Category: CANA News

The daughter of the founder of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM), Caron Shepherd, has joined the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as campaign continues for the gene elections constitutionally due in September, but widely expected before that month.

Shepherd’s father, the late Jimmy Shepherd, was one of the ‘Dissident Eight’ and founders of the FNM. The party was formed at his home in 1971.

‘This is a very difficult decision for me, but it was one that needed to be done,’ Shepherd told supporters at the PLP headquarters, adding that ‘my decision is based on the mere fact that I have so many persons that I would like to be able to assist and be able to see people progress.

‘And so that is why this decision was made. So it was not an easy one, but . it’s the holy courage that took me to be able to stand here today,’ said Shepherd, who served with the FNM for 33 years before joining the Coalition of Independents (COI) in 2021.

‘I don’t regret my decision that I have made. I’ve made a decision with clear conscience. I served 33 years in the FNM, three times as president (of the women’s branch) and people will tell you I was the best president that the FNM has ever had.

‘And so I look forward to bringing that same tenacity here in the PLP and to working with males and females (so) that we forge ahead with more progress,’ said Shepherd, who said she’s disappointed with the current state of the FNM.

‘They have strayed from the goals our founding fathers set out to accomplish,’ she said. ‘Their words are saying one thing, yet their actions show another. Our motto as the FNM used to be ‘all together,’ and today, the FNM is not all together.’

‘Our motto from the dissident eight was all together. Unfortunately, the FNM, in my opinion, is not all together. They are in a position where they are filling positions in the front, but the back is hemorrhaging. I’m not the only one who is quite disappointed by the direction the party is going in,’ Shepherd said urging undecided FNM supporters to join her in backing Prime Minister Phillip Davis for a second consecutive term in office.

‘Join me on the winning team – a team focused on service to the Bahamian people. I pledge to work smart, hard, focused, and diligently to secure a second term for the PLP in service to our people. I am here to serve and to serve with purpose – for a better Bahamas. I have a heart for the people,’ she added.

Earlier this week, the party said it would officially launch its campaign for the general election on Monday next week after it completed the ratification process for all of its 39 candidates.

In the last general election, the PLP won 32 seats with the remainder going to the DNM.

West Indies beat England by 30 runs in the 15th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.

SCORES:

WEST INDIES 196-6 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 76 not out, Roston Chase 34, Jason Holder 33, Shimron Hetmyer 23, Rovman Powell 14; Adil Rashid 2-16, Jamie Overton 2-33)

ENGLAND 166 in 19 overs (Sam Curran 43 not out, Jacob Bethell 33, Phil Salt 30, Jos Buttler 21; Gudakesh Motie 3-33, Roston Chase 2-29).

Scoreboard of the 15th match of the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup between West Indies and England here on Wednesday.

WEST INDIES

Brandon King c Salt b Curran 1

*+Shai Hope c Banton b Archer 0

Shimron Hetmyer c Curran b Overton 23

Roston Chase lbw Rashid 34

Sherfane Rutherford not out 76

Rovman Powell c Overton b Rashid 14

Jason Holder c Banton b Overton 33

Romario Shepherd not out 1

Extras (lb4, w10) 14

TOTAL (six wickets; 20 overs) 196

Did not bat: Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-55, 4-77, 5-128, 6-189

Bowling: Archer 4-0-48-1, Curran 3-0-36-1, Jacks 2-0-32-0, Overton 4-0-33-2, Rashid 4-0-16-2, Dawson 3-0-27-0.

ENGLAND

Phil Salt c Rutherford b Shepherd 30

Jos Buttler + c Powell b Chase 21

Jacob Bethell b Motie 33

Tom Banton c King b Motie 2

Harry Brook * c and b Motie 17

Sam Curran not out 43

Will Jacks lbw Chase 2

Jamie Overton c Powell b Hosein 5

Jofra Archer run out 6

Liam Dawson run out 1

Adil Rashid c Chase b Joseph 6

Extras (lb1, w5) 6

TOTAL (all out; 19 overs) 166

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-74, 3-85, 4-90, 5-131, 6-134, 7-141, 8-151, 9-161, 10-166.

