Category: CANA News

Jamaica’s Chad Wright produced a gold medal winning throw in the men’s discus, while Rinaldo Moore of Trinidad and Tobago copped a silver medal in the 110-metre hurdles when track and field action continued at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games here on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old Wright recorded a throw of 63.39 metres to comfortably win the event, with Cuba’s Mario Diaz finishing second with a distance measured at 62.72m, while another Jamaican, Racquil Broderick claimed bronze (62.07m).

Tarajh Hudson of the Bahamas was fifth with a throw of 54.76m, while T and T’s Christopher Crawford was ninth (52.39m).

Meanwhile, Moore was second in a tightly contested men’s 110-metre hurdles final, with second to fourth separated by the smallest of margins.

The race was won by Ulric Portier of France in a time of 13.46 seconds, with Moore second in 13.56 and John Paredes of Colombia third in 13.57 seconds, the same time given to fourth place finisher Jeanice Laviolette of France.

Sharvis Simmonds of Jamaica finished fifth in 13.61 seconds.

Also reaching the podium was Shafiqua Maloney of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who captured bronze in the women’s 400 metres.

Maloney clocked 51.77 seconds to finish behind eventual winner Maileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in 48.94 seconds and second-placed Roxana Gomez of Cuba, who was timed at 49.99 seconds.

In other results, Denisha Cartwright of the Bahamas and Barbados’ Adeyah Brewster narrowly missed out on medals in the women’s 100-metre hurdles.

Cartwright was fourth in 12.99 seconds, the same time as third-placed Paola Vazquez of Puerto Rico, while Brewster finished fifth in 13.24 seconds, with her compatriot Maya Collins seventh in 13.69.

Akela Jones of Barbados finished sixth in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.01 metres.

Jamaica suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 extra time defeat to Canada in the Concacaf Under-20 Championships here on Wednesday to bring their hopes of qualifying for the Under-20 World Cup to a screeching halt.

With the win, Canada advanced to the semi-finals and earned qualification for both the World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics.

Playing in their quarterfinal match at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc, an exciting first half produced no goals with both sides wasting chances.

Canada’s Richard Chukwu broke through in the second minute to set up Lucas Lima, who shot wide, before Owen Graham-Roache missed a similar chance five minutes later.

Jamaica’s best chance of the first half came in the 26th minute when Raequan Campbell-Dennis crossed to Jahmarie Nolan at the back post, but the forward’s header missed the target.

Jamaica almost took the lead early in the second half, with Jahmani Bell nearly catching Canada’s goalkeeper Nathaniel Abraham off his line in the 54th minute with a shot from 60 yards that went just wide.

However, it was Canada who took the lead three minutes later when Liam Mackenzie ran through the Jamaican midfield, beat several defenders, and shot past keeper Joshua Grant.

Canada continued to create chances, with Marius Aiyenero having a goal ruled out for offside by VAR in the 73rd minute.

Jamaica drew level in the 87th minute after substitute Giovanni Taylor was fouled in the box. Nolan stepped up to bury the resulting penalty, marking his fourth goal of the tournament and the fourth-straight game Jamaica scored in the final five minutes of regular time.

Canada put the match to bed in added time, with Mackenzie converting from the penalty spot in the 93rd minute before Max Vogele found the back of the net from the edge of the box in the 116th minute.

The Dominica government says it will establish a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme as part of the policy towards increasing the island’s population to 100,000 by 2040.

Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said the schools, health services, businesses, housing and communities all require a sufficient resident population and access to the skills needed to support national growth.

‘The Dominican family extends far beyond our shores. It includes citizens who migrated, their children and grandchildren, and others who retain a connection to Dominica through family and culture. They have acquired valuable skills, professional experience, business networks and capital’

McIntyre, who presented the government’s EC$1.15 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) fiscal package on Tuesday, said as the economy is transformed by the international airport, geothermal energy, the marina, expanded tourism, modern infrastructure and new investment opportunities, ‘we want them to know that this is an ideal time to return home.

