Category: CANA News

Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday Tuesday outlined a series of initiatives aimed at dealing with the rising cost of living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the immediate emphasis being on lowering the soaring cost of electricity.

Speaking on the state-owned NBC Radio, Prime Minister Friday said his eight month-old New Democratic Party (NDB) administration, which came to office in November last year after 25 years of being in the opposition, is ‘constantly reviewing’ ways to cushion the population from the surge in energy prices triggered by the war in the Middle East and its impact on global oil markets.

‘The surcharge is too high, but it’s still lower than it could have been because of the measures that we have instituted,’ Friday said, adding that the government and state-owned St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) must both ‘bear some of the costs’ rather than passing them on to the consumers.

Prime Minister Friday told radio listeners that electricity is the most immediate and visible pressure on household budgets and business operations, noting that ‘when VINLEC prices go up, essentially the surcharge is passed on to consumers and to businesses.

It affects everybody…I have total sympathy with the families who are struggling to make ends meet because of increasing energy prices,’ Friday said, adding that his administration moved early, announcing measures in May to blunt the impact of rising diesel prices used in electricity generation.

He said these steps included removing the fuel surcharge at the port on diesel imported by VINLEC, reducing or removing the excise tax on that fuel to keep VINLEC’s input costs down and pressuring VINLEC to absorb part of the fuel increase instead of fully passing it through to customers.

Friday said that in July, VINLEC absorbed ‘over EC$730,000′ (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) that would otherwise have appeared on consumers’ bills.

He said without those interventions the fuel surcharge would be ‘over 90 cents per kilowatt hour’ – a level that would put ‘a lot of pressure on households, businesses and the economy at large’.

Friday urged VINLEC not only to share the burden of higher fuel costs, but also to reconsider its disconnection practices in the current climate.

‘VINLEC also has to understand that they can’t rush and cut off people in the same time frames that they used to… We have to all have some more grace and simply say we are trying to work our way through this crisis.’

The prime minister acknowledged that the current subsidies and tax relief on fuel are essentially short-term tools designed to ‘cushion’ an externally driven price shock and agreed that permanent relief must come from structural changes in the energy sector, not endless subsidies.

He said his longer term strategy includes reducing vulnerability to oil price shocks by investing in renewable energy and ‘more sustainable energy systems that are now affordable,’ mandating VINLEC to lead the transition, rather than treating renewables as a competitor to the utility:

‘VINLEC has to lead the way… so that we become more sustainable in our energy supply,’ he said, adding that the government would continue to remove or reduce fuel taxes ‘within the constraints that we find ourselves in, with tightened government finances’,

But he told radio listeners that the country cannot rely indefinitely on fiscal giveaways to keep electricity prices in check.

Beyond electricity, Prime Minister Friday outlined a suite of initiatives to ease everyday expenses, particularly for low-income households and families with school age children.

The government is banking on periodic value added tax VAT-free days to provide direct, visible relief:

He said the first VAT-free day in December 2025 generated a ‘phenomenal’ response and ‘a frenzy’ in Kingstown and that the second VAT-free day is scheduled for August 28, specifically targeted at back to school shopping, rather than the general VAT-free day in December.

Prime Minister Friday said businesses were given more advance notice after some complained that they had underestimated demand in December, urging retailers to match the state’s sacrifice by offering their own discounts.

Friday linked the VAT-free day to a broader philosophy of targeted protection for vulnerable groups during the current squeeze.

Among the measures he highlighted was the government’s increase of public assistance to EC$500 per month and support for poor and vulnerable persons to prevent them being ‘crushed by the current circumstances’.

He noted that the government has also removed registration fees for secondary schools and the Community College and will pay for the exam fees for the upcoming cohort of students leaving secondary school.

‘You shouldn’t get to form 5 and then you’re basically out there with a sponsor sheet to write eight or ten subjects… That’s part of your education. The state will take care of that responsibility,’ Prime Minister Friday told the nation.

The chairman of the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), Ronnie Brunswijk, says his party will vote against the ratification of the border protocol between Suriname and France

Brunswijk, a former Suriname vice president, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly, made his announcement on Sunday during the Liba Krutu indicating that his party will vote against the ratification of the border protocol between Suriname and France. ABOP is part of the governing coalition here, but Brunswijk said that as far as he is concerned, the interests of the residents of the interior outweigh unity within the coalition.

