Category: CANA News

Caribbean Export is highlighting a potential US$1.5 billion opportunity for regional producers if the Caribbean achieves a target of reducing food imports by 25 per cent.

The issue of food security and investment in agriculture is being highlighted ahead of the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026, which will be held in Barbados from October 5 to 7. The forum’s organisers say CIF is designed to connect investors with investment-ready Caribbean projects, with agribusiness and food security among its four priority investment sectors.

The Caribbean currently spends about US$6 billion annually on food imports, while climate change and increasingly severe weather events continue to expose regional food supply chains to disruption. Increasing local and regional production could both strengthen food security and create opportunities for private-sector investment, according to Caribbean Export.

It says CARICOM’s mandate to slash regional food imports by 25 per cent unlocks an immediate $1.5 billion revenue window for local producers, but that will require capital, partnerships and stronger connections between viable regional projects and investors, which the upcoming CIF 2026 intends to facilitate.

Dr Damie Sinanan, Executive Director of Caribbean Export, said a regional approach is necessary to attract investment at the scale required.

‘Building long-term resilience means moving past the limits of our individual domestic markets,’ he said. ‘By uniting as a single Caribbean, we create the critical mass and market size required to pull in transformational global capital.’

The organisation points to developments in Barbados and Guyana as examples of efforts to increase regional food production.

In Barbados, a commercial-scale indoor vertical farming operation uses controlled-environment technology to produce crops in a setting designed to reduce exposure to severe weather and water shortages.

Guyana, meanwhile, is pursuing expanded livestock production, including the use of reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer to improve sheep production.

Caribbean Export says such projects demonstrate the potential for technology and investment to increase food production across the region.

CIF 2026 is expected to bring together investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, project developers, financial institutions and other partners, with opportunities for investment project presentations, sector discussions and targeted meetings.

The Jamaican Government plans to invest US$50 million over the next 18 months to improve water services and other critical infrastructure in rural communities, Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda has announced.

Samuda said the investment comprises US$35 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and US$15 million from the Consolidated Fund. Commissioning the Spring Garden Water Supply System in St James, the minister said the funding will target long-standing deficiencies in water, sewerage, roads and electricity in communities where existing infrastructure has been outgrown.

The planned investment will include new water systems and upgrades to existing infrastructure in communities including Agualta Vale and Mason Hall in St Mary; Albert Town and the Ulster Spring area in Trelawny; Union in Balaclava, St Elizabeth; Port Morant in eastern St Thomas; and Green Park in St Ann.

‘We are moving to procurement rapidly because, ultimately, these communities have discussed the issue of water in the way that you (Spring Garden) would have discussed the issue for some 30 or 40 years,’ Samuda said.

The announcement coincided with the commissioning of the Spring Garden water system, which was constructed at an estimated cost of $21.75 million.

The project includes a 22-kilowatt-peak solar photovoltaic system and a 10-horsepower pump capable of delivering 45 gallons of water per minute at a pumping head of 550 feet.

Samuda said the investment in Spring Garden reflected the Government’s commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges in rural communities.

‘The investments here are not by accident. They reflect a deep commitment to correcting the situation that faces our deep-rural communities,’ he said.

Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Vernon, also raised concerns about the condition of roads and bridges in the area.

He said the minister responsible for infrastructure was reviewing those concerns.

Vernon also said the St James Municipal Corporation would undertake improvements to the road surface leading into the community ahead of the start of the 2026/27 academic year, with the aim of making the commute safer and easier for residents and students.

Spring Garden resident Truston Grizzle welcomed the commissioning of the new facility, describing it as a major development for the community.

‘We are so happy because it really changes the game for us in this community,’ he said.

Guyana’s candidate for United Nations secretary-general, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has taken the lead in the second informal Security Council straw poll, receiving the highest number of ‘encourage’ votes.

A straw poll is an informal, non-binding vote conducted by the 15-member United Nations Security Council to gauge support for candidates seeking to become secretary-general. Council members indicate whether they ‘encourage’, ‘discourage’ or have ‘no opinion’ on each candidate.

