Category: CANA News

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green is encouraging local farmers to return to sugarcane production amid positive growth signals in the sector.

The developments include a US$1-million investment by Pan Caribbean Sugar Company in the mechanisation of the Frome Sugar Factory ahead of the start of the new harvesting season.

In addition, a new company has expressed interest in establishing sugar operations in Jamaica, the Minister indicated.

Minister Green, who was speaking during a tour of the Frome factory in Westmoreland, said that farmers and manufacturers are currently experiencing the highest sugar prices in decades, making the sector increasingly profitable.

As such, he is optimistic about the industry’s future resurgence.

‘I am now saying to farmers, invest in farming and go back into sugar-cane production because (Pan Caribbean) has raised their efficiency, they have looked at the price of cane and now it is profitable,’ he noted.

Pan Caribbean has acquired new agricultural and harvesting equipment to modernise operations at the Frome factory.

The investment is part of a broader strategy to ensure the sustainability and resilience of sugar.

Minister Green noted that the expenditure follows an agreement with the Ministry, which provided support to farmers to transport sugar cane to the Frome factory.

‘We would have now spoken to [Pan Caribbean] about providing support directly to the farmers in terms of inputs, but more importantly, helping them with the mechanised harvesters they now have so they can become more efficient,’ he pointed out.

‘So, they are encouraging more farmers to repurpose their field, get back out there, and more than that, they are willing to provide the support,’ he added.

He noted that some local farmers are already showing renewed interest in sugar-cane cultivation with requests for leased lands to expand production.

These heightened activities signal positive developments in the sector, Minister Green said.

More than 2,500 hectares of sugar cane are ready for harvesting this season, although production has been impacted by Hurricane Beryl and rains associated with Tropical Storm Rafael.

Pan Caribbean’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Zudui Zhang, acknowledged the weather-related challenges but noted that the company is determined to move forward.

He underscored that the company is focused on improving production ratios with the new equipment and has indicated that positive results could lead to additional investments.

‘We need to join hands together – the [private sector], government, the community and our farmers,’

The Eastern Lawyers Association (ELA) has called on government and law enforcement agencies to strengthen protections for legal professionals and take meaningful steps to address escalating crime in the country.

The plea follows the murders of attorney-at-law Kumari Baksh and her husband, Nasheed Baksh, whose bodies were discovered at their Caratal Road, Cumuto home on January 9. That tragedy came on the heels of the killing of special prosecutor Randall Hector on December 31, 2024.

The ELA said in a statement posted on its Facebook Page that such targeted violence not only threatens individual lives but also erodes the rule of law and the core principles of justice. It added that the latest murders were a ‘grim reminder of the alarming surge in crime within our society’ and raised significant concerns regarding the safety of legal professionals.

In addition to calling on police to pursue all leads to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the couple’s death, the ELA urged authorities to prioritise the safety of lawyers as there appeared to be a disturbing trend of violence against these professionals.

‘As advocates for justice, attorneys play a crucial role in protecting the rights of all citizens. Any attack on members of the legal profession is a direct threat to the justice system and demands immediate and decisive action,’ it said.

‘Government and law enforcement agencies should evaluate the risks faced by legal practitioners and implement necessary security measures, especially for those involved in high-stakes or sensitive cases.’

Additionally, the ELA called for a comprehensive response to tackle the broader crime crisis. The association outlined key actions, including enhancing law enforcement capabilities, improving crime prevention strategies, and addressing the root causes of criminal behaviour.

Extending condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the murdered couple, the ELA said the tragedy underscores the urgency of collective responsibility to ensure the safety of all citizens and the integrity of the justice system.

A revamped Pakistan squad has been named to face West Indies in their upcoming two-match Test series which bowls off next Friday in Multan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday named a 15-member squad that features seven changes to the team that was blanked 2-0 during their tour of South Africa last December.

The home side has bolstered their spin department, with Sajid Khan, who excelled in the home series against England, being recalled along with Abrar Ahmed. Meanwhile, the pace quartet of Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah has been rested.

In their place, uncapped Kashif Ali has been included in the squad, alongside Khurram Shahzad, who has been retained for the series.

Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have been recalled to the squad as replacements for Saim Ayub, who was injured during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, and the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.

Rohail Nazir has also been brought in as a backup wicketkeeper after Haseebullah, the wicketkeeper-batter, sustained a split in his right-hand webbing during the Cape Town Test.

