Category: CANA News

Tourism Minister Gary Rutty says the sector has delivered significant economic growth for the first half of this year for the Cayman Islands as the British Overseas Territory registered a near seven per cent increase in cruise ship passengers.

Figures released by the Department of Tourism show that for the first half of 2026, the island welcomed 681,391 cruise passengers, a 6. 8 per cent compared to the same period in 2025 with tourism officials saying this increase underscored the destination’s robust growth trajectory across every segment of tourism industry. ‘Tourism is one of the strongest engines of our national economy, and a record first half of the year means that engine is delivering for Caymanians,’ said Rutty, adding that ‘growth of this type extends well beyond the arrivals hall.

‘It is shown in the wages of our hospitality workers, in the order books of our restaurants, taxi operators, water sports businesses and small suppliers, and in the confidence of those choosing to invest in our tourism product. Eight consecutive months of stayover growth, alongside sustained cruise arrivals, gives our people and our businesses something they can plan around,’ Rutty said, adding that the Cayman Islands government remains committed to ensuring that this growth continues to create real, lasting opportunity across all three Islands.’

In addition, hotel revenue for the first half of the year recorded an increase of 17.3 per cent when compared to the first six months of 2025.

‘Results like these are never accidental. They are the product of steady, deliberate work by the team at the Department of Tourism and by our partners right across the industry,’ said the Director of Tourism, Rosa Harris.

‘Eight consecutive months of stayover growth reflects the disciplined execution of a clear strategy – diversifying our source markets, securing, and sustaining airlift, deepening our travel trade relationships, and keeping the Cayman Islands visible in the markets that matter most.’

She said that Canada’s rise from a secondary market to a primary one, and the new Austin service that followed the Cayman Islands’ aviation trade engagement, are examples of that work translating into measurable results.

‘As we move through the summer months, the Department remains focused on strengthening our airlift, deepening our travel trade partnerships in our growing markets like Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, and continuing to position the Cayman Islands as a preferred year-round destination,’ she added.

According to the tourism figures released here, the Cayman Islands welcomed 40,460 stayover visitors in June 2026 recording its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year stayover growth.

This was a 6.9 per cent increase compared with June 2025 with growth led by the United States and strongly supported by increased visitation from Canada and Europe.

June’s performance solidified a record first half of 2026 for the destination, with stayover arrivals between January and June reaching 288,694, an increase of 11.3 per cent from the same period in 2025.

The destination also welcomed 55,639 cruise passengers in June, an increase of 15.5 per cent compared with June 2025. Total visitation for June, including both stayover and cruise passengers, was 96,099 up 11.7 per cent year over year.

Canada was the destination’s fastest growing market in June recording its strongest June on record with arrivals reaching 1,679, an increase of 44.1 per cent compared with June 2025. Arrivals from Canada for the first half of the year reached a record 26,674, up 48.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.

European markets also showed solid gains in June, reflecting the continued strength of the destination’s strategic partnerships with travel trade in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and European markets.

Visitors from the UK and Ireland increased by 4.1 per cent, while Continental Europe recorded the strongest increase at 73.9 per cent, led by growth from France, Germany, and Spain. Arrivals from UK and Ireland for the first half of the year rose by eight per cent and arrivals from Continental Europe increased by 22.9 per cent.

The figures also show that Latin America saw a modest dip of 4.8 per cent in June, however the market’s overall performance for the first half of the year showed a more positive outlook with arrivals up 10.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.

The Department of Tourism said this increase in arrivals is evidence of growing interest among Latin American travellers in the Cayman Islands as an alternative warm-weather destination as the result of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism’s strategic engagement in the region.

The United States generated the largest absolute increase of any market in June, adding 2,259 visitors for growth of 6.8 per cent compared with June 2025.

Jamaica and Guyana Monday signed several agreements strengthening their diplomatic, trade, economic as well as health and tourism as the two countries also moved towards deepening regional and international cooperation.

Visiting Ghanian President, John Dramani Mahama, who acknowledged the role Pan Africanism had played in the liberation of both African and Caribbean countries from colonial domination, said that there are now new opportunities for building further solidarity today’This time is not about liberation from colonial domination. This time it is economic emancipation of our people. And we have no option than to work together, bring our comparative advantages together to be able to create the prosperity that our people deserve,’ he told a ceremony here on Monday.

Mahama, who is paying an official visit to Jamaica participating in the country’s Emancipation and Independence commemorations, said that his discussions with Prime Minister Andrew Holness centered on a number of initiatives, including bringing Jamaican and Ghanaian business people together.