‘Our vision also extends to investors, retirees, CBI citizens, remote workers, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, many of whom are looking for safe, stable and welcoming places to live, invest and spend more of their time.’

McIntyre said that the government will therefore establish a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme to address three related needs, namely, rebuilding the resident population, reduce the skills gap and create practical ways for the wider Dominican family to return, invest, serve and settle here.

He said that this year the government will begin to implement the Citizenship through a Dominican Grandparent programme and that the necessary legislation will be taken to Parliament to allow a person with at least one grandparent born in Dominica to apply to become a citizen, subject to proof of ancestry, identity, and good character-beginning January 1, 2027.

‘Many descendants are now two or three generations removed from the island but still retain a strong family connection. Citizenship can encourage them to participate more fully in national life-visit more often, restore family property, establish businesses, and invest. It can also widen the pool of people eligible to represent Dominica in sport and other fields.’

McIntyre said that the government is also establishing a Global Dominican Talent Register that will identify athletes, medical professionals, scientists, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists and other skilled people of Dominican ancestry.

‘Registrants will be able to state their expertise, availability and the ways in which they are willing to contribute. This will allow government and national institutions to match people with specific opportunities to represent Dominica, mentor young people, provide short-term specialist assistance, invest, support disaster recovery or build international partnerships.’

He said in addition eligible remote workers, retirees and financially independent individuals and families will be able to obtain a free two-year ‘Live in Dominica’ residence visa while earning their income abroad.

‘These residents can bring immediate spending into rental housing, property improvement, food, transportation, recreation and domestic services. Applicants must be able to support themselves, maintain appropriate health coverage and satisfy immigration and security requirements.’

The government is also providing a Returning Dominican One-Stop Service creating a dedicated single point of contact to assist returning Dominicans with housing, business registration, school placement, licences, utilities and other essential services, making the process of returning home as simple and seamless as possible.

McIntyre said also tht a fast-track Essential Skills and Entrepreneur Residence Permit will be offered to nurses, engineers, skilled tradespeople and other qualified professionals who fill a verified national skills shortage, as well as genuine entrepreneurs who establish a viable business or employ Dominicans.

‘The permit will be used only where there is a genuine national need or clear economic benefit. Its purpose is to fill critical gaps, create jobs, expand training and transfer skills rather than displace Dominican workers.’

He said that to support these initiatives, the Roosevelt Skerrit government will introduce a broader package of policies designed to make relocation, investment and long-term residency more attractive.

McIntyre said that these will include identifying lands for residential and investment development, providing incentives for second-home ownership, retirement living and business establishment, streamlining investment facilitation, and preparing development plans for designated growth areas capable of accommodating new residential and commercial communities.

‘These measures provide practical routes through which Dominicans at home and abroad, returning families, skilled residents and responsible long-stay visitors can help rebuild communities and strengthen the country’s economic base.,’ he added.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

ST. GEORGE’S – The Grenada government Wednesday reiterated its decision to terminate its production sharing agreement (PSA) with the Russian-backed Global Petroleum Group (GPG) even as the company said it has given St. George’s seven days to rescind its decision.

BELMOPAN – The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has ‘publicly’ reiterated its firm opposition to the proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) in its current form.

ROSEAU – Attorney General Levi Peter says the government is considering whether or not to appeal a High Cout ruling that provided former opposition leader Lennox Linton with an historic and landmark constitutional victory in the matter of the appointment of an opposition leader.

FLORIDA – A 53-year-old naturalized United States citizen, Jean Robert Casimir, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of US export control law for his role in an extensive firearms trafficking operation through which he illegally exported at least 140 firearms to Haiti since 2020.

BRASILIA -INTERPOL to Join the IDB Rapid Response Task Force to support security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

ST. JOHN’S -Police have launched an investigation to determine how cocaine with a street value of more than one million dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) washed ashore along the coastline of Barbuda over a two day period.

