Category: CANA News

The St. Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission says it will launch the second call for proposals for the regional MSME matching grants programme on Friday, saying the initiative presents a golden opportunity for blue economy entrepreneurs.

The programme is a flagship component of the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project, which seeks to strengthen blue economy value chains, promote sustainable entrepreneurship, and improve livelihoods across the OECS.

The Commission says that by supporting MSMEs in fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management, the programme not only drives economic growth but also contributes to environmental sustainability and food security.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the OECS Commission, ‘UBEC is building a resilient, competitive, and sustainable Blue Economy across the Eastern Caribbean,’ the Commission said.

It said that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management now have the chance to strengthen and expand their businesses with grant funding ranging from US$5,000 to US$25,000. T

The Commission said that the project is already transforming businesses and improving livelihoods in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with MSMEs in the three participating islands already being awarded grants from the previous call for proposals earlier this year.

‘The regional MSME matching grants programme continues to make significant strides in advancing blue economy efforts within the OECS. To date, 28 grants valued at over US$500,000 have been awarded to MSMEs,’ said UBEC’s senior grants advisor, Kyle Garnes.

‘In addition, the programme has begun delivering tailored capacity-building and training services to MSMEs in waste management, fisheries, and tourism. Training has already commenced in St. Lucia, with more than 25 MSMEs actively participating, while rollouts in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are scheduled for the weeks of October 13, and October 20.’

The Commission said that individual MSMEs in the three OECS countries may be may be eligible if they are legally registered and have been in operation for at least two years, with supporting financial or bank statements.

Guyana has officially launched GuyExpo 2025 calling for large and small-scale businesses and entrepreneurs to take the opportunity to showcase their products to local and international customers.

The November 13-16 event will be held under the theme ‘Transformation Through Entrepreneurship and Innovation’ and Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Susan Rodrigues said this year’s event will have new features to enhance its impact describing GuyExpo as both a legacy and a living platform that must evolve with the country’s rapidly changing economy.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues addressing the launch of GuyExpo 2025.

‘Guyexpo is unmatched in terms of exposure; it offers a rare platform to showcase products and services not only to local consumers but to international investors and partners,’ Rodrigues told the ceremony on Monday night, noting that even with the changes, the exposition will still promote the economy’s dynamism while preserving its core identity.

‘We are creating a dedicated space for businesses and investors to engage in serious conversation about collaboration and expansion.

‘The vision is not only to sustain the legacy but to reimagine and elevate this national showcase, ensuring that it remains relevant to the dynamism of the economy while preserving its core identity,’ she said

She said this networking component will be supported by the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), whose expertise will be pivotal in linking entrepreneurs with investors.

‘The physical layout of the expo will also undergo a transformation, while the traditional elements that Guyanese have come to cherish, such as the vibrant food courts, the children’s area and tourism village, will remain. These features will be enhanced for greater prominence and impact,’ Rodrigues explained.

The organisers say businesses that have grown with GuyExpo in the past three decades will also be honoured, while illuminated signs and improved directional systems will be introduced.

‘GuyExpo is unmatched in terms of exposure. It offers a rare platform to showcase products and services not only to local consumers but to international partners and investors,’ Rodrigues stressed, encouraging private sector players to seize the opportunity.

Rodriques said that while GuyExpo is being supported by the government, the private sector will be integrally involved in the trade exhibition that was first launched in 1995 and has been the longest-standing trade expo in Guyana, attracting hundreds of exhibitors each year.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) agriculture ministers meet here on Tuesday focusing on a wide range of issues including the status and trends in fisheries and aquaculture production, trade, and employment; initiatives to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and a new grievance redress mechanism for the Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).

The meeting forms part of the activities for the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA 2025) that got underway here on Monday with St. Kitts and Nevis Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Samal Duggins, highlighting the central role of agriculture in regional development and resilience.

Agriculture Minister, Samal Duggins, addressing the opening of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA 2025)

‘Agriculture is not just another sector. It is the very lifeblood of our people. It is the guarantee that every family can access healthy and nutritious food,’ he said in his feature address, reflecting also on the CWA 2025 theme ‘Sowing Change, Harvesting Resilience: Transforming our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025, saying that the ‘seeds we plant here today, the policies we shape, the partnerships we build, will determine the resilience and the prosperity that we shall reap tomorrow’.

