Category: CANA News

The Jamaica government says it intends to take full advantage of the island’s involvement in the United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty, which went onto effect last weekend.

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), presents an opportunity to link international law with domestic action. She said that in recent years, Jamaica has been expanding our commitments to ocean sustainability, including the protection of territorial waters and a growing focus on blue economy initiatives such as sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience and marine ecosystem restoration.

The BBNJ Agreement adds a new layer, particularly in areas like scientific cooperation and equitable benefit-sharing.

Johnson Smith said that Jamaica played an active role in the negotiations of the BBNJ Agreement and ratified the treaty in June 2025 at the third UN Oceans Conference (UNOC3) held in Europe. This followed the country’s initial signing of the agreement in September 2024 on the margins of the 79th UN General Assembly, where Johnson Smith signed on Jamaica’s behalf.

‘As this treaty enters into force, our focus remains on protecting ocean health and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources Jamaica continues to play an active role in multilateral ocean governance, including as host of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), reflecting our long-standing commitment to cooperation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).’

Johnson Smith also spoke of Jamaica’s leadership in ocean-related matters, pointing to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ role as a founding member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, reinforcing Jamaica’s support for solutions that connect marine protection with economic opportunity and social inclusion.

‘With this continued leadership, alongside the support of the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, coupled with our re-election to category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organisation, Jamaica remains a credible partner and advocate for ensuring that marine resources are protected and equitably shared, now and for future generations to come,’ she added.

The UNCLOS was opened for signature in Montego Bay in 1982 and remains the comprehensive legal framework concerning ocean governance in the multilateral fora.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is urging the Guyana government to reduce corporation income tax to zero on businesses earning less than GUY$60 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) annually and increase the personal income tax threshold to GUY$160,000.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has announced that budget day will be on January 2 and PSC President, Gerry Gouveia Jr, said the business community’s overall requests are aimed at benefitting workers and employers.

‘The overview of the matter is that we want to maximise the net take home for local businesses as well as employees,’ he told the online publication, Demerara Waves Online News. While he would not disclose the proposal of the private sector group, the PSC president would only say that the private sector has proposed ‘significant increases’ in the current minimum salary of GUY$102,346 and the income tax threshold of GUY$130,000.

The media outlet said it has been reliably informed that the PSC has also recommended that commissions and bonuses should be made tax free, and that there should be a 30 per cent of basic pay allowance across the board.

Faced with a labour shortage of just over 50,000 persons, the PSC proposes a reduction in migrant worker withholding tax from 20 percent to 10 per cent for individual foreign specialists.

Among the recommendations tabled at the consultation that was held on January 17 are reduction of corporation tax, special corporation taxes for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) aimed at promoting their growth, increases in the minimum wage and non-taxable threshold, more financing incentives and providing jobs in rural and hinterland areas.

The PSC and its affiliates want the 2026 national budget to provide for zero corporate income tax rate for SMEs with yearly earnings below GUY$60 million from zero to three years.

The PSC also recommends that government repeals the two [er cent minimum corporate tax on gross turnover, a move it says can stimulate 0.5 per cent to one per cent growth in trade related sectors.

Also being proposed are reducing the corporate tax rate on commercial entities from 40 per cent to 25 percent over two years, non-commercial rate to 20 per cent and telecommunications rate toward 30 per cent.

The Irfaan Ali government is also being requested to provide support for care institutions such as daycares, gender equality and employment and charitable donations. In this area, the PSC is calling for the Deed of Covenant system to be replaced with a 35 percent tax credit for donations and sport sponsorship at the national level.

The business community is also asking for an overall VAT reduction as well as lowering of that tax on certain goods. In the area of housing, the private sector hoped that the cost of building a three-bedroom house could be reduced by two million Guyana dollars if the five per cent duties on cement and ‘finishings’ are zero-rated.

The PSC was among several business support organisations that participated in pre-budget consultations with the Finance Minister. The Finance Ministry did not provide any details of that meeting in a very broad generalised press release.

