Category: CANA News

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) says it is investigating an alert regarding a potential cybersecurity issue involving ransomware claims, but at this time ‘there is no confirmed evidence of a breach of our IT environment, systems, or any leaked University information’.

The UWI, with five regional campuses and 10 global centres across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia, said that as a precaution, it is treating this matter with utmost seriousness and that ‘our incident response plan is active, and we are working with cybersecurity experts and regional authorities’.

It said technical teams across the university are investigating, reviewing systems, checking for indicators of compromise, and confirming our readiness.

‘We urge all members of the University community to remain vigilant, avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments, and promptly report any unusual system activity or suspicious messages to their campus IT Helpdesk.

‘We recognise that such reports may cause concern among staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders, and will provide further updates as the situation warrants,’ The UWI said.

The Jamaica Kingsmen reached 169 for nine in their 20 overs after being sent in by the St Lucia Kings in the 13th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at the Daren Sammy National Stadium here on Friday.

JAMAICA KINGSMEN 169-9 in 20 overs (Keacy Carty 50, Usman Khan 28, Odean Smith 27 not out, Andre Russell 25, Hassan Khan 12, Keemo Paul 11; Matthew Forde 5-23). The DPP said that the fact that ‘a person is sought for extradition does not establish guilt, and it is important that the legal process is permitted to proceed without speculation or commentary which could prejudice either the proceedings in Bermuda or the criminal proceedings in the Philippines.

‘Given the public interest in this matter, my Office will provide further information concerning the procedural progress of the case when it is appropriate to do so,’ Clarke said, adding that the Department of Public Prosecutions will not comment on the evidence underlying the murder allegation while proceedings remain active.

Philippine authorities allege that Requerme was involved in the killing of Mauricio Ramirez Pulhin in Quezon City on 15 June 2025. A warrant for her arrest was issued by the Philippine court on 24 September 2025.

The Ministry of Justice said that following receipt of the request from the Philippine authorities, the matter has been processed in Bermuda in accordance with the relevant laws and that Requerme is scheduled to appear in a the Magistrates’ Court of Bermuda.

‘The provisional-arrest procedure is an initial stage of the extradition process. It does not constitute a decision that Ms Requerme will be extradited to the Philippines. Any further proceedings will be conducted in accordance with Bermuda law and the applicable extradition arrangements, with the appropriate decisions being made by the Court and other designated authorities at the relevant stages of the process.

‘Any issue concerning Ms Requerme’s continued detention or release on bail will be a matter for determination by the Court,’ the statement added.

Police say that a 21-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice after two police officers appeared in a court here earlier this week charged with murder in the death of 16-year-old Jerbiah Paul, whose decomposing body had been found earlier this month in a village north of here by members of the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS).

The police said that the woman is from the Marigot, a village along the northwest coast of the island. She is expected to appear in court soon.

Earlier this week, police officer, Joshua Hamlet, was remanded to prison becoming the second member of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) to be charged with Paul’s murder. Last Thursday, 23-year-old police officer, Jean-Luc Langlais, was also slapped with a charge or murdering Paul, whose decomposing body was discovered in a precipice in Capuchin, north of here.

They will both reappear in court here on October 2, this year.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says while near-term risks are leaning to the downside for Suriname because of the current geopolitical context, the medium-term outlook remains favourable, anchored in expected oil-driven growth and improved fiscal and external dynamics.

The IDB said that recent economic developments in Suriname reflect a combination of temporary shocks and underlying structural transitions.

It said economic growth decelerated to around 1.5 per cent in 2025, down from 1.7 per cent in 2024, primarily driven by a contraction in gold production despite high international prices.

‘This slowdown masks relative resilience in non-resource sectors, which have continued to expand robustly. Looking ahead, growth is expected to recover to about 3.9 per cent in 2026 and stabilise at around four per cent in the near term, supported by strengthening domestic demand and investment,’ the IDB said in its latest report titled ”Fiscal Resilience, Debt Reduction and Domestic Resource Mobilization in the Caribbean’.

It said that over the medium term, the outlook is highly influenced by large-scale oil investments. In 2028, real economic growth is projected to reach 28.5 per cent, reflecting the base effect of first-oil production at the GranMorgu offshore oil field, which is, until now, a one-time spike in output rather than a structural acceleration.