‘I think that that is one sure way to begin cross investments between our countries. There are many opportunities that exist here in Jamaica. And there are many opportunities that exist in Ghana. Both of us have the vision of creating our nations into hubs for our sub region and so we can cooperate both in investments and in terms of movement of people and services between Accra and Jamaica.’

Mahama said during his discussions with Jamaican business leaders later on Monday, ‘ we’ll have the opportunity to discuss some of the investments that are available in Ghana, which they can take advantage of and that gives them an opportunity to reach the rest of Africa because of the African continental free trade area.

‘You are able to produce or manufacture in one country and export to the other 54 countries. That creates a market of 1.4 billion people with a GDP (gross domestic product) of almost three trillion US dollars.

‘And so, that opportunity is available. But vice versa, getting investors to look at the opportunities here in Jamaica, in real estate and construction and manufacturing and several of those areas.

‘We have to activate the bilateral services agreement between us. It’s currently before our parliaments and we’ll fast track it so that it becomes operational so that either national carriers between Jamaica and Ghana or third party carriers can fly direct flights from Accra to Montego Bay.’

For his part, Prime Minister Holness said the two countries stand together on either side of the Atlantic for the dignity, justice, and historical truth that the Jamaican National Hero, Marcus Garvey ‘so forcefully championed.

‘Mr. President, your visit solidifies the long-standing diplomatic relationship between our two countries. It builds on several high-level engagements at the bilateral level between our two foreign ministers, which have resulted in the signing of an agreement for the recruitment of health professionals from the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, as well as the updating of the agreement on arts and culture.’

Holness, who has accepted an invitation to visit Accra when the country observes its 70th anniversary of independence next year, said that the health cooperation agreement is already reaping benefits with the anticipated arrivals of nurses to support Jamaica’s health care system.

‘We expect to expand our relations to include deepened cooperation in health, education, tourism, and air services, the parameters of which we discussed extensively today,’ Holness said, adding he is ‘particularly pleased of the discussions as it relates to air services agreements, the expansion of tourism, and indeed I’m hopeful that in the very near future we could see direct flights from Accra to Montego Bay’.

Holness said Jamaica is also seeking to strengthen its commercial and investment ties with Ghana as part of a broader engagement with continental Africa.

He said that the virtual investment and new market ministerial business mission, which was held last month, would have connected many Jamaican companies and companies in Ghana.

‘And we are seeing results already in areas of logistics, tourism, hospitality, agri-processing, ICT, FinTech, and the creative industries,’ Holness said, adding that he has observed that FinTech are growing services in Ghana.

‘Jamaica is also expanding our ports and logistics operation to be the gateway of the Caribbean and Latin America,’ he said, adding that by potentially connecting the ports ‘we could give exporters and investors on both sides of the Atlantic a more efficient route to new markets.

‘We can make it easier for our Ghanaian exporter to reach the Caribbean and the Americas, and easier for a Jamaican exporter to reach Africa, particularly in the context of the African continental free trade area. ‘

During his statement, Holness expressed thanks to Ghana following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.

‘Jamaica has shown remarkable resilience in the face of that disaster, but that was strengthened by the friendship of our international partners. Ghana’s humanitarian assistance, together with the invaluable contribution of the Ghana Army Corps of Engineers, has played a meaningful role in our recovery….’

‘Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Jamaica, and particularly the people of St. Elizabeth, particularly those communities that had their roofs restored, we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ‘

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.

Shaquille Bradford scored the lone goal in the 51st minute as Mount Pleasant secured its first-ever CFU Club Shield crown, becoming only the second Jamaican club to win the competition, following Arnett Gardens’ success in 2024.

It capped an outstanding tournament which saw them concede just one goal throughout the competition.

With the win, Mount Pleasant also booked a place in Group B of the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, where they will join fellow Jamaican clubs Portmore United and Cavalier, along with Dominican Republic representatives Cibao FC and Salcedo FC. Mount Pleasant’s Sporting Director Paul Christie hailed the achievement, praising the club’s ownership, coaching staff, and players for their commitment throughout the campaign.

‘It is just a feeling that you can’t tired of, and so I just want to salute the ownership of Peter Goule and his wife, and the technical team led by Theodore Whitmore and Davion Ferguson, and also our captain Daniel Green and the rest of the staff for their hard work and dedication.

‘We came here and we adapted to the conditions and we did what we had to do. And, in return, we are now the Caribbean Shield champions, and so it is definitely a good feeling,’ Christie said.