‘I will tell them that I am voting against this law, because the interior does not want it,’ Brunswijk told the gather, arguing that it became clear during the krutu that the Aucan community is opposed to the protocol.

The border protocol was by Suriname and France in 2021 when ABOP was also part of the government, and Brunswijk was Vice President under the Chan Santokhi government. However, the final approval of the protocol must be made by the National Assembly.

Following the Krutu , Parliament will subsequently consider the draft law approving the protocol between Suriname and France regarding the border between Suriname and French Guiana.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ashwin Adhin said that Parliament has worked intensively on this subject since the initial consideration on November 17, 2025.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the National Assembly that was schedule to travel to Stoelmanseiland to attend the Krutu did not do so on Sunday.

The chairman of the committee, Rabin Parmessar, said the government had the responsibility of informing the border communities about the protocol and not the National Assembly.

Parmessar said that the necessary administrative procedures for the trip could not be completed on such short notice and that as a result, the delegation of the Committee of Rapporteurs, which was to attend the meeting as observers, remained in Paramaribo.

‘The administrative procedures could not be completed in time. In doing so, I did not want to deviate from the applicable procedures of the National Assembly and the government,’ he said.

Last week, Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Minister, Melvin Bouva, said the government would participate in the ceremony with Granman Bono Velantie of the Aucaners regarding the border treaty between Suriname and France.

Bouva outline the government’s position to the National Assembly after legislators decided to postpone consideration of the legislation to give the traditional authorities the opportunity to hold internal consultations first.

Adhin said he had received a request from the Aucaners Granman Bono Velantie for a so-called ‘ liba Krutu ‘ be held first and scheduled for August 2.

‘Out of respect for the traditional authority, I cannot do otherwise than ask for your understanding in this matter. Therefore, I am adjourning the discussion of this agenda item until after the Krutu ,’ Adhin said.

But Parmessar said the Granman Bono Velanti himself had not traveled to the meeting. He said consultations did, however, take place with chief captains and other traditional leaders. Parmessar said it appears that the leaders and residents present still have many questions regarding the border protocol and want to be informed in detail before further steps are taken.

‘From what I understand, people want to be properly informed one more time about the entire process,’ he said, adding ‘it was a meeting of the Granman and not of the parliament.

‘The preparation and provision of information regarding the treaty are primarily a task of the government,’ according to Parmessar, noting that the concerns of many traditional authorities focus less on the determination of the border line itself than on the consequences of enforcement following ratification of the protocol.

Asked for his reaction to the statement made by Brunswijk, the committee chairman said he would be inviting the parliamentary group leaders for consultation as soon as possible.

Police say they have dealt another blow to organised crime syndicates operating in Jamaica after 19 members of the ‘Genasyde Gang’ had been arrested and slapped with several charges.

The Specialized Investigations Branch (SIB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said that a woman is among the accused charged with offences under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act. The charges range from the leadership of a crime organisation to being part of a criminal investigation as well as providing a benefit to a criminal organisation.

The SIB said that 39-year-old Tefari Green, otherwise called ‘Scoobs’ and ‘Scrappy’ is the only person charged with leadership of a criminal organisation, while Nicholas Henry, otherwise called ‘Chemist’, has been charged with providing a benefit to a criminal organisation.

The police said that the investigations revealed that the network engaged in a string of serious and violent crimes including murders, shootings and robberies between 2021 and 2026 in the parishes of St. James, St. Catherine, Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Thomas.

It said that the National Strategic Anti-Gang Division (NSAD), of the SIB, conducted a series of targeted operations and the accused were apprehended, positively identified during identification parades and subsequently charged.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kevin Johnson, the Divisional Commander of NSAD, said the JCF will continue to go after criminal networks and implore the public to partner with the police.

‘Organised criminal groups rely on leadership, membership and support networks to carry out their activities. The NSAD is relentlessly going after these networks and is committed to bringing those involved before the court,’ said Johnson.

‘Our most vital partners in this fight are law-abiding citizens. We urge the public to report gang activities as we work to ensure the safety of our communities,’ he added.

The Guyana government Monday launched a nationwide consultation process aimed at creating a new standard for how villages across the country should look and function, with the long-term goal of improving the quality of life for residents in communities throughout the country.

