Category: CANA News

The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has extended its congratulations to the region’s newly crowned women’s cricket champions following thrilling competitions in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Leeward Islands Women’s team secured the Women’s T20 Blaze title in a nail-biting final on January 23rd, edging out a formidable Barbados Women’s side by just 6 runs (DLS).

The victory capped a flawless campaign for the Leewards, who remained undefeated throughout the tournament, which ran from January 13-23.

Just over a week later, Jamaica Women stormed to victory in the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup, after edging out the Windward Islands and Guyana by a single point.

The Super50 Cup was a compact, high-stakes affair played over three intense rounds from January 27-31.

WIPA President and CEO, Wavell Hinds, hailed the achievements of both squads. ‘Whole-hearted congratulations to the Leeward Islands Women on an undefeated run and taking the 2026 Women’s T20 Blaze title,’ Hinds said. ‘Congratulations as well to the Jamaican Women on winning the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup. We wish you all continued growth and success.’

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

BRIDGETOWN – Election and police officers are among special voters casting their ballots on Wednesday ahead of the February 11 general election date, Supervisor of Elections, Sherland Turton has said.

PORT AU PRINCE – Haiti’s political future remains in the balance on Wednesday after representatives of several groups adopted a resolution outlining the procedures to follow in choosing new representatives of a new interim government to replace the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), whose mandate ends on February 7.

NASSAU – The main opposition Free National Movement (FNM)has named former National Basketball Association (NBA) legend, Rick Fox ,as a candidate to contest the next general election scheduled for September this year.

BRIDGETOWN – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called on countries to accelerate efforts to achieve cervical cancer 2030 elimination targets in the Americas, including the Caribbean, warning that, with only five years remaining, the current pace puts reaching the goals at risk, despite progress in vaccination.

CASTRIES – The Seoul-based Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has signed a grant agreement with the Agence française de développement (AFD) to further advance a regional programme supporting resilient, green and affordable housing solutions in the Eastern Caribbean.

SPORTS:

BENGALURU – Another dominant display with first, bat, then ball, saw Afghanistan secure a comprehensive 23-run victory over the West Indies in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up fixture here at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Wednesday.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called on countries to accelerate efforts to achieve cervical cancer 2030 elimination targets in the Americas, including the Caribbean, warning that, with only five years remaining, the current pace puts reaching the goals at risk, despite progress in vaccination.

PAHO is on Wednesday holding a virtual seminar coinciding with World Cancer Day being observed under the theme ‘United by Unique’.

PAHO said annually, more than 78,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the Americas, and more than 40,000 die from the disease.

It said that 83 per cent of these deaths occur in Latin America and the Caribbean, where mortality rates are three times higher than in North America. PAHO said these figures reflect deep inequalities in access to prevention, early detection, and timely treatment services.

Cervical cancer is one of more than 30 diseases and related conditions that PAHO aims to eliminate as part of its Disease Elimination Initiative.

It said to achieve this goal, countries must meet three targets by 2030: reach 90 per cent coverage of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among girls before age 15; screen 70 per cent of women with high-performance tests at ages 35 and 45; and ensure that 90 per cent of women with precancerous lesions or invasive cancer receive treatment.

‘Important progress is already being seen in the region,’ said PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa in a video message.

‘The HPV vaccine is available in 49 of the 51 countries and territories of the Americas, which has a programmatic coverage of 70 per cent for the first dose of the vaccine among women in the region. In addition, 24 countries and territories have adopted a single-dose schedule, which significantly increases coverage,’ he added.

PAHO said challenges still persist, particularly in the areas of screening and treatment. It said although 14 countries have introduced HPV testing as part of their screening programs, coverage remains low and data availability is still limited.

Significant gaps also exist in treatment, as only 18 countries report having radiotherapy services available.

PAHO warned that if current trends continue, deaths from cervical cancer in the Americas are projected to exceed 46,200 by 2030, underscoring the urgency of accelerating the implementation of cost-effective interventions that are already available.

Meanwhile, a study in Barbados has found that many patients have been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer very late.

The national study found that too many people are being diagnosed only when the disease has already advanced, drastically reducing survival chances and pushing the health system to its limits.

According to the survey ‘nearly 1 000 Barbadians are diagnosed with cancer each year, with too many cases still being identified at a late stage, when treatment is more difficult and survival rates are lower.’

This latest data from the Barbados National Registry (BNR), which covers the years 2013 to 2022, also found that cancer rates in Barbados remain higher than the global average.