According to the IDB report, Suriname’s main challenge is diversifying Its economic base as the economic structure of the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country e remains highly concentrated in natural resources.

It said mining, particularly gold, has traditionally been the backbone of economic activity, accounting for most exports (84 per cent) in 2025, while oil played a smaller but growing role (eight per cent) during the year.

However, the economy is entering a transformational phase with large-scale investments in offshore oil and gas. In this context, the extractive sector will shift from a gold-centered model to an oil-driven economy.

‘This shift is expected to reinforce the extractive sector’s dominance within the economy, potentially overshadowing other industries, and shaping the country’s development trajectory for years to come.

‘Suriname has the chance to turn its natural resource wealth into lasting prosperity by moving beyond extraction. Unlocking Suriname’s future growth hinges on nurturing these sectors with high potential, particularly those anchored in sustainable natural resources such as tourism and ecotourism, where the country’s cultural diversity is a key asset.’

The IDB report said that likewise, sustainable agribusiness, including modernized agriculture and responsible fisheries, can drive job creation and broaden the economic base if supported by investments in technology, research, and infrastructure.

In addition, sectors such as food and beverage processing and renewable energy present substantial opportunities for diversification and long-term development. Fostering these industries will not only broaden Suriname’s economic base but also support inclusive and resilient growth for the country’s future.

Suriname has recently strengthened its fiscal framework through the introduction of fiscal rules and the reform of the Savings and Stabilization Fund of Suriname (SSF) which aims to ensure macroeconomic discipline and the sustainable management of natural resource revenues.

The IDB said that the framework establishes targets for public debt and limits on expenditure, while mandating that all mineral revenues be channeled into the SSF, which will operate independently and invest largely in foreign assets.

‘The authorities are still working to make both the fiscal rules and the SSF fully operational and effective in practice. In addition to ongoing economic reforms, a favorable final investment decision for the GranMorgu offshore oil field in Block 58, where production is expected to begin in 2028,3 is driving a positive medium-term outlook.’

The iDB said that the SSF is a crucial component of Suriname’s long-term financial and macroeconomic health. Suriname’s implementation and operation of the fiscal frameworks and savings mechanism approved in 2024, together with its continued macroeconomic discipline and active policies to support non-resource sectors, provide a sound basis for meeting this challenge.

‘Without these mechanisms, there is a risk that the economy will deepen its dependence on volatile commodities rather than achieve a more resilient and diversified growth path. The effectiveness of institutions, notably the SSF, is a crucial step toward transforming Suriname’s resource wealth into lasting, inclusive prosperity, ensuring that large oil export earnings are strategically invested in the economy.

‘As the SSF becomes fully operational, it will help to stabilize growth and promote sustainable development, preventing resource flows from driving short-term, procyclical spending,’ the IDB report noted.

The Washington-based financcial institution said that phasing out subsidies and improving tax administration helped to reduce the fiscal deficit from 12 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 to 9.6 per cent of GDP in 2025.

In addition, because of a restructuring plan adopted years ago between the government and its main creditors, public debt dropped significantly from 121 per cent of GDP in 2020 to 100 per cent in 2025.

‘Projections indicate that both the fiscal deficit and the debt-to-GDP ratio will keep declining. However, fiscal outcomes moderated in 2025. The overall fiscal deficit widened sharply from about 3.4 per cent in 2024 to 9.6 per cent in 2025, reflecting pre-election fiscal slippage, increased subsidies, and one-off central bank recapitalization’

The IDB said while revenues increased modestly, expenditure growth significantly outpaced them, interrupting the consolidation path.

As of July 1, 2026, the 2026 budget had been approved, with a projected deficit of around 5.1 per cent of GDP. Nevertheless, International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections show that fiscal balances are expected to improve gradually as oil production ramps up, with the deficit narrowing to around 4.7 per cent of GDP in 2026 and eventually turning into a surplus over the medium term.

The IDB said that as a small, open economy heavily reliant on imports, Suriname faces substantial macroeconomic challenges regarding inflation and exchange rate depreciation.