The consultations, spearheaded by President Irfaan Ali, mark the start of the government’s Model Villages initiative, which will initially focus on 23 villages before being expanded nationwide. Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal said the consultations are intended to establish a baseline for village development, identifying what communities should look like in terms of infrastructure, public spaces, recreation and overall appearance.

‘We have identified 23 model villages. Starting today, all of those communities will be engaged,’ Croal said at the first consultation, explaining that the initiative is about ensuring villages are well maintained, with public spaces kept to a high standard and more recreational facilities developed.

The programme will involve several government agencies, including the Ministries of Public Works, Local Government and Regional Development, and Housing and Water, along with utility providers Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

President Ali said the programme is intended to ensure that the rapid transformation taking place in Georgetown, the capital, is also reflected in villages across the country.

‘We want development to reach every single citizen and we want the transformation of Georgetown to also be in communities,’ he said, that achieving that goal will require cooperation between central government, regional and neighbourhood democratic councils, and residents themselves.

‘It requires partnership. It requires citizens and NDCs, RDCs, government doing what is right. It requires all of us working together,’ he said, noting that the initiative is about more than improving physical infrastructure.

He said better-planned villages can create opportunities for economic growth while preserving the identity and character of communities.

‘It is the economic empowerment that comes with such transformation,’ Ali said, describing the programme as one that will eventually reach every village in Guyana.

‘The village remains the dominant human settlement. Almost three out of every four Guyanese still live in villages.. The village remains central to the life of our nation.’

He added that meaningful national development cannot happen unless it reaches the village level.

‘If we are serious about giving people quality of life, development must reach the level of the village,’ Ali said, cautioning against simply romanticising the past noting that many villages historically lacked proper roads, drainage, street lighting and community facilities, while population growth has outpaced infrastructure in many areas.

He said the focus is on creating well-planned communities built around three priorities: connectivity through improved physical infrastructure, rebuilding the social fabric of communities, and creating opportunities for commerce and business development.

The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has strongly condemned the expansion of the US Visa Bond Programme, warning that it discriminatorily impacts Caribbean and other immigrants.

HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the policy requires certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants to post financial bonds ranging from US$5,000 to US$20,000 as a condition of entry.

While presented as a visa compliance measure, Jozef said that the policy creates ‘a wealth-based barrier to lawful travel and raises serious concerns regarding fairness, transparency and discrimination’.

Jozef said that by conditioning mobility on the ability to produce thousands of dollars upfront, the policy disproportionately impacts individuals from countries facing economic hardship and humanitarian challenges.

‘This policy is discriminatory in both its design and its practical impact. Access to lawful travel should not depend on whether an individual can afford a substantial financial bond. This creates a system where mobility is determined by wealth rather than eligibility.’

She said the financial burden of this policy is especially concerning given economic realities in the United States.

‘Millions of Americans lack sufficient savings to cover unexpected expenses as low as US$500.00, and a similar requirement imposed on US travelers abroad would place international travel out of reach for many.

‘A policy that would be viewed as exclusionary if applied to Americans should not become acceptable when imposed on travelers from Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions of the Global South,’ the HBA executive director said.

She said while the US Department of State has not issued a final list of countries subject to the expanded programme, the initial Visa Bond Pilot Programme provides insight into its potential impact.

Jozef said the countries included in the pilot programme were concentrated in Africa and other regions with predominantly Black and brown populations, ‘raising serious concerns about disparate impact and the use of nationality-based classifications in immigration policy.’

She noted that those lists have grown to include approximately 50 countries, with a significant concentration in Africa, as well as nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia.

Jozef said countries added in recent updates include, among others, Ethiopia, Lesotho Mozambique, and several other African and Global South nations, alongside select countries in Latin America and Asia.

‘The geographic pattern is clear: the policy overwhelmingly impacts countries with majority Black and brown populations. This policy cannot be separated from its impact. When a policy disproportionately burdens communities of colou around the world, it demands greater transparency, accountability and review.’

Jozef further warned that the Visa Bond Programme raises ‘significant concerns’ under the US Administrative Procedure Act (APA), including whether the government has provided adequate justification, established transparent selection criteria, or considered less restrictive alternatives.

Jozef said the HBA is urging the State Department to suspend implementation of the programme pending further review; provide transparent criteria for country selection and application; assess the policy’s disparate impacts on affected communities; and ensure visa policies uphold ‘fairness, due process and equal treatment’.

