Category: CANA News

The future has arrived for the Reggae Boyz, and its name is Seymour Reid. The 17-year-old sensation, alongside Inter Miami’s Ian Fray, has officially joined the senior national team camp, bringing a fresh jolt of energy and anticipation to Jamaica’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The two new invitees are looking forward to their potential roles in the upcoming crucial qualifiers, as the Boyz prepare to face Curaçao away on Friday before returning to a hero’s welcome at home against Bermuda.

For Reid, the call-up is the stuff of childhood fantasy. The young striker, who recently became the youngest Jamaican ever to score in Major League Soccer, shattering a record previously held by Alvas Powell, is still processing the rapid ascent.

‘That news is just a dream come true, to be honest. At 17, senior national team, it’s just different, you know. These players are here, the quality that they have it’s just different. It’s an amazing feeling.’

Reid is no stranger to the national setup, having represented Jamaica at the CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers earlier this year.

However, this senior call-up cements his status as a history-maker, officially becoming the first player born in 2008 to be summoned for the Reggae Boyz.

On the other side of the camp is Ian Fray, a defender who is accustomed to sharing a pitch with global superstars like Lionel Messi at his club, Inter Miami.

Fray brings a different kind of pedigree, one steeped in Jamaican football lineage. His father, Michael Fray, and his sister, Marlee Fray, have both worn the national colours at the youth level, making this a proud family affair.

Though he is yet to make his senior debut, Fray is no stranger to the National Stadium pitch, having played there with Inter Miami against Cavalier SC in the CONCACAF club championships. Now, he is focused on integrating with the squad.

Reflecting on his first training session, Fray reported a smooth transition. ‘My first practice session went well, and I am gelling already with the players.’

Reid and Fray are expected to jet off with the Reggae Boyz on Wednesday en route to Curacao.

The chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), Adam Stewart, says the company will in 2026 begin working on the design of the Beaches resort it intends to build here.

Sandals had initially announced the construction of a Beaches resort at Buccament Bay, but changed it to the Sandals that opened there in March 2024.

‘That was our original commitment to the country, . to build a Beaches. And of course, we pivoted after COVID to the Sandals,’ Steward said at the signing of a multi-million dollar agreement on Monday.

‘So, prime minister, we are here to sign today an agreement to build at this stage what looks like the vision of a 500-bedroom, $500 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) Beaches resort in this country,’ he said ahead of the signing of the confidential documents with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves

Stewart said that at full capacity, the resort will employ nearly 2,000 Vincentians.

‘But we’ll phase it and, Minister [of Tourism Carlos] James, we have to hit the ground running. We’re going to have to go to American Airlines and JetBlue and Virgin and many other airlines that are not here, and the Sandals effect will take flight to another level,’ he said.

‘. we’re going to do something remarkable. We’re going to put the sandals design studio to the test,’ Stewart said, adding that the spa will be a work of art.

‘This is a volcanic island, and we’re going to use those minerals, all that history, and infuse it into the next generation of Red Lane Spa,’ Stewart said.

‘Gastronomically, Buccan, which sources all of its ingredients from farmers right here on island, farm to table, has been an amazing beta test for the brand. So gastronomically, we’re going to go overboard. From a water park point of view, we’re going to build something extraordinary.

‘Every facet of this hotel will be the best of the best, and it would not have happened without the support, without the mutual respect between the people of this country and our organisation,’ Stewart said and asked to be given a pen quickly ‘because I have a document to sign’.

He said his job at the event was to say thank you.

‘We couldn’t be more excited. We will start designs in 2026 and we will move as expeditiously as we can to start digging Earth, and do something amazing,’ Stewart said.

‘So, to everybody here, everybody in the room, everybody listening. I just really wanted to say a huge thank you. I see somebody offer me a pen. Anything free I take, you know. Give me a pen,’ he said to laughter.

Stewart said that what Sandals had achieved in St. Vincent and the Grenadines so far is the beginning of what it could actually be.

‘We are going to train thousands of Vincentians beyond the direct employment here. We plan on going further. Prime Minister, we have 250 Vincentians on the cusp of going to Turks and Caicos to go and take over and lead the latest Beaches resort, which opens in Turks on March 1, 2026.’

Stewart said the company has more than 150 other Vincentians working in four other islands across the region.

He praised Gonsalves’ ‘constant leadership at CARICOM about Caribbean connectivity and integration.

‘Let me say it here: Nobody is coming to rescue this region. It is on the people of this region to recognise that the almighty created the most beautiful tapestry for us to share with the world, and tourism, in many instances in these islands, is the largest economic driver, and Sandals is so unbelievably proud to be the most decorated and awarded hospitality in the entire Western Hemisphere.

