Category: CANA News

Police say they are investigating the cause of an accident that led to the death of a 53-year-old pastor who was on his way to his son’s wedding last weekend.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stacy Smith, said that the accident occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning when Pastor Julian Bol, of Maya Mopan Village in the Stann Creek District in the south east region of Belize.

She said that the officers who responded to the report of the accident, found on their arrival ‘a damaged wooden house that had become dislodged from a trailer that was transporting it and some eight hundred feet away in a pine ridge, a blue in color passenger van that also exhibited extensive damage..

‘Onboard the blue passenger van was Julian Bol who appeared to have died on impact and a 13-year-old minor who suffered no injury,’ she said, adding that the initial investigation reveals that a convoy consisting of the trailer with the house affixed was travelling south bound heading towards Independence Village when the driver of the lead vehicle observed another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the lead vehicle said that he sought to signal the driver of the oncoming vehicle by blinking his lights, however the vehicle continued to proceed and he heard a collision. ‘Certainly as a part of the investigative course of actions, checks will be made as to whether the condition within the vehicle was being transported complied with the terms of the wide load permit that was issue,’ ASP Smith added.

Media reports said that the pastor had left the Maya Mopan Village to pick up cooks for the wedding and that his van slammed into the wooden house.

West Indies trail New Zealand by 163 runs after reaching 68 for two at lunch on the second day of the opening Test here at Hagley Oval on Tuesday.

NEW ZEALAND 231 in 70.3 overs (Kane Williamson 52, Michael Bracewell 47, Tom Blundell 29, Tom Latham 24, Nathan Smith 23, Will Young 14; Ojay Shields 2-34, Justin Greaves 2-35, Jayden Seales 2-44, Kemar Roach 2-47).

WEST INDIES 68-2 in 29 overs (Shai Hope 33 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 25 not out).

Antigua and Barbuda is hosting a weeklong regional conference aimed at strengthening nuclear material inventory reporting under the modified Small Quantities Protocol.

The Protocol is an agreement that simplifies the implementation of safeguards for states with little or no nuclear material. It is a protocol to a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that suspends most reporting and inspection requirements while the state remains below specific nuclear material thresholds.

A revised version of the SQP, developed in 2005, strengthens the system by making key reporting and inspection provisions operative.

The conference has brought together delegates from St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Suriname, the Bahamas, Grenada, Belize and the host country.

It is organised in partnership with the US Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Programme and the IAEA.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Clarence Pilgrim, said the conference is ‘timely and essential,’ adding noting that even states with little or no nuclear material must meet international non-proliferation obligations.

He said the sessions will help countries develop the technical skills needed to produce accurate nuclear inventories and submit reports to the IAEA.

The organisers said the training will support the region’s efforts to meet the requirements of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, which underpin global nuclear security.

Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall says Grenada’s economic performance this year is ‘nothing short of remarkable’ estimating that real gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 6.2 per cent.

Cornwall, delivering the EC$1.9 billion (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) budget to Parliament on Monday, said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that real GDP growth will accelerate to 4.4 per cent in 2025, and moderate to 3.2 per cent in 2026, ‘positioning us among the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean’.

But he told legislators ‘we are more optimistic about our macroeconomic developments and prospects.

‘We estimate that real GDP will reach 6.2 per cent in 2025, driven by robust construction activity underpin by both public and private sector investments, sustained strength in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail, transport and storage sectors, and a rebound in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

‘In 2026, growth is projected to moderate slightly to 4.1 per cent, signalling a winding down of Hurricane Beryl reconstruction activities and a return to the core strategic focus of Government’s transformative agenda and the expansion and diversification of our productive base,’ he added.

Cornwall said that inflationary pressures continued to ease in 2025, following the high global price volatility of recent years.

He said the government’s continued efforts to contain the cost of living, through targeted subsidies on electricity and petroleum products, and the removal of VAT on basic food and essential items, helped to cushion vulnerable households.

Cornwall said as a result, headline or overall inflation declined to an estimated 0.7 per cent in 2025, with food inflation, though higher than headline inflation, trending downward.

He said over the medium term, period-average inflation is expected to remain low and stable, at around one per cent during the period 2026-2028, preserving purchasing power and supporting real income growth.

The finance minister said that from an unemployment rate of 16.6 per cent at the end of the second quarter of 2021, Grenada witnessed a transformative improvement in labour market conditions.

‘By the end of October 2025, the unemployment rate had fallen to 7.5 per cent, the lowest level in our modern economic history. Youth unemployment experienced an equally transformative improvement, dropping from 42 per cent to 20.2 per cent, a fall of 21.8 percentage points or more than half over the same period.’

Cornwall said that continued economic expansion in 2026 combined with intense skills-training are expected to bring further improvements in employment opportunities, particularly for our youth and women.

Cornwall said that the fiscal position in 2025 is estimated to be much stronger than expected, reflecting greater revenue collections and contained recurrent spending, despite higher capital outlays related to Hurricane Beryl’s recovery.

He said a primary deficit of EC$126.4 million, equivalent to 3.1 per cent of GDP was realised, significantly better than the budgeted primary deficit of EC$208.6 million or 5.2 per cent of GDP.

‘Likewise, the overall deficit, which was budgeted at EC$337.4 million or 8.3 percent of GDP, is projected at EC$279.1 million, $58.3 million more favourable than originally envisaged and roughly 6.9 percent of GDP,’ Cornwall said, adding this confirms the fiscal management prowess of this administration and strength of the Grenadian economy.

He said looking ahead in 2026, the fiscal position is projected to improve relative to the 2025 budget and largely unchanged relative to the estimated outturn, signalling as planned, a gradual return to the fiscal rules and targets under the Fiscal Resilience Act in 2027.

‘Mr. Speaker, the financial sector remains sound and well-capitalized. Non-performing loans have continued to decline, liquidity levels are healthy, and the sector’s profitability – though reduced – is still strong.

‘External stability also remains well anchored, with gross international reserves estimated to exceed three months of import cover at the end of 2025. Looking ahead, financial and external sector conditions are expected to remain stable, providing a firm foundation for continued growth,’ Cornwall told legislators.

The leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Allen Chastanet Tuesday said the defeat of the party in Monday’s general election ‘is not the end of our fight for a better St. Lucia’.

Chastanet, 65, who served as prime minister here from from 2016 to 2021, had hoped to reverse the 15-2 defeat the party suffered in the July 2021 general election.

But the preliminary results of the December 1, poll, showed that the UWP had suffered an even greater defeat, with only Chastanet being able to win a seat in the 17-member Parliament.

The ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) won 14 of the 15 seats it had contested, while the two ‘independent’ candidates, former prime minister Stephenson King and Richard Frederick, who served as governments in the last Pierre administration, winning their seats comfortably.

In a statement, Chastanet, who won the Micoud South seat, said that ‘while the results were not what we hoped for, I accept them with humility, respect and an unwavering love for our country.

‘I extend congratulations to Prime Minister Pierre and his team,’ he said, adding that he also wanted to ‘thank every candidate who stood boldly under the UWP banner and every supporter who gave their time, energy and heart to this campaign.

‘You lifted our message, you stood firm in difficult moments and you reminded our nation what hope looks like,’ he said, thanking also the supporters of Micoud South who I consider my extended family thank you.

‘Your trust, your encouragement and your steadfast support over the years have been one of the greatest honours of my life. I will always be grateful.

‘It is not the end of our fight for a better Saint Lucia. It is simply a new chapter one that calls for reflection, resilience and a renewed commitment to the values we share: fairness, opportunity, unity and dignity for every St. Lucian.’

Chastanet said that while the UWP ‘ may not have won this election.have not lost our purpose.

‘We will get back up, we will keep working and we will keep believing in the promise of this beautiful island we all call home,’ he added.

Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday says he expects to name his cabinet on Tuesday, following last weeks general election in which his ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) won a crushing 14-1 victory at the polls in defeating the Unity Labour Party (ULP) of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

‘I have decided on most of them, but I’m not going to tell you here, but we will do so very soon, informing my colleagues first,’ he told reporters.

Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday

If the new government is inaugurated on Tuesday, it will take place one day before the 50th anniversary of the launch of the NDP which returned to the corridors of power after 25 years in opposition.

Friday, who was sworn in as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ fifth prime minister since the country attained political independence from Britain on October 27, 1979, said he has ‘a broad range of talents available’ to him.

Prime Minister Friday was the only member of the new government sworn into office last weekend, a departure from the tradition in which the attorney general is also sworn in at the same time as the head of government.

‘Well, there’s some technical issues that we have to deal with first and in the time frame we had, we could not iron them out, so we will do so with the other ministers,’ Friday said, adding that he was not prepared to elaborate on the reason at the moment.

‘I don’t want to get into detail about it, but the point of the matter is that we sought to basically ensure that we have all of the things lined up properly to make the appointment. And we hoped that we could do it today. We hope that if we can, then we will do it on Tuesday. And we decided that we’ll do it next week.’

He said that in the interim, the new administration will be meeting with senior members of the police force and and the public service.

Friday down played reports that only one member of the diplomatic corps attended the swearing in ceremony, saying ‘it was very short notice, and the intention is that they will be present at the major ceremony that comes on Tuesday or Wednesday.

‘This will be a more public ceremony,’ he said, ‘they should read absolutely nothing [into it]. It’s just a matter of logistics’.

He sai the ceremony this week will be for all.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Monday issued an ‘urgent advisory’ to the public regarding what it described as a fraudulent scheme targeting individuals who have sold or are planning to sell their motor vehicles.

In a statement, the JCF said that criminals are reportedly contacting vehicle sellers via telephone, pretending to be police officers, and claiming that the vehicles they sold are stolen property.

‘ Under the pretense of helping the sellers avoid prosecution or reimbursing the supposed buyer, these scammers demand immediate cash payments from the sellers. Additionally, the scammers enlist unsuspecting ride-share drivers to collect cash from victims and transport the funds to various drop-off locations,’ the JCF said.

It is urging citizens to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines including ‘under no circumstances should you pay money to individuals making such demands over the phone’ and remembering that ‘no legitimate police operation involves soliciting or collecting money from citizens to settle criminal matters or reimburse third parties’.

The JCF has told members of the public that if they receive a ‘call of this nature, hang up immediately and report the incident to the nearest police station or Crime Stop at 311.

‘We also advise ride-share drivers to be cautious of requests to transport unaccompanied packages, especially those suspected of containing cash, as transporting the proceeds of crime may implicate you in criminal activities.’

Superintendent of Police Victor Barrett of the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) said the police are actively probing the incidents and urging the public to report them.

‘These fraudsters are using fear and urgency to manipulate victims into bypassing their better judgment. We implore the public to refrain from engaging with these individuals if they receive such calls. We are actively looking into these incidents and ask citizens to report them to the police,’ said Barrett.

The Grenada government Monday presented an EC$1.9 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) budget to Parliament saying the fiscal package is more than a policy document and is a national call to action.

Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall told legislators that the package, which is EC$47.1 million more than last year’s budget ‘signals our deepened commitment to citizen engagement and our determination to advance the bold reforms that continue to position Grenada among the most forward-moving small states in the region, if not the world’.

Cornwall said that the Dickon Mitchell government remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting Grenadian households from the cost of living and global economic shocks and in order to ease the burden, it is maintaining and strengthening a comprehensive package of cost-of-living relief measures.

He said that this include direct support to bus operators to offset rising fuel and maintenance costs, keeping fares affordable for all commuters, petrol and diesel taxes remain reduced at EC$3.50 per gallon, helping families manage transportation and household expenses as well as a monthly EC$10 subsidy for households consuming up to 99 kWh.

He said that the value added tax (VAT) reduced by 50 per cent for households consuming 99-150 kWh per month as well as a solar PV systems provided to low-income households to meet their energy needs sustainably.

In addition, the government is extended VAT exemptions on 20 basic food and essential items, including cooking oils, baby diapers, and female sanitary products, fixed price of a 20-pound gas cylinder being maintained at EC$40.

Under the Christmas Free Barrel Programme, there will be a 100 per cent exemption from duties and taxes, including Customs Service Charge, on up to two barrels per household on food and other basic necessities, from December 8 to January 5 next year.

‘These measures represent an investment of over EC$47 million, directly supporting Grenadian households from global pressures,’ he added.

The budget is being presented under the theme ‘Towards Vision 75: Powering Progress Through People’s Participation and Innovation,’ and Cornwall said it captures the essence of ‘our transformative journey over the past three and a half years’.

The budget has a Recurrent Revenue of EC$1.3 billion with Recurrent Expenditure estimated at EC$1.1 billion with Capital Expenditure pegged at EC$370.4 million.

Cornwall said that to support growth in real wages for public servants, and in the interest of sustainable wage bill management, he was encouraging ‘all parties to the negotiations to work assiduously to complete this process in the shortest possible time.

He said he was pleased to announce that the 2026 budget is fully financed and that the projected overall deficit of EC$309.8 million will be financed primarily through a drawdown of EC$257.3 million of government’s deposits, complemented by limited domestic and external financing.

‘This financing strategy reflects the government’s continued commitment to prudent fiscal management and sustainability,’ Cornwall said, adding ‘it is also worth noting, that due to the stronger-than-expected fiscal performance in 2025.the financing needs were significantly lower than anticipated.

‘ As a result, the drawdown on deposits in 2025 was EC$29.1 million less than projected, allowing for a larger buffer of resources to support the financing of the 2026 budget,’ he added.

Cornwall said that while the rules and targets under the Fiscal Resilience Act (FRA) are further suspended in 2026 to allow continued support for post-Hurricane Beryl reconstruction and resilience-building initiatives, the government remains steadfast in its commitment to sound fiscal management and transparency.

‘We will return to full compliance with the Fiscal Resilience Act, once conditions permit, ensuring that this transition does not compromise macroeconomic stability and growth or social progress.

‘Importantly, the government will continue to adhere to the FRA’s wage bill ceiling of 13 per cent of GDP(gross domestic product) in 2026. Our ongoing good-faith negotiations with public sector unions will be guided by fiscal responsibility, fairness, and the overarching goal of maintaining a sustainable wage bill framework in the years ahead.’

In his presentation, Cornwall said that in 2025 the Investment Migration Agency (IMA) delivered another strong and credible performance, reaffirming the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programe ‘as a major driver of foreign investment and fiscal stability.

‘By the end of the third quarter, the Agency had already achieved its budgeted revenue with a surplus and is on track to exceed the annual target by as much as 10 per cent. Two new developments-the One True Blue Beach Hotel and Residence, and the La Sagesse Collections-were approved, bringing the number of active CBI projects to eight and further strengthening investor confidence,’ he said.

Under the CBI , foreign investors are granted citizenship of Grenada in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of the island.

Cornwall said that the IMA has advanced the Enhanced Local Developer Policy, opening new pathways for Grenadian developers and ensuring more of the programme’s economic benefits to remain at home.

He said it also enhanced due diligence, improved operational efficiency, and aligned its processes with emerging global standards.

‘In 2026, the IMA will accelerate digital transformation, deepen diaspora engagement, expand into new source markets and strengthen customer service. The CBI Committee will strengthen its governance and oversight role.

‘This will include the repeal and replacement of the existing legislation. Additionally, the CBI committee will make the necessary internal changes in preparation for the advent regulatory functions of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship By Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA),’ Cornwall said.

Head coach of the Barbados Pride, Vasbert Drakes has lauded his team’s work ethic after they captured the CG United Super50 Cup title in Trinidad on Saturday.

The Pride captured the US$100, 000 first prize with a dominant nine-wicket victory over the home side Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, to claim their first Super50 title since 2018.

Speaking to members of the media on Sunday, moments after touching down at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados, Drakes said the team’s preparations before and during the tournament was a major factor in their success. I’m happy for the group of players. I think they worked fantastically well during the preparation phase which started from May this year.

‘Obviously, leaving Barbados we recognised that we had to prepare really well because going into Trinidad, certainly with the weather situation, we knew that we wouldn’t get the practice sessions that we wanted to, so as a group the guys worked really hard and I’m really happy for them,’ Drakes said.

‘Before the guys went onto the field yesterday [Saturday], they recognised that playing for Barbados is a privilege and an honour, but not a given. The guys recognised that once you have these colours they’re up for it.’

Drakes praised the leadership of captain Kyle Mayers, while pointing out that it had been a total team effort.

‘The captain really led from the front, he led exceptionally well, and he was well supported by the whole group; Kraigg Brathwaite sharing his wisdom, Desmond Haynes, and then having the support of the BCA, this trophy means so much not only to the BCA but to the people in Barbados and I’m really happy for everyone,’ he said.

West Indies won the toss and elected to field against New Zealand on the opening day of the first Test here at Hagley Oval on Monday.

Ojay Shields will make his Test debut for the West Indies.

WEST INDIES: Roston Chase (captain), Tagnarine Chanderpaul, John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, Kemar Roach, Johann Layne, Jayden Seales, Ojay Shields

NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

Umpires: Alex Wharf, Paul Reiffel.

TV Umpire: Alladhuddien Paleker.

Reserve Umpire: Kim Cotton.

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath.