Category: CANA News

Head coach of Jamaica’s Under-14 football team, Vassell Reynolds said he was not satisfied with their performance in the final of the recently concluded CFU Boys’ Under-14 Challenge Series, which saw them go down 4-0 to Haiti.

The defending champions entered the final with a perfect record in their four games and had not conceded a goal, but were thoroughly outplayed by the Haitians in the 35-minute-per-half title match.

While Reynolds conceded that Haiti was a strong side, he said he expected a better performance from his charges. ‘To have lost by the margin we did was disappointing, especially with the kind of defensive record we went into the game with,’ Reynolds told the Jamaica Observer.

‘We knew the technical competence and the speed of play that the Haitian team possessed, and we just didn’t counter that well enough.

‘I thought we conceded at some critical stages of the game and they pushed us every time we got in the game,’ he added.

Reynolds revealed the young Reggae Boyz were also hampered by the loss of their inspirational captain Mathieu Miller to injury.

‘We lost further control when we lost Mathieu, our midfielder, [who] was keeping things together for us. For the most part we tried to stick to a couple of things we practised and discussed, and that to me was very positive,’ he said.

The National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) has recommended that environmental clearance not be granted for the construction of a new access road passing through the Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve (FCFR) to connect Honey Camp and Neuland in the Orange Walk District, a large, agricultural region in northwestern Belize.

The NEAC said that it had on July 30, this year met to review the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by Tunich-Nah Consultants and Engineering on behalf of Honey Hub Limited, a private company associated with infrastructure and agricultural logistics projects.

It said that the report pertains to the proposed construction of 2.2 miles of road passing through the Northeastern Biological Corridor (NEBC).

‘After a thorough review of the EIA report and consideration of public concerns, the NEAC recommended that environmental clearance not be granted for the 2.2 miles of road. This recommendation was based, in particular, on the ecological value of the Northeastern Biological Corridor (NEBC),’ it said.

NEBC said that it was legally established to protect and maintain important forest areas, facilitate the movement of wildlife between habitats, and support the conservation of Belize’s natural environment.

It said that the EIA did not provide sufficient justification for clearing approximately 13 acres of forest within the NEBC to construct the proposed road and that given the ecological importance of the area, clearing 13 acres of forest ‘would fragment wildlife habitat, restrict the movement of wildlife within their natural ranges, and increase the risk of wildlife being killed or injured’.

The NEBC said that the EIA did not provide sufficient information to confirm that an adequate supply of suitable material is available for the construction of the road. It said the proposed areas identified for obtaining fill material may have already been partially or completely utilized. If additional areas are required, this could result in further clearing, land disturbance, and damage to natural habitats.

‘The proposed road would negatively affect Santa Martha Village, as residents depend on the existing road network for transportation, livelihoods, and other economic activities. Although the proposed road would shorten the travel distance by approximately five miles, the EIA did not adequately demonstrate that this benefit would outweigh the potential negative impacts on the community.

‘Overall, the potential adverse environmental impacts associated with the construction of the proposed road are considered to outweigh the socioeconomic benefits that could be derived from the project,’ the NEBC said, adding that the Department of the Environment (DOE) ‘has accepted the recommendations of the NEAC regarding this project and has informed Honey Hub Limited of its decision’.

The main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it is still awaiting a respnse from the Andrew Holness government to its request for a full briefing regarding the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreement Jamaica signed with the United States aimed at strengthening military and security cooperation between the two countries.

Opposition spokesperson on national security, Fitz Jackson, said he has written to National Security and Peace Minister, Dr Horace Chang, requesting details on the agreement that was signed earlier this month at the earliest opportunity.

The agreement was signed on August 20, following discussions between U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chang during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Americas Counter Cartels Coalition Forum in Panama on August 12.

A SOFA establishes the terms under which members of one country’s armed forces may temporarily operate in another country for mutually agreed activities, including military training exercises and joint operations. Jamaica joins more than 120 countries that have similar agreements with the United States.

Jackson said the agreement raises important national security considerations and that its implications for Jamaica, as well as safeguards to protect the country’s interests, should be clearly understood.

He said the PNP wants to ascertain the key provisions of the agreement, the safeguards established to protect Jamaica’s national interests and security, and other matters arising from the agreement.

Jackson, who said that the opposition is still awaiting a response to its request, said that while the PNP recognises the sensitive nature of national security matters it will observe the customary parliamentary confidentiality applicable to such issues.