SPORTS:

PORT OF SPAIN – Pakistan in sight of victory in the second test match to square series with West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall is defending the decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy that left 72 people dead and more than 30 others missing and presumed dead when the vessel capsized on July 18.

Speaking on his weekly ‘Issues in the News’ programme on Tuesday night, Nandlall was also critical of opposition politicians including the leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Aubrey Norton, whom were opposition the efforts at getting to the bottom of the tragedy in keeping with ‘ their traditional and historical approach on these matters. ‘You check at any time in Guyana’s history, you will always see that they are never on the side of the law enforcement agencies…they are never on the side of victims of crime. They are always on the the other side,’ he said,, recalling the position of the opposition following the prison outbreak in 2001 ‘when they embraced those persons who were going around slaughtering people, robbing Guyanese, killing people’.

Nandlall told viewers that having chosen a side, it would be ‘a conflict of interest for them to pretend or purport to act for the persons who have perished or were affected by this tragedy.

‘It would be a legal conflict of interest for them to do so. They have chosen their side.’

On Tuesday, the Guyana government said that the search and recovery operations have ended but that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remains operational.

The MV Barima sank as it made its was from Georgetown to Port Kaituma and on Monday, a magistrate adjourned to September 7, the court case in which three people, including the captain of the ill-fated vessel, have been charged with murder after the 87-year-old vessel sank.

Kevin Price, alias ‘KP’, the 40-year-old captain of the vessel, his 42 year-old chief mate, Rondell Dwayne Roberts and Delon Granderson, a 33-year-old goods superintendent appeared by zoom before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

Defence lawyers and other legal commentators as well as the opposition have criticised the decision to file the murder charges against the three men, contending that the search is still continuing and that the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the government to examine the circumstances that led to the worst maritime disaster in Guyana’s history has not started its work.

But the police have maintained that the murder charges were instituted following legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Hack said she advised that the trio be charged based on the evidence presented, the relevant principles of law involved, case law authorities from the United Kingdom, Commonwealth jurisdictions, the European Court of Human Rights, and public policy considerations.

Nandlall, who is also the Minister of Legal Affairs, said that the DPP is an independent constitutional office that is not the subject of any direction or control from any other agency and having received a file of an investigation done by the Guyana Police Force, recommended the charges.

‘That’s the state…this is the police conducting investigations, a hundred persons dead. You don’t think the police will conduct investigations? And you don’t think the state apparatus will be activated?

‘Persons are criticising the charge and I hear all manner, all manner of legal arguments being advanced,’ Nandlall said, adding that while it is not his place to answer those legal arguments, it is also not ‘my place to defend the DPP.

‘But any person who has a reasonable understanding of law, know that yes, intention is required for murder, but you can infer intention from circumstances. It depends upon the level of recklessness and negligence.’

He said that for centuries, persons have been charged with murder without the actual intention to kill.

‘But having regarded the level of recklessness, one can infer, if one can, there’s a foreseeability test. If you can foresee or reasonably foresee that because of your actions, death will result, you don’t need actual intention,’ Nandlall said, noting that he doesn’t wish to get into debates with people on that matter.

‘We live in a democracy. The state apparatus is at work. The Constitution and the legal system of the country provides that … anyone who is dissatisfied with a decision of a constitutional agency, a statutory authority, or a public officer, is free to challenge that in the court.’.

Nandlall is also urging people to read the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry published in the official Gazette and spanning a total of 10 pages, noting that at least 90 per cent of those making statements on the issue have not done so.

He said that the Commission of Inquiry is not established to determine criminal and civil liabilities and that it serves as ‘an investigative enquiry.

‘It makes findings and then it puts those findings in a report and then it makes recommendations, none of which are binding in law. And the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry explain all of that.

‘It will make recommendations. It will make findings based on evidence and then make recommendations based upon those findings,’ he said, adding that the Commission ‘shall determine whether the evidence discloses possible criminal conduct, including possible criminal negligence, misconduct in public office, falsification or concealment of certificates, or maintenance of records, fraud, corruption, obstruction of justice, destruction or concealment of evidence, or any other offence under the Procedures of Guyana’.

He reiterated that any finding or recommendation under this part shall not constitute a determination of criminal guilt or a final adjudication of civil liberty, which remains a matter for the courts and other competent authorities.

‘So this can’t substitute for the police. This will make for the recommendations for more persons to be investigated. And they will hand over the recommendations and their evidence, and the police can take that into account. The DPP can take it into account. The Attorney General can take it into account.

‘But the lawfully constituted agencies appointed by the Constitution and appointed by the different pieces of legislation will have to discharge their respective lawful mandate,’ Nandlall said, adding that the Commission of Inquiry ‘can’t usurp that’.

He said that regarding the persons who have been charged, ‘that is not a conclusion, and investigations will continue’.

Pakistan require 75 runs for victory after dismissing West Indies for 117 runs before lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval here on Wednesday.

Scores

WEST INDIES 344 and 117 in 46.1 overs (Kavem Hodge 34, Roston Chase 17, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 17, Shai Hope 15, Amir Jangoo 13; Sajid Khan 4-32, Ali Usman 4-39).

PAKISTAN 387 in 115 overs (Abdullah Shafique 160 not out, Babar Azam 88, Azan Awais 55, Sajid Khan 30, Mohammad Rizwan 18, Imam-ul-Haq 14, Ali Usman 10; Jomel Warrican 6-112, Shamar Joseph 2-84).

Pakistan expectedly completed a straightforward win over the West Indies on Wednesday’s penultimate day to halt a slide of eight consecutive away Test losses.

Left-arm spinner Ali Usman polished off the West Indies’ tail after they resumed the day already wobbling on 103 for six, claiming two of the three remaining wickets to fall to see them bowled out for 117 in 46.1 overs at the Queen’s Park Oval.

It took just two overs for Usman to strike, as Kemar Roach completely missed his huge slog sweep to be bowled for a duck without a run added to the overnight total.

A hobbled Justin Greaves, who battled 32 balls for his three runs, then inside edged a delivery from pacer Mohammad Ali onto his middle stump as he attempted to pull him through the onside, to leave the Windies 115 for eight.

Shamar Joseph was his usual aggressive self, sweeping Usman for two boundaries through the onside, much to the delight of the small crowd on hand. His cameo was short lived though, as he was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan as he tried to repeat those shots in Usman’s next over.

It brought the West Indies’ innings to an end, with Brandon King unable to bat after being injured while fielding the previous day.

Sajid Khan, who did most of the damage late on Tuesday, ended with 4-32, while Usman grabbed 4-39.

Needing just 75 runs to complete victory and level the two-match series 1-1, Pakistan were never really troubled, even though they lost two wickets in their chase.

Jayden Seales lured Imam-ul-Haq into an unsure prod following a series of probing deliveries, which the opener edged to Greaves in the slip corridor with 15 runs on the board.

Joseph then accounted for the wicket of opener Azan Awais, who was bowled for 18 off the inside edge as he looked to cut him through the onside to make the score 42 for two.

However, for the second time in the match, Abdullah Shafique, who was named Player-of-the-Match, and captain Babar Azam fended off any further threats from the Windies’ bowlers to carry their side over the finish line in an unbroken partnership of 35.

After surviving a close lbw appeal, Azam ended the match in fine style by hitting left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican for successive sixes over long on and cover.

He ended unbeaten on 24 off 30 balls, while Shafique scored 24 not out off 51 balls.

For the second straight Test series, Greaves was named Player-of-the-Series, sharing the award with Pakistan’s Azam.

Pakistan require 18 runs for victory against the West Indies after reaching 57 for two at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval here on Wednesday.