He urged regional leaders to confront long-standing challenges and elevate the agricultural agenda.

‘Our region has not always given agriculture the priority it deserves. Too often, it has been seen as a last resort, rather than recognised as a pillar of sovereignty and a pillar of growth,’ Duggins said, outlining efforts being made locally including the food import reduction programme, which prioritises local investment to increase the production of high-demand crops such as bananas, plantains, coconuts, and pineapples..

‘We are scaling climate-smart practices, expanding agro-processing, and empowering our youth and women to lead in this very transformation,’ he said, acknowledging the importance of unified regional efforts and emphasising the value of South-South cooperation, particularly through strengthening relationships with African nations.

He said the twin island Federation has been actively forging closer ties with countries like Nigeria and that such South-South collaboration enables shared learning in climate-smart agriculture, the creation of cross-continental value chains, and the development of deeper trade and innovation networks.

The agriculture ministers meeting, which will be chaired by Anguilla’s Minister of Economic Development, Industry, Commerce, Lands, Planning, Water, and Natural Resources, Kyle Hodge, will also discuss a regional training and capacity needs assessment being undertaken by the CRFM with support from GRÓ-Fisheries Training Programme (FTP), under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as well as south-south cooperation with China.

The ministers will also receive updates and provide policy guidance on regional initiatives to address climate resilience and blue economic growth. These include the Global Affairs Canada-funded Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries (STAR-Fish) Project; the GEF/CAF/FAO/CRFM BE-CLME+ Project: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+); and the New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute: Plant and Food Research Group/CRFM Sargassum Products for Climate Resilience in the Caribbean Project.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will this week launch its landmark Common Apiculture Policy coinciding with the 9th OECS Council of Ministers: Agriculture meeting.

The policy, developed under the EU-funded BioSPACE Programme in collaboration with regional partners, seeks to protect bees as vital pollinators while strengthening the apiculture sector through sustainable practices, standardized approaches, and research-driven strategies.

‘We are going to have a technical paper and presentation presented within CWA so this is something that will be very pertinent for people like beekeepers, people who want to get into the apiculture space and policy makers,’ said Beekeeper at the Department of Agriculture here, Monroe Tweed.

‘What it is basically it is a document about how we would like to flesh out how we (standardise) beekeeping in the region and not just in St. Kitts but this is a document that’s been building up for a number of years with baseline studies funded by Small Grant Programs (SGPs)

‘We would also like to do an IPM which is an Integrated Pest Management paper because bees have their own pests, especially in the climate that we are in. It is an agricultural venture now so we must consider that as good stewards of bees.’

As part of the celebrations, the OECS-CARICOM Caribbean Honey Show will also be featured during CWA 2025, offering patrons the opportunity to taste and purchase honey and related products, including soaps made from beeswax, honey cocktails, pastries, and more.

On Wednesday, the CRFM will partner with the local Department of Marine Resources and the National Fisherfolk Organization to convene the Caribbean Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum.

Nepal reached 122 all out in 19.5 overs against the West Indies in the third T20I of the Unity Cup here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

NEPAL 122 in 19.5 overs (Khushal Bhurtel 39, Sandeep Jora 14; Ramon Simmonds 4-15, Jediah Blades 2-20).

The World Bank Tuesday said it has approved a new project to reduce flood risk in St. Lucia’s most vulnerable communities.

The Washington-based financial institution said that the US$25 million St. Lucia Urban Resilient Flood Investment Project is expected to benefit an estimated 67,000 St. Lucians.

The bank’s International Development Association (IDA), which provides grants and zero to low-interest loans to help countries finance projects that support economic growth, reduce inequalities and improve living conditions, is funding the project.

The World Bank said St. Lucia faces serious risks from hurricanes, storm surges and heavy rainfall and that the country’s steep terrain and densely populated coastal areas make flooding a major concern, particularly as climate change leads to more intense and frequent storms.

It said flood risk is highest in St. Lucia’s low-lying coastal zones, where nearly 60 per cent of the population live and where key infrastructure like airports, the seaport and major roads are located. Castries, the capital, and Anse La Raye, a fishing village, are especially vulnerable to flooding.

‘This project equips St. Lucia with the tools it needs to better manage and reduce the risks of flooding,’ said Lilia Burunciuc, the World Bank’s Director for the Caribbean.

‘By strengthening disaster preparedness and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, Saint Lucia is taking important steps to safeguard its people, economy and vital assets from the growing impacts of climate change,’ she added.

The project aims to reduce flood risk in selected areas and strengthen the government’s ability to manage climate-related risks. Importantly, it will focus on Castries, Anse La Raye and their river basins.

‘Infrastructure investments in Castries and Anse La Raye aim to enhance resilience to flooding and climate hazards. Rather than relying solely on traditional engineering solutions like drainage improvements and flood walls, the approach also incorporates nature-based measures such as green corridors and river restoration.

‘Project investments are designed to establish economic opportunities which enable job creation. By the end of the project, 66,400 people are expected to benefit from climate-resilient infrastructure and improved government capacity for managing climate-related risks.’

The World Bank said that the project will also seek to improve the government’s capacity to manage climate impacts, support engineering designs for flood mitigation and enhancing early warning systems and community coordination.

Preparation for this project benefited from financial support from the European Union, the frame of the EU Resilient Caribbean (EUReCa) Programme, which is managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). This reflects a broader international partnership to build resilience across the Caribbean.

The Bank of Jamaica(BOJ) says the outlook for real economic activity for next two fiscal years is likely to be in line with the last forecast and that preliminary indicators suggest that the economy should expand in the September 2025 quarter, resulting from expansions in electricity and water supply, agriculture and tourism and its allied services.

The BOJ’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) which earlier this month deliberated on the bank’s monetary policy stance in the context of continued low domestic inflation, global uncertainties and evolving interest rate trajectories in major developed countries, said thereafter, economic activity is anticipated to strengthen throughout financial year 2025/26.

‘In this context, real gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to recover in financial year 2025/26 in the range of one to three per cent, largely due to growth in the agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors,’ said the BOJ, which is also the country’s central bank.

It said in August this year, headline inflation in the United States increased to 2.9 per cent from 2.7 per cent in July 2025 and that it is projected to remain above the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) target of two per cent for the remainder of the year.

‘BOJ’s July 2025 survey of businesses’ inflation expectations indicated that respondents expected inflation 12 months ahead to be seven per cent, generally stable relative to 7.1 per cent in the previous survey.’

The BOJ said the domestic banking system remains sound with adequate capital and liquidity and that the domestic fiscal policy stance continues to pose no risk to inflation over the near term.

‘The MPC reaffirms its commitment to maintaining low and stable inflation. To this end, the Committee will continue to monitor the incoming data and adjust its policy accordingly. This includes maintaining heightened surveillance of the trajectory of core inflation relative to the lower bound of the inflation target range,’ said the MPC which is chaired by Richard Byles, the BOJ Governor.

The BOJ said that during its meeting it also determined that the current policy stance continues to be appropriate to support inflation converging to the target range and therefore, unanimously agreed to hold the policy rate, which is offered to deposit-taking institutions (DTIs) on their current account balances at the BOJ) at 5.75 per cent per annum.

It also agreed to continue taking measures to preserve relative stability in the foreign exchange market.

The decision to maintain the policy rate is based on several factors including that while headline inflation of 1.2 per cent at August 2025 is below the bank’s target range of four to six per cent, core inflation continues to track within the target range.

‘Moreover, the causes of the low headline inflation rate at August 2025 are temporary,’ the BOJ said, noting that the temporary factors that caused low headline inflation in August were primarily related to improvements in supply conditions.

‘In particular, agricultural prices during the month were lower than a year earlier, when prices rose due to the negative impact of Hurricane Beryl on domestic crop production. Supplies improved subsequent to the adverse weather, leading to prices reverting to more normal levels.

‘In addition, the dissipation of the impact of a previous adjustment in public transport fares, as well as a reduction in the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity consumption announced by the government in March 2025, contributed to lower-than-targeted inflation. ‘

The BOJ said that economic indicators continue to point to a stable macroeconomic environment.

‘Further, with stable domestic interest rates, the decline in interest rates abroad has improved the differential between domestic and external rates, which should better support stability in the foreign exchange market.

‘In addition, the current account of Jamaica’s balance of payments is projected to remain in surplus over the near term, and the international reserves are healthy and are projected to improve further.’