It said given ongoing geopolitical conflicts, Suriname is more vulnerable to rising oil prices despite being an oil producer because it relies more on imports than it gains from exports. ‘With oil and gas making up over a third of the country’s energy mix, domestic energy costs are highly influenced by fluctuations in global oil prices. Although inflation dropped sharply from 60 per cent in 2020 to 13 per cent by the end of 2025, it has remained relatively high during 2026 as inflationary pressures increase.

‘Despite renewed foreign exchange interventions by the Central Bank, the Surinamese dollar depreciated by about nine per cent against the US dollar between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, increasing import costs and fueling inflation in an economy heavily dependent on imported goods.

‘To limit the impact of international oil price increases on society, a temporary price cap method was introduced in the first quarter of this year, thereby placing additional pressure on government finances,’ the report noted.

The Antigua and Barbuda government has announced a raft of new measures aimed at improving security, particularly as it relates gun-related crime and violence on the island.

A statement issued following the weekly Cabinet meeting said that ministers held ‘extensive discussions on the recent increase in gun-related crime and violence and examined additional measures to strengthen the country’s criminal justice system, including sentencing, prosecution, prison administration and law-enforcement capacity’.

According to the statement, Cabinet reaffirmed that the Gaston Browne government will continue to pursue a comprehensive response to serious crime, combining stronger law enforcement with legislative reform and improvements throughout the criminal justice system.

‘Cabinet agreed that the Government will shortly take legislation to Parliament to establish minimum and maximum sentences for serious gun crimes and sexual offences committed against minors,’ the statement said, noting that before the proposed legislation is brought to Parliament, the government will undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders to obtain their views and ensure that the proposed measures receive appropriate legal and technical consideration.

‘The decision represents a further development in the Government’s continuing examination of sentencing policy. Parliament has previously increased the maximum penalties applicable to serious firearm offences, while Prime Minister Browne has repeatedly expressed concern that some sentences imposed for gun crimes have not provided a sufficient deterrent,’ the statement said.

It said that Cabinet emphasised that the proposed legislative process will be undertaken within the constitutional framework governing the respective responsibilities of Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary, a reference no doubt to the various statements that had been issued by local, regional and international law associations following earlier critical statements by Prime Minister Browne over the ‘light’ sentences imposed on repeat offenders.

The statement said that Cabinet also approved immediate measures to strengthen the country’s prosecutorial capacity and will provide for the employment of up to five additional lawyers to bolster the prosecution team within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Cabinet also agreed to the provision of full scholarships to two police officers to pursue the law programme at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus and upon graduation, they will join the prosecution team within the DPP Office.

Cabinet also approved the digitization of the records management system within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, noting that the initiative is expected to improve the storage, retrieval and management of police records and strengthen the ability of investigators and prosecutors to access relevant information in a timely manner.

The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the Prison Rules governing the remission of prison sentences, with the matter being presented to Cabinet by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Public Safety and Labour, Sir Steadroy Benjamin.

Cabinet was advised that under the existing Rule 211, a prisoner serving a term exceeding one month becomes eligible for unconditional release after completing two-thirds of the term of imprisonment, subject to any days forfeited under the applicable Prison Rules.

The Attorney General advised Cabinet that remission remains an important component of the rehabilitation process and is provided for under the Prison Act, Cap. 341. Cabinet therefore determined that the principle of remission should be retained, but that the existing rules governing its application should be strengthened.

‘Under the amendment approved by Cabinet, a prisoner who satisfies the prescribed requirements after completing two-thirds of his or her sentence may become eligible for consideration for remission, rather than becoming automatically eligible for unconditional release.

‘The amended Rule 211 will require the Superintendent of Prisons to make a recommendation to the Governor General where a prisoner is considered suitable for remission. The prisoner may then be discharged pursuant to the remission granted,’ the statement said, noting that the change therefore introduces an additional level of consideration and oversight into the process while preserving remission as an incentive for industry, good conduct and rehabilitation within the prison system.

The Attorney General also drew Cabinet’s attention to Section 84 of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, which provides for the exercise of the Governor General’s powers in relation to pardons, respites, the substitution of less severe punishment and the remission of sentences, in accordance with the constitutional provisions governing the exercise of those powers.

Cabinet approved the proposed Prison (Amendment) Rules, 2026, thereby authorizing the necessary steps to bring the revised remission arrangements into effect.

