Category: CANA News

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’.

The opening round of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifiers saw commanding performances from Costa Rica and Haiti on Sunday, as action unfolded across Groups C, D, and E.

In the day’s most staggering result, Costa Rica unleashed a 16-0 demolition of the British Virgin Islands in Group E.

The match, played at the Estadio Miguel Chocorrón Buitrago in Managua, Nicaragua, featured eight different goal scorers.

Nubia Medina led the charge with five goals, while Lucía Paniagua contributed four. Captain Isska Chaverri also got on the scoresheet with a spectacular long-range strike as ‘Las Ticas’ sent a powerful message to the group.

Also in Group E, Cuba edged Grenada 4-3 in a thrilling contest. Yaiselis López was the undeniable star, scoring all four Cuban goals, including a first-half hat-trick, to secure a vital three points.

Over in Group C, Haiti showcased their attacking prowess with a resounding 6-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda in Willemstad, Curaçao.

Keisha Gue opened the scoring and finished with a brace, while Kerdina Lamour also netted twice in a dynamic team performance.

Joining Haiti at the top of Group C is Guatemala, which earned a narrow 1-0 win against the Cayman Islands. The decisive moment came late, with substitute Emery Aguilar scoring in the 85th minute to secure the victory.

Group D saw a split outcome. Honduras emerged as early group leaders with a 3-1 win over host nation Aruba, fueled by a brace from Alexandra Merriam.

Earlier in the day, Jamaica and Guyana played to a tense 1-1 draw. Guyana thought they had won it with a 74th-minute goal, but Jamaica’s Nicolette Prendergast delivered a stunning long-range equaliser in the 85th minute.

The Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr Didacus Jules, says the presence and investment of the US-based World Pediatrics in regional hubs as well as its collaboration with ministries of health and clinical teams have transformed lives and strengthened systems in the sub-region.

‘The OECS, guided by its mandate under the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, remains firmly committed to regional cooperation as a pathway to improved quality of life for our people,’ Jules said at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for regional coordination and alignment to strengthen clinical delivery, including pediatric surgical missions, specialised clinics and improved referral pathways.

He said that in the health sector, this means pooling expertise, harmonising approaches, and addressing shared challenges together, particularly in areas where no single small state can act effectively on its own.

‘Child health, and especially access to specialised pediatric services, is one such area,’ Jules added.

The St. Lucia-based OECS Commission said that the MoU with World Pediatrics is in keeping with the efforts of the sub-region to advance equity and inclusion by reducing disparities in health, education and social outcomes.

The MoU places strong emphasis on capacity building, education and training to support sustainable improvements within health systems. It recognises the critical role of research, data and monitoring in guiding evidence-based policies and investment decisions.

The agreement also advances resource mobilisation as well as strategic partnerships and underscores the role of advocacy, communication and awareness. The OECS Commission said that the partnership pivotally recognises that improving child health is not only a clinical task but a societal one.

World Pediatrics chief executive officer, Vafa Akhavan, endorsed the partnership as a significant step forward for child health in the region and emphasised World Pediatrics’ alignment with the OECS.

‘That’s the beauty of being like-minded, that’s the beauty of a common purpose. It is that you will understand what it takes, and therefore the language becomes the same, and the mindset becomes the same, and the framework becomes the same, and that’s the guidance that we are so excited about in this partnership.

‘The guidance of the OECS in translating this MoU into specific lines of action that we can take and make sure we are monitoring them; make sure we are qualifying them, make sure that we are impacting the lives of children.

‘We believe at World Pediatrics when you impact the lives of the children you are impacting the lives of the family, and therefore by aggregate, the community. They become the future decision makers of our nations, of our regions, of the world, and so children are the strategic imperative of every generation because they grow up to be the future decision makers, Akhavan said.

Head of the Development Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation Unit at the OECS Commission, Nadege Jn. Baptiste, highlighted the role of strategic partnerships in mobilising resources and sustaining impact.

Jn Baptiste said that the agreement ‘builds on productive engagement between our institutions, including the visit of the Chief Executive Officer of World Pediatrics to the OECS headquarters in November 2025, which helped pave the way for this partnership’.

A magistrate has ordered the forfeiture of US$15,610 from a male passenger who claimed that he had been given an envelope to deliver to stranger, who told him to call the number on the envelope, as he travelled from New Providence from Eleuthera on December 5, 2023.

Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs ordered the forfeiture of funds saying she was satisfied that it was derived from the proceeds of unlawful conduct or intended to be used for unlawful conduct.

The court heard that Annison François had told police that an unknown man gave him an envelope with the money but that he was detained by police after security screeners noticed a suspicious package in his carry-on bag.

He was arrested after police found him in possession of US$19,650. The prosecution said that the police were able to trace the origin of US$4,040 of the amount during a subsequent investigation.

