Category: CANA News

The Trinbago Knight Riders defeated the Barbados Tridents by seven wickets in the 19th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here at the Queens Park Oval on Friday.

BARBADOS TRIDENTS 127-9 in 20 overs (Zachary Carter 28, Chris Green 27; Sunil Narine 2-14, Keiron Pollard 2-19)

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS 128-3 in 14.5 overs ( Sunil Narine 55, Colin Munro 37; Chris Green 1-20)

Haiti Friday said that the massacre that occurred in Kenscoff, a mountainous commune south-east of Port-au-Prince last weekend, underscored the need for the international community to put in place measures to enforce an arms embargo on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

In addition, Haiti said that the attack last Sunday also calls for the full and rapid deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) a UN-backed multinational security mission to be deployed in Haiti to dismantle violent gangs and protect civilians.

GSF personnel from various contributing countries began operations on June 1 this year with the deployment of 5,500 expected by October 2026.

The assault claimed the lives of at least 47 persons, including three boys and two girls. It also left dozens abducted and many others injured, and caused further displacement and suffering. Homes were also set ablaze, and local population seeking refuge from the violence was attacked, including at a church, where gang members executed people and killed others as they attempted to escape.

As the international community condemned the massacre at an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council called requested by Panama, the United States and Colombia, Haiti’s ambassador Eric Pierre said his country condemns ‘in the strongest possible terms these acts of extreme barbarism’ that followed the deadly gang attack on August 23-24.

‘We express our deep solidarity with the victims, their families and the communities affected by this violence and we remain mobilised to provide urgent responses commensurate with the security challenges,’ he said, adding that ‘these attacks constitute a new demonstration of the capacity for violence and terror of armed criminal gangs despite the considerable efforts made by the Haitian National Police and the armed forces of Haiti which remain fully mobilised on the ground with the support from the Gang Suppression Force.

‘The heinous criminal attack in Kenscoff underscores the urgent need for the international community to accelerate the deployment of the GSF to the planned strength of 5,500 personnel as soon as possible and above all to provide it with the full means necessary to carry out its missions alongside the national security forces.’

Pierre said that all security forces in Haiti have been placed on high alert in order to gradually regain control of the areas occupied by the gangs, adding that the ‘instructions are clear, protect, secure and restore the authority of the state’.

Pierre noted that in recent years, the UN Security Council has adopted a number of important decisions on Haiti in order to held the government in its efforts to restore security and the authority of the state.

He said that the government led by the Prime Minister, Alex Didier Fils-Aimé, is continuing with the same momentum, in particular through the implementation of the P4000 project, which aims to substantially increase the number of personnel and the operational capacities of the Haitian National Police as well as continuing to strengthen the armed forces.

‘Today, we need greater synergy at the international level to support the government in restoring security, which is an essential condition in order to organise the upcoming elections in the country.’

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) recently announced that the first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum, for December 13, this year, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7,2021.

The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.

The electoral campaign for the first round is scheduled to begin October 5 and run through December 12. The campaign for the second round is scheduled for January 10 through February 20, 2027.

The CEP said that 17 out of the 18 political groups, representing 228 political parties have received approval to contest the polls.

Pierre told the UN Security Council that as the country gears up for the polls, the actions of the international community must be directed towards accelerating the deployment of the GSF.

‘…in this context, we thank Chad, Mongolia and Cote d’Ivoire, which have already signed agreements with Haiti, to join the GSF, and steps are underway in this direction with Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Guatemala.

‘We call on the members of the international community to strengthen their contribution to upholding and implementing of the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council Sanctions Committee Resolution 2653 on Haiti in order to stem the flow of arms and ammunitions which fuel the violence of criminal gangs.’

Pierre told the UN Security Council that the urgency of the situation calls for a ‘rapid, coordinated and resolute response’ adding that ‘Haiti continues to count on the support of its partners in the international community to accompany it in its efforts to restore lasting security, to fully restore the authority of the state and to create the conditions necessary for the holding of elections’.

Earlier, the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Carlos Ruiz Massieu, said that last weekend’s massacre ‘is deeply shocking, but it is not an isolated tragedy.

‘It is the latest in a series of attacks affecting the commune of Kenscoff since early 2025. It demonstrates the continued capacity and determination of gangs to terrorise the population, expand their influence beyond the capital and pose a direct challenge to state authority and the rule of law’.

Massieu said Haitians continue to pay a devastating and intolerable human cost, with BINUH documenting 1,408 people killed and 656 injured between April and June 2026 alone.