The statement said that Cabinet received a presentation from a United States-based company on the potential deployment of advanced drone technology to strengthen the country’s national security and public-safety capabilities.

‘The presentation outlined a proposed National BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) Security Network, utilizing drone technology and supporting command-and-control systems to provide enhanced aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities.

‘Cabinet was informed that, with the appropriate regulatory approvals and operational framework, drones could be deployed rapidly to reported incidents, allowing dispatchers and security personnel to obtain an aerial assessment of situations before officers arrive on the ground.

‘Cabinet was advised that visible and repeatable aerial patrols could also serve as a deterrent to criminal activity, particularly in identified hotspots and other areas requiring increased security attention,’ the statement said, noting that ‘no final decision has been taken on the acquisition or deployment of the proposed system’.

The chief investment officer of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, says the country is positioning its agricultural sector as a regional production and investment hub.

He said it is leveraging its land, freshwater resources, expanding infrastructure and strategic access to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) CARICOM and northern Brazil to strengthen food security across the Caribbean region. ‘The investment proposition is straightforward: produce in Guyana, add value in Guyana and use Guyana as a platform to supply the Caribbean,’ Ramsaroop said, noting that investment is being channelled into key areas including corn and soy production, livestock, aquaculture, large-scale farming, agro-processing, cold storage, logistics, packaging and value-added food production.

The focus is increasingly shifting away from the export of primary commodities, with Guyana seeking to attract investors to establish processing and other value-added operations locally.

This approach is expected to create greater productive capacity, expand employment and retain more of the value generated within the country.

Ramsaroop said this presents opportunities for CARICOM businesses through joint ventures, contract farming, processing facilities, regional distribution networks and technology partnerships.

CARICOM investment currently accounts for approximately five per cent of recorded investment activity in Guyana, with notable participation from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as investments from Barbados in services and other Caribbean markets.

However, Ramsaroop said the broader objective is to deepen regional economic integration by creating supply chains that connect Caribbean capital and expertise with Guyana’s agricultural resources and access to South American markets.

He said as Guyana expands its agricultural production and processing capacity, the country is seeking to become more than a supplier of raw commodities, positioning itself as a regional platform where production, processing, storage, and distribution converge to support CARICOM’s food-security objectives.

Caricom has announced a plan to reduce food imports across the region through the Regional Food Production and Productivity Towards a Sustainable Import Replacement Programme titled 25% by 2025 Reduction in the Regional Food Bill.

The initiative is a bid to address the region’s Food Import Bill which Caricom said was quickly moving towards five billion US dollars and is substantial when viewed in the context of the sizes of the economies in the region and thus presents food security and other challenges to regional economies.

Earlier this year, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says construction of a regional food hub designed to strengthen food security and boost agricultural exports across the Caribbean is about 50 per cent complete and remains on track for completion by the end of the year.

Grenada will host the 22ndCaribbean Internet Governance Forum and the fifth Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) next week.

The two events from August 24-26 are being held in collaboration with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and will bring together regional and international stakeholders to help shape the future of the Caribbean’s digital landscape. The two fora will be held in a hybrid format, enabling both in-person and remote participation, under the theme: ‘Connectivity to Capability: Shaping a Resilient, Trusted, and Innovative Digital Caribbean.’

Established in 2005 by the CTU and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the CIGF is the world’s longest-running Internet Governance Forum. For more than two decades, the CIGF has provided an invaluable, non-hierarchical, multi-stakeholder platform where governments, the private sector, technical community, academia, civil society and international organisations collaborate to address the region’s internet governance priorities.

The organsiers said that in addition to reviewing achievements over the years, the Fora will address various facets of internet governance of current importance to the Caribbean coming as the conclusion of the WSIS+20 review and the implementation of the Global Digital Compact reshape the global digital agenda and call for a coordinated Caribbean response.

They said that discussions will examine how the region can close its cybersecurity maturity gap, harness and govern the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and advance development in ways that are effective, inclusive and sustainable.

Central to these conversations is the continued strengthening of the region’s policy architecture, including the review and updating of the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework, so that it remains relevant to emerging technologies and evolving threats.

Former National Evangelical Association of Belize president, Pastor Victor Wagner Hernandez, has been sentenced 10 years in piison after he was found guilty of repeadely sexually avusing a woman who had turned to him for counsel.

