Category: CANA News

Some reinstated public sector workers are accusing the government of Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday of reneging on a promise to provide a bonus to them as had been outlined during the campaign for the November 27 general elections last year.

The public sector workers have expressed anger, frustration and disappointment over what they described as deception by the two-month-old New Democratic Party (NDP) administration and senior public service officers.

The complaints came after the reinstated workers checked their salary slips only to find that instead of the promised EC$1,500 to $2,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bonus salary, they received in some instances, EC$166.67 and in other cases, as small as EC$125.

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has been reliably informed that close to 100 public sector workers who were recently reinstated under the new government’s policy are the worst affected, receiving as little as a one-twelfth of the promised bonus.

The CMC has also obtained a memo that instructed that public sectors workers who did not work for the full year last year are not entitled to the full salary bonus. The January 26, 2026 memo came three days after the government held a news conference announcing the payment of the bonus.

Prime Minister Friday, Attorney General Louise Mitchell and Minister of Health, Daniel Cummings, all spoke at the news conference, but none of them mentioned that recently reinstated public sector workers would not receive the full bonus.

More than 500 public servants lost their jobs in November 2021 for failing to take a COVID-19 vaccine that had been mandated by the then Dr. Ralph Gonsavles administration.

During the campaigns leading to last November’s general election, the NDP promised that if elected to office, the workers would be reinstated with all benefits intact and abide by the March 2023 ruling of High Court judge Justice Esco Henry that the government action were illegal.

In her ruling, Justice Henry said that the law that the government used to bring the vaccine mandate into effect was void to the extent that it deprives any public sector worker of accrued pension benefits or rights under their contracts of employment.

The judge ruled that none of the workers had ceased to be entitled to hold the respective offices of public officers or police officers and ‘remain entitled to hold those respective offices.

‘The claimants are entitled to their full pay and all benefits due and payable to them in their respective capacities as public officers or police officers inclusive of any accrued pension and gratuity benefits or rights from the respective dates on which they were deemed to have resigned.’

She said that the state was liable to each claimant for damages for the constitutional breaches inclusive of an additional award to reflect the seriousness of the breaches and deter any recurrence, with interest al the statutory rate of 6% per annum.

The judge said the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General ‘are directed to make the necessary arrangements for the respective claimants to receive all payments and benefits to which they are or may become entitled or that may be awarded to them arising from any subsequent assessment of damages.’

The new government made it clear that it was upholding the ruling by Justice Henry that the vaccine mandate was unconstitutional, unlawful and ultra vires, among other things, and that the dismissed workers must be reinstated with all benefits intact.

This has been the NDP’s position despite the ruling of the Court of Appeal overturning Justice Henry’s ruling, resulting in the unions appealing to the London-based Privy Council, with hearing of the matter still pending.

Speaking at the news conference last Friday, Mitchell announced that the government had released the post for almost all of the workers fired under the vaccine mandate who has returned to their jobs after the NDP came to office.

‘So, of the 100 persons that have resumed, placements have been found for 92 of the 100,’ the attorney general told reporters, noting that workers dismissed will be issued letters of resumption of duties and will be appointed to similar or equivalent positions to the post held at the point of dismissal.

But while the government said it was upholding Justice Henry’s ruling, which says the dismissed public sectors are to be treated as if their service had not been interrupted, the public servants are discovering that the Friday government is treating them as if their service has been broken and they are not entitled to full benefits, including the full salary bonus.

The reinstated public servants are being told they did not work for the whole year so they are not entitled to the full salary bonus.

Mitchell had said that the government had stated its policy and that if there’s any resistance to the implementation of the policy, that would be addressed.

‘The policy is for the persons to return to work full with their benefits intact. This is government policy. Everyone in a position that affects the implementation of that policy must adhere with that,’ Mitchell said.

‘Beyond being government policy, it’s the right thing to do, and we want to make sure that those persons who have suffered so much in the past that they don’t continue to suffer when the government has made a commitment,’ she told reporters.

Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, has defended the integrity of the recently opened Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB) after a truck, driven by an unlicensed driver was involved in a fatal accident on Thursday.

Edghill, who has since expressed condolences to the family of the man who died as well as those injured a result of the accident, said that a full investigation is underway.

A section of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge

The accident occurred during the morning hours when a truck, reportedly experiencing a sudden loss of power and brakes while crossing the bridge, began rolling backwards uncontrollably into vehicles behind.

Edghill said a team of three engineers and a senior mechanic had been sent to the area to inspect the truck and determine the cause of the accident.

‘They will write a report that will be signed, and it will become official evidence, but it is clear that the truck was defective,’ Edghill said, adding that the truck driver was unlicensed.

He said that the extent of the damage to the river crossing will be assessed and that in addition to the criminal and court proceedings to be initiated by the police, the owner and operator of the truck will be held responsible for covering the cost of the damages.

Edghill noted that ‘damage to public property will not go unnoticed, we’ve been saying that if you damage public property, you have to pay,’ insisting that the bridge itself was not at fault for the accident.

Edghill is urging drivers to exercise extreme caution when operating their vehicles and to ensure they are properly licensed.

Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize is looking to deepen cooperation with Guyana in agriculture, tourism, and education as it the country hosts President Irfaan Ali over the weekend.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Guyanese leader will pay a three-day state visit to the country from February 1, during which time he will address the opening of the new session of Parliament.

President Irfaan Ali (left) and Prime Minister John Briceno (File Photo)

He will also hold bilateral meetings with Governor General Dame Froyla T’zalam and Prime Minister Briceño.

‘Belize and Guyana have historically shared strong and robust bilateral relations grounded in our commitment to regional solidarity, development and integration,’ the ministry said.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Briceño, described Guyana as a rising regional partner within the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, noting its growing influence fuelled by oil wealth.

‘You know, it’s kind of ironic because at one time nobody wanted to go to Guyana; now everybody wants to go to Guyana. Guyana is a beautiful country. the country is being transformed.’

Briceño said any discussions on Belize seeking cheaper oil from Guyana would likely need to take place at the regional level.

‘Oil, well, that’s something that we probably have to discuss regionally to see if there’s anything that can be done. I wish we could have another Petro-Caribbean programme, but I think that’s highly unlikely,’ he said.

The Petrocaribe programme had been launched by Venezuela on June 29, 2005, aimed at providing preferential, low-interest financing for oil and petroleum products to Caribbean and Central American nations. It was designed to enhance regional integration and foster economic development, allowing member countries to pay only a small portion of their oil bills upfront, ranging from five to 50 per cent, with the remainder financed over 17 to 25 years at low interest rates

President Ali has the lead responsibility for agriculture within the CARICOM quasi cabinet and Prime Minister Briceño said ‘what we are hoping to work with Guyana is to be able to have some agreements, obviously in agriculture, in tourism, in education, and other areas where we can be able to cooperate’.

The government of this British overseas territory has launched the My eID, a national identity card with digital features that has been in discussion and development for almost two decades. The free card is not mandatory as originally intended due to public backlash against legal enforcement over civil liberty and security concerns.

However, the government is inviting Caymanians to begin the process of voluntarily adopting the card, which has been designed to make all interactions with the government easier and presents definitive proof of the holder’s Caymanian status.

The card is currently available to all Caymanians, who are being encouraged to apply as soon as possible

.Non-Caymanians in key public positions, such as senior civil servants, can also apply now, but other non-Caymanians living here can register their interest in preparation for the nationwide rollout.

The card was officially launched last Friday by Social Development Minister Isaac Rankine, who urged all Caymanians, especially those in public positions, to sign up and encourage others to do so as well. He said the government felt that ‘this is the right time to get people engaged in their digital identity online’.

The card has a QR code and NFC chip, so that it can be read by all relevant devices.

