments and technical cooperation with national priorities, coordinate ongoing and future initiatives, and advance implementation of The Bahamas National Health Strategy.

‘The Bahamas is the first CARICOM member state to join the Alliance, marking a new chapter for the initiative and creating an important opportunity to extend its benefits across the Caribbean,’ said PAHO’s Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.

‘Through the Primary Health Care Consultative Mechanism, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, PAHO, the IDB and the World Bank will work together to identify shared priorities, align technical cooperation and investments, and translate our shared commitment into a practical roadmap for implementing the National Health Strategic Plan.’

The Alliance supports countries through coordinated technical cooperation, financing, and policy dialogue. Since its creation, it has facilitated the alignment of investment plans and the mobilization of resources for more than one billion US dollars to strengthen primary health care across the Region.

‘The Bahamas is taking an important step toward strengthening its health system through stronger, more coordinated primary health care. This Alliance enables us to work alongside the Government and our partners to expand access to quality services and build a more resilient, equitable, and people-centered health system,’ said Steven Collins, Chief of Operations at the IDB Country Office in The Bahamas.

Health Practice Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank Group, Michele Gragnolati, said ‘we warmly welcome The Bahamas to the Alliance. The Bahamas’ decision to join reflects a clear conviction that stronger primary health care is the foundation of healthier people, more resilient systems, and a more prosperous region.

‘Through the Alliance, we are helping Caribbean countries turn shared ambition into financed, measurable results to bring quality, affordable, and resilient care closer to every family,’ she added.

With the incorporation of The Bahamas, the Alliance now brings together 12 countries in the Americas namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and The Bahamas.

PAHO said that it will continue working closely with The Bahamas to strengthen primary health care through technical cooperation, policy dialogue, and capacity building, contributing to universal access to health and more resilient, people-centered health systems.

-The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent a letter to Florida lawmakers urging them to support legislation extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals residing in the United States until 2029.

The bishops, representing the state’s six dioceses, signed the letter, dated August 5, 2026 in which they urgently called on Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, both Republicans from Florida, to pass Bill S. 4814. ‘This law will provide short-term security for our Haitian brothers and sisters, while also contributing to broader legislative reforms, including the possibility for long-time residents of our communities to regularize their status,’ they wrote, expressing also their ‘deep pastoral concern for the current state of our immigration system and the human realities it creates.

‘Many of these families find themselves without legal status or resources, while returning to their country of origin remains dangerous, impractical, and unreasonable given the situation there.’

They said that the ‘situation is especially daunting for hundreds of thousands of Haitians, Venezuelans, and others who have been relying on temporary protected status (TPS) to live and work lawfully in the United States.

‘So many of these families are left without any legal status or a way to support themselves, all while returning to their country of origin remains unsafe, impractical, and unreasonable because of the ongoing conditions there.’

The letter follows the earlier appeal by the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, for compassionate immigration protection for Haitians with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) upon the expiration of their automatic work permit extensions on July 27.

After the TPS expiration, Archbishop Wenski traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and advocate for the approximately 353,000 Haitian nationals with TPS in the United States.

In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could move forward with stripping TPS from hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

Democrats are urgently pushing the US Senate to pass legislation extending TPS bit their efforts have been blocked by Republicans, leaving hundreds of thousands vulnerable to deportation.

The U.S. House of Representatives advanced the bill that would extend temporary protected status (TPS) for Haiti through 2029 in April, and the measure has stalled in the Senate.

The bishops also called for broader immigration reform, citing Pope Leo XIV’s message on the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in which he said ‘those who have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity, and a place to belong have helped to shape the nation’s character.

‘To receive them into the nation with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.’

In their letter, the bishops said ‘we do not ask you to commit yourselves to immigration reform as a rejection of the national interest but as a means of promoting it.

‘Beyond even the positive economic and social contributions made by immigrants, including those in our own state of Florida, the considerations warranting meaningful improvements to our immigration system are profoundly moral in nature.

‘The Catholic Church remains committed to working with you and your colleagues in Congress to bring about bipartisan reforms of our immigration system. Please be assured of our prayers for you and your service to our nation in this 250th year of its independence,’ they wrote.

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is seeking a 10-year unconditional prison sentence for a man accused of rape, unlawful deprivation of liberty, assault, and attempted intentional HIV infection.

The OM is also asking the court to deny the man bail. The court was told that the victim, a sex worker, had accompanied the man to his home in exchange for payment and according to the OM, while the two had initially engaged in consensual sex, the woman indicated she wanted to leave, bit the suspect allegedly refused to let her go.

The OM, which did not disclose when the incident occured, said that the man subsequently assaulted the woman by, among other things, hitting, biting, and strangling her. He is also alleged to have torn her clothing and then forced her to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse.

According to the OM, the victim has given consistent statements from the moment of filing the complaint up to and including the hearing of the case at trial and that her statements are supported by photographs of the injuries and other evidence in the case file.

The court was told that when the police arrived at the residence, the suspect refused to open the door and the Fore Department had to provide assistance so that the police could enter the home and free the victim.

During the trial, the Public Prosecution Service further argued that the victim, despite working as a sex worker, practiced safe sex by using a condom and that the suspect knew that he was HIV-positive but allegedly failed to inform the victim of this. The OM claimed that he raped her without using a condom.

The OM said in doing so, the suspect willfully and knowingly exposed her to a risk of which she was unaware and that the fact that the victim works as a sex worker in no way justifies the actions of which the man is suspected.

The Public Prosecution Service is asking for a 10 year prison sentence deducting the time he has spent in pre-trial detention. The case is continuing.

President Irfaan Ali has instructed the Office of the Attorney General to review penalties for artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content after a fisherfolk raised concerns over a significant drop in sales linked to misinformation of the MV Barima tragedy.

In the aftermath of the July 18 MV Barima tragedy, in which 73 people were killed and more than 30 others still missing and feared dead, doctored images and AI-generated videos began circulating online, misrepresenting details of the tragedy and fuelling public confusion. As a result, this has led to an increase in reluctance by the public to consume fish.

Ali said that this type of misinformation ‘can cause severe harm on communities of society,’ telling the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, ‘I’m asking you to look at that’.

President Ali, who was speaking at the Model Village Initiative consultation on Thursday, added that the government will roll out a public education campaign to help the public identify manipulated content and understand the harm it can cause.

Earlier this week, the government said that the search and recovery operations following the MV Barima tragedy have ended.

However, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remains operational, and the government said ‘there has been no change in the status of the identification of the recovered bodies’.