But he said given the reported execution of the agreement, it is important for the Parliamentary Opposition to be properly briefed on its provisions and the safeguards in place to protect Jamaica’s interests.

In a joint statement last week, Washington and Kingston said the agreement sends a message to criminal organizations in the region that the two countries are committed to expanding their cooperation in the fight against groups involved in trafficking guns, drugs and people.

The agreement provides a framework for further cooperation in areas including regional security, defense and disaster response, according to the statement.

Police Tuesday said that a 64-year-old man who was found dead in a cell block of the Central Police Station over the last weekend, died from natural causes.

The police said that an autopsy on the man, identified only as EA, indicated that he died of natural causes. The police said that the man was in custody for the sexual abuse of a young girl between the ages of seven and nine.

The Suriname Police Force (KPS) in a statement said that during a check of the cells on Saturday evening, EA was found lifeless. A doctor was called in and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) took control of the body so that an autopsy could be performed.

It said that the body has since been released to the next of kin.

The KPS said that EA was arrested on August 19 after being on the run for four months, after a complaint had been filed against him for serious sexual offenses. The investigation revealed that the girl’s foster mother had discovered she had been sexually assaulted and later filed a complaint.

The police said that when they attempted to arrest the suspect, he managed to escape and remained at large for four months. But he was held on August 19, taken to the police station, where he made a full confession during his arraignment.

The suspect was remanded in custody at the Central Police Station where he was found dead three days later.

Police say they have intercepted a large shipment of cyanide at the Burnside checkpoint in Coronie in northwestern Suriname, which is believed to have been illegally brought into the country from Guyana.

The authorities said that the more than the more than two tons of the dangerous chemical had been transported in two trucks and that several people are assisting their investigations.

Cyanide is used in gold mining, among other things, but it poses a serious danger to people and the environment if stored, transported, or used improperly. The government has previously indicated that the import of cyanide is subject to regulations.

The police investigations are expected to determine the exact quantity, origin of the shipment, and the final destination as well as whether permits were in place for the import and transport of the chemical.

Antigua and Barbuda authorities say that the restriction on the importation of all pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic remains firmly in effect, as they continue efforts to protect the island’s livestock industry from the African Swine Fever.

The ban has been in place since 2021 following the discovery of the presence of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic. The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, said the disease is highly contagious among pigs and can be fatal, posing a significant threat to domestic and commercial pig populations.

The ministry said that despite the passage of several years since the restriction was first implemented, the measure remains ongoing and members of the public must continue to comply with the prohibition.

It said that the restriction is not limited to commercial importers and applies broadly to all persons and businesses involved in the purchase, distribution, sale or consumption of pork and pork products originating from the Dominican Republic.

It said this includes wholesale distributors, shop and supermarket owners, restaurant and cookshop operators and also individual consumers.

The Veterinary and Livestock Division is urging all affected parties to ensure that prohibited pork products are not brought into the country or placed on the local market.

The ministry is also cautioning members of the public against purchasing or accepting prohibited pork products through informal channels, as such activity could undermine the country’s biosecurity measures.

It said that the continued restriction forms part of the country’s broader efforts to prevent the introduction of animal diseases that could threaten local livestock production.

‘African Swine Fever is particularly concerning because of its ability to spread rapidly among pigs. While the disease does not infect humans, outbreaks can result in serious losses for pig farmers and can disrupt the livestock industry and food supply.

‘An outbreak in Antigua and Barbuda could therefore have consequences extending beyond individual farms, potentially affecting local pork production, farmers’ livelihoods and national food security,’ the ministry added.

Jamaican international Khadijah ‘Bunny’ Shaw has been named the Professional Footballers’ Associations (PFA) Women’s Player of the Year.

Shaw, who represents Manchester City in the Women’s Super League (WSL), took home the coveted award for the second time in three seasons, with Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes capturing the PFA Men’s award.

She becomes the third individual to win multiple PFA Women’s Player of the Year awards, joining Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby.

The 29-year-old forward scored 21 goals in 22 appearances to win her third consecutive WSL golden boot, as Man City clinched their second WSL title.

Shaw registered hat-tricks against Aston Villa (four goals) and Tottenham and scored twice against West Ham on the final day of the season to become the first player to score 20 or more goals in three different WSL seasons.