-The Belize government says it will be hosting a series of national consultations over a two week period from Monday aimed at gathering public and stakeholder input to help shape how the country prepares for and responds to the impacts of climate change.

The government said that the consultations are being led by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management, through the National Climate Change Office (NCCO) and this initiative is possible through collaboration with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and the Ministry of Economic Transformation and forms part of the National Adaptation Planning process supported by the Green Climate Fund Readiness Project, ‘Enabling Activities for the Formulation and Implementation of a Multisectoral National Adaptation Plan (MNAP) for Belize.’

Belize’s National Adaptation Plan will serve as a long-term guide to help the country reduce climate risks and strengthen resilience across key sectors that are critical to national development and community well-being. These sectors include health, tourism, agriculture, forest and land use, and human settlements and infrastructure.

As part of the consultancy ‘Identification of Adaptation Priorities and Development of Belize’s MNAP,’ the NCCO, together with the consulting firm Metroeconomica, will be leading a series of national consultations to identify priority climate change adaptation needs, assess climate risks, and gather practical solutions directly from stakeholders across the country.

The consultations form part of a coordinated national effort to strengthen evidence-based planning, improve coordination across sectors, and align climate adaptation actions with Belize’s broader development objectives.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management encourages all interested stakeholders to actively participate in the upcoming consultation sessions.

Trinidad and Tobago Women defeated Guyana Women by eight wickets in the 11th match of the T20 Blaze here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field on Monday.

Scores

GUYANA WOMEN 57 in 17 overs (Realeanna Grimmond 14, Latoya Williams 10, Laurene Williams 10 not out; Shriya Jairam 4-11, Samara Ramnath 3-10, Anisa Mohammed 2-8).

T and T WOMEN 58-2 in 13.2 overs (Britney Cooper 29 not out, Djenaba Joseph 27 not out).

CMC rb/26

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a disbursement of US$415 million for Jamaica under the Rapid Financing Instrument’s (RFI) large natural disaster window.

The Washington-based financial institution said that these resources will help meet the urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, complementing the resources currently available under Jamaica’s disaster risk financing framework. The category five hurricane hit the island on October 28 last year, killing at least 45 people and causing damage estimated at more than nine billion US dollars.

The IMF executive board said Jamaica’s established track record of economic reforms has created buffers that are helping to address the economic fallout and reconstruction needs after Hurricane Melissa.

‘Nevertheless, the widespread damage caused by the hurricane together with the resulting fiscal pressures and sharp decline in tourism receipts have generated a sizable balance-of-payments need in the short term.’

It said that the Jamaica government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population in hurricane-hit areas and rebuilding of damaged infrastructure.

‘While recognizing that the hurricane shock justifies a temporary easing of the fiscal stance, the authorities remain committed to fiscal responsibility and debt reduction once the hurricane shock has receded. The authorities also continue to prioritize achieving their inflation target and ensuring financial stability.’

Deputy IMF Managing Director and Chair, Bo Li, said Hurricane Melissa has caused ‘unprecedented destruction across Jamaica and is projected to have a significant negative impact on growth and create an urgent balance of payments need.

‘Despite Jamaica’s multi-layered disaster risk financing strategy and sound macroeconomic policies over more than a decade, the financial resources available for disaster recovery are insufficient.

‘Consequently, emergency assistance under the Rapid Financing Facility would help to support relief efforts, particularly for the most vulnerable, and accelerate the recovery. Strong collaboration with international partners remains important,’ Li said.

He said the authorities’ policy response is helping to mitigate the economic and social impact of Hurricane Melissa.

The IMF official said that fiscal policy appropriately aims to provide relief and recovery in the hurricane-affected areas, with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable and rebuilding infrastructure.

‘In this context, the temporary suspension of the fiscal rule is appropriate. The authorities’ commitment to prudent fiscal management and public debt reduction, once the hurricane shock has receded, is welcome. Increased public investment necessitates adherence to procurement best practices and strong coordination to support rebuilding efforts.