Squad

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan and Salman Ali Agha.

Titans slipped into the semifinals of the BIM10 cricket tournament with a five-wicket win over Guardians on Friday, that secured them the fourth and final playoff spot.

Needing a victory to qualify, Titans were led by their captain Ashley Nurse, who smashed an unbeaten 62 from just 27 balls with five sixes and four fours and Matthew Jones who scored 24 not out, as they finished on 105-5 in 8.3 overs in pursuit of Guardians’ 101-4.

Garry Austin (2-10) and Shaquille Cumberbatch (2-18) made early inroads into the Titans’ batting, but Nurse and Jones joined forces in a 70-run unbroken partnership, after they came together with the score on 35 for five.

The result saw Titans finish on 20 points to finish fourth with a better net run rate ahead of the Guardians who also had 20 points.

Earlier, the Warriors edged Voyagers by two wickets to finish top of the table on 28 points, just ahead of defending champions Settlers on 24 points and Pelicans with 20 points.

Saturday’s semifinal matches will see Settlers take on Pelicans, while Warriors will clash with Titans.

After West Indies declared on 346 for eight, Pakistan Shaheens reached 212 for 9 at the close of play on the second day of their three-day warm up match here Saturday.

Scores

WEST INDIES 346-8 dec’d (Alick Athanaze 98, Amir Jangoo 63 not out Kriagg Brathwaite 34, Mikyle Louis 34, Kevin Sinclair 28 not out, Keacy Carty 22, Joshua Da Silva 22; Mohammad Rameez 3-64, Musa Khan 2-63).

PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 212-9 in 58 overs (Mohammad Huraria 74, Mohammad Sulieman 45; Kevin Sinclair 3-50, Jayden Seales 2-16, Gudakesh Motie 2-21).

An agreement outlining the terms and conditions under which the United States Export-Import Bank will give Guyana a US$527 million loan to support its gas to energy project was signed on Friday during a visit by the bank’s President Reta Jo Lewis.

The term sheet was inked by Lewis and Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh at the site of the project at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara. The loan was approved on December 26 last year.

Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Philips, who oversaw the signing, said it was a turning point in Guyana’s history. He said the project will be the backbone of a stronger economy. ‘This is indeed a most transformative project, and it is the largest project in terms of size and financing that is embarked upon by the Government of Guyana in the history of Guyana. This is the moment that speaks to the power of vision, the strength of partnership and the enormous possibilities which can arise with shared purpose,’ he said.

He added that the signing of the agreement is a declaration of trust in Guyana’s potential and a commitment to shaping the country’s future.

Prior to signing the agreement, Dr. Singh said the historic transaction is a good example of what can be achieved through partnerships such as that between the US and Guyana.

The finance minister recalled his first meeting with the US EXIM Bank Chair in April 2022 as he noted that it was only months after that government and the bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which EXIM agreed to make available an aggregate exposure of US$2 billion to Guyana.

‘Notwithstanding that, during the course of this journey, it felt sometimes that we were not getting it as quickly as we wanted to, but the reality is that moving from zero to half a billion in two and a half years really is a remarkable achievement,’ Dr. Singh added, thanking all parties concerned in bringing the project to this point.

Dr. Singh also encouraged the local private sector businesses to avail themselves of the various tools, instruments and products that are offered by the US EXIM Bank, while restating that Guyana is open for business and would like to see more US companies doing business in Guyana and with Guyanese businesses.

Delivering remarks during the signing, Lewis said Guyana’s economy has continued to grow and prosper and the signing marked another important milestone on this journey. She also highlighted that the EXIM Bank Board voted unanimously to approve the over half a billion-dollar financing for the gas to energy project which she said is not only a game-changer for Guyana and the United States, but for the people, businesses and shared aspirations that unite the two nations.

‘Together we are taking bold steps to strengthen energy, security, enhance environmental sustainability and unlock economic opportunity,’ the bank president siad.

The gas to energy project will see a 200-kilometre pipeline bringing gas from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity Floating Production fields onshore. The pipeline will continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant to be constructed in Wales. The government said the complete project will result in several benefits to Guyanese, including job creation, improved electricity access, foreign investment, and energy security.

Energy Minister Stuart Young has the support of Planning Minister Pennelope Beckles whom he edged out in a vote by People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs, to be Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s successor.