‘In 2022 alone, 983 new cancer cases were recorded, affecting approximately one in every 300 people on the island,’ the survey said with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers continuing to be the most common and the deadliest.

The study found that prostate cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancers diagnosed among men, while breast cancer remains the leading cancer among women. Colorectal cancer affects both sexes and continues to be a major cause of illness and death.

BNR principal investigator, Dr Christina Howitt and Professor Simon Anderson, co-principal investigator, noted that although slightly more women are diagnosed with cancer overall, men experience higher cancer rates, largely driven by prostate cancer.

‘One of the most important messages from this report is that too many people are still being diagnosed late. When cancer is found early, treatment is more effective, survival is higher, and the impact on families and the health system is much lower. Early detection really does save lives.’

The investigators expressed concern that in 2022, more people were first diagnosed only after their cancer had already spread to other parts of the body – the highest level observed in nineyears.

According to them, this suggests that many patients are entering the health system later in the course of their illness, limiting treatment options and increasing pressure on health services.

‘Survival outcomes remain modest. Approximately two-thirds of patients survive the first year after diagnosis, while fewer than half are alive five years later,’ the report warned.

While lung cancer is relatively uncommon in Barbados, it remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, reflecting how difficult it is to treat when diagnosed late.

The Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) has endorsed the findings of the study, with its president, Professor David Rosin, expressing grave concern about the increasing number of people who are presenting too late to be effectively treated.

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Wednesday said cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the Caribbean, surpassed only by cardiovascular disease.

In a statement marking World Cancer Day being observed under the theme ‘United by Unique,’ CARPHA said that cancer remains a major cause of mortality worldwide and in 2022, the Caribbean region recorded an estimated 119,000 new cancer cases and more than 66,000 cancer-related deaths.

It said driven by population ageing and increasing exposure to key risk factors, the cancer burden in Latin America and the Caribbean is projected to rise by 69 per cent by 2045, underscoring the urgency of sustained and coordinated action.

CARPHA said that several Caribbean countries rank among those with the highest cancer burdens globally for specific cancer sites. It said notably, nine of the 15 countries worldwide with the highest estimated age-standardised incidence rates (ASRs) for prostate cancer are in the Caribbean, including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbados, Puerto Rico, French Guiana, The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with Guadeloupe recording the highest rate globally.

The Guyana government says Panama has ‘signalled its plan to open an embassy’ following high level talks between the two countries this week.

A statement posted on the Facebook page of the Office of the President, noted that President Irfaan Ali met with the his Panamanian counterpart José Raúl Mulino Quintero, and that the ‘discussions focused on deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.

‘During the meeting, Guyana highlighted opportunities for partnership in oil and gas, logistics, agriculture, climate action and security. Panama also accepted Guyana’s invitation to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance as a founding member.’

The statement said that Guyana and Panama also agreed to strengthen private-sector collaboration, enhance connectivity and energy integration, and pursue continued engagement to advance shared prosperity and regional cooperation.

‘Panama also signalled its plan to open an embassy in Georgetown and reaffirmed its diplomatic and multilateral support,’ according to the statement.

With just two days until the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the icy chutes of the bobsleigh track are set to receive an unprecedented wave of Caribbean heat.

For the first time in Olympic history, two tropical nations, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, will compete in the premier four-man bobsleigh event.

The historic qualification, confirmed by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, sees the two island nations bringing their speed and spirit to a sport defined by gravity-defying velocity.

For Jamaica, the sled will be piloted by Shane Pitter, with crew members Andrae Dacres, Junior Harris, Tyquendo Tracey, and Joel Fearon sharing duties.

Global excitement has surged around the teams, fueled in large part by the enduring legacy of the beloved 1993 film Cool Runnings.

The Disney movie, loosely based on Jamaica’s dramatic and crash-marred debut at the 1988 Calgary Games, created a lasting underdog narrative. Now, reports from Japan, the United Kingdom, and beyond are tracking the Caribbean athletes’ final preparations.

Jamaica’s bobsleigh program has achieved its most robust Olympic presence ever. Beyond the historic four-man entry, the nation has qualified in three of the four bobsleigh events, Mica Moore in the women’s monobob and the men’s two-man team featuring Shane Pitter’s crew (Nimroy Turgott, Joel Fearon, and Junior Harris).

They will not be alone in representing the region. Trinidad and Tobago, marking its own landmark appearance, has also qualified a men’s two-man sled.

Pilot Axel Brown will lead their contingent, which includes athletes Shakeel John, De Aundre John, Xaverri Williams, and Micah Moore across the two-man and four-man events.

United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Wednesday said he is ‘extremely concerned’ about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet.

Cuba had been heavily reliant on Venezuela for its oil supply but ever since the United States launched an invasion of the South American country, detained its leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife and placed on trial in New York on drugs and weapons charges, Havana has not been receiving its daily quota of oil.

Further, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and a number of other Cuban officials condemned Trump’s executive order. Rodríguez called it a ‘brutal act of aggression against Cuba and its people . who are now threatened with being subjected to extreme living conditions.’

Speaking at the daily press briefing on Wednesday, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said he had been asked about the current situation in Cuba and that ‘I can tell you that the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet.

‘He notes that for more than three decades, the General Assembly has consistently called for an end to the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba,’ Dujarric said, adding ‘the Secretary-General urges all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law’.

Since the Venezuela operation, Trump has said the Cuban government is ready to fall

The United States government Wednesday said it had not asked St. Lucia to stop sending its nationals to study medicine in Cuba even as it doubled down on its claim that the Cuban health programme is ‘illegitimate’.

‘The United States has not recently talked to St. Lucia about international education and respects countries’ sovereign decisions regarding the education of their citizens. The United States continues to call for an end to exploitation and forced labour in the illegitimate Cuban regime’s overseas medical missions programme,’ the US Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS here said in a brief statement.

But in an immediate response, Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) ‘I have absolutely no comment and I understand the US position’.

Earlier this week, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre said there is no ‘imminent withdrawal’ of St. Lucia students studying medicine in Cuba, amid concerns that Washington had called on Castries to stop sending students to Havana.

‘The students, those who are in Cuba, will continue to be in Cuba. There’s no imminent withdrawal of students,’ Pierre told reporters ahead o the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Last weekend, Pierre told the second World Congress on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities meeting here that the US has called on St. Lucia to stop sending its nationals to study medicine in Cuba.

‘I have a big problem. Many of our doctors got trained in Cuba and now the great United States has said we can’t do that any longer,’ Pierre said.

But he told reporters that his administration is now exploring its options.

‘First of all, we have to access where we are in terms of scholarships for our medical students. Secondly, we have to look to other countries,’ Pierre said, making mention of Mexico and Africa for example.

Cuba began offering significant, full scholarships to Caribbean and Latin American students to study medicine at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Havana, which was officially inaugurated in 1999. The initiative was designed to train doctors from underserved communities across the region, offering free tuition, accommodation, and boarding.

Last month, the United States Embassy in Barbados said the Cuban regime’s ‘medical missions’ programme, which has benefitted several Caribbean countries ‘relies on coercion and abuse.

‘Cuban medical workers face withheld wages, confiscated passports, forced family separation and exile, restriction of movement through curfews and surveillance, intimidation and threats, and even pressure to falsify medical records and fabricate procedures. Many also endure excessive work hours and unsafe conditions,’ the Embassy said.

Washington said it ‘is committed to exposing injustices and bringing an end to the Cuban regime’s coercive programme’.

Washington has also stepped its attack on the Cuban health brigade programme saying rhat the regime in Havana ‘is profiting off the forced labour of medical personnel and that ‘renting out Cuban medical professionals at exorbitant prices and keeping the profit for regime elites is not a humanitarian gift.

‘It is forced labour. It treats the doctors as commodities rather than human beings and professionals. The United States calls for an end to the Cuban regime’s coercive and exploitative labour export scheme.’

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes is expected to deliver a ruling later this week on whether the court will proceed with the case against former legislator, Jolyan Silvera, on charges of manslaughter on the grounds of provocation in connection with the death of his wife, Melissa Silvera.

The court heard submissions from both the prosecution and the defence after the former People’s National Party (PNP) parliamentarian, who was originally charged with murder, entered a guilty plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter on Monday at the start of his trial in the Gun Court.

The court proceedings have been closed to the public in accordance with the Gun Court Act, which prohibits media access to certain courtroom sessions.

The 52-year-old businessman had been charged with the murder of his wife, who was found dead at their Stony Hill, St Andrew, home on November 10, 2023.

An autopsy revealed that she had died from gunshot wounds after it had been initially thought she had died from natural causes.

Silvera has been in custody since he was arrested and charged on January 18, 2024.

The trial had originally been scheduled for January but was adjourned after the defence successfully applied for the examination of critical ballistic evidence that the laboratory had initially resisted providing

Justice Rajendra Narine will on May 4 this year hear arguments in the sentencing phase of the case against three people, including former premier, Michael Misick, after they were found guilty on Wednesday on a series of charges dating back to more than two decades.

