Category: CANA News

The Guyana government Monday night outlined a raft of socio-economic policies that it said are geared towards prioritising investments that directly promote economic growth, accelerate the transformation of the country, enhance human capital, and improve social wellbeing.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh delivering the first budget of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) since it won last September’s regional and general election, told Parliament that the Central Government total expenditure is projected to grow by 15.8 per cent this year, to reach GUY$1.5 trillion (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents), with the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) expanding to GUy$779.6 billion, and non-interest current expenditure to GUY$705.1 billion.

He told legislators that the PSIP continues to be the engine delivering the Irfaan Ali government’s national transformation agenda, pushing deeper into the foundations of daily life by building modern roads and bridges, new and upgraded energy infrastructure, world class schools and hospitals, affordable housing and safer communities.

He said this year’s national budget Budget is crafted so as to give effect to President Ali’s vision for a modern, prosperous Guyana, that provides opportunities for every single Guyanese person.

The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has condemned what it described as ‘lethal violence’ by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents against civilians exercising their First Amendment right to peaceful protest.

HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that her organization is ‘devastated and outraged’ by the killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, who was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday during an ICE operation. Pretti’s death followed the fatal shooting of another 37-year-old American citizen, Renée Good, a poet and mother of three young children, by an ICE agent in the same city on January 7, during another ICE enforcement activity.

In both cases, community and political leaders have challenged the Trump administration’s accounts of the incidents and called for independent investigations.

‘Our hearts break for the innocent lives brutally taken. These tragedies show how federal immigration enforcement has become a mechanism of violence rather than protection,’ Jozef said.

‘The deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Good are not isolated accidents – they are the product of unchecked federal power that prioritizes inhumane and deadly force over human dignity.

‘We demand full accountability, community-led investigations, and an end to militarized immigration operations that terrorize civilians exercising their rights,’ added Jozef, stating that HBA stands ‘in solidarity with the families of Pretti, Good, and all who have suffered under aggressive enforcement actions.

‘We call on policymakers and community leaders to act with urgency and moral clarity. We demand independent state-level investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, free from federal interference; immediate suspension of aggressive federal immigration enforcement operations in US cities where lethal force has been used against civilians; (and) Legislative reform to abolish ICE and reinvest in community-centered immigration and human rights protections.’

Jozef said HBA is also demanding the federal government’s ‘accountability and prosecution of officers involved in unlawful use of deadly force’; and ‘comprehensive civil rights protections for journalists, legal observers, and community members documenting enforcement actions.

‘These deaths expose a systemic failure that demands not just accountability but transformation. Haitian Bridge Alliance will continue to uplift the voices of affected communities and fight for a humane immigration system that respects human life and constitutional rights.’

Caribbean-American New York State Assemblymember Brian Cunningham also denounced the latest fatal shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

‘This week, the country watched news out of Minneapolis that should stop every person in their tracks,’ Cunningham, the son of Jamaican immigrants told CMC.

‘This tragic death follows yet another fatal shooting tied to immigration enforcement, in the same city, involving Renee Good, amid rising tension around increasingly aggressive federal operations.Two ICE agents, two fatal shootings, in less than two weeks, it’s unacceptable.

‘No matter where you stand politically, federal force cannot become the default language of immigration policy. When civilians are dying and communities feel occupied rather than protected, democracy is being tested in real time,’ the Assemblyman said, adding that the Caribbean community and New Yorkers are ‘not treating this as distant.

Aiden Markram’s commanding, unbeaten 86 guided South Africa to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over the West Indies, securing a 1-0 lead in their three-match T20I series here on Tuesday.

The win marks South Africa’s first in eight non-World Cup T20I matches, breaking a concerning streak with a dominant chase.

Opting to bowl first, the Proteas successfully restrained the West Indies to 173 for 7, a total that always looked within reach on a good Paarl surface.

The visitors began explosively, with Brandon King driving his way to 27 off 16 balls to help the visitors to a good start at 39 without loss inside four overs.

However, the introduction of spin proved decisive. Keshav Maharaj broke through, bowling Johnson Charles for 13 before King played a Corbin Bosch delivery onto his stumps.

Maharaj then removed the in-form Sherfane Rutherford, who chopped on after scoring six runs, as the innings stumbled to 50 for 3 in the powerplay.

The decision to promote Matthew Forde up to number three didn’t really come to fruition, as the Bajan managed two sixes in his 16 runs before he was caught off Bosch.