‘And to be Caribbean-led, born and bred, it is a shining, living example of what we can do together.’

Stewart said that whenever someone refers to the Caribbean as ‘Third World’, people should ‘point to the brand, point to the success and the pride, the calypsos, the reggae, the socas, the gastronomic flair that comes out of this region, the athletes, there are too many to name, overall.

‘We should be so unbelievably proud of where we come from,’ Stewart said, adding that he will continue with his team ‘in partnership with the government [of St. Vincent and the Grenadines] and the governments of the Caribbean to champion and explain to the world that if they give us that opportunity to come here, that we will give them the best holiday that money can buy anywhere in the world, bar none’.

President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons says the country does not have money to provide financial support on a monthly basis to the cash-strapped state-owned Suriname Airlines (SLM).

‘You are taking over a company with serious problems that urgently needs a fresh start. The country doesn’t have the money to support SLM every month. We want to get rid of that as quickly as possible. The airline must be able to operate independently again,’ she told the ceremony where the new Supervisory Board (RvC) was sworn into office.

The RvC is led by Chairman Marlon Telting and takes over at a difficult time for the national airline, which has been struggling with serious financial and operational problems for some time.

President Greelings-Simons said it is important that the new board builds on what has already been initiated.

‘We expect the work to continue with the new board and that a good start will be made with new initiatives,’ she added.

Telting said that while he is grateful for the government’s confidence, it is now time to work concretely on recovery.

‘The company has been kept afloat, but now we must take steps together with the management, the board, and the government to make SLM commercially viable.

‘Much has been said about SLM. It’s important that we first fully understand the core of the problems. I’m curious about the management’s initiatives for recovery,’ he added.

Transport, Communications and Tourism Minister, Raymond Landveld, emphasised the importance of a future-proof, commercial course for the airline.

‘We must work towards an SLM that can operate independently in the long term, without being dependent on the state,’ he said, urging the new board to develop a strategic business plan that offers prospects for recovery.

‘With the right course, there can finally be a bright future for SLM,’ he added.

Media reports said that SLM’s debt has increased significantly in recent years and now amount to more than US$125 million.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has held talks with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee on issues of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by the government here.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, situated on China’s southern coast and according to the official statement, the discussions on Monday were also attended by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau.

It said that in welcoming Skerrit and his delegation, Lee said that Hong Kong is the world’s ‘freest economy and maintains its position as third globally and first in Asia Pacific as an international financial centre according to the newly published Global Financial Centres Index’.

The statement said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will actively leverage the dual advantage of having national and global opportunities under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, further explore emerging markets including Dominica.

The statement quoted Lee as further indicating that he expects that Hong Kong and Dominica ‘will explore more co-operation opportunities and enhance bilateral trade and business exchanges’.

Lee said that Dominica is a Belt and Road economy, while Hong Kong is a key link in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is China’s main international cooperation and economic strategy. At least 146 countries and 32 international organizations had signed cooperation agreements for the BRI.

The statement said that the (HKSAR) government is committed to serving as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, leveraging the advantages of being closely connected to both the Mainland and the world, and promoting participation in green co-operation in the Initiative.

Lee urged businesses from Dominica ‘to leverage Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ and its highly internationalised and market-oriented business environment with its pool of professional services talent to explore overseas and mainland markets, jointly seizing the opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes,’ the statement added.

The Jamaica government is warning nationals against using unofficial channels in order to acquire legitimate job opportunities overseas.

Labour and Social Security Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr., said that Jamaicans should use official channels in order to protect themselves from fraudulent schemes and potential exploitation.

‘It is very important, as we have a lot of scamming. You have many individuals that try to mimic the Ministry, and some of them even [post] my image and give persons the impression that we are recruiting through Tik Tok [and] Instagram,’ he told Jamaica Information Service (JIS) News.

Charles Jr reaffirmed that there are no registration or placement fees associated with the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Programme, adding, ‘we (continue to remind) persons (that) there is no fee involved at any stage of the recruitment process.

‘Now, understand that you have the government programme, which is run by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. But you do have private entities, companies that do have a licence from the Ministry to (take) persons from Jamaica, overseas. But when it comes on to our agricultural programme, it is only the Ministry that has that authority,’ he said.

The Overseas Work Programme facilitates temporary, skilled employment for Jamaicans, primarily through Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP), and the United States’ H-2A and H-2B visa schemes, which support the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, respectively.

‘Once you have someone asking you to make a payment other than the visa fee, which would mean you have gone through all of the process and just have to pay for your visa, then you know you are dealing with someone who is not authorised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security,’ Charles Jr said.

‘All of those things are high alerts to you that you are about to get scammed, so you should call us. Thankfully, many Jamaicans have reached out to me on social media, some get my number. and they call and we talk to them, and some of them reach out to the Ministry. They ask us, they show us the images before they get involved, and we have been able to really divert them from those potential issues,’ he added.

The Labour and Social Security Minister, noted, however, that despite these efforts, too many individuals remain vulnerable to exploitation.

‘Because they want to access the programme so badly, they are easy to be manipulated by persons who can create perceptions that look very close to what the Ministry would be doing,’ he stated.

‘So this is an important opportunity for me to say to Jamaica. do not fall prey to these scammers. If you ever have any issue, reach out to us. But be advised, we don’t ask you to make any payment when it comes on to recruitment or placement. That’s not the Ministry’s process. . It will never be,’ Charles Jr added. ST. VINCENT-TOURISM-Sandals to begin designing new resort for St. Vincent next year

Residents in the northern Leeward Islands were on Tuesday being urged to monitor the passage of tropical storm Jerry, the 10th named storm of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane season that could become a hurricane by the end of this week.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm was about 1,315 miles east south east of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (mph).

‘Interests in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Jerry as Tropical Storm Watches could be required later today or tonight,’ the NHC said, adding that the storm is moving towards the west near 24 mph.

‘A decrease in forward speed and a turn to the west-northwest is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the core of the system is expected to be near or to the north of the northern Leeward Islands late Thursday and Friday,’ the NHC said, warning that Jerry is expected to become a hurricane in a day or two.

It said that swells generated by Jerry are expected to reach the Leeward Islands on Thursday. ‘These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,’ it added.

The World Bank Tuesday said that Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) can break its low-growth cycle by harnessing entrepreneurship to create jobs, boost productivity, and accelerate innovation.

In the latest publication the financial institution said that constrained by stubborn inflation, rising debt, weak investment, and ongoing global uncertainty, the forecast is for the region to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2025 and 2.5 per cent in 2026, the slowest among global regions.

William Maloney, Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank.

‘Governments in the region have steered their economies through repeated shocks while preserving stability,’ said Susana Cordeiro Guerra, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank.

‘Now is the time to continue building on that foundation-accelerating reforms to improve the business climate, invest in enabling infrastructure, and mobilize private capital,’ she told reporters.

According to the publication, titled ‘Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Review, Transformational Entrepreneurship for Jobs and Growth,’ the external environment remains challenging, with falling global demand and commodity prices projected to drop around 10 per cent in 2025 and another five per cent in 2026, hurting key sectors.

It said trade policy uncertainty also threatens market access and nearshoring.

Domestically, inflation persists, and public debt is high, with the debt-to-GDP ratio rising to 63.8 per cent in 2024 from 59.9 per cent in 2019. Slower monetary easing in advanced economies is keeping debt servicing costs high and credit expensive, further dampening investment, job creation, and productivity growth.

Against this backdrop, the report calls for domestic reforms to attract investment and promote ‘transformational’ entrepreneurship: high-growth firms that diffuse technology, create jobs, and raise productivity.

‘The entrepreneur is the critical actor in development, identifying opportunities, innovating, and taking the risks needed to create value added and jobs,’ said William Maloney, Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank.

‘Creating more dynamic economies in Latin America and the Caribbean will require strengthening our pipeline of entrepreneurial talent, while undertaking the systemic reforms necessary for them to thrive,’ he told a news conference on Tuesday.

Although support for entrepreneurship is strong, the World Bank said most firms in the region are micro or small businesses with limited paths to scale, accounting for up to 70 per cent of enterprises in some countries.

It said a smaller group of ‘transformational’ firms could drive productivity and innovation, but face familiar obstacles: scarce financing, heavy regulation, skills gaps, and weak infrastructure.

To stimulate private sector-led growth and jobs, the report proposes a three-point agenda. It said the region needs to invest in human capital, which is critical to job creation.

‘Strengthen education quality at all levels and expand managerial support to grow the pipeline of capable entrepreneurs. Scale up short-cycle trainings, align workforce programmes with private sector needs, and update labor regulations to protect workers and support business growth.’

The report also calls for supporting policy and regulatory reforms that establish a business-friendly environment.

‘Eliminate distortionary subsidies, reform taxes to boost investment, and invest in logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure to lower entry barriers.’

There is also need to expand access to finance, including private investment with the report noting that over a quarter of firms face credit constraints, about twice the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rate.

‘Strengthen risk-sharing, streamline dispute resolution, and modernize bankruptcy laws to improve capital allocation and protect creditors and entrepreneurs.’

The report notes that with the right reforms, Latin America and the Caribbean can foster entrepreneurship to fuel innovation, expand opportunities, and build more dynamic, competitive economies.

A police officer has been remanded into custody after he appeared in a magistrate’s court charged with raping a 14-year-old girl.

The officer, Erwin Gentle,19, of Essequibo Coast, was arrested and was charged on Monday by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gender-Based Violence Unit for rape of a child under 16 years old.

Gentle, who appeared at the Friendship Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Tameika Clarke, was not required to plead and was remanded to prison.

He will re-appear in court on October 27.

The leader of the recently formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed, says he will not be silenced and accused the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of delaying the opening of the new parliament following the September 1 general and regional elections.

‘I have noted the allegations peddled against me and my family. While there are legal constraints on how much I can share at this juncture, I am permitted to say this much in the interim; the leadership of the PPP has been advancing a sustained narrative against the Mohameds aimed at discrediting us,’ Mohamed said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

On Monday, it was revealed that the United States authorities had indicted the WIN leader and his father, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed on charges related to wire and mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, stemming from tax evasion on gold exports and the importation of a Lamborghini luxury car.

Denying the allegations contained in the 11-count indictment, Mohamed said he and his father would fight any extradition request by the United States.

‘We are going to fight it here in the court. We are innocent,’ he said, adding ‘ ‘I’m going to defend myself vigorously because I’m innocent. I am innocent of all these charges and I know it’s heavily political with this administration’.

The indictment come just over a month after Mohamed led his newly formed political party to become the main opposition party in the National Assembly.

If found guilty on the charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, the Mohameds, who were sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June last year, could separately face a maximum of 20 years on each count, as well as maximum supervised release of three years, a maximum fine of US$250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss.

On the charges of wire fraud, the politician businessman could also be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and maximum supervised release of three years and a fine of US$250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss.

The Grand Jury is also seeking a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, three years supervised release and a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the property involved in the transaction for conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The US is also asking the court that ‘upon conviction.as alleged in this Indictment, the defendants ‘shall forfeit to the United States any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to such offense.’

The PPP/C and the Guyana government have denied having any hand in the US legal actions against the Mohameds.

But in his statement, Mohamed said that ‘this is not just a personal attack; this is political; this is a fear tactic’ adding that the ruling party has become afraid of his involvement in the politics of Guyana.

‘My emergence into Parliament after campaigning for only three months sends a clear message of how quickly our movement has changed the political landscape in Guyana. It was declared that WIN has 16 seats, though that allocation does not reflect our numbers on the ground.

‘We are grateful because this result is a remarkable achievement on entry. The PPP knows what is at stake in 2030, and they want no challengers in Parliament. The PPP holds a majority; why then are they stalling to convene the 13th parliament and swear in the duly elected opposition?’

He said that the Irfaan Ali government had spent thousands of US dollars hiring a lobby firm in the US ‘ whose sole purpose is to smear and marginalise political opponents’ and ‘in this instance, their sole purpose is to target the Mohameds and, in their attacks, paint a false narrative about us’.

He said that the ruling party is now fearful of the ‘momentum seen at the last election and .they are doing everything possible to stop me.

‘The constant attacks, whether directly or indirectly, are to weaken me, with hopes that if they hit hard enough, I will cower and retreat. Truth be told, if I rid myself of my political ambitions, these attacks will cease, but I, Azruddin Mohamed, leader of We Invest in Nationhood and Leader of the Opposition (Elect), reaffirm my commitment to you, the Guyanese people. I will continue to stand up and fight, no matter the cost,’ he wrote.

‘I will not be silenced.I shall not fear,’ he added.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

WASHINGTON – The World Bank Tuesday said that Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) continues its efforts to reignite growth and create more and better jobs, but progress remains constrained.

GEORGETOWN – The leader of the recently formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed, says he will not be silenced and accused the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of delaying the opening of the new parliament following the September 1 general and regional elections.

BELMOPAN – The Belize government it is seeking legal advice to determine who should be held responsible for the death of a 25-year-old welder last weekend after a ‘training bomb’ exploded.

BRIDGETOW – President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Daniel Best, says for the Caribbean region, climate finance isn’t just about development, it is existential.

KINGSTOWN – The chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), Adam Stewart, says the company will in 2026 begin working on the design of the Beaches resort it intends to build here.

VICTORIA – Dominica’s Prime Minister RooseveltSkerrit has held talks with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee on issues of mutual interest, accoording to a statement isssued by the government here.

SPORTS:

DUBAI – West Indies powerhouse Shimron Hetmyer has laid down a bold marker for the start of 2026, setting himself a formidable triple challenge: win the DP World ILT20 with his new team, the Desert Vipers, force his way back into the West Indies squad, and then clinch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.