Regarding the $15,650 balance, police said that François did not claim ownership, but said it had been handed to him by a stranger, who told him to call the number on the envelope. But the police said that they called the number on several occasions and no one ever answered.

The court was also told no one came forward to claim the money.

The Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) has ignored requests for a meeting with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) informing the public that shipping lines and wharf operators continue to face a number of challenges beyond their control.

Many of these challenges carry significant financial implications, which are currently being absorbed by the respective companies,’ the SAG said in a statement.

SAG President Komal Singh said port congestion, as a result of port unavailability, was causing delays in offloading cargo but importers were not being asked to pay the additional charges.

‘All the additional costs incurred, they cannot pass that to anyone since they already collect freight from customers,’ he said, noting that another challenge was the length of time it takes for local agents to wire transfer United States dollar payments for freight collect – shipping lines bring cargo to Guyana after which customers pay the freight.

‘The longer they take to get their funds remitted the finance cost goes up for them again. They cannot claim that from anyone,’ he said, but could not say how much money was being absorbed by shipping lines.

Despite those and other challenges, he said SAG was instrumental in getting the relevant stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago in easing shipping delays.

‘We were able to work with Port of Spain to get them to reduce the delay at that port for TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and vessels, I must say they have been very supportive by allowing vessels to get loading slots without much delay,’ he said.

Deeming GCCI claims that SAG failed to meet with ‘aggrieved members’ up to last Friday as ‘reckless and ill-informed’, the association sought to set the record straight.

SAG said that on November 26, 2025, it received correspondence from the GCCI outlining certain concerns and requesting a meeting.

On that same date, SAG said it responded in writing, proposing two possible meeting dates in December 2025 and indicating its willingness to meet on any alternative date convenient to the GCCI but so far there has been no answer.

‘To date, the Shipping Association has received no response or confirmation from the GCCI regarding this matter,’ SAG said, adding that it remains committed to dialogue and constructive engagement.

T said it will once again write to the GCCI inviting them to meet, and it is hopeful that, on this occasion, the private sector group will respond and engage in meaningful discussions rather than pursuing the matter through public discourse

Health authorities are reporting an increase in cases of syphilis in Barbados and are urging people to take practical steps to protect their health.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which did not disclose the number of cases on the island, said syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is both preventable and curable, but many people may not realise they are infected as symptoms can be mild or absent in the early stages.

It said syphilis can cause a painless sore at the genitals, anus, or mouth, or a rash later on, often on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Other symptoms may include swollen glands or lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, sore throat, or body aches.

‘These signs are often mild, can come and go, or may be mistaken for other conditions. Even if sores or rashes heal on their own, the infection remains and can progress if not treated.

If syphilis is not treated, it can cause serious irreversible long-term health problems, including damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.

‘In pregnancy, untreated syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious illness in newborns. These outcomes can be prevented through early testing and treatment,’ the ministry said.

The ministry is urging members of the public to get tested for syphilis if they are sexually active, ‘especially if they have new or multiple partners.

‘Testing is simple and available through public and private health services. Using condoms correctly and consistently remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections.’

The ministry said that anyone who tests positive for syphilis should start treatment as soon as possible and inform recent sexual partners so they can also be tested and treated.

‘Pregnant women are strongly encouraged to attend antenatal care early in their pregnancy and to complete all recommended blood tests. Early testing and treatment during pregnancy can fully protect the unborn baby from congenital syphilis.

‘The Ministry is working to improve access to testing, ensure timely treatment, and reduce stigma so that people feel comfortable seeking care,’ the ministry added.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Monday, January 26, 2026.

GEORGETOWN – The leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed, has been elected unopposed as Leader of the Opposition in Guyana as the government prepares to deliver national budget later on Monday.

PORT OF SPAIN – The Trinidad and Tobago government says the one billion US dollar sovereign bond has been successfully issued on the United States market and has been oversubscribed by approximately 2.5 times.

ST. JOHN’S – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it will shortly introduce another period of amnesty as part of measures to deal with the shortage of labour in critical sectors of the economy.

NEW YORK -The first contingents of the United Nations Securuty approved Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for Haiti are expected to arrive on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in April, as part of international efforts to help restore security and stability.

PORT OF SPAIN – The director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West has confirmed hat an investigation has been launched into the fatal shooting death of Joshua Samaroo after a video circulated on social media showing that he had surrendered to the police with his hands up in the air.

SPORTS:

PAARL – The West Indies have unveiled their 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be played across India and Sri Lanka next month, with uncapped Guyanese batter Quentin Sampson earning a surprise call-up and speedster Alzarri Joseph ruled out due to injury.

MIAMI -The opening round of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifiers saw commanding performances from Costa Rica and Haiti on Sunday, as action unfolded across Groups C, D, and E.

Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) says it hopes that member countries that have not yet passed the Banking Amendment Bill 2024 will do so during the third quarter of this year.

So far, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis are the three member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) that have passed passed the legislation.

The ECCU comprises Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Speaking on the ECCB programme ‘ECCB Connects’, the ECCB Chief of Policy, Dr. Tracy Polius, said the Office of Financial Conduct and Inclusion, although not officially launched through the ECCU, is responsible for market conduct and supervision.

She said this oversight should not be considered a ‘big stick’ approach but rather a supporting mechanism for bank-consumer relations.

‘So we will have the codes of conduct that have the force of law, like I spoke to, and from time to time, we will have what we call on-site examinations and off-site examinations. So that means we will be observing the behaviour of the banks through whatever medium, the advertisements and so on, and sometimes we will go into the banks to see whether they are acting in accordance with their own policies and procedures and the codes of conduct.’

She said the Basic Bank Account, launched in the currency union, is one way the ECCB, which serves as a central bank for the ECCU member countries, is ensuring that all persons can access financial mechanisms.

‘So some time ago, I think last year, we launched in collaboration with the ECCU Bankers Association, the basic bank account. And that basic bank account is a low-risk instrument that is going to allow for more people to join the banking system, because we are aware that it is difficult; it was difficult to open a bank account for people who have one piece of ID, who may not have proof of address.

‘So that instrument allows for more people to join the financial sector and to be able to leverage the financial sector for their own developmental agenda,’ she said, adding that after all members have passed the Bill, the Office of Financial Conduct and Inclusion will be launched officially.

‘So the timing is greatly affected by passage. We hope we could see passage by the middle of this year, that is, June-July. And hopefully in the third quarter of 2026, we could see a launch of this very important initiative that is looking to protect financial consumers and provide help them with financial literacy and inclusion,’ she said on the programme.

She acknowledged that movement in previously surveyed baseline indicators will determine, among other things, the success of the Office of Financial Conduct and Inclusion in the future.

‘So the ECCB, I think, last year or the year before, we launched a financial inclusion survey. So we have some baseline indicators here to determine the level of financial inclusion within the region. And so in a couple of years, years from now, we need to see some movement there.

‘Also, this year, we plan to have a business confidence survey and a confidence survey in a market confidence survey to see how people feel about the financial sector and also a survey of financial consumer protection, how people feel about the level of consumer protection.

‘And years from now, we will reassess and determine whether the indicators in there suggest that there is improvement. But we want to see, we could say that we want to see sudden changes, such as improvements in the number of people who have basic bank accounts and in the number of people who have basic bank accounts who have since transitioned from that and who now have an ordinary bank account, a normal bank account.’ Polius said.

The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago Monday opened a three-day energy conference promising to review the Safe To Work (STOW) programme after the government withdrew support for the event.

‘We have committed to reflect, review and make changes as needed,’ Energy Chamber chairperson Mala Baliraj told the opening ceremony following recent criticisms from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar , who had labelled the Energy Chamber as ‘self-serving’ and had instructed state-owned entities, including Heritage Petroleum and the National Gas Company (NGC) not to participate in the event.

The conference is being held under the theme ‘Building collaboration for a sustainable energy future’.

Last week, Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal told the post-Cabinet media conference that ‘STOW through the Energy Chamber is holding businesses to ransom by having a monopoly on who can conduct business in the energy sector using health and safety as a strangling tool.’

The government has moved to terminate the STOW certification as a mandatory requirement for state projects.

‘It is not practical for me to use this platform to address all of the issues raised in the last week, but I do want to acknowledge them and to assure you that we will address the specific concerns, through the appropriate channels in a constructive and respectful manner.

‘Our intention is always to work towards a collaborative approach with all of our stakeholders as such, we hope to be able to reposition and create a space for open and structured engagement with the government that supports the best outcomes for the sector,’ Baliraj said.

‘We have listened to the message in the spirit of constructive feedback. We acknowledge that some stakeholders believe the STOW programme has served as a barrier to the ability of small contractors to do business. We are committed to a collaborative approach to reposition this space.’

The Energy Chamber chairperson said that there is a view that the private sector body is ‘ dominated by multinationals and a handful of larger local members.

‘We hear this perception, and it is understandable where that might come from, but I take the opportunity to clarify. The membership of the Energy Chamber is varied and includes every ownership structure.

‘Among the roughly 400 members the range is from huge global corporations to micro-enterprises and everything in between. In order to guard against the dominance of one set of interests over another there is a robust, transparent governance framework, that ensures a diverse Board, that reflects this breadth of membership.