Stand-in captain Roston Chase, playing his 50th T20I, fell in the 12th over, as he was bowled by George Linde to leave the hosts at a precarious 95 for 5. The recovery was led by Shimron Hetmyer and, to a lesser extent, Rovman Powell, who counter-attacked brilliantly.

Hetmyer launched Maharaj for two massive sixes in a 16-run over, propelling the West Indies past 100. His 48-run knock, the innings’ top score, was eventually ended by a superb relay catch on the boundary by Dewald Brevis to hand Linde his second wicket.

Powell would help himself to two fours and a six in his unbeaten knock of 29, but just 19 runs in the last three overs meant the West Indies managed 173.

Player of the match Linde, who picked up the last wicket of Jason Holder for one, finsihed with three for 25 from four overs.

The gettable target demanded a solid start, and South African captain Aiden Markram provided a masterpiece to get the ball rolling.

After a period of inconsistent T20I form, he announced his return with a flurry of breathtaking strokes. He plundered 12 runs off Matthew Forde’s first over, including three pristine cover drives, and raced to 31 off just 15 balls in the powerplay.

He was ably supported by Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who contributed a lively 34 in an 83-run opening stand. After Pretorius fell to Roston Chase for 44, Ryan Rickelton, 40 not out, settled seamlessly into his new role at number three, playing with freedom as the pressure evaporated.

Markram, however, was the undisputed architect. He mixed power with exquisite timing, reaching his half-century off 28 balls and never relenting.

His unbeaten 86 from 47 deliveries included 12 boundaries, a statement innings that steered South Africa to 176 for 1 with 18 balls to spare.

The Senate Tuesday night handed the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government an embarrassing defeat after legislators voted against the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs).

The ZOSO legislation was passed in the House of Assembly nearly two weeks ago and unlike the Lower House, where the government enjoys the necessary two-thirds majority to have ensured its passage, the government needed support at least from four independent legislators for the measure to become law. But when the vote was taken on Tuesday night, eight of the independent legislators sided with those from the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) ensuring the defeat of the measure.

One of the independent senators abstained while 15 government members voted in favour.

As a result the government failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority with the final count being 15 in favour, 14 against and one absention.

Prior to the debate in the Senate, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar had been critical of the independent legislators, referring to them as ”bootlickers and brown-nosers’

‘These shameless President’s senators had no courage to contest any election to sit in that Parliament, they are not there because of the will of the people. The entire country knows that these people were appointed because they are bootlickers and brown-nosers,’ she told the Trinidad Express newspaper, when asked if she regretted her earlier comments of the nine legislators appointed by President Christine Kangaloo, who she described as a ‘low-level PNM functionary.

‘It is obscene that these nine people, whose only special ability is bootlicking and self-promotion on the local cocktail and conference circuit, and who no one voted for, can decide on legislation brought to Parliament by a Government who was voted for by the electorate.

‘And the most egregious ones have absolutely no shame standing in front of Parliament to defend their eating ah food. Yet they won’t stand in front of the electorate and ask for a vote to be in Parliament,’ Persad-Bissessar told the newspaper.

Persad-Bissessar said her Government has comprehensive plans to address crime should the ZOSO bill fail to secure the required three-fifths majority for passage in the Senate.

The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago had also raised concerns about the legislation that the government said had been modeled on the Jamaica bill.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Tuesday said that a woman has been granted TT$10,000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) bail after she allegedly issued two cheques to purchase tickets for carnival fetes.

The police said that the cheques totalling TT$45,500 were not honoured by the bank and that as a result the woman appeared before the San Fernando High Court on charges of obtaining goods by false pretences.

The TTPS said that the women, Satie Samaroo was charged with obtaining goods valued at TT$34,500 by false pretences and obtaining goods valued at TT$11,000 by false pretences, when she appeared before the court on Monday.

She was granted bail and the matter postponed to June 24, this year for a status hearing.

The police said that the operations manager at a San Fernando company on the southwestern coast of the country, reported that in July 2025, that during the period January 23 and January 24 that year, a woman purchased two packages valued at TT$34,500 and 15 party tickets valued at TT$11,000 for a Carnival event.

‘Payment was allegedly effected by two cheques, which were accepted as good and valid and the packages and tickets handed over to the woman. The cheques were deposited into the company’s bank account but both were returned dishonoured with the notation – ‘Account closed since 2021’. ‘

The police said that several attempts by the company to have the woman honour the payment proved futile and a report was subsequently made to the police. They said that following investigations, an exercise was conducted on January 22 this year leading to the arrest of Samaroo.