Jozef also urged the US Congress to exercise its oversight authority by organizing a hearing on this matter; restrict funding through appropriations for the execution of this programme; introduce legislation that would limit the Secretary of State’s authority to impose nationality-based financial burdens; and direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent review of the Visa Bond Program’s ‘effectiveness, legality and disparate impact.’

‘As Haiti continues to face profound humanitarian and security challenges, HBA emphasizes that additional financial barriers to lawful travel will disproportionately affect Haitian families, businesses and communities,’ Jozef warned.

The State Department said the Visa Bond Programme finalizes the temporary final rule that went into effect on August 20, 2025, which launched a 12-month long Visa Bond Pilot Programme, and establishes a permanent visa bond programme.

‘An alien applying for a visa as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) may be required to submit a bond (visa bond) to ensure that the alien maintains his or her nonimmigrant status and departs as required,’ it said.

‘Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to US$20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers,’ the State Department added.

It said the final rule authorizes consular officers to ‘require the posting of a bond by an alien applying for, and otherwise eligible to receive, a business visitor/tourist (B-1/B-2) visa to insure that at the expiration of the time for which such alien has been admitted, or upon failure to maintain the status under which [the alien] was admitted, or to maintain any status subsequently acquired, such alien will depart from the United States’.

Under the program, the State Department said visa bonds may be required from certain business/pleasure (B1/B-2) visa applicants who are nationals of countries with ‘high overstay rates, deficient information sharing, insufficient identity verification and criminal records, and that need improvement in the area of screening and vetting and the security of travel and civil documents, including in the granting of citizenship.’

The State Department said it will announce the covered countries no fewer than 15 days before the programme takes effect, and that this list may be amended on ‘a rolling basis, with 15 days from announcement to enactment for any countries added and with immediate effect for any countries removed from the list’.

In May, the Department of State identified Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica and Grenada as Caribbean countries needing visa bonds.

Last weekend, the Antigua and Barbuda government said Prime Minister Gaston Browne had written to President Donald Trump as it seeks a review of US visa restrictions and visa bond measures.

The government said that, among the measures highlighted in Brown’s letter is the strengthening by legislation of the residency requirements under Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme through which foreign nationals are granted citizenship in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of the island.

Prime Minister Brown’s letter also pointed to his country’s willingness to cooperate with the United States regarding Third-Country Nationals within the limits of its national capacity.

In Grenada’s case the bond rule follows an August 2025 decision by the US to revoke the visas held by Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall, a move regional media tied to Washington’s crackdown on governments linked to Cuba’s medical brigade programme.

Cornwall becoming the first senior Caribbean official targeted struck directly at the Mitchell administration, which has kept Cuban doctors and nurses in Grenadian hospitals despite US pressure to cut ties.

The Guyana government says it has commenced the process to secure a specialised marine salvage contractor to recover the MV Barima, which capsized and sank on July 18 off the North West Coast, killing 72 people with more than 30 others missing and presumed dead..

The Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, through the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), said it is seeking qualified firms with extensive regional experience to submit Expressions of Interest for the operationThe vessel rests in approximately 13 to 15 metres of water. It presents a technically demanding salvage operation due to strong tidal currents, limited underwater visibility and challenging sea conditions.

Interested firms must demonstrate the technical expertise, specialised equipment and operational capacity required to safely recover the vessel while preserving evidence that may assist the Commission of Inquiry established by President Irfaan Ali.

Contractors will also be required to outline their proposed salvage methodology, environmental protection measures, key personnel, implementation timeline and health and safety management systems.

Companies must further demonstrate the ability to maintain the recovered vessel in an upright position on a barge for several weeks following the operation.

The MV Barima is a passenger and cargo ferry measuring approximately 38.6 metres in length with an 8.9 metre beam and a depth of 2.9 metres. It is powered by twin Caterpillar C18 diesel engines and Caterpillar diesel generator sets.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted electronically to MARAD by the close of business on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Following an evaluation of submissions, shortlisted firms will be invited to participate in the next stage of the procurement process, which will include detailed technical specifications, site information and contractual requirements for the salvage operation.

Late last month, Prime Minister Mark Phillips told a news conference and that the government would consider making the area where the MV Barima sank into a memorial should the relatives of the families of those who have died agree to that option.