A superb batting display by Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam have left Pakistan in firm control of the second Test against West Indies at the close of play on the second day here on Monday.

Shafique’s unbeaten 107 off 185 balls coupled with captain Azam’s 86 not out off 126 balls, powered the visitors to a formidable 266 for two in reply to the West Indies’ total of 344 at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The pair has so far added 168 runs for the third wicket to put Pakistan on course to post a mammoth first innings total and give their side a hefty lead, as they trail by just 78 runs heading into Tuesday’s third day of play.

West Indies contributed to their own demise with their wayward bowling gifting Pakistan’s batsmen free runs, with wicket-taking deliveries few and far between.

The home side’s opening pace attack of Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales were surprisingly inconsistent, with Azan Awais hitting Roach for three consecutive boundaries in the third over of the innings.

Together with partner Imam-ul-Haq, they put on 34 runs inside eight overs, before Shamar Joseph produced a snorter off a good length that hit the top of his bat and ballooned to gully for Jomel Warrican to take an easy catch.

Awais continued to take advantage of the slack bowling on offer, hitting Joseph for four fours in the 12th over to move into the 40s, while Shafique wasted little time in joining in on the action by blasting Warrican for sixes in successive overs.

Awais eventually brought up his maiden Test half century off 61 balls by driving Warrican down to long on for a single.

It was Warrican who broke their 64-run partnership, with the West Indies needing to review a lbw decision against Awais after he was initially given not out, to dismiss him for 55 and leave the score 98 for two. Azam joined Shafique at the crease, and for the next three hours, they neutralised the home side’s passive bowling attack, which was without the services of first match hero Justin Greaves.

The skipper showed his aggressive intent early on by bludgeoning Seales for three fours in the 24th over.

Pakistan went to tea at 139 for two, while scoring at just over four runs an over, and the same continued after the break, with Shafique getting to his seventh Test half century off 79 balls with an exquisite straight drive off Roach for four.

Azam followed in the same vein by notching his 33rd half century, as Pakistan tightened their grip on the contest at 184 for two.

Azam was lucky not to have been dismissed almost immediately after, but Joseph failed to hold on to a difficult one-handed catch on the long on boundary, with the ball going over the boundary ropes for six.

With the close of play looming, Shafique reached his sixth Test century by pulling Warrican to the midwicket boundary, his first time scoring three figures since 2024.

The duo then navigated the remaining overs of play to ensure Pakistan remained in complete control of the contest.

Earlier, resuming the day on 239 for five, the West Indies’ last five wickets added 104 runs, with spinner Sajid Khan responsible for three of them to fall.

Justin Greaves only added nine runs to his overnight score of 64 before driving a delivery from spinner Ali Usman straight into the hands of point.

Captain Roston Chase reached his 12th Test half century and added 35 runs with Roach, until he was bowled off his pads by pacer Ubaid Shah for 70 to leave the Windies 304 for seven.

Khan then wrapped up the tail by dismissing Joseph, Roach and Seales, to end with figures of 4-85, while Shah (2-66), Mohammad Ali (2-67) and Ali Usman (2-80) took two wickets apiece.

Pakistan trail West Indies by 205 runs after reaching 139 for two at tea on the second day of the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval here on Monday.

WEST INDIES 344 in 105.4 overs (Justin Greaves 73, Roston Chase 70, Brandon King 46, Shai Hope 29, Amir Jangoo 26, Kemar Roach 19, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 15, Kavem Hodge 10; Sajid Khan 4-85, Ubaid Shah 2-66, Mohammad Ali 2-67, Ali Usman 2-80).

PAKISTAN 139-2 in 32 overs (Azan Awais 55, Abdullah Shafique 37 not out, Babar Azam 32 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 14).

Scoreboard of the second day of the second Test between West Indies and Pakistan at the Queen’s Park Oval here on Monday.

WEST INDIES 1st innings

(overnight 239 for five)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Khan b Ali 15

Brandon King lbw b Usman 46

Kavem Hodge c +Rizwan b Khan 10

Amir Jangoo c +Rizwan b Shah 26

+Shai Hope b Ali 29

Justin Greaves c Zafar b Usman 73

*Roston Chase b Shah 70

Kemar Roach lbw b Khan 19

Shamar Joseph c and b Khan 8

Jomel Warrican not out 5

Jayden Seales c Azam b Khan 8

Extras (b12, lb21, w2) 35

TOTAL (all out; 105.4 overs) 344

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-65, 3-91, 4-120, 5-173, 6-269, 7-304, 8-323, 9-326, 10-344.

