Category: CANA News

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Monday, July 27, 2026.

GEORGETOWN – A five-day meeting of the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) bean here on Monday with regional tax administrations being urged to embrace the technological and digital developments including artificial intelligence (AI) so as to improve their functions.

GEORGETOWN – President Irfaan Ali Monday announced the establishment of a national body to coordinate, mobilise, and foster the necessary work of healing as Guyana remains ‘in the shadow of that dark hour’ following the tragedy involving the MV Barima when the sea claimed the lives of so many nationals.

CASTRIES – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has praised Cuba for maintaining its relationship with the sub-regional grouping despite the ‘weight’ of a trade and economic embargo imposed on the Caribbean country by the United States dating back to 1962.

BRIDGETOWN – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it is providing a US$100,000 grant to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Private Sector Organization Inc. (CPSO) to support a study that will assess the feasibility and inform the design of a regional stock exchange.

PARAMARIBO – President Jennifer Simons has returned from a four-day visit to the United Kingdom optimistic of greater international involvement in the oil and gas sector in Suriname.

SPORTS:

PORT OF SPAIN – Third day of the first test match between West Indies and Pakistan at the Brian Lara Stadium at Toruba.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has praised Cuba for maintaining its relationship with the sub-regional grouping despite the ‘weight’ of a trade and economic embargo imposed on the Caribbean country by the United States dating back to 1962.

‘Few nations have demonstrated that solidarity as consistently, or as generously, as Cuba. Through every challenge Cuba itself has faced: economic hardship, isolation, the weight of an embargo now well into its seventh decade, it has never wavered in extending a hand to our region and people,’ OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules said as he accepted the Letters of Credence from Cuba’s new ambassador, Yenielys Vilma Regueiferos Linares.

Jules said that the OECS will continue to approach its relationship with Cuba by practical, shared priorities of sustainable development, regional solidarity, and the wellbeing of our peoples.

‘Ambassador, please know that you assume your post in a region that regards Cuba as a longstanding friend, one whose doctors have cared for our sick, whose universities have educated our leaders, and whose solidarity has never depended on the size of our states or the strength of our economies.

‘The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States looks forward to working closely with you to deepen this partnership further: in health, in education, in disaster resilience, in agriculture, in ocean governance, and in whatever new areas our shared future may call us to explore,’ he added.

The St. Lucia-based OECS Commission said that Cuba and the OECS partners have strengthened bilateral cooperation despite many challenges, delivering significant humanitarian benefits through initiatives such as EverProTe for diabetic foot ulcer treatment, the Yes I Can literacy programme, and Operation Miracle, which restored sight to thousands across the Caribbean.

It said cooperation has also included Cuban medical assistance during COVID-19, educational scholarships, and hurricane recovery support.

In her remarks, the Cuban diplomat reiterated the theme of unity saying ‘the countries and territories of the OECS can always count on the solidarity of sister island of Cuba,’ praising the grouping for supporting Havana during its current and amplified geopolitical challenges.

‘No society can survive without energy. We have only received one oil vessel in seven months, and the impact is unbelievable in hospitals, schools, senior centres, children in need and in general all sectors of society. To the OECS from the heart of every Cuban…’thank you’.

‘Solidarity in regional, multilateral and bilateral forums is highly appreciated. Donations from governments and various organisations have been a pillar for continuing this battle of morality and dignity.

‘Regional and global challenges are numerous in an unstable, unequal and complex world. Only through unity and integration will we be able to respond to the chaotic landscape in which we live.’

The OECS groups the independent islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis as well as Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

The United States has sharply escalated its economic pressure on Cuba through executive actions targeting energy supplies, financial transactions, and foreign trade.

In recent months, Washington has imposed a strict fuel and energy embargo on Cuba by blocking oil shipments and sanctioning state oil company Unión Cuba-Petróleo. In addition, the North American country has established secondary sanctions against foreign companies and financial institutions dealing with Cuba and is also threatening nternational banks and third-country suppliers with severe penalties.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it is providing a US$100,000 grant to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Private Sector Organization Inc. (CPSO) to support a study that will assess the feasibility and inform the design of a regional stock exchange.

The CDB said the initiative will be for CARICOM member states participating in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) which allows for the free movement of goods, skills, and labour across the region. The CDB said that the funding is from its Special Development Fund (SDF) 11, and will the first phase of a broader initiative aimed at assessing viable models for establishing a regional securities exchange and advancing deeper capital market integration across the Caribbean.