‘With severe damage to agriculture, the hurricane has caused a significant negative supply shock, which is creating inflationary pressures. The Bank of Jamaica’s commitment to its inflation target remains essential to anchor inflation expectations and contain second-round effects.’

Li said that limiting foreign exchange interventions to the prevention of disorderly market conditions is appropriate. Continuous supervisory vigilance to ensure financial stability is warranted.

‘Building on their demonstrated commitment to credible policy frameworks and economic reforms, the authorities aim to continue prioritizing measures to ensure medium-term macroeconomic stability,’ Li added.

Leeward Islands Women defeated Barbados Women by 31 runs in the 10th match of the T20 Blaze here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field on Monday.

Scores

LEEWARD ISLANDS WOMEN 118-9 in 20 overs (Qiana Joseph 27, Tonya Martin 23, Jahzara Claxton 22, Amanda Edwards 12, Rozel Liburd 11 not out; Naijanni Cumberbatch 5-15, Shanika Bruce 2-14).

BARBADOS WOMEN 87-9 in 20 overs (Asabi Callender 17, Aaliyah Alleyne 15, Eboni Brathwaite 14, Theanny Herbert-Mayers 10; Qiana Joseph 2-10, Shawnisha Hector 2-13, Amanda Edwards 2-17).

Trinidad and Tobago Women bolstered their chances of making the T20 Blaze final by dominating defending champions Guyana Women by eight wickets in a crucial contest here on Monday.

Leg spinner Shriya Jairam and off spinner Samara Ramnath shared seven wickets between them, as T and T routed Guyana for a meagre 57 in 17 overs.

Britney Cooper and Djenaba Joseph then shared a 56-run unbroken partnership for the third wicket to see T and T stroll to 58 for two in 13.2 overs.

The result left fourth place Guyana needing to defeat second placed Barbados Women in their final preliminary match on Wednesday, while hoping that T and T Women – who are currently in third – lose to Jamaica Women if they are to have any chance of joining Leeward Islands Women in the final.

T and T owed their win to Jairam and Ramnath, who sliced their way through Guyana’s middle and lower order.

Following a 15-run opening partnership between Sheneta Grimmond and Realeanna Grimmond, Guyana’s innings collapsed in sensational fashion.

Ramnath trapped Sheneta lbw for one and two runs later Anisa Mohammed had Realeanna caught for the top score of 14.

Jairam then joined the party, bowling Shabika Gajnabi for nine and accounting for the wicket of Mandy Mangru for a duck, to see Guyana slip to 28 for four.

She returned to also dismiss Ashmini Munisar and Kaysia Schultz, as Guyana plunged to 40 for seven.

Ramnath then performed the final rites by wrapping up the tail to dismiss their opponents for the lowest total in this year’s competition to date.

Jairam ended with 4-11, Ramnath took 3-10 and Mohammed 2-8.

Faced with a straightforward run chase, T and T lost openers Shunelle Sawh and Lee-Ann Kirby for ducks with just two runs on the scoreboard.

But Cooper scored an unbeaten 29 off 36 balls and Joseph finished on 27 not out off 37 balls to see T and T to an easy victory.

Afghanistan defeated West Indies by 38 runs in the opening T20I here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Scores

AFGHANISTAN 181-3 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 87 not out, Darwish Rasooli 84).

WEST INDIES 143-9 in 20 overs (Quentin Sampson 30, Gudakesh Motie 28, Johnson Charles 27, Matthew Forde 25; Ziaur Rahman 3-36, Rashid Khan 2-19, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-29, Noor Ahmad 2-34).

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) says a Venezuela-based Guyanese national as well as local businessman are among four people arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged possession of 154 pounds of cocaine that investigators believed was heading to Europe.

CANU said that the men were arrested after law enforcement authorities seized the cocaine in the vicinity of Parika, East Bank Essequibo. They said the cocaine was brought to Guyana to be shipped to Europe where it could have fetched as much as US$$2.4 million. The suspects were escorted to CANU’s headquarters shortly after they were held in a vehicle.