‘Given the current perception, we clearly have to do better. We need to ensure that the perception is not, in fact, driven by reality. So, to ensure that the perception does not persist, we will review our internal governance to re-commit to fair and balanced representation with broad-based engagement of our membership, and critical external stakeholders. ‘

Baliraj said that she also wanted to reinforce the aim of the conference, ‘as it has come under question.

‘The conference’s main purpose has always been to create a space, one time, every year, when the Trinidad and Tobago energy industry players come together. It is meant, to give us an atmosphere where we can discuss the issues that impact us all, see the ways we can work together, and kindle new networks and opportunities, for our businesses.

‘ I dare say, some have come to believe, that you can get a quick sense, of the health-check of the local energy sector by the ‘vibe’ of the conference,’ Baliraj said.

In her address, the Energy Chamber chairperson, noted the period of intense activity in the local energy landscape.

The Chamber made reference to several major milestones including the licensing of an ultra-deepwater exploration block to the US pil and energy giant, ExxonMobil, which it said has reignited global interest. The seismic vessel Amazon Warrior is reportedly preparing to begin a five-month 3D survey of the block this week.

‘Given Exxon’s unprecedented success across the maritime boundary in Guyana, this has understandably raised significant renewed global interest in Trinidad and Tobago. We have also seen the entry of another global player, China National Offshore Oil Corporation -CNOOC, into Trinidad and Tobago’s deepwater with bids on blocks TTDAA 24, 25 and 30. We hope those bids will move forward, into an active exploration campaign soon.’

In addition, the Brechin Castle Solar Farm, the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean, has officially begun feeding green electrons into the national grid and progress remains steady on Shell’s Manatee project and bpTT’s Cypre development, both of which are critical to maintaining the country’s natural gas supply.

‘In 2025, we have also seen projects that we had listed as being in the FID category ‘working towards a final investment destination’, moving into the execution phase with, FID having been taken, notably, Shell’s Aphrodite project.

‘These projects, join others, already in execution and working towards first production. These include the EOG/bpTT Coconut project, which is in execution with the platform being constructed in the TOFCO yard. And bpTT’s fourth subsea project, Ginger, also on schedule to deliver first gas in 2027.

‘The biggest project in execution, is the Shell Manatee, set to come onstream at the end of the 2027. By all reports, execution of these major projects are all proceeding as planned: important news for the downstream gas industry,’ Baliraj said, adding that while the government’s absence is felt, the industry’s daily operating reality requires high-quality safety practices that ‘protect lives and ensure workers return home to their families.’

She told the conference that getting investment decisions made, on these and other upstream projects, remains the most important element to secure the future of Trinidad’s energy sector.

‘In recent months, we have seen the Minister of Energy place a firm focus on accelerating approvals in the energy sector, culminating in the welcome news of the Cabinet’s decision to establish an oversight committee, the Energy Accelerator Hub. It is heartening to see a focus placed on this area and aligns with our advocacy position over the years. The Energy Chamber remains fully committed to working with the government on that process.’

This year marks, the 70th anniversary of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago with Baliraj acknowledging ‘those men and women of energy, on whose shoulders we stand’.

The Antigua and Barbuda government says it will shortly introduce another period of amnesty as part of measures to deal with the shortage of labour in critical sectors of the economy.

Government said the amnesty is intended to address current labour shortages across key sectors of the economy while providing an opportunity for individuals who have fallen out of immigration status to regularise their stay.

A Cabinet statement said that a number of non-nationals have become out of time due primarily to financial constraints, rather than willful non-compliance and that the amnesty will allow affected individuals to bring their status into good standing without penalty, enabling them to live and work legally and contribute fully to national development.

The initiative is also designed to support employers by expanding the available labour pool at a time when Antigua and Barbuda is experiencing increased economic activity and demand for workers.

The statement said that further details regarding eligibility criteria, application procedures, date of implantation and the duration of the amnesty will be presented to the Cabinet at its next meeting this week by Immigration Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin.

Meanwhile, the government has announced plans to reduce the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) later this year as part of efforts to cushion consumers from the high cost of living, which is largely due to the high cost of imported items.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that with the country importing as much as an estimated 90 per cent of what it consumes, there is very little option available to the government to seriously tackle rising prices as the government has no control on prices of goods imported into the country.

But he said that as a matter of policy, the Cabinet has approved a reduction in the ABST to seven per cent between the second or third quarters of 2026 and that the decision follows careful consideration of the effects of international events on the country’s economy and continued feedback from citizens and businesses regarding the rising cost of essential goods and services.

He said the Cabinet agreed that temporarily easing indirect tax burdens will help households manage everyday expenses while encouraging increased commercial activity across the local economy.

Cabinet said that the reduction will be carefully monitored to assess its impact on consumer behaviour and economic activity and that details regarding the implementation of the measure, including specific effective dates and any administrative guidance, will be communicated by the Inland Revenue Department at a later date.