Misick, along with his brother, attorney Thomas Chalmers ‘Chal’ Misick, and former government minister, McAllister Hanchell, had been slapped with multiple charges stemming from a long-running corruption investigation involving more than $20 million in alleged bribes, fraudulent land deals and money laundering.

The Trinidadian-born judge delivered his verdict during a four-hour hearing after he had presided over the matter without a jury. He granted bail pending sentence with the former premier’s bail now set at US$15 million, Hanchell at four million US dollars and US$13 million for the former premier’s brother. The three men are not allowed to leave the island.

The court will also rule on the confiscation of properties valued at an estimated US$25 million at a later stage.

When the judge asked the defendants if they had anything to say before sentencing, they said they will speak through their lawyers.

The charges included bribery, conspiracy to defraud the Crown and the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and violations of the Proceeds of Crime Ordinance.

Misick was found guilty of three counts of bribery in relation to Beaches, land on Salt Cay and West Caicos, while Hanchell was convicted for two counts of bribery connected to land on Salt Cay and West Caicos. Chal Misick was convicted on four counts of money laundering.

The court heard that the scheme involved corrupt payments totalling approximately US$14.2 million related to Salt Cay, US$4.7 million tied to West Caicos and two million US dollars connected to Beaches-related transactions.

Prosecutor Andrew Mitchell, KC, said the defendants accepted unlawful payments and other inducements from developers in exchange for favorable government decisions involving Crown land at Salt Cay, West Caicos and properties linked to the Beaches resort group.

Misick served as the premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) from 2006 to 2009, resigning amid widespread allegations of corruption following a British inquiry that revealed ‘clear signs’ of financial misconduct and improper dealings involving Crown land.

After the 2008-2009 Commission of Inquiry exposed systemic abuses, the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) was established in 2010 to investigate and prosecute former officials. Charges were first brought in 2011, but legal wrangling and sufficiency hearings delayed the trial’s formal start until December 2015.

The former premier, who was arrested in Brazil in December 2012 and later extradited to the TCI was found guilty in relation to land on West Caicos.

According to the charge, between November 1, 2006 and May 1, 2008, he accepted inducements directly or indirectly from the Logwood Development Company and related and connected entities’ by unlawful corrupt payments or other rewards in the form of cash, credit, entertainment and other advantages, whilst serving as a Minister of the Crown in the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands so that he would act in a way that was contrary to the ordinary rules of honesty and integrity expected of Ministers of the Crown.’

In the case of his brother, he was found guilty of concealing or disguising the proceeds of criminal conduct contrary.

The indictment states that between August 1, 2003 and the August 31, 2009, he ‘concealed or disguised the proceeds of criminal conduct knowing or having reasonable grounds for suspecting it to represent in whole or in part directly or indirectly the proceeds of criminal conduct committed by Michael Eugene Misick, with a view to avoiding the making or enforcement of a confiscation order or avoiding prosecution for unlawful conduct.’

Former cabinet minister Hanchell was found guilty of bribery in relation to land on West Caicos.

The charge states that between November 1, 2006 and May 1, 2008, he ‘accepted inducements directly or indirectly from the Logwood Development Company and related and connected entities .by unlawful corrupt payments or other rewards in the form of cash, credit, entertainment and other advantages, whilst serving as a Minister of the Crown in the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands so that he would act in a way that was contrary to the ordinary rules of honesty and integrity expected of Ministers of the Crown.’

Hanchell was also found guilty of another charge of bribery involving Mario Hoffman in relation to land on Salt Cay.

That charge states the former premier and Hanchell between January , 2005 and January 30, 2009, ‘accepted inducements directly or indirectly from Mario Hoffman and/or related and connected entities, by unlawful corrupt payments or other rewards in the form of cash, credit, entertainment and other advantages, whilst serving as a Minister of the Crown in the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands so that he would act in a way that was contrary to the ordinary rules of honesty and integrity expected of Ministers of the Crown.’

Over the years, the cases were splintered into multiple proceedings due to plea agreements, the withdrawal or death of certain defendants, and judicial changes. The most significant disruption came with the passing of Justice Paul Harrison in 2021, which led to Chief Justice Mabel Agyemang splitting the original case into two separate trials.

The first trial concluded in September 2023 with convictions for Floyd Hall and Clayton Greene on charges of bribery and money laundering, while two co-defendants were acquitted.

The current trial, with Misick, Hanchell, and Thomas Misick, commenced on December 2, 2024, and concluded its evidentiary stage on June 6, 2025. Notably, the three defendants elected not to testify or call witnesses in their defence.