Meanwhile, Turksh media reported that nearly 10,000 kilos of cocaine had been seized near the Canary Islands earlier this month and considered the largest cocaine seizure ever on the high seas.

According to Turkish media, the cargo ship United S, on which the drugs were found, was also reportedly in Suriname and raises questions about that country’s possible role in international drug smuggling routes.

The ship is believed to have departed from the Turkish port of Mersin in October 2025, then visited two Brazilian ports and finally made a stop in Suriname before sailing towards the Canary Islands. Official confirmation of a Surinamese port call is not yet available.

The cocaine was discovered on January 7, during a joint operation by the Spanish Navy and police, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the UK National Crime Agency (NCA).

Aboard the ship, which was carrying a cargo of salt from Brazil, 294 packages of cocaine were found, weighing a total of 9,994 kilograms. Thirteen crew members were arrested, including four of Turkish nationality.

The vessel was intercepted in international waters near the Canary Islands. Spanish authorities are calling it a record haul: never before has so much cocaine been seized at sea in a single operation. The investigation focuses on an international criminal network suspected of smuggling massive quantities of cocaine from South America to Europe.

Seven suspects have since been arrested on suspicion of forming a criminal organization, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Three other suspects are at large and international arrest warrants and red alerts have been issued against them.

Authorities have seized real estate, bank accounts, stocks, and cryptocurrencies belonging to the suspects and a shipping company suspected of involvement.

Caribbean legislators in New York are on Monday joining elected officials, the Caribbean community and other national stakeholders in celebrating the life and legacy of the slain American civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day) is celebrated on January 19 as a public holiday in the United States.

‘We are reminded of the moral clarity and courage that defined Dr. King’s leadership,’ said New York City Council member, Crystal Hudson, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, in a message to constituents.

‘In 1968, just months before his assassination, he offered a charge that still resonates today: ‘We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope”, she added, stating that ‘that call continues to ground us in moments of challenge, urging us to lead with love, to remain disciplined in the pursuit of justice, and to refuse indifference in the face of harm and hate’

Hudson noted that communities across Brooklyn are coming together to honour King’s life and legacy through service, reflection, and collective action.

She said MLK Day is not only a time to commemorate history, but an opportunity to ‘recommit ourselves to the values Dr. King fought for and the work that remains unfinished.

‘We approach this moment during a period of profound national uncertainty. In Brooklyn, we know the power of community. Time and again, our neighbors have shown that resilience is built through care for one another, and that progress is made when we move forward together with intention and resolve,’ she said adding ‘Dr. King believed that justice demands action and that silence is never neutral.

‘As we mark MLK Day, we are called to raise our voices clearly and collectively in pursuit of dignity, equality, and freedom. The work has never been easy, but it has always been necessary.’

She urged the Caribbean community to join her in honoring Dr. King’s legacy by ‘continuing the struggle he so boldly advanced and taking part in the events happening throughout our community.’

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, whose father hailed from Trinidad and Tobago, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that she will participate in a community interfaith celebration that pays tribute to the legacy of the late civil rights leader ‘who, through non-violent activism, helped spearhead several groundbreaking changes to federal and state laws in the United States.’

With this year’s theme, ‘Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way,’ Gibson said she will share reflections on ‘how Dr. King`s vision continues to shape our nation, our city, and borough.’

The Brooklyn Democratic Party is also urging the public to honour the legacy of King at one of the Day of Service events on Monday.

‘The only federal holiday designated as a ‘Day of Service,’ MLK Day carries meaningful purpose for reflection and giving to community,’ said Party Chair, Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, told CMC.

‘This year, the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision for a country bound by hope and equality could not carry more profound significance,’ added the representative for the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn.

‘There may be no school, but we take action on this ‘day on, not day off’ to honor Dr. King’s legacy of fighting for justice through civic engagement, volunteering and service,’ she added.