Rodrigues-Birkett received eight ‘encourage’ votes, three ‘discourage’ votes and four ‘no opinion’ votes in the second poll, according to information released by Guyana’s Department of Public Information.

Rebeca Grynspan, who led the first poll, received seven ‘encourage’ votes, four ‘discourage’ votes and four ‘no opinion’ votes in the latest round.

In the first straw poll, Grynspan received 10 ‘encourage’ votes, two ‘discourage’ votes and three ‘no opinion’ votes, while Rodrigues-Birkett recorded nine ‘encourage’ votes, two ‘discourage’ votes and four ‘no opinion’ votes.

Rodrigues-Birkett’s ‘encourage’ tally therefore fell by one in the second round, while Grynspan’s fell by three, allowing the Guyanese candidate to move into first place.

The straw polls are intended to show how support for the candidates is developing and help the Security Council narrow the field.

However, leading a straw poll does not mean Rodrigues-Birkett has been selected as secretary-general. The Security Council must eventually agree on a candidate to recommend to the UN General Assembly, which makes the formal appointment.

Results from the straw poll.

The votes in the informal polls are anonymous, so it is not known which Council members cast individual votes. This is particularly significant because the five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – have veto power over the Council’s eventual recommendation.

Rodrigues-Birkett, a former Guyanese foreign minister, was nominated by Guyana and is among the candidates seeking to replace current Secretary-General António Guterres.

Further consultations and straw polls are expected as the Security Council works towards identifying a candidate capable of securing the support required for a formal recommendation to the General Assembly.

Acting Comptroller of Customs, Sonea Anita Jordan, has been charged with failing to disclose a conflict of interest and misconduct in public office.

The Barbados Police Service said its Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and Anti-Corruption and Anti-Terrorism Unit (ACAT) arrested and formally charged the 64-year-old Jordan in connection with offences allegedly committed between September 1, 2024 and November 25, 2025.

Jordan appeared before Magistrate Gayle Scott in the District ‘A’ Criminal Court on Saturday.

She was not required to plead to the offences and was granted bail in the sum of BDS$3,000 (US$1,500).

Jordan is scheduled to reappear in court on November 17, 2026.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons elected to field after winning the toss against the Trinbago Knight Riders in the 14th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here Saturday.

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS XI: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Nicholas Pooran (capt and wk), Kieron Pollard, Jyd Goolie, Matthew Breetzke, Terrance Hinds, Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, Usman Tariq, Nathan Edward

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA FALCONS XI: Amir Jangoo (wk), Evin Lewis, Rahkeem Cornwall, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Moeen Ali (capt), Kusal Perera, Shamar Springer, Alzarri Joseph, Joshua James, Jayden Seales

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons defeated the Trinbago Knight Riders by five wickets in the 14th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here Saturday.

Scores:

KNIGHT RIDERS 165-6 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 46, Nicholas Pooran 43, Sunil Narine 19 not out; Rahkeem Cornwall 2-17, Joshua James 2-23)

FALCONS 168-5 in 18.3 overs (Shadab Khan 52 not out, Kusal Perera 34 not out, Amir Jangoo 31; Terrance Hinds 2-36, Kieron Pollard 1-7)

The sweet sound of victory echoed through Stadium East on Friday, but for Jamaica’s men’s lacrosse team, it was more than just a win; it was a coronation.

In front of a fervent home crowd, the Hummingbirdz punched their ticket to the 2027 World Lacrosse Championship, securing their place among the global elite with a commanding 13-6 demolition of Puerto Rico in Pool A of the Pan American Men’s Lacrosse Championship.

The significance was not lost on the players. Qualifying for the World Championship is a monumental feat for any nation, but doing so with the roar of Jamaican supporters ringing in their ears made the moment transcendent.

From the opening whistle, the hosts played like men possessed, determined to give the home faithful a performance to remember.

Jamaica came flying out of the gates, deploying a ferocious defensive press that smothered the Puerto Rican attack. The first quarter set the tone, with the Hummingbirdz racing to a 3-1 lead.