Shaw is the first player to win three WSL golden boots, moving clear of two-time winners Vivienne Miedema and Sam Kerr.

She also scored a further five goals, including the opener in the final, as Man City won the FA Cup.

Shian Brathwaite will replace Kadeem Alleyne in the Barbados Tridents’ squad for the remainder of the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

The Tridents made the announcement in a press release on Tuesday but gave no official reason as to why the decision was made.

‘The Barbados Tridents announce that Shian Brathwaite has replaced Kadeem Alleyne in the Tridents squad for the remainder of the Republic Bank CPL 2026.

‘Brathwaite is a Barbadian top order batsman and recently top scored for the Barbados Invitational XI versus the Barbados Tridents in the inaugural Sir Garfield Sobers Memorial match,’ the statement read.

The 26-year-old Brathwaite has played just two first class matches for Barbados, and eight List A matches and also represented the West Indies Under-19s.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) says it will officially launch its Office of Financial Conduct (OFC) at the end of September 2026, strengthening financial consumer protection across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

The ECCU groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat and Anguilla and the ECCB said that the OFC will begin accepting complaints from October 15, this year.

It said that the OFC will operate as an ECCB department responsible for market conduct supervision, with a focus on ensuring that Licensed Financial Institutions (LFIs) treat consumers fairly and uphold high standards of transparency, accountability and responsible business conduct.

ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine said the Office of Financial Conduct will play an important role in promoting fair treatment of customers and strengthening confidence in the financial system.

‘The Office of Financial Conduct is intended to ensure that customers are accorded the dignity and respect they deserve. It will help ensure that financial institutions are held to account for treating customers fairly. This is imperative to strengthen and sustain confidence in our financial system,’ he said.

Through the OFC, consumers will be able to seek assistance with concerns involving unfair treatment, misleading or incomplete information, fees and charges, banking products and accounts, and access to financial services.

Consumers may submit complaints online, in writing, or in person, at no cost and without legal representation. Where appropriate, the OFC will assess and investigate complaints and facilitate their fair and timely resolution, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

The ECCB said that the establishment of the OFC reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen financial sector regulation and consumer protection. Work to establish the OFC began in 2019, and in February 2024 the ECCB Monetary Council approved its establishment. The Banking Act, 2015, was subsequently amended to introduce Part VIII, Market Conduct Supervision, providing the legislative framework for:the Office.

The OFC’s development was informed by extensive stakeholder consultations across the ECCU in 2025 and 2026. The ECCB engaged consumer and civil society organisations, youth and community groups, financial institutions, government officials, legal practitioners and other stakeholders.

It said these consultations highlighted concerns including fees and charges, difficulties opening bank accounts, fraud and scams associated with digital financial services, and the risk of financial exclusion as services become increasingly digital.

The ECCB said that the OFC will be supported by a Financial Conduct Committee and a Financial Dispute Resolution Commission, which will contribute to the consideration of complex complaints, provide advice on financial conduct matters and support informed and independent decision-making within the legislative framework.

To date, five of the ECCB’s eight member countries have enacted the required legislative amendments. St. Lucia is awaiting the second reading of the relevant amendments. Anguilla and Dominica are expected to pass the necessary legislation this year.

‘The launch of the OFC marks an important advancement in the ECCB’s commitment to ensuring that financial consumers are treated fairly, have access to effective mechanisms for resolving complaints, and can participate confidently in an evolving financial system.’

The St Lucia Kings have been dealt a major blow with batter Ackeem Auguste ruled out of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League with immediate effect due to medical reasons.

The announcement was made by the Kings in a press release on Monday, although it did not specify the medical reason.

‘Ackeem’s health and well-being remain the team’s priority, and he will receive the necessary care and support during this period.

‘The Saint Lucia Kings wish Ackeem a full and speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back when he is medically cleared to return,’ the Kings said in their official statement.

It remains unclear whether Auguste will be able to return later in the tournament.

As a result, the 22-year-old Auguste will not be available for the Kings’ upcoming match against the Trinbago Knight Riders scheduled to take place at the Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday.

The Kings currently sit in second position in the CPL table with three wins and three losses in their six matches, with Auguste being one of their leading batters to date.

He has scored 100 runs in five innings, with a topscore of 63 against the Barbados Tridents in a losing cause. He has scored the third most runs for the Kings this season behind only Kamil Pooran (168 runs) and Andries Gous (113 runs).