‘The Fraud Squad is reminding business owners and vendors to verify the authenticity of cheques with their bankers before parting with their goods, or consider switching to electronic forms of payment, if the person writing the cheque is not known to you or not a regular customer,’ the TTPS said in a statement.

The mother and sister of two Trinidadian nationals killed last year in a United States military strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs Tuesday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the US government.

The case is being brought under the Death on the High Seas Act, which allows for redress for wrongful deaths at sea, and the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreigners to file suit in US courts for rights violations. In what has been described as the first such case to be brought against the Donald Trump administration, the suit, filed in a federal court in Massachusetts, is being brought by the families of Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, who were among six people killed in an October 14 strike in the Caribbean.

The US campaign of missile strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have left at least 125 people dead since September and has been received the support of the Trinidad and Tobago government, whose Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is on record as saying that those involved in the illegal drugs trade should be ‘killed violently’.

President Trump alleged at the time that ‘six male narcoterrorists’ were killed in a boat allegedly ferrying drugs from Venezuela to the United States. But Washington is yet to release any evidence supporting the claims that the targeted boats have links to drug cartels designated by Trump as terrorist organisations.

The Trump administration has told members of Congress that the US is in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels, citing that as justification for using lethal military force against alleged drug boats.

The lawsuit challenges that justification. It says that there is no armed conflict and that therefore the laws of war do not apply.

According to the lawsuit, the ‘United States’ unlawful killings of persons at sea, including Mr Joseph and Mr Samaroo, constitute wrongful deaths and extrajudicial killings.

‘These premeditated and intentional killings lack any plausible legal justification. Thus, they were simply murders, ordered by individuals at the highest levels of government and obeyed by military officers in the chain of command.’

The plaintiffs in the case are Lenore Burnley, Joseph’s mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Samaroo’s sister, and they are being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR).

The family members are seeking punitive damages, the amount of which would be determined at trial.

‘These are lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theatre,’ CCR legal director Baher Azmy said, adding that the suit is ‘a critical step in ensuring accountability, while the individuals responsible may ultimately be answerable criminally for murder and war crimes’.

In a statement, Korasingh said her brother, who had spent 15 years in prison for participation in a homicide, ‘was a hardworking man who paid his debt to society and was just trying to get back on his feet again.

‘If the US government believed Rishi had done anything wrong, it should have arrested, charged, and detained him, not murdered him,’ she said.

According to the lawsuit, neither man was affiliated with drug cartels, and they were simply hitching a ride back to Trinidad from Venezuela, where they had been engaged in fishing and farm work.

Earlier this month, Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General, John Jeremie, said the US strikes were consistent with international law, based on advice he received from an international legal expert outside his office.

Jeremie said he sought external legal advice from an international expert outside the Office of the Attorney General before arriving at his conclusion.

‘My first look at it, and the advice I took, is the strikes were consistent with international law. That was the advice given to me by an international expert,’ said Jeremie, who refused to identify the international legal expert.

Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the disappearance of a quantity of cocaine from a police station and that one police officer is assisting the investigations.

‘I can confirm that the Belize Police Department is investigating the reported disappearance of just over one gram of controlled drugs from the Orange Walk Police Station. One officer is currently being questioned,’ Rosado told Greater Belize Media (GBM) television.

The authorities said that the cocaine was confiscated from an individual during a police operation and that the arresting officer reportedly failed to submit the drugs to the station’s exhibit keepers, as required under police procedures.

Media reports said that the officer stored the cocaine in his personal locker at the station and that the discovery was made last Friday, when another officer who was on duty allegedly accessed that locker and stole the cocaine.

The Police Commissioner said that any officer found to have breached regulations or compromised evidence would face disciplinary action, including criminal prosecution where applicable.

The amunt of cocaine stolen has not been disclosed.

South Africa elected to field after winning the toss against West Indies in the first T20I here at Boland Park on Tuesday.

Roston Chase, in his 50th T20I, will lead the West Indies as regular captain Shai Hope has been rested.