But it was the second frame where Jamaica truly flexed their muscles. Orchestrating a clinic of transition offence and sharp passing, they outscored their opponents 5-1 in the period, storming into the halftime break with an imposing 8-2 advantage.

The momentum carried into the third quarter as the Hummingbirdz tacked on three more goals, stretching their lead to 11-2 and effectively putting the game beyond Puerto Rico’s reach.

While the visitors showed fighting spirit in the final stanza, outscoring the hosts 4-2 in a late rally, it was far too little, far too late. The final horn confirmed a 13-6 victory and sent the Jamaican bench into a frenzy of celebration.

Head coach Mark Wilson said qualifying at home was a proud moment for the team and the sport. ‘I can tell you, it’s the best thing. My favourite thing about being here for this tournament is being able to put this level of play on the field in Kingston, in front of our local players and coaches, and let them know that the work they’re doing feeds into this, and hopefully what we’re doing also shines a bright light back on them,’ Wilson said.

The result not only secures Jamaica’s spot in the 2027 World Championship but also guarantees them a top-two finish in Pool A, behind only the reigning world champions, the United States.

The Hummingbirdz will now turn their attention to the bronze medal match of the Pan American Championship, where they have the chance to add more silverware to their historic campaign.

The San Diego, California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) on Friday strongly condemned as ‘unconscionable’ the Trump administration’s deportation of more than 160 Haitian nationals to Haiti, marking the first large-scale deportation flight following the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,00- Haitians residing in the United States.

HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the deportees arrived in Haiti’s second largest city, Cap-Haïtien, rather than in Port-au-Prince, the capital, ‘because violence has made Haiti’s capital effectively inaccessible.

‘This is not simply a question of immigration enforcement. We are talking about human beings being sent into a country where more than a million people have already been driven from their homes and where there are security and humanitarian crises,’ she said.

‘The United States cannot claim that Haiti is safe while simultaneously acknowledging the extraordinary security risks that prevent even commercial flights from operating in Port-au-Prince and telling the whole world to not travel there,’ added Jozef, calling for a moratorium on deportations to Haiti.

‘These deportations are unconscionable and will contribute to the continued destabilisation of Haiti,’ she continued, urging the US Senate to ‘immediately extend TPS for a minimum of three years by passing S. 4814 (legislation), until we are able to pass comprehensive immigration reform to permanently protect all TPS and DACA (Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals) recipients across this nation.’

Jozef pointed to United Nations data that states that nearly 1.5 million Haitians are internally displaced, while 6.4 million people-more than half the French-speaking Caribbean country’s population-are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026.

‘The security situation continues to deteriorate,’ she said. ‘Between March and July alone, the United Nations documented at least 613 people killed, 375 injured, and more than 18,000 displaced in violence concentrated in Cité Soleil and the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac.

‘Against this backdrop, HBA warns that returning people to Haiti without adequate safeguards, resources, housing, security, and access to essential services as hospitals and other sustainable infrastructure, places lives at serious risk,’ added Jozef, stating that more than 110,000 Haitian nationals had already been forcibly returned to Haiti since January 2026, according to the United Nations.

Jean Négot Bonheur Delva, director general of Haiti’s National Office of Migration, told reporters on Thursday that the deportees included TPS holders and Haitians who had served prison sentences in the US.

‘It is not the Haitian state that asks for them to be sent back,’ he said. ‘Our mission is to welcome migrants of forced return. We welcome them with the aim of accompanying them to their home.

‘There is one migrant who knows nothing about Haiti because he said he was coming from the Dominican Republic; that’s where he was born,’ Delva added.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this week also described as ‘callous, reckless and inhumane’ US President Donald J. Trump’s termination of TPS for Haitians and other immigrants.

In a letter to US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Hochul reiterated her strong opposition to the termination of protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants under TPS.