Bowling: Hosein 4-0-32-1, Holder 2-0-34-0, Shepherd 1-0-7-1, Joseph 4-0-30-1, Chase 4-029-2, Motie 4-0-33-3

Toss: England elected to field.

Result: West Indies won by 30 runs.

Player-of-the-Match: Sherfane Rutherford

Umpires: Allahuddien Paleker, Donovan Koch

TV Umpire: Chris Brown

Reserve Umpire: Sam Nogajski

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says it is providing a US$100 million Receivables Discounting Facility to the Bahamas Striping Group of Companies Ltd (BSGC) to assist with the financing of the rehabilitation and construction of over 200 miles of critical road infrastructure across The Bahamas.

‘We are grateful to Afreximbank for standing with us through every stage of the process, and we are proud that this transaction strengthens our ability to execute major projects, support our subcontractors and vendors, and scale opportunities,’ said BSGC’s executive chairman, Dominic Sturrup.

The Pan-African multilateral financial institution said the funds will be disbursed under a framework agreement signed with The Bahamas government that was signed on the sidelines of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in Barbados in 2025.

The funds are expected to allow BSGC to advance extensive national infrastructure overhaul designed to ensure safer, more durable road networks that boost commerce, tourism and logistics across the archipelago.

Afreximbank said it acted as the lender for the transaction, providing the facility arising from government contracts and enabling BSGC to accelerate project execution and receive advance funding for completed and certified works which include asphalt paving, road striping, safety enhancements and maintenance across multiple islands in The Bahamas.

Afreximbank’s acting chief executive officer, Okechukwu Ihejirika, that the funding reflected the bank’s ‘steadfast commitment to supporting Global Africa partners in developing trade-enabling infrastructure.

‘This facility represents an innovative approach to structured finance in cross-regional partnerships and aligns with our mandate to foster a connected Global Africa that encompasses CARICOM. By enabling these extensive road rehabilitation works, we are driving sustainable development and enhanced economic opportunities,’ he said.

Ihejirika reiterated Afreximbank’s commitment to building on the partnerships forged at the Bank’s 2024 annual meetings and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, held in Nassau, noting that the transaction followed the signing of a framework agreement with the government.

BSGC president, Atario Mitchell, sai the US$100 million receivables factoring facility will enable the local companies to meet their financial obligations, such as paying employees, purchasing materials, and expanding operations.

‘This facility gives BSGC the ability to move faster, plan better, and execute with even greater reliability across multiple islands,’ said Mitchell.

BSGC is an indigenous Bahamian-owned entity founded in 2010 and has completed over 200 projects across Nassau, Exuma and Eleuthera regions, employing over 300 persons, including subcontractors.

In a clinical and professional display from the regional side, the West Indies carved out a 30-run win over England in their Group C ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten half-century, allied with a masterful spin stranglehold from Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase, delivered the workmanlike victory.

England, chasing 197, were rolled over for 166 as the Caribbean spinners shared five wickets between them under the Mumbai lights.

Sent in to bat, the West Indies found themselves in some early trouble as Jofra Archer cranked it up to 148kph in the opening over and sent back Shai Hope for a duck.

England sensed blood, and opener Brandon King followed in the second over, picking out deep point off Sam Curran for one. West Indies were 8 for 2, and the three lions appeared to be asserting themselves.

The inform Shimron Hetmyer looked imperious once again with two fours and two sixes. One of the sixes came off the opening over by spinner Will Jacks, which went for 19 runs.

But Hetmyer fell to Jamie Overton just before the power play ended for 23.

The left-handed Sherfane Rutherford then walked in with his team wobbling at 55 for three, but he would eventually walk off unbeaten on 76 from just 42 deliveries, to rescue the regioanal sides innings.