Bowling: Ali 22-6-67-2, Shah 14-1-66-2, Usman 35-9-80-2, Khan 32.4-4-85-4, Agha 2-0-13-0.

PAKISTAN 1st innings

Azan Awais lbw b Warrican 55

Imam-ul-Haq c Warrican b Joseph 14

Abdullah Shafique not out 107

*Babar Azam not out 86

Extras (lb1, nb3) 4

TOTAL (two wickets; 66 overs) 266

Yet to bat: Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Ali.

Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-98.

Bowling: Roach 6-0-34-0, Seales 9-0-35-0, Warrican 24-1-75-1, Joseph 10-0-58-1, Chase 7-0-22-0, Hodge 10-0-41-0.

Toss: West Indies elected to bat.

Position: Pakistan trail West Indies by 78 runs with eight wickets remaining.

Umpires: Alex Wharf, Jayaraman Madanagopal.

TV Umpire: Richard Kettleborough.

Reserve Umpire: Zahid Bassarath.

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.

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.

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. Price and Granderson were represented by attorney Dexter Smartt along with a team of lawyers, including Dexter Todd. Attorney Everton Lammy-Singh appeared for Roberts.

During the proceedings, the prosecutor Mandel Moore said that he is now in possession of a fiat, the written authorisation permitting him to prosecute the matter.

The magistrate informed the court that the prosecution has provided partial disclosure to the defence and Moore requested that the matter be adjourned to August 31 to facilitate full disclosure.

But the Charity Magistrate’s Court only sits on Mondays, resulting in the magistrate indicating that he would have to adjourned the matter to September 7, the next available date.

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.

On Sunday night, family members, friends and residents of one of the men staged a solidarity protest outside his Grove, East Bank Demerara home, saying the 72-count murder charges were trumped up to cover the failures of top government officials.

Several persons held placards outside Robert’s residence with one saying ‘we feel that he was wrongfully accused and imprisoned’.

The protestors, who said they were also supportive of the other two charged with the murders held placards that stated, among other slogans: ‘Transparency and accountability’, ‘Free Rondell, Dellon and Kevin,’ ‘Fire the fish-up Bishop,’, ‘Float the boat, bring up the evidence’ and ”Justice for these three men. Families need closure.’

One of the protestors supported the government’s decision to salvage the MV Barima instead of building a memorial site nine miles offshore where the vessel went down.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) says a Cuban national has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in an international ‘alien’ smuggling, asylum fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

‘[Erik]Ventura-Castro was part of a complex conspiracy responsible for smuggling aliens into the United States on a massive scale,’ said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

According to court documents, Erik Ventura-Castro, 24, of Hialeah, Florida, between January of 2021 and June of 2025, ‘conspired with others to operate an alien smuggling organization (ASO), which encouraged or induced thousands of Cuban aliens to enter the United States through the southern border and used fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa waivers.’

The defendants advertised their smuggling services and bogus visa services across multiple social media platforms to solicit Cuban nationals and other ‘aliens’ to attempt to illegally enter the United States and fraudulently obtain lawful status in the United States.

‘The alien smuggling organization advertised services included assisting Cubans with making false claims of European citizenship to enter the United States on a European tourist visa waiver or ESTA and filing hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), using fake addresses and fabricated documents,’ the DOJ said.

To obtain admission under the ESTAs, it said the defendants made false representations that the applicants had not been in Cuba since 2011.

‘The defendants knew that Cubans are not eligible for the ESTA program, and that the applicants were actually in Cuba at the time the ESTA applications were submitted,’ the DOJ said.

It said Ventura-Castro furthered the conspiracy by advertising trips for ‘aliens’ to travel from Cuba to the United States through third-party countries and assisting the ‘aliens’ in obtaining fraudulent ESTAs.

The DOJ said the defendant submitted over 40 electronic payments to USCIS for fraudulent ESTA applications.

As part of the conspiracy, the DOJ said ‘aliens’ were charged between US$1,500 and US$40,000 for smuggling services.

In addition, the DOJ said Ventura-Castro and co-defendants conspired with each other to regularly move funds to companies operating outside of the United States and to other places outside the United States, such as by purchasing international flights for ‘aliens’ to travel into the United States.

Ventura-Castro transmitted over US$97,000 from the United States to the Cayman Islands, Colombia and Mexico to purchase flights for ‘aliens’ to unlawfully enter the United States.