Scores

WEST INDIES 344 and 117 in 46.1 overs (Kavem Hodge 34, Roston Chase 17, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 17, Shai Hope 15, Amir Jangoo 13; Sajid Khan 4-32, Ali Usman 4-39).

PAKISTAN 387 and 57-2 in 18 overs (Abdullah Shafique 21 not out, Azan Awais 18).

The Qualifiers for the 2027 ODI World Cup is set to be played from February 22 to March 23 next year according to a report from Cricinfo.

However, a venue for the tournament has yet to be decided by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The West Indies, who are currently ranked 10th in the One Day International (ODI) rankings, are almost sure to have to go through the Qualifiers to gain entry to the World Cup, which is slated to be held across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 4 to November 21.

The Windies will only play two more ODIs before the cut-off date, against India in September. Those matches and the results of other series, specifically the imminent one between Afghanistan (ranked eighth) and Ireland (12th), could affect their ranking. If Ireland beat Afghanistan to win that series 4-1 or 5-0, then two wins for West Indies could be enough to see them into the top eight. If Afghanistan win the series, West Indies are all but certain to have to qualify.

In the revamped structure for the 2027 World Cup, which was announced by the ICC in July, the winner of the 10-team Qualifier will gain direct entry to the main group of the 14-team marquee tournament.

However, the teams finishing second, third and fourth in the Qualifier will contest the first round of the World Cup, called the Super Series, with the top team qualifying for the main, 12-team stage.

The 10-team Qualifier includes the two bottom-ranked Full Members in the ODI rankings (other than hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe) as of September 30, 2026; the top four teams from CWC League 2; and the top four teams from a World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Wednesday announced an historic expansion of financing for security in Latin America and the Caribbean from its previous target of US$2.5 billion to $4 billion.

The IIDB’s announcement made at the ongoing Regional Security and Justice Summit here, reinforces the bank’s commitment to strengthen citizen security, justice, and institutions in the region.

This year, the IDB’s operational pipeline for security reached US$1.42 billion, almost 60 per cent of the three-year (2026-2028) financing target announced during last year’s summit in Argentina.

The IDB said that this progress has exceeded expectations and reflects a growing demand from member countries seeking comprehensive responses to increasingly sophisticated security challenges. The expanded pipeline builds on the success of the Alliance for Security, Justice and Development, launched in 2024 in Ecuador.

‘Last year, we made the commitment to move the Alliance toward a new stage, with a large-scale investment in the region. Now, we are doubling down on our success to bring more security and more sustainable development to the people in the region. We also emphasized a faster and more effective response,’ said IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn.

‘Organized crime brings violence and threatens the well-being of communities. But it also has profound development consequences: it discourages investment, weakens institutions, and ultimately, limits growth and job creation. Security is no longer only a matter of law enforcement. It has become one of the essential conditions for development,’ Goldfajn added.

The pipeline of the Alliance concentrates on three pillars: preventing violence and protecting vulnerable populations; strengthening security and justice institutions; and combating illicit markets and criminal financial networks.

The IDB said that together, these pillars are helping countries move towards a more coordinated, evidence-based approach to addressing organized crime.

The portfolio prioritizes violence prevention, police modernization, public security, interoperability and digital transformation, justice systems, correctional systems, institutional strengthening, and responses to organized crime.

In addition to its expanding scale, the Alliance has promoted more agile procedures. Its Rapid Response Task Force, launched at last year’s summit, has already supported Peru, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Brazil by providing specialized technical assistance to address urgent security and justice challenges.

To strengthen the Rapid Response Task Force, the IDB and INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police network, are developing a historic collaboration across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The summit here also marks the transition of the Alliance’s pro tempore presidency from Argentina to Brazil, which will lead the next phase of regional cooperation.

Under Brazil’s leadership, the Alliance will continue promoting a common regional agenda focused on prevention, enforcement, justice, and institutional strengthening, while mobilizing the financial and technical resources needed to address organized crime and its impact on development across Latin America and the Caribbean.