Category: CANA News

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Nov 30, CMC -St. Lucians go to the polls on Monday to elect a new government with the leaders of the two main political parties seeking both divine intervention and the goodwill of the voters in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre, who is leading the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) into a general election for the second consecutive occasion called the poll almost one year of the constitutional deadline and remains confident that the party will maintain or even improve on the 13 seats it won in the July 2021 election.

‘St. Lucia, tomorrow we make our voices heard. Make a plan to vote. Ensure that you know the location of your polling station. The only way to ensure continued progress for all, is to put the X next to the STAR,’ the 71-year-old Pierre wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday.

‘To the people of St. Lucia, thank you for your prayers, your strength, and your unwavering faith throughout my years of service. Every step of this journey has been guided by your support and by God’s grace.

‘It is an honour to serve you. We have come this far because we moved forward together. And tomorrow, you decide if we continue this journey we started. Let us hold the line. Let us stand together. Let us move forward together. May God bless you, and may God bless our beloved St. Lucia.

‘As we approach tomorrow’s polls, Monday, December 1st, we are reminded by Psalm 33:12 that ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ This moment calls us to reflect on the future we desire for our families, our communities, and our beloved St. Lucia,’ Pierre added.

Not to be outdone, Allen Chastanet, who is leading the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) into the general election hoping to reverse the thrashing it received at the last general election when he was the then prime minister, is also seeking God’s intervention.

‘As our nation prepares to vote tomorrow, we ask for Your peace, wisdom and protection. Calm every anxious heart, keep every community safe and guide us to choose leaders who will uplift our people,’ he too wrote on his Facebook page.

‘Bless our election workers, our officers, and every citizen who will cast a vote. Let unity triumph over division, hope over fear and truth over confusion. Lord, watch over St. Lucia. May tomorrow bring clarity, calm and a better future for all,’ he wrote.

Addressing the last major rally of the party in Choiseul on the south west of the island on Saturday night, Chastanet 65, said that he has the right team ‘that is going to develop St. Lucia and bring you hope once again’.

He said the UWP is hoping to replicate the victories of political parties in the Caribbean where ‘yellow is the code’.

‘Yellow is taking over the Caribbean.we had our sister party in Trinidad and Tobago.bring hope to the Trinidadians and two nights ago, our bothers and sisters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines took down the Comrade (Ralph Gonsalves) himself.and brought victory and they say yellow is the colour,’ Chastanet told supporters.

The newly elected St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Godwin Friday, in a message to the UWP, said his party was looking forward to the elections on Monday ‘and we wish you all the best..

‘We know the people of St. Lucia will decide on the new government but this is something that we take a very keen interest in as fellow Caribbean citizens and sister party to yours,’ he added.

But political analyst Rhyesa Joseph told the St. Lucia Times that several indicators are likely to influence how citizens cast their ballots.

‘Constituency level politics vary throughout the island, and there are different kinds of voters. Some of the considerations include national leadership and governance, parliamentary representation, quality of the opposition candidate and trust and confidence in political affiliation,’ Joseph said.

The St. Lucia Electoral Department has said that 44 candidates and eight independents have been nominated to contest the elections that political observers acknowledge is a straight fight between the ruling SLP and the UWP.

They note that the husband and wife National Congress Party is not expected to make any inroads into the two seats they are contesting where government ministers Richard Fredericka and Stephenson King are seeking another five year term as ‘independent’ candidates.

In the July 26, 2021 election, both King, a former prime minister and Frederick, both former UWP members contested and won the Castries North and Castries Central, respectively, and later threw their support behind the ruling SLP, accepting senior government positions.

But political observers say this time around, they will face a stiffer challenge to hold on to the seats, with King, alone facing four challengers.

Former prime minister Michael ‘Mikey’ Pilgrim has endorsed Stanley Felix, a SLP, member who is contesting the Castries Central seat against Frederick as an independent candidate.

In a television broadcast last week, Pilgrim, 78, a SLP member, served as the island’s fourth prime minister four a four month period from January, 18, 1982, succeeding Winston Cenac, issued a sharp warning to voters in Castries Central, urging them to reject candidates he claimed ‘lack the integrity and discipline required for public office’.

The elections will be monitored by observer teams from the Caribbean Community (CARICCOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS).

The St. Lucia Electoral Department said that 180,000 have been registered to vote in the election and Chief Elections Officer Herman St. Helen said that when the election date was announced on November 9, ‘we saw a spike in people registering, especially young people.

He said that for this election, the the last qualifying date was July 15 and maintains that the 2025 general election on December 1 will be free and fair.

St. Helen alluded to allegations of corruption, which he said the Department had been prepared to take to the courts.

In the last general election, where 174, 332 people were registered to vote, the turn out was 89, 049 or 51.47 per cent.

It is a statistic that has not eluded the Voice newspaper, the oldest publication on the island.

The paper noted that in 1979, the country recorded an 80 percent voter turnout, the highest from that period onwards.

But it noted that since then, there has been a drastic decline in the number of eligible voters exercising their franchise.

‘To make matters worse, that steady decline saw a 50 per cent voter turnout of the 2021 general elections, making it the worst to date. Just over 87,000 individuals went to the ballot boxes the last time out. Talk about someone else making decisions for you.

‘it is clear that, for whatever reason, St. Lucians have abdicated their right and responsibilities in the proper management of their country. What is equally clear is that the results of any election might have been different had the turnout seen better numbers,’ the paper noted.

It said that voting, to some, ‘seems like a burden,’ but reminded the population that ‘ this is a small ask compared to the enormity of this activity. After all, it is only once every five years or so (most of the time).

‘The choice is clear – there is no choice. All must vote. It is a civic duty owed to ourselves, and even more importantly, to future generations. On Monday , go out and vote,’ the paper said.

Both Pierre and Chastanet have also been urging voters to go out and exercise their franchise.

‘Over the last four and a half years, you have kept the faith,’ Chastanet said, adding that he is overwhelmed by the amount of people who have been praying for a better St. Lucia.

‘So I want to say to all of us.. this Labour government will stop at nothing to hold on to power and on Monday let us go early , let us be prepared to be there late, but let us not be deterred from what we have to do, which is to rescue St. Lucia from this Labour party.let us make sure on December 1 we get the job done,’ Chastanet said.

He reiterated that the last four and half years the country’s democracy has been under threat and ‘when we go to vote on December 1, remember when you are in the box, nobody knows how you vote.but you must know that the time your voice can be heard the loudest .and you cast your vote and I know you are going to cast your vote to bring about change in the country,’ he said.

Pierre said that St. Lucians must continue the development programme of his administration, saying ‘this moment calls us to reflect on the future we desire for our families, our communities, and our beloved St. Lucia’.

Pierre said that the party’s manifesto had been ‘shaped by the lived experiences of ordinary St. Lucians, written in your homes, your communities, your daily struggles, and your resilience.

‘Our economy is not just about numbers, it is the lifeline for families, businesses, workers, and young people seeking employment and opportunity. It reminds us that stability is essential for progress.

‘We have ensured that national development reaches every St. Lucian, and we know that we must embrace our identity, our culture, and the power that comes from believing in ourselves.

‘These voices speak of dignity, equity, identity, and the power of believing in ourselves. They guide our path and strengthen our resolve as we build a future where every Saint Lucian can rise,’ Pierre said.

Caribbean countries have joined their Latin American counterparts by calling for the strengthening of data governance and administration in national statistical systems by fostering regulatory and institutional frameworks. At the conclusion of the Thirteenth Meeting of the Statistical Conference of the Americas (SCA), at the main headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) here, delegates recognized the importance of strengthening data governance that ‘ensure technical autonomy, transparency, interoperability and sustainability in the production and use of official data,’ according to ECLAC.

The intergovernmental meeting – which is the main forum for discussing the development of statistics in the region – brought together on November 25-27 authorities from Latin American and Caribbean countries’ National Statistics Offices, along with specialists and representatives of agencies, funds and programs in the United Nations system.

During the conference’s closing session, Uruguay took over as chair of the Statistical Conference of the Americas for the 2026-2027 period.

The new Executive Committee also comprises the Bahamas, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Spain.

Marcelo Bisogno, director of the National Institute of Statistics (INE) of Uruguay, expressed gratitude for his country’s nomination as chair of the SCA and emphasized the challenges that regional countries face on statistical matters, especially in a context of technological and social change.

He stressed that ‘the generation of synergies among the different countries of the region is very positive’ and congratulated ECLAC for offering a space that allows for maintaining and strengthening them.

Mildred Martínez, general director of the National Office of Statistics of the Dominican Republic – the country that chaired the Thirteenth Meeting of the Statistical Conference of the Americas of ECLAC – highlighted the work carried out in the last two years and echoed the importance of synergy between countries, ‘which contributes in a fundamental way to strengthening national and regional statistical systems.’

Participating countries approved a resolution that, among other points, highlights the progress made by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in modernizing their statistics infrastructure and, in particular, in the use of administrative records and the development of population and housing registers, and the need to ensure quality, coverage and the protection of personal data in those processes.

The resolution also underscores the importance of the Beyond GDP (Gross Domestic Product) initiative and the ‘valuable contribution of the high-level expert group to the development of new conceptual frameworks and indicators that more comprehensively reflect the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.’

ECLAC said the resolution recognizes that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been ‘a fundamental catalyst for the strengthening of national statistical systems and the design of more comprehensive multidimensional development metrics.’

The resolution also stresses ‘the importance of drawing on the lessons learned in follow-up of the Sustainable Development Goals to guide the conceptual and methodological frameworks underpinning the metrics that are complementary to GDP, ensuring the relevance, comparability and usefulness thereof for evidence-based public policy formulation,’

In addition, the resolution calls on national statistical offices, regional bodies and United Nations system entities to ‘maintain continued and effective cooperation, with a view to strengthening the empirical, methodological and conceptual basis of metrics that are complementary to GDP and moving towards a modern, inclusive and people-centered statistical agenda.’

ECLAC said regional countries adopted its Strategic Plan 2026-2035 of the Statistical Conference of the Americas as ‘the regional frame of reference for guiding the strengthening, modernization and cooperation of national statistical systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the aim of promoting the production and use of high-quality, comparable and accessible official statistics for the region’s sustainable development.’

In a move that marks the end of a glittering chapter, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) icon Andre Russell has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League. The decision comes after the franchise opted not to retain the powerhouse all-rounder for the 2026 season, prompting the 37-year-old to call time on his on-field IPL career.

However, in a testament to his indelible legacy, Russell’s association with the purple and gold is far from over.

The franchise has immediately brought the legend into its coaching setup, naming him the team’s ‘power coach’ for the upcoming season.

The announcement came directly from the man himself via a heartfelt video message. ‘I’ve decided to retire from the IPL,’ Russell stated.

‘I’ll still be active playing in various leagues all around the world and all the other KKR franchises. I had an amazing time and great memories, hitting sixes, winning games, MVP and all of those things.’

He elaborated on his philosophy behind the decision, emphasising a desire to leave at the peak of his reputation. ‘But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots. I don’t want to fade out, I want to leave a legacy.’

That legacy Russell speaks of is undeniable. A cornerstone of the KKR side since 2014, he was instrumental in delivering two IPL titles to Kolkata, in his debut season of 2014 and again in the triumphant 2024 campaign.

His individual zenith came in 2019 when he produced a season for the ages, earning the IPL’s Most Valuable Player award.

His statistics for KKR are the stuff of legend. In 133 appearances, the Jamaican hard hitter scored 2,593 runs at a staggering strike rate of 174.96, clubbing 220 sixes and 12 half-centuries.

With the ball, he was equally potent, claiming 122 wickets and taking 40 catches. His 16 Player-of-the-Match awards for KKR are second only to his long-time teammate Sunil Narine.

A bona fide T20 great, Russell secures his place in the exclusive history of the IPL. He is one of only two players, alongside Chennai’s Ravindra Jadeja, to achieve the monumental double of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets in the tournament.

Officials from the agriculture and health ministries have confirmed that H5 avian flu has been detected in animals on a farm here, and immediate coordinated action is being taken to address the situation.

In a press release, the ministries said all relevant government agencies are urgently working with stakeholders to implement containment measures, conduct further assessment and prevent any spread.

‘The health and safety of our community, livestock and environment remain our highest priority. Government is committed to transparency throughout this process and will provide regular updates as investigation and response efforts progress,’ officials stated.

Despite the claim of transparency, officials did not name the farm, say what type of farm it is or where on Grand Cayman it is located.

It’s also not known the type of animal infected or how many. While the virus is mostly found in chickens and other birds, it can infect many other animals, including cattle, goats and pigs.

Avian flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide, causing outbreaks in poultry farms and dairy cows across the United States, with some sporadic human cases among those working on impacted farms.

The second president of Barbados, Jeffrey Bostic, was sworn in early Sunday during the 59th anniversary of Independence and the fourth as a republic.

A former Minister of Health and a highly decorated military officer in the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Bostic played a pivotal role in guiding Barbados through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with the trademark rallying cry: ‘No Retreat, No Surrender’ that earned him widespread acclaim for his leadership during one of the country’s most challenging periods.

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Retired Lt. Col. Egbert Field says Guyana’s airspace is open despite United States President Donald Trump’s position that the airspace ‘above and surrounding Venezuela’ is closed to airlines and flights engaged in illegal activities.

He said neither domestic nor international flights in and out of Guyana would be affected.

In terms of international flights to Trinidad, and Colombia, Filed said those were now using a different flight path

The traffic is being rerouted for the last couple of days. It wouldn’t impact Guyana and Colombia,’ he said.

In terms of domestic flights to and from interior destinations close to the Guyana-Venezuela border, he said there were also no disruptions ‘even closer to the border.’

‘They have a different FIR (flight information region) so there will be no disruption. All our airstrips are within our airspace and not that close so there is no disruption,’ the GCAA Director-General said.

This position was also supported by local aviators who said on Saturday that domestic flights were operating in those interior areas normally.

The assurance by the GCAA came against the backdrop of a post by the US President on his Truth Social platform stating – ‘To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY’.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Defence on Saturday said local, regional, and international airlines continue to operate flights into and out of that twin-island without interruption.

Commercial airlines operating in Trinidad and Tobago have not reported any disruptions, according to the Ministry.

Defence Minister Wayne Sturge emphasised that the travelling public can continue to plan flights normally.

In a fitting tribute to a colossal figure in the world of cricket, legendary West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner was today conferred with the Order of Freedom of Barbados, the nation’s highest award, as part of the 2025 Independence and Republic celebrations. Garner, affectionately known as ‘Big Bird’ for his towering frame and even larger impact on the game, was one of only three distinguished Barbadians to receive the honour for ‘distinguished and extraordinary service.’

He stands alongside Central Bank Governor Dr Kevin Greenidge and healthcare leader Dr Kurt Lambert in this elite group.

The award citation specifically recognises Garner for ‘his outstanding leadership as a distinguished sports administrator, sterling service to national cricket development and extraordinary contribution to West Indies and Barbados cricket as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history.’

The honour solidifies the status of the 72-year-old not just as a sporting icon, but as a national treasure.

As a key member of the feared West Indies pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s, Garner was a nightmare for batsmen worldwide, his unplayable yorkers and steep bounce cementing his place in cricketing folklore.

Upon receiving the award, a characteristically humble Garner shifted the praise to those who supported him throughout his journey.

‘I’m thankful, humbled,’ Garner stated. ‘But at the same time, what I would like to do is sort of remember all those people who were with me along the journey. Some of them are no longer here, and some of them are still around. I’m sharing the award with them because we didn’t do it alone.’

He painted a vivid picture of collective effort, adding, ‘They were with us when we were in the trenches doing all the work, bringing some joy and happiness to the people around us.’

In a poignant personal moment, Garner credited his grandmother for keeping him grounded throughout his meteoric rise to fame. ‘I’m a grandmother’s boy, for all. And she’s the one who kept me grounded and kept my feet to the ground.’

Reflecting on his storied playing career, which struck fear into the hearts of opposing teams, Garner summed up his philosophy with simple, powerful clarity.

‘When I was playing, all I was doing was enjoying what I was doing and trying to perform. It was a profession, so I tried to do the best that I could while I was playing.’

As the West Indies cricket team puts the finishing touches on their preparations for the first Test against New Zealand, wicket-keeper batsman Tevin Imlach expressed a confident and focused mindset, acknowledging the unique challenges of New Zealand conditions while backing his team to compete. Speaking on his birthday, ahead of the series opener at Hagley Oval on Monday, Imlach was candid about the adjustment required for the Caribbean players.

‘Well, it’s been good so far. It’s a different condition from what we are accustomed to back home. ‘It seems to seam around a little bit more, bounce around a little bit more. So, just getting used to that, especially wicket-keeping, it does move around a bit after it passes the batter as well. Those are the things that I’m working on right now. I’m enjoying the challenge.’

Despite the foreign environment, the mood in the camp appears positive. Imlach reported that the entire squad is firing on all cylinders ahead of the crucial match.

‘The team looks like it’s in a good place. As far as the bowlers are concerned, they look ready to go. The batters look very strong. The scores were really good in the practice match, so yeah, the team look like they’re in a good space.’

With West Indies cricket holding a beloved place on the world stage, Imlach emphasised the importance of every series and the team’s burning desire to deliver victories for their loyal supporters back home.

‘Every series is important. You want to win cricket games, you wanna win games for your family and win games for the supporters back home. ‘We wanna do well as a group, as West Indian players, I anticipate that this one will be competitive as well.’

The key to success, according to the young Guyanaese batsman, lies in sustained consistency, a trait the Windies have shown in patches but will need to master over five days.

He outlined a simple yet effective game plan for both bowlers and batsmen to counter the Black Caps.

‘Over the years, we’ve done well in patches. I think this time and this series, it is important to stay consistent. ‘Once we do those good things for long periods, put the ball in good areas for long periods, test their patience. That’s very important in the longer format.’

He added a crucial note for the batting unit, highlighting the need to convert starts into substantial scores. ‘With the batters as well, you know, we concentrate well for a start, and sometimes we get out, so we must continue. When we get that start, push on as well. So it’s consistent throughout.’

The Jamaican women’s national team etched their name into the history books on Saturday with an astonishing 18-0 demolition of Dominica in the 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifiers.

The match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium was a record-breaking performance, marking the largest victory in Jamaica’s history and a display of offensive firepower that left the opposition reeling from the first ball.

The floodgates opened almost immediately. Konya Plummer started the onslaught in just the 2nd minute, with captain Khadija Shaw doubling the lead two minutes later.

The goals continued in a relentless first-half blitz, with Kiki Van Zanten, Atlanta Primus, and an own goal from Dominica’s Rosalinda Paul all contributing to a commanding 7-0 lead before the half-hour mark.

The Reggae Girlz showed no mercy as the half wore on. Both Shaw and Jodi Brown netted their second goals of the match, and Shaw capped a dominant first-half performance by completing her hat-trick just before the break.

The second half continued in much the same fashion. Deneisha Blackwood, Shaneil Buckley, and Natasha Thomas all found the net, with several players securing braces in the closing minutes.

Brown completed her hat-trick, while Blackwood, Thomas, and Buckley all scored their second goals. Shania Hayles joined the scoresheet in stoppage time before Buckley fittingly closed the historic account with the 18th goal in the 92nd minute.

In other games, Mexico hammered St. Vincent and the Grenadines 14-0, while Costa Rica edged Grenada 2-1.

The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, as Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA and the Dominican Republic’s Universidad O and M FC prepare for a winner-take-all battle this Tuesday at Kingston’s Independence Park.

Holding a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead, Mount Pleasant returns to its home turf with the trophy firmly in its sights.

The Jamaican club secured its advantage in a hard-fought First Leg in the Dominican Republic, with Kimoni Bailey’s decisive goal proving the difference.

That victory was built on the foundation of Mount Pleasant’s impregnable defence, which has been the team’s hallmark throughout the tournament.

Led by goalkeeper Tafari Chambers, the backline has conceded a mere two goals, with the First Leg shutout marking their fifth clean sheet of the campaign.

A win would see Mount Pleasant become the second straight Jamaican club to claim the Caribbean Cup, following in the footsteps of Cavalier SC’s 2024 triumph.

Standing in their way is a determined Universidad O and M FC, which is chasing history and its first-ever victory over the Jamaican side.

The visitors will look to tournament standout Herard Frantzety to ignite their attack. Frantzety, the competition’s leading scorer with four goals, will be the key to unlocking Mount Pleasant’s stalwart defence.

O and M will need a complete team effort, and they have a potential game-changer between the posts. Goalkeeper Iraitz Gelbentzu has been a revelation, leading the tournament with an impressive 26 saves and giving his team a chance in any contest.

The history between these two clubs favours the hosts. In their first-ever meeting during the Group Stage on September 30, Mount Pleasant emerged with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Radial Irving and Ranaldo Biggs.

While both teams have already secured coveted spots in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, the ultimate prize remains. The Caribbean Cup champion will not only lift the trophy but also earn a crucial bye directly into the Round of 16 of the continental competition.

If the two-leg series ends tied on aggregate, the away goals rule will be the first tiebreaker. If still level, the final will be decided by extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.