The study will examine opportunities to create a more connected and efficient regional capital market capable of mobilising investment, improving liquidity, reducing financing costs, and expanding access to capital for businesses across CARICOM member states.

The CDB said that despite the presence of several stock exchanges across the region, Caribbean capital markets remain fragmented, limiting cross-border participation and constraining the scale of investment opportunities available to businesses and investors.

It said that a more integrated regional market could help unlock new sources of financing, particularly for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), while supporting greater economic resilience and competitiveness.

‘The Caribbean’s long-term growth depends on our ability to create stronger, more accessible financial markets that support entrepreneurship, innovation and investment,’ said Lisa Harding, Division Chief, Private Sector Division at CDB.

‘This feasibility study will provide the analysis needed to determine how a regional stock exchange can strengthen access to finance, support private sector development, and advance regional economic integration. It also reflects CDB’s commitment to building institutions and financial systems that foster inclusive and sustainable growth across our member countries.’

The feasibility study will analyse capital market demand across CARICOM member states, assess legal and regulatory requirements for greater market integration, evaluate international stock exchange models, and engage stakeholders from across the public and private sectors. The study will also explore opportunities to improve access to financing for women-led enterprises, youth entrepreneurs, and other traditionally underserved groups.

The initiative is being implemented by CPSO with support from CDB and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Together, the institutions are contributing US$324,700 toward the completion of the first phase of the study.

The CDB said that upon completion, the findings will be presented at a regional symposium, providing policymakers, regulators, private sector stakeholders and development partners with evidence-based recommendations to guide decisions on the future of regional capital market integration.

It said that the project aligns with CDB’s strategic objective of building economic resilience and supports regional efforts to strengthen financial markets, promote private sector development, and advance Caribbean integration.

High Court Judge, Vigel Paul, Monday ordered the release of 69-year-old Star Sabga, a relative of Genevieve Hadeed, who along with her businessman husband, Dominic, were released last weekend after the Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander revoked a preventative detention order (PDO) that kept them behind bars for a month.

The Hadeeds and Sabga had been detained amid allegations that they were conspiring to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General John Jeremie and other members of her government.

Alexander had revoked the PDOs after he said he had reviewed the legal, medical and constitutional issues surrounding the Hadeed’s detention, adding that their continued detention was no longer proportionate while the police investigation continued. In his decision, Justice Paul questioned the need for Sabga to remain detained after the Hadeeds were released when Alexander revoked the PDOs against them last week.

‘If persons set to be at the centre of conspiracy can safely be at large, the court cannot see how the continued detention of this elderly woman can be said to be necessary to prevent danger,’ Justice Paul said.

He said that he found there was no evidence that Sabga was involved in furthering the alleged conspiracy to assassinate key government officials after she made statements in an intercepted telephone conversation with Genevieve in June.

‘There is absence of any evidence that she engaged in any conspiracy or engaged in any step other than initial conversation. A case of ongoing danger must require more than intelligence,’ Justice Paul said.

Sabga’s lawyer Rishi Dass had argued that an intercepted telephone conversation between Sabga and Genevieve Hadeed on June 11 had been given a ‘twisted’ or ‘farcical’ interpretation by law enforcement officials.

He noted that conversation took place after Jeremie made comments in relation to the ‘one per cent’ while piloting a motion in Parliament to extend the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE) by three months.

‘It came a day after the AG’s attack on a minority ethnic group in this country. They were venting in a private conversation as anyone may do after being subject to such an attack,’ Dass said, describing the claims of a murder conspiracy as far-fetched.

‘There must be evidence of conspiring not just two women venting among themselves. Worse is said on political haustings everyday It is practically a thought crime,’ Dass said, adding that while Alexander had initially claimed that Sabga and the Hadeed were part of a conspiracy to assassinate key government officials when he issued the PDOs against them, he subsequently claimed that Sabga’s continued detention was necessary as her statements had the potential to incite violence against public officials.

‘There is now the wholesale abandonment of assassination plot,’ Dass said, telling the Court that Sabga’s statements could not amount to sedition as they were not broadcast to the public.

Dass argued that the statements linked to Sabga were initially ascribed to the Hadeeds before Alexander disclosed a transcript of the intercepted communication, last week, saying ‘it casts a dark shadow on the intelligence services of Trinidad and Tobago if they cannot get that right’.

Dass also questioned the need for Sabga’s detention while the probe continues, noting that the police were still in the process of analysing the electronic devices of the Hadeeds, who were released from PDOs last week.

‘No electronic devices were taken from Miss Star Sabga,’ Dass said, telling the Court that his client had lost 29 pounds while detained in prison over the past month.

Dass said that the probe could continue while she remains under house arrest.

‘We are not seeking to detain Jason Bourne but a 69-year-old cheese maker,’ he said, accusing the state of leaking the recording of the 15 minute intercepted conversation which was widely shared on social media over the weekend.

But in his response, state attorney Gerald Ramdeen called on Justice Paul to deny the request, arguing that Sabga could not seek interim release after filing a constitutional motion alleging a breach of her rights and should have sought to judicial review Alexander’s decision to disregard the decision of the SoE Review Tribunal to recommend her release.

He said that a panel of the Court of Appeal ordered the Hadeeds’ conditional release before the SoE Review Tribunal recommended that their and Sabga’s detentions should be lifted.

‘The court is being asked to grant interim relief in a constitutional motion, while the minister’s decision under the constitution remains intact. Relief under the constitution is discretionary,’ Ramdeen said, calling on the judge not to second guess the risk assessment done by Alexander, the police, and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).

‘Judges do not have jurisdiction to assess the assessments of intelligence services. The judiciary is not qualified to undertake assessments of risks,’ Ramdeen said, adding Is it permissible for the Judiciary to trespass on the constitutionally protected realm of the executive?’.

Ramdeen also called on Justice Paul to give deference to Alexander’s assessment based on his responsibility in relation to national security issues and his role in issuing PDOs under the SoE.

‘If you take the decision to release the applicant and tomorrow the Prime Minister is executed, are you responsible to the electorate?’ he said.

Jamaica suffered their first loss of the Commonwealth Games when their Sunshine Girls went down to New Zealand 53-48 in their second preliminary game at the Hyra Arena here on Sunday.

Fresh from winning their opener against Trinidad and Tobago, the Jamaicans trailed New Zealand for the majority of the game in the highly anticipated encounter. Led by a standout performance from Grace Nweke, who scored 47 goals from 56 attempts, New Zealand held a slim 14-12 advantage after the first quarter and were up by one goal (26-25) at the half. They then extended that lead to 39-35 heading into the final period before holding on to win by five goals.

Romelda Aiken scored 34 goals from 38 attempts and Shanice Beckford scored 14 from 15 attempts for the Jamaicans.

The Sunshine Girls will now look to rebound in their Group B contest against Uganda, who have won both of their matches so far over Wales (59-50) and Trinidad and Tobago (80-36).

President Jennifer Simons has returned from a four-day visit to the United Kingdom optimistic of greater international involvement in the oil and gas sector in Suriname.

‘The people have been positive, and I am positive about that too. The ultimate goal is for Suriname to receive support from major financial institutions around the world for the trajectory we are now entering,’ Simons said on her return at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport. ‘There was an invitation to speak with the top management of Bank of America, as well as with other companies involved in finance and the oil and gas sector. As a country, we are facing major developments, and it is particularly important now to establish the right contacts, obtain information, and organize international backing,’

President Simons said the discussions with representatives of international financial institutions and companies from the oil and gas sector yielded valuable contacts that are important for Suriname’s economic future.

Simons, who headed a delegation that included the Minister of Finance and Planning, Adelien Wijnerman, said the talks focused on strengthening international partnerships and attracting investments to support Suriname’s economic development.

She described the visit as ‘working mission’ noting that discussions were held with the top officials of the Bank of America and other international organisations and companies active in the financial world and the oil and gas sector.

‘Suriname is on the eve of major developments. Precisely now, it is important to establish the right contacts, gain knowledge, and organize international support,’ said Simons, indicating that the discussions focused primarily on the economic transition Suriname will undergo in the coming years, partly due to expected oil and gas revenues.

‘There will be revenues from oil and gas, and we must handle them well. All information and expertise that can guide us in the development of, among other things, a sovereign wealth fund are necessary,’ she said adding that international expertise is indispensable for managing these resources responsibly.

A report by the state-owned Suriname Communication Service (CDS) noted that Simons spoke of constructive meetings and expressed satisfaction with the willingness of international financial institutions to support Suriname.

‘We will have to do a lot in our country during this transition phase, such as the further development of the airport and other sectors. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good international contacts and make agreements,’ she added.

Police say they have launched ann investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the death of a 36-year-old prisoner, who died at hospital following an incident at prison last Thursday.

In a statement, the police said preliminary investigations indicate that Rashawn Shabazz ‘became aggressive and barricaded himself inside his cell, after prison officers attempted to escort him for a scheduled medical assessment. ‘After several attempts to have the matter peacefully resolved failed, the prison authorities requested police assistance,’ the statement said, adding that ‘the inmate reportedly continued to resist and threaten officers, resulting in the use of non-lethal measures to remove him safely from the cell’.

The police said that Shabazz was subsequently transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where medical personnel immediately attended to him.

‘Despite efforts by medical staff to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead,’ the police said, extending ‘sincere condolences’ to his family and reassuring ‘them that a full inquiry will be carried out into the incident’.

Scoreboard of the third day of the first Test between West Indies and Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Monday.

WEST INDIES 1st innings 311

PAKISTAN 1st innings

(overnight 199 for three)

Azan Awais b Roach 0

Imam-ul-Haq c Greaves b Joseph 63

Shan Masood b Greaves 109

*Babar Azam c +Hope b Seales 23

Salman Agha b Joseph 20

+Mohammad Rizwan c +Hope b Greaves 12

Aamir Jamal b Greaves 3

Ali Usman lbw b Greaves 0

Khurram Shahzad c +Hope b Roach 19

Mohammad Abbas c +Hope b Greaves 0

Mohammad Ali not out 2

Extras (b4, lb17, nb10) 31

TOTAL (all out; 80.1 overs) 282

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-156, 3-197, 4-244, 5-244, 6-248, 7-256, 8-259, 9-267, 10-282.

Bowling: Roach 15.1-2-53-2, Seales 22-5-73-1, Joseph 16-2-58-2, Greaves 11-6-25-5, Warrican 16-1-50-0.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings

Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Usman b Jamal 35

Brandon King c +Rizwan b Abbas 5

Kavem Hodge c Rizwan b Abbas 0

Amir Jangoo c and b Ali 4

+Shai Hope b Shahzad 10

Justin Greaves c Azam b Abbas 20

*Roston Chase c +Rizwan b Shahzad 8

Kemar Roach not out 5

Shamar Joseph not out 22

Extras (b4, lb6, nb6, w1) 17

TOTAL (seven wickets; 43 overs) 126

Yet to bat: Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-7, 3-28, 4-43, 5-80, 6-85, 7-93.

Bowling: Abbas 13-6-14-3, Shahzad 12-2-36-2, Ali 8-1-27-1, Jamal 10-2-39-1.

Toss: West Indies elected to bat.

Position: West Indies lead Pakistan by 155 runs with three wickets remaining.

Umpires: Alex Wharf, Richard Kettleborough.

TV Umpire: Jayaraman Madanagopal.

Reserve Umpire: Zahid Bassarath.

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.

A five-day meeting of the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) bean here on Monday with regional tax administrations being urged to embrace the technological and digital developments including artificial intelligence (AI) so as to improve their functions.

Addressing the COTA’s 27th General Assembly and Technical Conference, Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said while the main function of tax administrations is extremely important to the economic and fiscal well-being of regional countries, it is also necessary that they embrace the new technologies that would also be beneficial to foreign investors. He said that in the case of Guyana for example, it has endeavoured over the years to deploy using current technology additional solutions, digital solutions that have allowed for an app that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) now uses to allow for electronic filing of taxes, tax returns and electronic interaction with the Revenue Authority.

‘And we have seen an astronomical take-up of these digital solutions,’ he said, adding that it would be fair to say that recent technological developments, particularly in relation to big data, machine learning, and the tools of data science and data analytics, ‘have opened a whole new host of possibilities that were hitherto not available to us.

‘Today, we have tools available, readily available, that allow for data mining at a speed and with an efficiency and with a degree of sophistication that just a few years ago were simply not available.’

Singh said that there are few examples of areas in public administration where these tools and technologies have the potential to yield and have the potential to yield as significant benefits in tax administration.

‘ Because if you consider, for example, today the speed with which we can examine data submitted in relation to declarations, prices, volumes, declared values, and conduct very sophisticated analytics on this data with a dizzying speed in nanoseconds, the possibilities, if you will permit a little cliche, the possibilities are almost boundless, almost limitless.’

Singh said that international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) having being doing a lot of work on the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence.

The conference here is being held under the theme ‘Future-Ready CARICOM Tax Administration – Smart, Data-Driven and AI-Enabled for Sustainable Revenue,’ and Singh said the deliberations provide an opportunity for delegates ‘to get …acquainted with cutting edge thought on how information technology, artificial intelligence in particular, and AI tools can be used to transform tax administrations.

‘And I want to urge that we do so not only in Guyana, but …I want to urge our brothers and sisters from other CARICOM jurisdictions to consider carefully how these tools can be deployed for more efficient and effective tax administration.’

In his address, Singh said he has always sought to address the changing role of tax administrations across the region.

He said while the main function of these adminstrations is revenue protection and revenue collection, they also have an important responsibility to administer the tax laws and revenue laws of the countries.

‘But in discharging that function you also have a very important responsibility in business and trade facilitation because the efficient, fair and equitable application and administration of our tax laws is an absolutely indispensable component in the health of our environment for doing business.

‘People doing business in our respective jurisdictions…need to know that they have a predictable regime of fiscal laws that will be applied fairly, equitably and efficiently,’ Singh said, adding that ‘investors coming to our countries expect …are looking for predictability in the fiscal frameworks in their host countries in which they are operating’.

He said that in rapidly growing economies, like in Guyana ‘that technology holds significant possibilities that are as yet unlocked.

‘And I want to urge that the Guyana Revenue Authority and tax jurisdictions across the Caribbean remain mindful of this dual responsibility.And I don’t believe that they are conflicting or conflictual. I don’t believe that they collide with each other.

‘Instead, I believe that they are complementary to each other. I believe facilitating investment and trade in an efficient way does not conflict in any way with revenue protection and revenue collection.

‘If we maintain a revenue administration that enjoys a high degree of confidence and demonstrates world class efficiency in the quality of the service that it provides to our citizens, then I believe that will redound to even stronger economic growth, more investment and therefore significant revenue expansion as well,’ Singh added.

The conference will explore topics including how technology, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence can strengthen tax administration, improve compliance, enhance taxpayer services, and support efficient and sustainable revenue mobilisation across the Community.

In her address to the conference, COTA’s president, Felicia Ellie, who is also the the Comptroller of Inland Revenue in St.Lucia, said the event comes at the defining moment for tax administrations across the region.

‘For while our countries may differ in size, geography, and economic circumstances, we all wrestle with similar challenges. We operate in an increasingly complex environment where technological innovation, changing taxpayer expectations, emerging business models, and growing demands for public services require us to rethink how we administer our tax systems. ‘

She said all tax administrations, whether large or small, more advanced or less advanced, need to improve compliance.

‘We want to simplify our processes. We want to harness the technology that is at hand and somehow all of us want to convince our taxpayers that filing on time is better, or filing earlier, I should say, is better than waiting at the last minute.’

She said that the first part of the theme of the confeerence ‘is not simply about adopting new technologies, but it is about transforming our organisations.

‘It is about investing in our people, strengthening governance, safeguarding taxpayer information and ensuring that innovation is guided by fairness, transparency, and accountability.

‘It is about being committed to maintaining public trust and delivering equitable outcomes for all taxpayers. Data-driven, our tax systems are being called upon to do more with less, to be faster, smarter, ore transparent, and more responsive,’ she said, adding that data has become one of the most valuable assets and artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from being a topic of discussion to becoming an operational reality.

The organisers said that another highlight of the meeting here will be a High-Level Regional Meeting on Tax and Development being undertaken in collaboration with the OECD and other regional and international partners in the taxation arena.

Romario Shepherd produced a sensational display of power hitting to help defending champions Amazon Warriors snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Desert Vipers and maintain their unbeaten start in the Global Super League (GSL) here on Saturday.

Batting at number nine, Player-of-the-Match Shepherd bludgeoned 52 from just 21 balls as the Amazon Warriors chased down the Vipers’ competitive total of 205 for six, scoring 206 for eight in 19.3 overs at Providence Stadium.

Shepherd came to the crease with his side all but defeated at 95 for seven in the 11th over and completely transformed the match during a 91-run partnership in seven overs with Mohammad Nabi, who scored 40 not out off 29 balls. By the time wrist spinner Vitel Lawes dismissed Shepherd, he had struck six sixes and two fours and carried the Amazon Warriors within sight of victory at 186 for eight in the 18th over.

Nabi, along with Dwaine Pretorius, who hit 17 off nine balls, then took the Amazon Warriors across the line with three balls remaining, giving them their second win in as many matches, while relegating the Vipers to their second straight loss.

Earlier, Rilee Rossouw led the Vipers to a formidable total with a knock of 61 off 48 balls.

He was supported by Kyle Mayers who scored 35 off 18 balls, Bevon Jacobs who made 30 off 17 balls and Vriitya Aravind, who blasted an unbeaten 28 from only 11 balls.

Imran Tahir was the pick of the bowlers with 2-37, while Shepherd, Nabi and Gudakesh Motie took one wicket apiece.