Rutherford’s willow did the talking as he bludgeoned England’s bowling with seven sixes cascading into the Mumbai night, each one carrying the promise of mayhem to come.

Adil Rashid then pegged things back with a miserly spell, which also claimed the wickets of Roston Chase for a fighting 34 and Rovman Powell for 14.

Rashid’s solitary moment of fallibility came when he spilt Rutherford on 56, a steepling slog clattering through his fingers.

Jason Holder produced another swashbuckling innings, as he found the short Wankhede boundaries entirely to his liking. His 33 from 17 balls provided the ideal accompaniment to Rutherford’s pyrotechnics, the pair adding 61 in barely five overs.

When Holder holed out to Overton in the final over, the damage was done. Rutherford’s seventh six, launched over long-on, carried West Indies to 196 for 6.

Phil Salt began the reply as though England’s powerplay troubles were a myth. Holder, whose match-up with Salt has long favoured the opener, was dismantled for 24 in his opening over, two sixes over midwicket and three further fours carved through the off-side.

The powerplay yielded 67 as England was galloping at this stage. But Salt’s assault proved a false dawn. Romario Shepherd’s harder lengths cramped the opener into a tame exit for 30 from 14 balls, and suddenly the required rate began its insidious creep.

Jos Buttler’s first six, from his 13th ball, seemed to signal the captain’s intervention. Instead, it signalled the beginning of the squeeze.

Chase challenged Buttler to repeat the stroke. England’s captain attempted precisely that, only to find long-on waiting to spring the trap. He departed for 21, and with him went England’s momentum.

The unassuming assassin Motie then turned the screws. Jacob Bethell, so fluent against Hosein’s cramping lines, was beaten for pace off the wicket and lost his off stump for 33.

Tom Banton picked out short cover after scoring just two runs, and then skipper Harry Brook, who had played within himself for 17, was caught and bowled to hand Motie his third scalp.

At 131 for five in the 14th over, things were looking dim for the three Lions,s who hurt themselves further with two run outs that knocked the stuffing out of the innings that folded for 166

Motie ended with three for 33 while Chase had figures of two for 29. Between them, across eight overs of concerted pressure, ultimatley strangled England’s middle order and throttled any hope of victory.

The win sees the Windies atop Group C with four points from their two games, with Scotland right behind them on two points also from two games, the same as England. Nepal and Italy are yet to get off the mark after a game each.

The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says the results of a survey will provide critical insights into the state of access, affordability, usage and digital skills across its member states.

ECTEL has released the findings of the Digital Inclusion Survey(DIS 2024) which was conducted in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the World Bank’s Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP) in 2024. A total of 7,948 individuals and 3,525 households were interviewed.

‘The DIS 2024 was designed to assess households’ and individuals’ access to, use, perception of affordability of ICT and broadband services and products, barriers to access and use, and digital literacy and skills in the ECTEL contracting states. It is expected that this would provide the basis for further targeted interventions to promote more inclusive access to ICT and close the digital divide,’ ECTEL noted.

ECTEL is the regional regulatory body for electronic communications in Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Its primary function is to promote open entry, market liberalisation, and competition in the electronic communications sector.

‘As global connectivity increases, the ability of citizens to meaningfully participate in society will be significantly influenced by their ability to access, use and benefit from Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).

‘This report on the ECTEL Digital Inclusion Survey 2024 of the ECTEL contracting states highlights the importance of ensuring that citizens take part in the digital economy and benefit from its opportunities.’

The regulator, which is is marking its 25th year of providing telecommunications regulatory advisory services, said ‘this report allows for an assessment of the current state of digital inclusion, and specifically the barriers that impede meaningful access and connectivity by citizens’.

It said that the survey was conducted to better understand how individuals and households across ECTEL’s member states access and use digital technologies, and to identify barriers that may prevent full participation in the digital economy.

It said the findings highlight both encouraging progress and persistent challenges, with ECTEL’s managing director, David Cox, noting that the publication of the survey represented a significant milestone for the regulator.