‘The attack in Kenscoff has generated a new wave of public indignation across all sectors of Haiti’s society, as well as international partners, with renewed calls to protect populations, strengthen security institutions and restore public order. These reactions reflect a growing recognition that security is the foundation for progress in all other areas.’

The senior UN official in Haiti said that national security institutions cannot be left to confront this threat without adequate support and that the GSF ‘represents a critical component of the international response authorised by this Council.

‘Its swift and full deployment must now be accelerated. Sustained cooperation and coordination among national authorities and with the Gang Suppression Force will remain essential to address insecurity, protect communities and restore confidence among Haitian citizens.

‘For far too long, Haitians have lived in fear of being killed, kidnapped or subjected to sexual violence,’ he said noting that this latest attack occurs at a critical moment in Haiti’s political transition.

‘Without improved security conditions, efforts to strengthen governance, accelerate the political process and advance electoral preparations will remain severely constrained and vulnerable to setbacks.’

He said equally important is breaking the cycle of impunity and that the perpetrators of the attack on Kenscoff, as well as those who finance, arm and enable gang violence must be held accountable.

‘The effective activation and operationalization of the specialized judicial units mandated to investigate mass crimes, sexual violence, financial crimes -including the prompt opening of investigations into the attack on Kenscoff – will be paramount to strengthen the rule of law and restore public confidence in State institutions.’

In his address to the UN Security Council, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Indrika Ratwatte, said more than half of Haiti’s population, an estimated 6.4 million people, need humanitarian assistance and that the ‘latest attack on Kenscoff is yet another grim reminder of the suffering Haitians face every day.

‘And violence is not the only threat. Haiti remains highly vulnerable to recurring climate shocks and other natural hazards. Hurricane Melissa brought death and destruction to Haiti last year, and now the country is facing another hurricane season. Recent seismic activity in the region is a stark reminder of Haiti’s vulnerability to earthquakes,’ he said.

He said that as Haitians confront the reality of the daily situation, deportations to Haiti continue at scale.

He said that in the first eight months of 2026, almost 200,000 people were forcibly returned, a 10 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

‘Many arrive without resources, documentation or support networks, and some have especially urgent protection needs, including survivors of sexual violence, pregnant and lactating women, people with disabilities, and unaccompanied and separated children.

‘Our humanitarian partners have recorded over 5,500 incidents of gender-based violence, or about 30 cases per day, in the first six months of the year alone. Women and girls constitute the vast majority of survivors. Approximately 70 per cent of reported incidents of gender-based violence involved rape, and nearly three quarters of reported rape cases involved collective rape. Women and girls are being subjected to horrific sexual violence with utter impunity. This must stop,’Ratwatte said.

He asked the international community to consider three issues.

‘First, stop the violence. No child should fall asleep to gunfire. Hospitals, schools and aid workers must never be targets. Second, fund the response. Humanitarian organizations remain committed and ready to deliver life-saving assistance, but surging needs mean we need continued predictable and flexible funding…, and third, tackle the causes of this crisis.

‘Lasting progress requires broader efforts including in the realms of security, political stability, and sustained investment in essential services. The people of Haiti deserve more than mere survival. They deserve safety, opportunity, and hope for a better future,’ Ratwatte told the UN Security Council.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has launched a Caribbean Resilient Recovery Facility (CRRF) Recovery Experts Roster, a regional pool of technical professionals designed to strengthen the capacity of Participating States to manage and implement post-disaster recovery.

The first orientation, conducted on Wednesday , welcomed 14 experts and forms part of the operationalisation of the Caribbean Resilient Recovery Facility (CRRF), a multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by CDEMA and its development partners to bridge the gap between response and early recovery and accelerate post-disaster recovery.

The Recovery Experts Roster also seeks to provide surge support to countries following disasters in areas of expertise including engineering, education, social work, psychology, business development, information technology and healthcare.

In his opening remarks, CDEMA’s Deputy Executive Director Lt. Col. Kester Craig emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening recovery capacity.

‘No single country in our region has all the resources needed to respond to and effectively recover from major disaster impacts,’ said Lt. Col. Craig.

He added that the roster will enable CDEMA to match the right expertise to the specific recovery needs of affected countries, ensuring that recovery efforts are coordinated, inclusive and responsive.

The orientation was facilitated by CDEMA’s Disaster Recovery Specialist, Jason Francis and CRRF Research Intern Natalia Extavour, who familiarised the experts with the CRRF operational framework, their roles and responsibilities, and CDEMA’s deployment protocols and standards for humanitarian support.

Francis described the first cohort as an important step in building the regional recovery facility and thanked the experts for their commitment to regional resilience.

‘This is the first cohort of experts to join the roster, and we look forward to utilising your skills and expertise as we continue to build out the regional recovery facility,’ he said.

The establishment of the Recovery Experts Roster reinforces CDEMA’s commitment to pooling regional resources, strengthening national recovery capacity and advancing resilient recovery across the Caribbean.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Thursday August 27, 2026.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Aug. 27, CMC – The Dominican Republic is set to become the 48th country in the world and the seventh in Latin America to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism after President Luis Abinader ordered the country’s foreign ministry to formalize the decision.

KINGSTON – Nearly a dozen high-ranking police officers and soldiers are being investigated as part of a widening narcotics probe stemming from the discovery of cocaine at a police storage facility in January.

PORT OF SPAIN – A multi-million-dollar underground economy is thriving within Trinidad and Tobago’s prison system, according to Prison Officers’ Association General Secretary Lester Logie.

GEORGETOWN – Guyana will introduce an appointment-based system for passport services from October 1, with passport offices no longer accepting walk-in applications.

SPORTS

KINGSTON- The Jamaica Cricket Association’s (JCA) annual general meeting (AGM) will now most likely to be held in October, its president Dr Donovan Bennett has revealed.

The Dominican Republic is set to become the 48th country in the world and the seventh in Latin America to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism after President Luis Abinader ordered the country’s foreign ministry to formalize the decision.

President Luis Abinader

The move came as Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. special envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, urged other Latin American governments to follow the Dominican Republic’s lead, pointing to the Trump administration’s efforts at home as a framework for confronting antisemitism internationally.

Abinader made the announcement Monday at the Combat Antisemitism Movement-sponsored annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism held here.

According to an English translation of the president’s remarks, Abinader said antisemitism should not be viewed as a threat affecting only Jewish communities. ‘Antisemitism is not a problem that concerns only the Jewish people,’ he said. ‘It is a threat to democratic coexistence and to the rights and freedoms of us all.’

The announcement comes amid heightened concern over antisemitism worldwide. The Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Antisemitism Research Center monitored and reported 767 antisemitic incidents globally in March 2026, an average of nearly 25 incidents per day and a 32.5% increase compared with March 2025.

Kaploun praised the Dominican Republic’s decision at the conference as a ‘historic moment’ and called on other governments across the region to follow its lead.

‘What you have witnessed tonight is a government standing up for what is right,’ he said.

‘There cannot be any compromise with antisemitism,’ he continued. ‘We will lead by example, and we will take positive steps to protect every Jewish community.’

Kaploun pointed to the Trump administration’s efforts in the United States as a framework other governments could use to confront antisemitism within their own institutions.

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots elected to field after winning the toss against the Jamaica Kingsmen in the 18th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Warner Park here on Thursday.

SQUADS

ST KITTS and NEVIS PATRIOTS: Jason Holder (captain), Johnson Charles, Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Kevin Wickham, Mikyle Louis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Naseem Shah, Obed McCoy, Waqar Salamkheil.

JAMAICA KINGSMEN: Rovman Powell (captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Kirk McKenzie, Saim Ayub, Keacy Carty, Usman Khan, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Jediah Blades, Hunain Shah.

Nearly a dozen high-ranking police officers and soldiers are being investigated as part of a widening narcotics probe stemming from the discovery of cocaine at a police storage facility in January.

The investigation is examining whether law-enforcement personnel significantly under-reported the quantity of cocaine seized during an earlier operation in western Jamaica.

The case came to light in January when two ‘illegal’ parcels of cocaine were discovered inside a storage facility at the now-disbanded Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division (C-TOC). The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) disclosed the discovery following an internal audit.

The incident prompted an immediate high-level investigation. Weeks later, Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake dismantled C-TOC, transferring more than 40 police officers assigned to the division to other units.

The investigation became public on Wednesday when agents from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) conducted an early-morning search at the Corporate Area home of a senior officer who had been assigned to C-TOC.

The officer was subsequently taken in handcuffs to two other locations in St Andrew and Clarendon, where additional searches were carried out.

Search operations were expected to continue overnight and into today at locations linked to other individuals under investigation.

The probe has also attracted the attention of Jamaica’s international law-enforcement partners.

MOCA confirmed late Wednesday that its agents were conducting a series of operations to execute ‘search and seizure warrants at a number of locations across the Corporate Area as part of an ongoing investigation’.

However, Major Basil Jarrett, MOCA’s director of communications, is yet to provide details about the investigation or the operations.

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.