He said then that the authorities had already received offers from reputable international salvage companies to try and recover the 87-year-old vessel.

‘Well, there are several offers being submitted to the government …for salvaging the vessel,’ Prime Minister Phillips said, noting that ‘in addition to those offers to salvage the vessels, it is the wishes of the family that are important at this stage, because if there is any indication from the family that they prefer to have the area be deemed a memorial site, then we go with that option’.

Prime Minister Phillips reiterated that regarding the salvaging the vessel, ‘if the family feels that we should go ahead and salvage the vessel, the government is likely to honour the wishes of the family.

‘You have two options here. As I said, you have offers to salvage the vessel, right. And then there’s this whole issue about the area being deemed a memorial site and a memorial being constructed. But the family’s wishes is what is important now,’ he added.

Guyana’s swimming sensation Raekwon Noel captured his third gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games when he won the men’s 200m freestyle here on Saturday.

Noel’s decision to withdraw from the 100m backstroke event to reserve energy paid dividends, as he powered to victory in a new CAC Games record of one minute, 47.08 seconds.

It broke the previous championship record of 1:47.19 held by Mexico’s Jorge Iga back in 2018. Iga had to settle for silver this time around in 1:47.95, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Nikoli Blackman completed the podium in 1:49.41.

Noel had earlier signalled his intentions by cruising to victory in his heat in a time of 1:52.43.

The 200m freestyle triumph added to Noel’s outstanding campaign in the Dominican Republic.

He previously won the men’s 200m individual medley in a Games and national-record time of 1:59.35 and he also secured the 200m butterfly crown in 1:56.82, improving the former meet record of 1:57.03.

The Jamaica is finalising efforts to launch a 10-year agricultural development plan following extensive consultations with farmers, researchers, exporters, private-sector stakeholders and development partners.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister, Floyd Green, said the plan is expected to guide the sustainable growth of Jamaica’s agricultural sector. ‘We have been on the road, we spoke to our farmers, officials, researchers, exporters, private sector developmental partners, we’ve listened carefully to what they have said, we’ve brought in consultants to look at how do we craft a development plan for agriculture that will stand the test of time,’ Green told the 72nd Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show on Sunday.

‘.. we are on the final leg and we expect to launch our 10-year agricultural development plan at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture at the end of this month and we think that’s a big step in the right direction,’ he added.

The 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture will take place in Jamaica from September 27 to October 2, this year and is regarded as the region’s premier agricultural event that features seminars; statutory meetings of regional agriculture organisations; and other key forums, including a special meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

It will be held under the theme ‘The New FACE of Caribbean Food Systems (FACE), which FACE represents Food Security, Agri-Business, Climate-Smart Technologies, and Export Expansion.

Greene told the weekend event that while technological advancements do pose threats to certain jobs, food production will always require the human element.

‘One of the messages that our youth must understand, as the world advances, as we look at things like artificial intelligence, as we think about the jobs that are under threat, no matter what happens in this world, we will have to eat.

‘Even if you’re writing the programme for AI, you will have to eat. So, AI will never replace our farmers and food production,’ the added.

Greene said that his ministry is actively working to remove barriers that often prevent young people from getting involved in agriculture.

He highlighted the Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) which is an entrepreneurial training platformed organised by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs in partnership with HEART/NSTA Trust.

‘Why RYEEP is working is because it takes a practical approach. It takes you where you are, it provides you with practical training, and it provides you with grant support so you can expand,’ Green said.

Additional support provided by the ministry is reserving land in agro-parks for young people and assisting with land preparation and agricultural inputs.

‘Last year, we reserved 25 per cent of our land [in agro-parks] for young people. I’m pleased to announce that we have passed that mark and last year, of all the land in the agro-park that we leased, 34 per cent of it went to youth in agriculture.’

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Monday, August 3, 2026.

GEORGETOWN – A magistrate has adjourned to September 7, the court case in which three people, including the captain of the ill-fated MV Barima, have been charged with murder after the 87-year-old vessel sank on July 18, resulting in the death of 72 people and more than 30 others missing and presumed dead.

SAN DIEGO – The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has strongly condemned the expansion of the US Visa Bond Programme, warning that it discriminatorily impacts Caribbean and other immigrants.