TEAMS:

WEST INDIES:1 Brandon King, 2 Roston Chase (capt), 3 Johnson Charles (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Rovman Powell, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Matthew Forde, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Akeal Hosein

SOUTH AFRICA:1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 3 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Rubin Hermann, 6 Jason Smith, 7 George Linde, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kwena Maphaka

Umpires: Bongani Jele, Stephen Harris

TV Umpire: Arno Jacobs

Reserve Umpire: Lauren Agenbag

Match Referee: Shaid Wadvalla

Health authorities in two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have announced plans to investigate the deaths of two babies who recently died at medical institutions.

In Belize, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, while expressing its condolences to the family of Jenny Pinelo on the passing of her baby, said it wanted to take the opportunity to share information to clarify some concerns that relatives and the public may have.

It said contrary to media reports, the reported lack of platelets did not contribute to the death of Jenny Pinelo’s baby and that between January 15 and January 22, at least 76 units of platelets were delivered to the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) upon request.

The ministry that on January 21, the KHMH requested 18 units of platelets from the blood bank, which were immediately supplied. Again, on January 22, another request came from KHMH for 23 units, and again it was honoured immediately. All requests for platelets for Jenny Pinelo were honoured immediately.

‘It should be noted that the blood issued to patients is not necessarily the blood units donated by the respective replacement donors; the shelf life of a blood unit is 90 days. The purpose of the blood bank is to screen and store blood so it is always readily available. However, every effort is made for the relatives to replace the blood used,’ the ministry said in a statement.

It said that once a medical practitioner makes a request for blood for a patient, that request is honoured.

‘The Blood Bank of Belize has no shortage of blood, blood products, supplies, or reagents to screen the blood. Blood drives are conducted continuously countrywide to ensure there is always an appropriate stock.

‘At the national level, all public hospitals, including the KHMH, have sufficient stock available, especially on weekends. A medical technologist is ALWAYS on call, should there be a need,’ the ministry said, adding that the public is assured that the blood bank is given priority to ensure that all necessary reagents and supplies to provide blood and blood products are available’.

In Guyana, the Ministry of Health said it is aware of and regrets an unfortunate incident that occurred at the New Amsterdam Hospital involving 26 year-old Kelisha Pestano, who was approximately 24 weeks and 5 days pregnant when she came to the hospital on January 14 with complaints of lower back pain and mild per vaginal bleeding, without uterine contractions.

The ministry said that she was assessed and diagnosed as a case of threatened abortion with a previable fetus and was admitted to the ward for ongoing care and management. It said Pestano was counselled regarding the prognosis and potential outcomes should her condition progress to a spontaneous miscarriage.

‘During the course of her admission, Ms Pestano subsequently developed uterine contractions and progressed to a spontaneous miscarriage in the early hours of 15 January 2026, resulting in the delivery of a previable fetus.

‘Based on an initial visual assessment, the fetus was presumed to be deceased. A previable fetus is defined as one that is not yet capable of surviving outside the uterus, even with medical support; therefore, fetal resuscitative efforts are not medically indicated.

‘The fetus was subsequently handed over to relatives. It was later observed by the relatives that the fetus showed signs of life, following which the fetus was returned to the hospital. Supportive care was provided; however, despite these efforts, the fetus was eventually declared deceased.’

The Ministry of Health acknowledges the ‘distress caused by this incident and expresses its deep regret for the circumstances surrounding this outcome’ as it extended its sincere condolences to Ms Pestano and her family during this difficult time.

‘The Ministry has initiated a review of the circumstances surrounding this incident to ensure that established clinical protocols were followed and to identify any areas for improvement in patient care and communication. Appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of this review.

‘The Ministry of Health remains committed to upholding the highest standards of care and to ensuring compassion, professionalism, and respect in the delivery of health services across Guyana,’ the statement added.

Guyana Monday said it values ‘its deep and historic bonds’ with India as the Asian country observes its 77th anniversary as a Republic.

‘India’s freedom struggle and its peaceful transition from colonial rule ignited hope across the developing world, inspiring generations of nations to claim their sovereignty and shape their own destinies,’ President Irfaan Ali said in a congratulatory message to New Delhi.

He said that as the world’s largest democracy, India continues to champion the interests and aspirations of developing states on the global stage.

‘Guyana proudly values its deep and historic bonds with India, forged through ties of history , blood and a common commitment to democracy and development. These relations have matured into a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and cooperation across diverse sectors. ‘

Ali said that as India marks ‘this significant milestone’ Guyana looks forward with confidence to the continued strengthening of ‘our bilateral relations, working together to advance prosperity, sustainability, and the collective voice of the Global South’.