West Indies elected to bowl after winning the toss against Nepal in the third T20I of the Unity Cup here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

WEST INDIES Playing XI:

Kyle Mayers, Karima Gore, Ackeem Auguste, Keacy Carty, Amir Jangoo (wk), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Akeal Hosein (Capt), Navin Bidaisee, Jediah Blades, Ramon Simmonds

Simmonds and Gore replace Zishan Motara and Jewel Andrew

Debuts: Karima Gore

NEPAL Playing XI:

Rohit Paudel (Capt), Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Gulsan Jha, Lokesh Bam (wk), Mohammad Aadil Alam, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Shahab Alam

Umpires: Buddhi Pradhan, Vinay Kumar

TV Umpire: Akbat Ali

Reserve Umpire: Durga Subedi

Match Referee: Narayanan Kutty

In a scathing indictment of the current state of West Indies cricket, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and ex-CARICOM cricket committee head Dr Keith Rowley has called for a complete and immediate ‘reset,’ labelling the team’s historic 90-run capitulation to Nepal a ‘disaster’ that demands radical action.

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and ex-CARICOM cricket committee head Dr Keith Rowley,

Taking to social media in the wake of the humiliating defeat, Dr Rowley expressed emotions shared by millions across the Caribbean: fear, anger, and profound sadness.

He stated that the loss, coming so soon after the team’s 27 all-out collapse against Australia in July, is a ‘gut punch’ from which the sport’s governing body cannot simply shrug off.

‘I fear that someone in Cricket West Indies will try to rationalise this and find ‘positives’!’ Rowley wrote, pre-empting the kind of post-match analysis that has often followed such failures.

His solution was blunt and immediate: ‘My God, keep the bowlers and fire ALL the batsmen, at least for now! We want COMMITMENT and guts and grit and, of course, some talent. We must START OVER!’

The former leader placed the blame squarely on the current administrative structure, identifying the controversial ‘one coach, one selector’ experiment as a primary cause of the team’s decline.

‘Clearly, it has failed spectacularly. It must end NOW!’ he declared, demanding a return to an ‘accountable development model which is based on performance, improvement and progress.’

Rowley warned that patience without tangible results is a ‘giant waste of time’ and that the situation is too dire for minor adjustments.

‘No scalpel will suffice here. A comprehensive RESET is called for,’ he asserted, insisting on the establishment of minimum performance standards.

In his most dramatic prescription for recovery, Dr Rowley issued a clarion call to Cricket West Indies to enlist the help of the region’s most revered legends.

‘Assemble a small team of successful individuals and assign them a role and some authority. Call in Lloyd, Lara, Roberts, Holding, and Ambrose to begin with and start a fishing program with a purpose,’ he urged, referencing icons Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and Curtly Ambrose.

‘Given this disaster,’ he concluded, ‘Cricket West Indies needs to CALL IN THE CAVALRY!!!’

The post ended with a stark warning to the administrators, reminding them of their ultimate accountability: ‘You need to talk to Caribbean people; otherwise, they will reject and eject you eventually.’

The President of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), Jude Bartholomew, is urging the government to resume the payment of allowances that were removed from principals of both primary and secondary schools after the government enforced the latest collective bargain for teachers.

‘The Grenada Union of Teachers in the last negotiating cycle, we negotiated a benefit for principals, nobody wanted to be principal because principals were the lowest paid, the pay was even lower than teachers who were in the system,’ Bartholomew told a news conference.

GUT president Jude Bartholomew

‘We successfully negotiated to bring up the pay and grade of principals, the primary schools principals from H to I and secondary schools principals from I to J and what the principals are saying, even while they receive payment of the new grade, somehow in the Ministry of Education have gotten rid of the allowances,’ he added.

‘The principals are saying it is unjust, it’s unfair,’ said Bartholomew who recommended that the government restore the allowances in recognition of World Teachers Day which will be commemorated globally on October 5.

He said besides resuming the payment of allowances to principals, the union also wants the teachers who are acting as principals to receive some form of payment for their service to the education system.

Bartholomew called on the government to pay the seniority allowance to teachers who complete teachers colleges. He said that payment has been in a collective agreement clause over the years and administrations have failed to make this payment to those who qualify for it.

‘Only one set of people who received that, once you finish college as a qualified teacher and you pass three appraisals you should be receiving the seniority allowance and it has not been paid across administrations.it should not stop until Government has a new pay and grade for teachers,’ he said.