GEORGETOWN – The Guyana government says it has commenced the process to secure a specialised marine salvage contractor to recover the MV Barima, which capsized and sank on July 18 off the North West Coast, killing 72 people with more than 30 others missing and presumed dead.

PARAMARIBO -The chairman of the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), Ronnie Brunswijk, says his party will vote against the ratification of the border protocol between Suriname and France.

KINGSTON – Police say they have dealt another blow to organised crime syndicates operating in Jamaic after 19 members of the ‘Genasyde Gang’ had been arrested and slapped with several charges.

SPORTS:

PORT OF SPAIN – Secnd day of the second test match between West Indies and Pakistan at the Queen’s Park Oval.

GLASGOW – Head coach of Jamaica’s senior netball side Sasher-Gaye Henry-Wright said she is proud of the team’s second place finish at the Commonwealth Games here on Sunday.

PORT OF SPAIN – Jamaican outfit Mount Pleasant FA edged Delfines del Este of the Dominican Republic 1-0 on Sunday to capture the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield title at the Ato Boldon Stadium here on Sunday.

A High Court has sentenced a man to 11 years in jail, who at the age of 14 years in 2023 breached his curfew, stabbed a 19-year-old man to death and then threatened to ‘deal with’ the deceased man’s relatives one by one.

Justice Rickie Burnett has set a starting point of 30 years’ imprisonment, a notional life sentence, here when he began the sentencing phase for Tyshaun Spring, who could have been spending 16 years, six months and 13 days behind bars had it not been for the guidance given to judges by the court that they reduce by up to one-third, the sentences handed down on minors. Spring had pleaded not guilty in January 2025 to a charge that on November 21, 2023, at Georgetown, a town which was known for its sugar production, he murdered Oneil Delicia, another resident of the community.

However, in May 2025, after Spring’s mother testified in the case, his lawyer, Ronald Marks, asked that he be rearraigned. Spring then pleaded guilty to murder.

In sentencing Spring, the judge said that the aggravating features of the offence are that it was committed in full view of the public, that the attack was unprovoked, and that the accused had committed the offence while on curfew.

Spring was granted a full one-third discount for his guilty plea, reducing the sentence by 9 years and four months. The court then deducted the two years, one month, and 17 days he spent on remand, reducing the sentence to 16 years, six months, and 13 days.

Justice Burnett noted that in accordance with the practice direction, the court should reduce the sentence to at most two-thirds of the term appropriate for an adult offender to reflect Spring’s youth and immaturity.

He therefore ordered Spring to spend 11 years in prison, rather than 16 years, six months and 13 days.

In his summation of the case, Justice Burnett did not reveal the full names of witnesses, identifying them by their initials instead.

The High Court heard that on November 21, 2023 in the evening, Delicia was in the backyard of a residence with friends and that Spring, accompanied by another person, arrived on a bicycle.

A confrontation later ensued with Spring taking out a black-handled knife from the right side of his waist, and stabbing Delcia repeatedly. Spring remained at the scene with the knife before he was disarmed by female witness, who also sought medical assistance for Delicia.

Delicia’s brother, seeing his sibling’s injury, took a piece of iron from a nearby vehicle and pursued Spring, who managed to escape.

A report was then made to the police and a police officer retrieved the bloody knife. The police layer visited the Georgetown Hospital where Delicia was was pronounced dead that same evening.

Spring was later located near his grandmother’s house, where he was overheard threatening to kill other people.

The court heard he was taken to the Georgetown Hospital for medical attention after claiming that he had sustained injuries, but the medical examination reported no acute physical findings.

A post-mortem conducted on Delicia’s body concluded that he died of multiple sharp-point injuries, including 9-cm and 18-cm gaping wounds.

Spring was later was assessed by a forensic psychologist and according to the report of June 2, 2025, prepared by Dr. Enyinne Williams, Spring admitted to drinking heavily and that he had smoked daily from the age of 13 years.

The psychiatrist said he had no pertinent psychiatric issues and a social inquiry report said there had been ongoing issues between Spring and Delicia’s family from primary school into secondary school.

There were several reports of incidents involving the parties.

The report said Spring grew up with his grandmother and his aunt. At the time of the stabbing, he was on a curfew and should have been at home, but went to his grandmother’s place.

Delicia’s mother said her family has not been the same since the passing of her son, which has left the family emotionally and psychologically challenged.