Ventura-Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit ‘alien’ smuggling for financial gain and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments on May 7.

British Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley has ordered multiple investigations into an unauthorized government investment in Delta Capital Partners Limited, saying the transaction violated the Public Finance Management Act and was made without his knowledge or approval.

In a public statement on Thursday, Wheatley said the investment was executed on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands by former Accountant General Arnold Ainsley without the ministerial authorization required under law.

‘The Public Finance Management Act requires any investment of public funds to be approved by the Minister of Finance, and the investment made by the former Accountant General, Arnold Ainsley, in Delta Capital Ltd was made outside of my knowledge and approval. This is unacceptable,’ the Premier said.

According to Wheatley, the Ministry of Finance formally brought the matter to his attention in April 2026. He said investigations were immediately initiated to determine how the breach occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Premier disclosed that the Financial Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a criminal investigation to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred in connection with the investment.

He has also directed the Internal Audit Department to conduct its own investigation, while the Ministry of Finance and Treasury has been instructed to pursue recovery of the funds if possible.

‘There must be accountability for any wrongdoing, and I am making sure that the right steps are being taken to prevent this from happening again.’

The Premier noted that the government has already strengthened its oversight of public investments following issues surrounding an earlier investment in Bank of Asia.

He said Cabinet approved a comprehensive Government Investment Policy in March this year to ensure all future investments comply with the Public Finance Management Act.

Wheatley also revealed that he has asked the Deputy Governor to review an Internal Audit report to determine whether any public officers should be held responsible for deficiencies identified during the review.

In addition, he said the Auditor General is preparing a report into the government’s investment in a certificate of deposit at Bank of Asia, which he intends to table during the current sitting of the House of Assembly.

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn welcomed the investigations but argued that they should be expanded into an independent inquiry.

Penn said he will write to the Auditor General requesting ‘a full, independent, and exhaustive investigation’ into the Delta Capital investment, including every decision, approval and failure associated with the transaction.

He also questioned how the investment could have proceeded without the approval of the Minister of Finance, citing provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, and said those responsible must be held accountable.

‘The time for excuses is over. The time for answers is now,’ Penn declared.

Responding to calls for disciplinary action, Wheatley said responsibility for disciplining public officers rests with the Governor, Deputy Governor and the Public Service Commission where breaches of the law or regulations are identified.

‘Let me be crystal clear: where there is clear evidence of any breach or failure to follow the Public Finance Management Act and its accompanying regulations, there must be action,’ the Premier said.

Meanwhile, Delta Capital Partners has also become the subject of criminal proceedings in Jamaica linked to the collapse of investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL).

Jamaican authorities have charged Delta Capital Partners Ltd., its co-founder Zachary Harding and several former SSL executives with multiple offences, including alleged breaches of the Securities Act, Banking Services Act, Bank of Jamaica Act, Companies Act and Larceny Act following a joint investigation by the Financial Investigations Division and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

San Francisco Unicorns are through to the 2026 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 final after beating Desert Vipers by eight wickets in a high-stakes Qualifier on Friday evening at the National Stadium, Providence.

Unicorns will now meet defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors in the championship game on Saturday from 7 pm in front of a capacity crowd.

Chasing a tricky 123 for victory, Unicorns reached the target with 23 balls to spare. The successful chase was brilliantly led by opener Tim Robinson with an impressive, unbeaten 68 off 54 balls.

Robinson and Oliver Peake shared a record-breaking, 97-run third-wicket stand after they lost Connor Esterhuizen for 17 and skipper Hassan Khan without scoring.

The in-form Robinson hit six fours and a six, while Peake provided steady support with 33* off 34, hitting five fours.

Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, who made the initial breakthrough, finished with 2-22 from his four overs.

Earlier, Unicorns justified their decision to bowl first, restricting Vipers to 30-2 in the Powerplay and 61-4 by the 13th over.

Vriitya Aravind provided some late-order impetus scoring 29 not out, but it was left-arm spinner Fabian Allen who stole the spotlight with the ball, taking 3-20 in an impactful four-over spell.

He first accounted for opener Andries Gous (8), then added the scalps of Rilee Rossouw (11) and skipper Shadab Khan (14), strikes that dented the Vipers.

Unicorns’ victory was sweet redemption for the nine-wicket defeat they suffered against the same opposition in the preliminary phase, and it sets up a grand finale with the home franchise and defending champions Warriors on a night where Providence will be rocking.