It is linked to a portal and the user’s unique PIN, providing an easy way to confirm their identity, sign online, and complete government processes more efficiently.

The card can be used on domestic flights and for other ID purposes outside of government, although its main purpose is to provide access to public services, as Cayman begins to catch up with many other countries where government services can all be conducted online. Holders will no longer need to carry a passport, birth certificate or other documents to prove their status or identity to access government services.

They will also have their own ‘My Info Portal’, where users can manage their profile and personal data.

There is no age restriction on the card, which is also available to young people.

Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday Thursday presented an EC$1.9 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37cents) fiscal package to Parliament, a two per cent increase over the approved budget for last year.

Friday, who is presenting his first Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure since his New Democratic Party (NDP) won last November’s general election, said that financing for the 2026 budget is expected to come from current revenue of EC$906.8 million and from capital receipts totalling EC$978.7 million.

On Wednesday, the Finance Committee of Parliament met to consider the 2026 fiscal package which is now being debate on Thursday.

Prime Minister Friday, who is also the Finance Minister, said the 2026 recurrent estimates, not including amortisation and sinking fund contributions, will amount to EC$1.01 billion.

‘Consequently, there is a current deficit of $105.5 million in these Estimates,’ Friday said, noting that there have been deficit budget over the years.

‘Our challenge is to ensure that we can shrink those and make sure that we do so, and that is one of the tasks that we will set our minds to as we go forward,’ he said ,noting that the current revenue for this year is EC$96.9 million.

‘A slightly weaker revenue projection for 2026 is mainly on account of a 40 per cent drop in non-tax revenue occasioned by an EC$20 million reduction in the amount budgeted for reimbursements.’

Friday told legislators that last year, the then government engaged the World Bank in a retroactive financing arrangement under the BERRY project, where local funds spent on cleanup after Hurricane Beryl would be reimbursed.

‘To this end, the budget for reimbursement in 2025 was significantly increased by EC$20 million. However, in 2026 there are no expectations of a similar reimbursement, so the budget is significantly reduced.’

Prime Minister Friday said the revenue from tax sources is expected to contribute EC$762.6 million and non-tax revenue to gross EC$144.3 million.

He said the tax revenue is expected to increase marginally by 0.7 per cent. This is due to taxes on international trade and transactions expecting to increase by EC$4.5 million or 1.9 per cent.

At the same time, taxes on income and profits are expected to increase by 6.5 per cent to EC$129 million.

Non-tax revenue collected in 2026 is expected to be EC$144.3 million, coming mainly from the sale of goods and services, which is projected to generate EC$117.7 million in revenue.

Friday said this amount is estimated to be EC$6.3 million above the 2025 budget and hat revenue for non-tax sources is also expected to come from inflows on property, income and fees and fines.

The total estimated recurrent expenditure, inclusive of amortisation and sinking fund contributions, is EC$1.31 billion, 13.7 per cent or $157.6 million above the 2025 budget.

The recurrent expenditure for 2026 comprises current expenditure of EC$1.012 billion.

The amortisation is EC$270.9 million, with sinking fund contribution of EC$25 million, so that the recurrent expenditure is EC$1.308 billion.

Friday said current expenditure increased by 10.9 per cent.

‘Amortisation is worrying, up by 25.8 per cent and sinking fund contributions by 13.6 per cent,’ Friday said.

The 2026 budget increase includes the compensation of employees, which has increased by EC$39.1 million or 9.6 per cent. Pensions increased marginally by 0.6 per cent or EC$4.4 million and transfers for training, grants, contributions to local or regional organisations are expected to go up by EC$27 million.

Friday said EC$93.5 million is provided to pay pensions for retired civil servants and the government counterpart contribution to the National Insurance Services (NIS) for civil servants.

‘This amount is comprised of EC$78.4 million for pensions and EC$15.1 million for NIS contributions.

Meanwhile, the 2026 capital estimates will amount to EC$$577.3 million, 17.4 per cent or EC$121 million lower than the originally approved capital budget for 2025.

The Finance Minister said the government’s public sector investment programme for 2026 ‘reflects this lower but more focused spending on functional areas of economic affairs, social protection, and Health and Community Affairs.

‘And in 2026 activity would continue, and in some areas, be ramped up in construction and repair of a number of roads, river and sea defences, schools, clinics and other public buildings.’

Friday said there are significant capital investments to be made.

He said the ministries of transport and works will receive EC$115.5 million, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training will get EC$63.5 million. The Ministry of Higher Education, Grenadines Affairs, including seaports and airports, will get EC$78.4 million, while the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning will get EC$190.1 million.

Friday said the Ministry of Housing and Informal Settlements will get almost EC$40 million.

Windward Islands Women put themselves in prime position to capture this year’s CG United Women’s Super50 Cup title by defeating Leeward Islands Women by three wickets in the second and penultimate round here on Thursday.

Meanwhile, defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Women picked up their first victory by rolling over Guyana Women by nine wickets, while Jamaica Women got the better of Barbados Women to set up a pulsating last round on Saturday.

At Cumberland Playing Field: Jannillea Glasgow produced a fine all-around effort to lead Windward Islands past the winless Leeward Islands.

Glasgow took two wickets to help bowl the Leewards out for 125 in 34.5 overs after they elected to bat first.

Qiana Joseph topscored with 44 and captain Jahzara Claxton contributed 25, but the Leewards lost their last six wickets for 39 runs after a solid start.

Aldith Gasper captured 3-28 and Shanel McKie claimed 2-12 for the Windwards.

Glasgow then returned to score an unbeaten 54 off 71 balls, as the Windwards reached 126 for seven in 34.1 overs.

She received good support from McKie, who made 22, with the pair adding 51 runs for the seventh wicket to help rescue their side from 71 for six.

With the win, the Windwards lead the table on 20 points with one round of matches to go, while the Leewards remained rooted at the bottom in sixth place on five points.

At Park Hill Playing Field: Anisa Mohammed grabbed an incredible eight wickets as Trinidad and Tobago Women made light work of Guyana Women.

Mohammed finished with the spectacular figures of 8-11 in 8.5 overs to skittle out Guyana for a paltry 31 in 16.5 overs.

The off spinner claimed seven of the last eight wickets to fall and bowled five of her victims in a mesmerising display of bowling.

T and T then lost the solitary wicket of Shunelle Sawh, before Djenaba Joseph and Samara Ramnath carried their team to a predictable victory, finishing on 32 for one in 11 overs.

The result catapulted T and T into third position on 12 points ahead of fourth placed Guyana, who have 10 points.

At Sion Hill Playing Field: Jamaica Women’s top order batters produced a solid showing which helped them to overcome Barbados Women in a competitive contest.

Captain Rashada Williams topscored with 43, fellow opener Chrishana McKenzie made 26, Stafanie Taylor cracked an unbeaten 23, and Chedean Nation added 19 to see Jamaica post 132 in 41 overs.

Their contributions carried Jamaica to 90 for one, before a collapse saw them lose their last nine wickets for just 42 runs, with no other batter reaching double digits.

For Barbados Naijanni Cumberbatch took 4-23, Theanny Herbert-Mayers 3-19 and Shamilia Connell 3-24.

Barbados also got a good start in their run chase and seemed on course for victory after reaching 75 for three in the 20th over.

However, led by a five-wicket haul by Celin Whyte and four wickets from Taylor, Jamaica staged a fightback to bowl Barbados out for 105 in 32.2 overs.

Opener Alisa Scantlebury made 43 off 87 balls and Trishan Holder made 24, but they received little other support.

Whyte ended with 5-18 while Taylor grabbed 4-17 for Jamaica, who now occupy fifth place on nine points, while Barbados remains second on 13 points.

Quinton de Kock warmed up for the T20 World Cup by smashing a boundary-studded century to lead South Africa’s superb run chase in a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies here on Thursday.

De Kock unleashed his carnage in smashing 115 off just 49 balls, with 10 sixes and six fours, while Ryan Rickelton made an unbeaten 77, as the home side cantered to 225 for three in 17.3 overs in response to the Windies’ total of 221 for four at SuperSport Park.

It gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final match to be played on Saturday.

De Kock’s efforts overshadowed an impressive showing with the bat by the West Indies, led by Shimron Hetmyer’s fantastic 75 off 42 balls, Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 57 off 24 balls and Brandon King, who scored 49 at the top of the order.

Having been sent in to bat for the second straight match, skipper Shai Hope made little impact in his first game of the series, edging a delivery from Marco Jansen behind to the wicketkeeper to be out for four.

Hetmyer, however, continued his rich vein of form, dominating a 126-run partnership with King that put them on course to score 250.

He got off the mark in streaky fashion, top edging Jansen for four over the keeper’s head, but followed it up by hitting Kagiso Rabada for back-to-back boundaries off the first two balls of the next over.

King joined in on the fun, clobbering Anrich Nortje for three fours and two sixes in his first over that leaked 24 runs, as West Indies rushed to 53 for one after five overs.

Hetmyer brought up his 50 off 28 balls and the Windies’ 100 with a towering six off Nortje in the 10th over that went for 22 runs.

Rabada eventually broke the partnership by having King caught at long on, one run short of a well-deserved half century, to make the score 133 for two at the end of the 12th over.

His dismissal sparked a mini collapse that saw spinner Keshav Maharaj claim the wickets of Rovman Powell for two and Hetmyer in the space of three overs for just 12 runs, to see them slip to 145 for four.

Hetmyer’s innings contained eight fours and three sixes.

Rutherford then teamed up with Romario Shepherd to plunder 76 runs off the last 31 balls to propel West Indies to their eighth highest T20I total and third largest against South Africa.

Rutherford struck five fours and four sixes in his unbeaten knock, while Shepherd finished on 17 not out off 10 balls.

Maharaj was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 2-22 from his four overs.

In their run chase, South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram and de Kock put on 27 runs inside three overs before Markram pulled a short delivery from pacer Matthew Forde straight into the hands of Hetmyer stationed on the deep midwicket boundary.

Rickleton, then joined fellow left-hander de Kock, and together completely turned the tide of the match during a 162-run stand that broke the visitors’ spirits.

De Kock blazed to his half century in just 21 balls by flicking Shepherd behind square for four as South Africa rocketed to 74 for one in the seventh over.

The West Indies wasted a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock with the score on 95, but Jayden Seales spilled a regulation catch at slip to dismiss Rickelton when he was 17 off the bowling of Jason Holder.

It proved to be a costly miss, with the partnership proving to be match-winning.

De Kock eventually reached his second T20I century off 43 balls by flicking Holder behind square for six.

By the time he was caught at cover off the bowling of Akeal Hosein to make the score 189 for two in the 15th over, the outcome was already decided.

South Africa lost the additional wicket of Dewald Brevis for four, but eased over the line with 15 balls remaining to wrap up the series with a game to spare.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, has called for intensified international cooperation to dismantle transnational criminal networks, as Jamaica works towards reducing its murder rate by 50 per cent in 2026.

Speaking on Wednesday at the EL PAcCTO 2.0 Strategic Caribbean Focal Points Meeting, Chuck disclosed that Jamaica recorded a nearly 42 per cent reduction in murders last year.

This follows a consistent downward trend, with a nine per cent reduction in 2023 and a 19 per cent reduction in 2024.

But despite the decline, murders committed with illegal firearms continue to lead the tally in Jamaica.

Chuck noted, however, that Jamaica does not manufacture firearms, and that the weapons are instead smuggled into the country through various channels.

‘They’re coming in barrels, they’re coming in various crates, coming in refrigerators, they’re coming. on the high seas, under the fish, you know, you put the guns under the fish. coming into Jamaica,’ he pointed out.