High Court judge, Justice Antoinette Moore, imposed the sentence on the 67year-old pastor after he was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The Court heard that the offences occurred in 2015, 2016, and 2021 while Hernandez served at the Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center in Punta Gorda.

Pastor Victor Wagner Hernandez (File Photo)

The case began after the 35-year-old woman came forward with a complaint in 2024 and during the trial gave an emotional testimony saying also that she had been threatened before reporting the abuse.

Justice Moore found her account credible and ultimately convicted Hernandez on all three charges.

In passing sentence, the court took several aggravating factors included the abuse of religious trust and the presence of the woman’s teenage daughter during the assault. In mitigation, the court considered his lack of prior convictions, his age and medical conditions including a stroke, hypertension and Type II diabetes.

St. Lucia is set to unveil its first National Exhibition for the development of one out of three Underwater Sculpture Parks, offering the public a unique opportunity to view the sculptures that will soon become part of the island’s underwater attractions.

‘Most importantly, this is a project about ownership. We asked St. Lucians to help tell the story of St. Lucia and our artists and community creatives contributed the ideas from which these sculptures were developed,’ said Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage Minister, Ernest Hilaire.

‘We are therefore not simply presenting St. Lucia to the world; we are allowing St. Lucians to define how our history and heritage are presented to the world. My hope is that when people dive into this park, they will not only discover our history, but leave with a deeper appreciation for the resilience of our people, the richness of our culture and the responsibility we all share to protect our heritage for generations to come,’ he added.

The Ministry of Tourism said as part of the development of dive tourism, a sculpture park corridor consisting of three is being implemented – Dive Park, Snorkel Park and Conservation Park, celebrating the nation’s history, culture and heritage.

The exhibition for the Dive Park will be open for oublic viewing for two days from August 29 showcasing the collection of sculptures before they are installed in Anse La Verdue, Canaries on the island’s west coast.

Belize has formally joined the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management, reaffirming its commitment to fully sustainably manage the the ocean areas under Belize’s national jurisdiction by 2030 through the development and implementation of a Sustainable Ocean Plan.

Supported by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), the 100% Alliance brings together coastal and ocean states committed to integrated and sustainable ocean management. Belize’s participation builds on national efforts already underway through the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP), the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management framework, Blue Bonds commitments, marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries management, climate and biodiversity initiatives, and blue economy investments.

The initiative is being supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose technical assistance will help strengthen the policy, data, governance, and financing frameworks needed to advance Belize’s Sustainable Ocean Plan and support the development of a broader National Oceans Programme.

On Thursday, at the government sponsored Green and Blue Finance Forum in Punta Gorda, an agreement was signed between the Belize government and the IDB to support Belize’s programme under the 100% Alliance.

The government said the signing represents an important step in translating Belize’s commitment into action by providing technical support for the development of the national planning, governance, investment, and financing framework required for sustainable ocean management.

‘Belize’s decision to join the 100% Alliance is about ensuring that every part of our ocean is managed with purpose-for our people, our economy, and future generations,’ said Prime Minister John Briceño in emphasising the importance of the commitment:

‘ It gives us an opportunity to bring our existing commitments and investments together under one national ocean vision, supported by strong science, clear planning, and sustainable financing,’ he added.

The National Oceans Programme will provide a framework for better coordinating priorities across marine spatial planning, fisheries, conservation, coastal resilience, tourism, blue investment, blue carbon, biodiversity, and pollution management, while strengthening national targets, monitoring, and accountability.

Importantly, the National Oceans Programme can serve as a mechanism for identifying and developing a strong pipeline of bankable blue economy projects, helping Belize to mobilize public, private, concessional, and results-based financing for sustainable ocean development.

The 100% Alliance campaign, coordinated by the World Resources Institute, focuses on securing political pledges and commitments toward 100% sustainable ocean management from all coastal and ocean states. Its members so far include the 19 members of the Ocean Panel, along with Colombia, Panama, and the Republic of Korea, collectively accounting for 40% of the world’s national waters.

Belize’s participation in the 100% Alliance further strengthens the country’s international leadership on sustainable ocean governance and reflects a development approach that recognizes the direct connection between healthy oceans, resilient communities, food security, sustainable livelihoods, economic growth, and national prosperity.