Ahead of the ruling paty’s General Council meeting, scheduled for Saturday afternoon to discuss the leadership succession issue, Beckles declared that she was loyal to the PNM.

‘I have challenged the leadership before, I got the opportunity again to serve in the Cabinet. So we understand that things like that happen, but the critical thing is that as somebody who has served a very long time, starting off in local government, party always comes first,’ the Arima MP told reporters on Friday.

Days after Prime Minister Rowley announced his intention to resign before the end of his government’s term, he said the PNM’s parliamentary caucus had thrown its support behind Young to lead the party. He reportedly got 11 votes to Beckles’ nine and some of the MPs who supported her have not signed the endorsement letter for Young.

‘You know it was Minister Young and myself, and one of the important things, as persons who have been in the politics for a very long time, especially myself, my commitment is to the party; loyalty to the party,’ Beckles said on Friday.

Meanwhile, PNM General Secretary Foster Cummings has given Young his support and urged party members to unite and support his selection.

In a message to members ahead of Saturday’s meeting, he said: ‘We are the PNM the strongest and most resilient political party in the region. It is only as a united team that we will continue to be great. We are in an election year and as such we need all hands on deck, working together as a united force.

‘As General Secretary, I urge all party members to work with us as we continue to bring good governance to Trinidad and Tobago. We have selected the Party Chairman and MP for POS North as the member to succeed Dr Rowley as Prime Minister and he has my full support. Great is the PNM and we shall prevail. Let’s do this,’ it stated.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is employing the use of technology to protect the brand integrity of Jamaica’s renowned Blue Mountain Coffee.

Minister Floyd Green said that blockchain technology will be leveraged to ensure that consumers worldwide can verify the authenticity of their coffee purchases.

‘Probably the thing that I’m most excited about is how this year we’re going to be using technology to not only be able to trace where every single ounce of Blue Mountain Coffee comes from but to tell the story behind it,’ he said at the launch of the Blue Mountain Coffee Festival 2025. Minister Green highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by counterfeit products, saying that ‘because we have the best coffee in the world, people try to use our product to pass themselves off as the best coffee in the world’.

To combat this issue, each batch of Blue Mountain Coffee will now feature a unique Quick Response (QR) code that consumers can scan.

This code will provide detailed information about the coffee’s journey from farm to market, including its origin, harvest date and processing details.

‘When you buy Blue Mountain Coffee anywhere in the world, you will be able to scan that QR code and it will tell you that this is authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee,’ Green explained.

‘By so doing, not only are we protecting our revenues but we’re also ensuring that these new European Union (EU) standards [for agriculture] that have come about that speak to deforestation are met.’

The EU standards focus on environmental sustainability, performance and fairness.

‘We will be able to fulfil those requirements to show that the best farmers in the world use the best practices in the world,’ the agriculture minister added.

He expressed optimism for growth in Jamaica’s coffee sector as a result of these advancements.

Green stressed that this initiative marks a significant step forward in preserving the legacy and reputation of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee on the global stage.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that approximately 600,000 Venezuelans residing in the United States will be allowed to legally stay for another 18 months.

The latest extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – which was also given to Salvadorans, Ukrainians and Sudanese – came on the same day Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro began his third six-year term.

Homeland Security cited the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation’s ongoing political and economic crises under Maduro’s regime as the basis for its decision. It described the situation in Caracas as a ‘severe humanitarian emergency’.

The beneficiary Venezuelans, who arrived in the US on or before July 31, 2023, can reenroll to retain their status through October 2, 2026.

TPS shields immigrants who either entered the US without authorisation or overstayed visas. It grants individuals the legal right to stay in the country but it does not create a permanent pathway to citizenship, and individuals covered under the programme depend on periodic government renewals to maintain their legal status.

President Joe Biden’s administration has strongly championed TPS, which has been expanded to include nearly one million people under his leadership.

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has promised hardline immigration policies and threatened to end the programme, which would mean participants would have to go back to their respective countries.

While federal regulations permit the early termination of TPS extensions, that has never happened before.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that approximately 600,000 Venezuelans residing in the United States will be allowed to legally stay for another 18 months.

The latest extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – which was also given to Salvadorans, Ukrainians and Sudanese – came on the same day Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro began his third six-year term.

Homeland Security cited the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation’s ongoing political and economic crises under Maduro’s regime as the basis for its decision. It described the situation in Caracas as a ‘severe humanitarian emergency’.