The Minister maintained that, without illegal firearms entering the country, Jamaica’s murder rate would decline to fewer than 200 annually, significantly easing the burden on the nation’s healthcare and social systems.

The Justice Minister also identified cocaine trans-shipment, human trafficking, and sophisticated financial scamming as challenges that impact not only Jamaica but also the wider Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and North America.

He argued that the shared intelligence framework facilitated through the EL PAcCTO 2.0 programme is essential to effectively address transnational crimes.

‘That is why Jamaica’s security and justice sectors welcome this EL PAcCTO 2.0. These challenges do not respect borders. They demand strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation, enhanced information sharing, coordinated operational responses, and the continued strengthening of national expertise,’ the Justice Minister said.

He asserted that, through collaboration with international partners, external criminal actors who collude with local elements to foster disorder and corruption can be neutralised, enabling Jamaica to achieve its 2026 target of reducing murders by more than 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Jamaica, Dr. Erja Askola, concurred with Chuck, noting that organised crime in the Caribbean and Latin America also impacts Europe, as the regions are interconnected through trade, partnerships, and investments.

‘Organised crime is a major threat to economic growth, sustainable development and governance, and all of these are within our two common priority areas. A safer Caribbean means stronger trade. It means a better investment environment, and it means more resilient and more prosperous partners for the EU,’ she pointed out.

Haiti continued their impressive start in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers by trouncing Saint Lucia 5-0 on Tuesday to record their second win as many matches.

Playing at the FFK Stadium, the Grenadières were led by a brace from Kyrah Lormil, with Krystel ChStelain, Keisha Gue and Rosalie St. Louis also getting on the scoresheet, to propel Haiti to the top of Group C.

Lormil opened the scoring for Haiti in the fourth minute with a close-range shot that flew into the bottom right corner, before making it 2-0 in the 17th minute with a shot from the right side of the penalty area.

Things went from bad to worse for Saint Lucia when Ivana Marshall was sent off just before halftime, reducing them to 10 players.

ChStelain scored Haiti’s third goal in the 61st minute with a close-range effort following a cross from Léa Jacques and in the 73rd minute, Keisha Gue unleashed a powerful long-range shot that sailed into the top corner to make it 4-0.

St. Louis then completed the rout, sealing the victory with a close-range shot from a corner.

Eight police officers charged in 2023 as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities at the Firearm Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) have been committed to stand trial.

The accused are Assistant Superintendent of Police Aaron Beddoe, Sergeant David Swanson, Sergeant Cindy Ann Chase, Sergeant Lincoln Bonnett, acting Sergeant Deyna Gibbons, Sergeant Mervyn Roopchand, Corporal Marvin Diaz and Police Constable Natasha Phillips-Paul.

They are jointly charged with misbehaviour in public office, arising from allegations that they conspired to issue approval letters to licensed firearm holders to purchase additional rounds of ammunition.

The officers were committed on Wednesday, following the completion of a sufficiency hearing before Master Margaret Sookraj-Goswami and will now face trial before High Court Justice Kathy Ann Waterman Latchoo.

During the preliminary proceedings, the State led evidence through 61 sworn statements. At the close of the prosecution’s case, attorneys for the accused submitted no-case applications. Following the State’s response, Sookraj-Goswami ruled orally that a prima facie case had been established and ordered the officers to answer the charges.

The charges arose from a wide-ranging probe into alleged irregularities at the Firearm Unit, including the granting of firearm variations and the unauthorised approval of additional ammunition.

The officers were initially charged in January 2023 after being detained by detectives from the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB). Investigators were instructed to lay charges after attorneys representing the officers filed habeas corpus applications seeking their release.

Two of the officers-Beddoe and Swanson-had previously faced charges linked to the same investigation. Beddoe was charged with multiple counts of misbehaviour in public office, while Swanson was also charged with several similar offences.