‘By knowingly and cruelly forcing thousands of families to leave our country and return to their home countries, regardless of any ongoing or worsening humanitarian crises, the White House is committing a reckless and inhumane act,’ Hochul told Mullin. ‘But it is not too late to reverse course.

‘I once again urge you to fully restore TPS for those who cannot return due to extreme instability, violence and crises in TPS-designated countries. These individuals have made enormous contributions to our communities and our economy, and helped define the character of our state,’ she added.

A masterful all-round performance from Shadab Khan propelled the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to a dramatic five-wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday, preserving the home side’s perfect record at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

The Pakistani star produced arguably the individual performance of the tournament so far, smashing an unbeaten 52 off just 20 balls to complement figures of 1 for 8 from his four overs, earning a deserved Player of the Match award, as the Falcons chased down the 166-run target to end on 168 for five in 18.3 overs.

The Falcons’ run chase appeared to be unravelling early, but a magnificent unbroken 76-run partnership between Khan and Kusal Perera (34 not out) turned the tide spectacularly.

The pair’s destructive hitting rescued the home side from a precarious position, with the defining moment arriving in the 18th over when young paceman Nathan Edward endured a nightmare with the ball.

The 21-year-old conceded 27 runs in a single over, including two waist-high no-balls that forced captain Kieron Pollard to complete the final delivery.

That costly over reduced the equation to a comfortable 11 runs required from 12 balls, and Khan showed no mercy, finishing the match in just three deliveries.

Earlier, the Knight Riders had threatened to post a mammoth total after a blistering Power Play assault. Colin Munro (46) and Nicholas Pooran (43) tore into the Falcons’ attack, racing to 73 for 1 by the end of the first six overs.

Munro’s brutal leg-side hitting combined with Pooran’s unorthodox switch-hitting had the home crowd silenced.

However, the introduction of Khan and Tobagonian all-rounder Joshua James proved the turning point. James claimed 2 for 23, removing both Pooran and Pollard, while the Falcons’ spinners choked the Knight Riders’ middle order.

From a position where 200 seemed inevitable, TKR stumbled to a disappointing 165 for 6.

The Falcons’ chase began cautiously, managing just 33 runs in the Power Play while losing Rahkeem Cornwall. Amir Jangoo and Moeen Ali threatened to seize control before falling to rash shots, but their efforts laid the platform for Khan’s heroics.

The victory marks back-to-back wins for the Falcons, propelling them to the top of the CPL standings, while the defending champion Knight Riders have now suffered consecutive defeats, leaving their title defence in early jeopardy.

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) on Saturday opens ‘Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition’, celebrating the life and career of acclaimed Trinidadian Soca Superstar Machel Montano.

Opening at the Central Library in Brooklyn and created by the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, BPL said the exhibition is accompanied by programming at branches all across the borough, and showcases Montano’s lifelong contributions to Soca music and Caribbean culture.

‘Over five decades, Machel Montano has been a major player in the worldwide spread of Soca music, a genre that originated in Montano’s native Trinidad and Tobago,’ said BPL, stating that Montano began performing in 1982 at 7, with his debut album, ‘Too Young To Soca’ (1985), achieving widespread acclaim.

BPL said the exhibition includes curated artefacts from Montano’s career, including costumes, trophies and vinyl records.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to listen to a selection of Montano’s music at Central Library’s vinyl listening station and watch key moments from his life and career, ‘inviting visitors to experience the artist’s work in a personal and immersive way,’ BPL said.

It said the exhibition follows the release of the documentary ‘Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King’ (2026), which centres on Montano’s 16 performances during the 2015 Carnival season and much more.

BPL said the documentary will be projected on the facade of Central Library on September 3.

”Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition’ highlights the key role that Brooklyn played in Montano’s early career,’ said BPL, disclosing that, in 1984, at just 9, Montano spent time in the borough after being selected for a scholarship to Marie Brooks’ summer programming.

‘There, he engaged in workshops that were formative to his career,’ it added.

BPL said Montano later debuted at Madison Square Garden, supporting calypso legends like the Mighty Sparrow, the Mighty Shadow and Lord Kitchener.