He said that ECTEL and the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) must rely on data for regulatory analysis and intervention and not on anecdotal observations.

ECTEL’s chairman, Gregory Shillingford, urged stakeholders to use the insights from the survey to inform the development of inclusive policies and partnerships that ensure individuals, businesses, and communities can fully participate and benefit from the digital economy.

ECTEL said that DIS 2024 provides an in-depth analysis of the digital landscape in the member states, focusing on access, usage, perceptions of affordability, experience with quality of service and barriers to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and broadband services.

‘The primary objective of the survey was to assess households’ and individuals’ access to, use, and affordability of ICT and broadband services, as well as to identify barriers and evaluate digital literacy and skills.

‘The findings will inform targeted interventions to promote inclusive ICT access and reduce the digital divide in the Contracting States. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using Android tablets, facilitated by the World Bank’s Survey Solutions software. The questionnaire, developed by ECTEL in collaboration with DPS Inc., was refined through a pilot survey conducted in January 2024,’ ECTEL added.

An estimated 271 205 voters have begun casting their ballots in Wednesday’s snap general election that Prime Minister Mia Mottley called a year in advance, hoping to win a third consecutive term in office.

While six political parties and independent candidates, numbering 96, are facing the electorate for control of the 30-seat Parliament, political observers say the poll is a straight fight between the country’stwo oldest political parties – the incumbent Barbados Labur Party (BLP) and the main opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

The Supervisor of Elections, Sherland Turton, in a statement headlined ‘Prohibited Devices’ has said that while ‘voters are assured that there will be privacy’, polling booths ‘will be positioned so each voter will enter the booth with his or her back to the Presiding Officer’.

The polling stations opened at 6.00 am (local time) and will close 12 hours later.

Jamaica’s U17 Reggae Boyz have carved their names into the nation’s football history books, becoming the first Jamaican team at any level to secure three World Cup qualifications following a commanding 3-1 victory over Canada here that sealed top spot in Group G in the Concacaf qualifiers on Wednesday.

The young Boyz finished the qualifying campaign with a flawless nine points after goals from Jahmarie Nolan, Jamone Lyle, and Jaheem Bennett downed a stubborn Canadian side reduced to ten men late on.

Jamaica broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Nolan found the back of the net, before Lyle doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute.

Canada refused to wilt and pulled one back through Van Parker’s penalty, but Bennett restored the two-goal cushion in added time to spark wild celebrations.

To compound Canada’s misery, Vincent Laurenco received his marching orders in the 85th minute after collecting a second yellow card.

Meanwhile, Haiti produced a nerve-shredding performance at Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala City, defeating tournament hosts Guatemala 2-1 in a winner-takes-all Group C showdown.

Sonson Jean-Baptiste emerged as the hero for the visitors, netting a first-half brace that proved decisive. The striker rose highest to power home a header from inside the box after just seven minutes, silencing the home crowd.

Guatemala responded almost immediately, with Patrick Arana capitalising on Hensen Chacón’s cross to level the scores in the 11th minute.

But Baptiste restored Haiti’s lead inside 22 minutes, unleashing a powerful drive from inside the area to complete his double and secure the vital victory.

The result confirms Haiti as Group C winners and books their place at the FIFA U17 World Cup for the fourth time in the nation’s history.

Both Jamaica and Haiti will now turn their attention to November’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. The tournament draw is scheduled for May.

A High Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit from a member of the main opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, who had challenged the decision of a bank to close his account.

In the run-up to the regional and general elections here last September, several commercial banks cancelled the accounts of customers linked to WIN, which is headed by billionaire, Azruddin Mohamed, who been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June 2024 for allegedly evading US$50 million in taxes payable to the Guyana government on more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold exports.

The Guyana Association of Bankers Inc. (GABI) had said that all licensed commercial banks here operate within a framework of national laws and international standards. It said the banks are guided by strict regulatory obligations, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) requirements, as well as global risk management practices.

Justice Nicola Pierre in dismissing Gobin Harbhajan’s challenge noted that the Personal Financial Services Agreement (PFSA) that was incorporated into the account application allowed Scotiabank to close accounts and cancel services without reason giving 30 days’ notice.

‘It is an unqualified contractual right and does not require the decision-maker to form a judgement or evaluation,’ the judge said, suggesting that the National Assembly consider passing legislation to allow for the appointment of an independent person to investigate complaints of account closures.

She said the purely contractual nature of the banker-customer relationship that insulates the bank from liability at common law is undesirable given the centrality of access to banking services in modern life, and the move to make access to Government services digital.

‘In other jurisdictions, this gap has been addressed by the creation of statutory financial services ombudspersons empowered to scrutinise account closures and terminations by reference, not to public law principles of natural justice, but to a statutory standard of whether the bank acted fairly and reasonably in all the circumstances,’ she said.

Justice Pierre said Harbhajan could not successfully claim that the bank breached procedural fairness because its decision to terminate the contract could not be reviewed in accordance with public law.

She said the duty to observe procedural fairness is a public law duty as the bank was not administering a government scheme, acting under delegated statute or otherwise performing a public function.

‘The duty to observe procedural fairness is a public law duty,’ she added.

The High Court also refused to issue a declaration that WIN remains a distinct entity from its individual members and that no sanctions have been imposed on the party or its other candidates.

‘No evidence has been adduced to establish the sanction status of the party or its candidates,’ the judge ruled, adding that on the issue distinctness, she relied on a High Court decision that an unincorporated political party does not have legal personality.

Scotiabank had admitted the account was in good standing and that it was terminated by letter dated 7 August 2025. It denied that the letter stated ‘breach’ as the cause; that the applicant suffered reputational harm; that termination was due to WIN affiliation; and that it lacked a lawful reason.

The judge’s decision noted that Scotiabank through the affidavit of Vibert Jones, said he had no knowledge of Harbhajan’s WIN affiliation or the sanction status of the WIN leader, and had no knowledge that the bank closed the accounts of all WIN members. The bank denied any failure to follow policy or guideline, any breach of natural justice, or Anti-Money Laundering Countering of Financing Terrorism (AMLCFT) Act failure.

The judge said while Harbhajan established that his account was terminated and that he is a WIN candidate, in order to succeed he must show that the reason for termination was his political opinion.

‘He has produced no cogent evidence that political opinion was the reason. His assertion that all WIN members’ accounts were closed by the Respondent is uncorroborated – mere assertion or correlation is insufficient,’ the judge said.

On the issue of Harbhajan alleging non-compliance with the AMLCFT Act and failure to file a Suspicious Transaction Report, the judge dismissed it, saying these are regulatory obligations owed primarily to the State and supervisory authorities.

Justice Pierre added that the applicant identifies no AMLCFT Act provision conferring a private right of action in damages for alleged non compliance. She says a breach of a statutory duty does not automatically give rise to a private right of action, unless it can be shown that Parliament intended the statute to confer such a right on individuals.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, February 11,2026.

BRIDGETOWN -An estimated 271 205 voters have begun casting their ballots in Wednesday’s snap general election that Prime Minister Mia Mottley called a year in advance, hoping to win a third consecutive term in office

GEORGETOWN – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders say they recognise the ‘urgent need’ for a stable political process in Haiti following last weekend end to the mandate of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) while leaving the future of the French-speaking member country in limbo.

KINGSTOWN – Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has dismissed the first budget of the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP), describing the fiscal package as ‘unimaginative’ and had probably been written with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).

CASTRIES – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says the results of a survey will provide critical insights into the state of access, affordability, usage and digital skills across its member states.

WASHINGTON -The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed the ‘courageous steps’ being taken by the Trinidad and Tobago authorities to improve the long-term sustainability of the public pension system.

SPORTS:

MUMBAI – England elected to field after winning the toss against West Indies in the 15th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup here at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.