In the mid-1990s, BPL said Montano lived on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn and recorded his first road march, ‘Big Truck’, in Brooklyn.

‘We’re thrilled to welcome Machel Montano to Brooklyn Public Library,’ Linda E. Johnson, BPL president and CEO, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). ‘Brooklyn is home to one of the largest Caribbean populations outside the Caribbean, and the library is committed to preserving and sharing the stories, histories and cultural contributions of the communities we serve.

‘This exhibition will offer visitors an opportunity to explore the enduring impact of Caribbean music and culture through the life and career of one of its most influential and beloved artists,’ she added.

Montano said: ‘Brooklyn helped raise me. I lived here, I learned here, and some of my earliest audiences were right in these neighbourhoods.

‘So, for this work to come back to Brooklyn, in a place that is free and open to anybody who walks through the door, means everything,’ he said. ‘The Caribbean community built a home here, and this exhibition is a way of acknowledging the mark we as a people have made on this city.

‘What moves me most is thinking about a young person walking in, seeing the costumes and the trophies and the records, and understanding that this came from a small island and reached the world,’ Montano added. ‘I hope every child who visits leaves knowing their culture deserves that kind of space.’

BPL said branches across Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighbourhoods-Clarendon, Rugby, Crown Heights, Flatbush and Brower Park-will present readings, arts and crafts workshops and cultural experiences for youth and adults.

‘Brooklyn is home to one of the largest Caribbean Diasporas outside the Caribbean itself,’ BPL said. ‘The borough’s neighbourhoods have been shaped by generations of immigrants from the Caribbean, and their contributions are evident in Brooklyn’s music, literature, cuisine, entrepreneurship, political activism and artistic expression.

‘Machel Montano’s career offers a compelling lens through which to explore these broader stories as he has transformed Soca music from a regional genre into a global cultural movement while remaining deeply rooted in Caribbean identity,’ it added. ‘His work reflects themes of migration, innovation, resilience, entrepreneurship and cultural preservation- topics that resonate strongly with Brooklyn’s own history as a crossroads of global communities.’

BPL said the exhibition continues its tradition of ‘presenting exhibitions that explore people, ideas and movements that have shaped history while reflecting the diverse cultures, experiences and communities of Brooklyn.’

BPL also said the exhibition follows its exhibition on James Baldwin, as well as Printing Black America, which examined the life and legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Black press.

In addition, BPL said the exhibition builds on its ‘longstanding commitment to music as a vital form of cultural expression, reflected in pioneering initiatives such as New York City’s first musical instrument lending library, its extensive vinyl record lending collection, and the internationally recognised Book of HOV exhibition in 2023.’

BPL said Montano – a singer, songwriter, producer and cultural icon widely regarded as the King of Soca – ‘spent more than four decades transforming Soca into a global genre through groundbreaking music, international tours and collaborations with artists across the world.’

BPL said Montano is the most decorated Road March champion in Trinidad and Tobago’s history, having won a record 12 titles, and is also a National Calypso Monarch, Chutney Soca Monarch and recipient of the Hummingbird Gold National Medal.

‘With a career that spans music, entrepreneurship and cultural advocacy, he remains committed to expanding the reach of Caribbean music and celebrating the culture of Trinidad and Tobago on the world stage,’ BPL said.

It said the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, the philanthropic arm of the Montano family, was founded by Machel Montano and is co-led by his mother, Elizabeth Montano.

BPL said the Foundation invests in young people across Trinidad and Tobago, supporting education, mentorship and training for emerging Soca artists; sponsoring uniforms and equipment for young athletes representing their country; and funding health initiatives for individuals in need.

The Foundation also builds livelihoods, where rural cocoa-producing communities have received equipment, training and soft loans, allowing growers to make and sell their own chocolate, BPL said.

It said the Foundation is custodian of Machel Montano’s personal archive, which was inscribed in 2024 on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for Latin America and the Caribbean.

”Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition’ draws on that collection,’ said BPL, one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions.