Category: CANA News

A Jamaican woman who was on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Most Wanted Fraudster list has been extradited from Jamaica to the United States to face charges in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain more than US$32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Forty-one-year-old Elaine Angene Escoe was returned to South Florida on Saturday after being apprehended here following a joint investigation by U.S. and Jamaican law enforcement authorities.

Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.

According to U.S. authorities, she failed to appear in court after a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025 and fled to Jamaica, where she was later located by the Jamaica Constabulary Force acting on intelligence provided by the FBI.

Her return to the United States was coordinated by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Escoe allegedly stole critical relief funds intended for legitimate businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable… no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide,’ Blanche said.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said Escoe’s arrest demonstrates that ‘no one is beyond the reach of American justice.’

FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrest as another success for the agency’s Most Wanted Fraudster initiative, noting that Escoe was captured in Jamaica while allegedly living under the false identity of ‘Harley Newman.’

Patel said Escoe is the fourth person on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudster list to be captured in the past five weeks and one of more than 30 high-value fugitives returned to the United States since June.

According to court documents, Escoe and her alleged co-conspirators submitted fraudulent applications seeking more than US$32 million through several federal pandemic relief programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Prosecutors allege the applications falsely claimed the existence, payroll, revenue and operations of businesses in order to qualify for federal assistance.

Investigators said the group created fake tax returns, fabricated bank records and other fraudulent financial documents to support the applications. Some claims were allegedly submitted for businesses controlled by the conspirators, while others were filed on behalf of third parties in exchange for kickbacks of up to 50 percent of the loan proceeds. Authorities say the funds were later laundered among members of the conspiracy.

Escoe is the final defendant charged in the case. Five of her alleged co-conspirators have already been convicted or pleaded guilty and are serving prison sentences ranging from 42 months to 235 months.

Pakistan have taken command of the opening Test against the West Indies at the end of the second day, thanks mainly to the efforts of pacer Mohammad Ali and top order batter Shan Masood.

Ali grabbed four of the seven West Indies wickets to fall and orchestrated a middle order collapse that saw the home side lost their last five wickets for just 54 runs, to be bowled out for 311 shortly after lunch.

Masood then stroked an unbeaten 88 off 113 balls to lead a spirited response from the visitors, who finished the day on 199 for three, just 112 runs adrift of the Windies’ first innings total.

Resuming the day in a relatively comfortable position of 194 for three, the West Indies suffered an immediate setback when Kavem Hodge added just one run to his overnight 83 before losing his wicket in the day’s third over, edging a delivery from Khurram Shahzad to Salma Agha at second slip.

His overnight partner Shai Hope didn’t take long to gather the 11 runs needed for a seventh Test half century, doing so in 113 balls by edging Ali through slip to collect two runs.

He should have been dismissed two balls later, but Azan Awais put down a straightforward catch at first slip.

Justin Greaves executed three glorious drives through the offside and looked in good nick until he edged Ali straight into the hands of Agha, to leave the score 231 for five.

Mohammad Abbas ended captain Roston Chase’s brief stay at the crease by having him caught behind for 10 and when Kemar Roach was undone by a short delivery from Shahzad that he could only fend to slip to be dismissed for three, the Windies had stuttered to 274 for seven. Shamar Joseph executed some thrilling shots, including an exquisite cover drive for four, and together with Hope carried their side to lunch at 303 for seven.

But the innings unraveled 15 minutes after the resumption, with Ali bouncing out Joseph for 23 off 13 balls, before claiming the prized wicket of Hope by way of the lbw route for 92, after he had faced 182 balls and struck six fours and one six.

Ali then bowled last man Jayden Seales to finish with figures of 4-50, while Abbas took 3-63 and Shahzad 2-66.

Pakistan got off to a nightmare start in their run chase when Kemar Roach bowled Awais through the gates for a duck in the third over, picking up his 301st Test wicket in the process.

However, for the next two and half hours, Masood and Imam-ul-Haq dispatched the West Indies’ bowlers to all parts of the ground in a batting display usually seen in One Day Internationals.

Roach, along with fellow pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph were guilty of often being too short or wide, and Masoon and ul-Haq made them pay dearly.

Masood rode his luck at times, with several drives going either wide or over the slip corridor, with Jomel Warrican just getting his fingertips to a ball that flashed past gully.

It didn’t take him long to reach his 15th Test half century, doing so in just 46 balls with a single to cover off Joseph.

They scored at close to six runs an over at times, and by tea had raced to 96 for one off 19 overs.

Ul-Haq reached his 11th Test half century off 81 balls after the break by driving Roach through cover for four, as the pair continued to dominate the home side’s bowling.

Joseph eventually got the breakthrough when ul-Haq’s outside edge was superbly snatched up at wide first slip by Greaves, to dismiss him for 63 off 102 balls and break the 155-run partnership.

Seales then added a late wicket when he had captain Babar Azam caught behind for 23, to leave the score 197 for three.

Masood ended the day unbeaten on 88 off 137 balls, inclusive of 11 fours, with Agha yet to score.

Pakistan trail West Indies by 112 runs with seven wickets remaining after reaching 199 for three at the close of play on the second day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Sunday.

Scores

WEST INDIES 311 in 98.5 overs (Shai Hope 92, Kavem Hodge 84, Shamar Joseph 23, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21, Amir Jangoo 21, Justin Greaves 15, Brandon King 12, Roston Chase 10; Mohammad Ali 4-50, Mohammad Abbas 3-63, Khurram Shahzad 2-66).

PAKISTAN 199-3 in 48 overs (Shan Masood 88 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 63, Babar Azam 23).

Pakistan trail West Indies by 215 runs after reaching 96 for one at tea on the second day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Sunday.

WEST INDIES 311 in 98.5 overs (Shai Hope 92, Kavem Hodge 84, Shamar Joseph 23, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21, Amir Jangoo 21, Justin Greaves 15, Brandon King 12, Roston Chase 10; Mohammad Ali 4-50, Mohammad Abbas 3-63, Khurram Shahzad 2-66).

PAKISTAN 96-1 in 19 overs (Shan Masood 55 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 29 not out).

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.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Sunday , July 26, 2026

KINGSTON – A Jamaican woman who was on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Most Wanted Fraudster list has been extradited from Jamaica to the United States to face charges in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain more than US$32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

NEW YORK- The Brooklyn, New York-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) on Saturday strongly criticized the Government of President Dr. Irfaan Ali for operating an 87-year-old ferry in what has been described as the worst maritime disaster in Guyana’s history.

GEORGE TOWN- The Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture (DoA) has confirmed outbreaks of the highly contagious poultry disease infectious coryza in an undisclosed number of chicken flocks across the territory.

KINGSTON – The non-governmental organisation – Fi We Children Foundation, has joined calls for the sex offenders registry to be made public, following the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in the northern parish of Trelawny last week. Shani Coke in Trelawny.

SPORTS

GEORGETOWN- 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.

West Indies were dismissed for 311 by Pakistan after lunch on the second day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Sunday.

WEST INDIES 311 in 98.5 overs (Shai Hope 92, Kavem Hodge 84, Shamar Joseph 23, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21, Amir Jangoo 21, Justin Greaves 15, Brandon King 12, Roston Chase 10; Mohammad Ali 4-50, Mohammad Abbas 3-63, Khurram Shahzad 2-66).

West Indies reached 303 for seven against Pakistan at lunch on the second day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Sunday.

WEST INDIES 303-7 in 96 overs (Shai Hope 89 not out, Kavem Hodge 84, Shamar Joseph 23 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21, Amir Jangoo 21, Justin Greaves 15, Brandon King 12, Roston Chase 10; Mohammad Abbas 3-63, Khurram Shahzad 2-66).

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls got off to a winning start at the Commonwealth Games by thoroughly trouncing neighbours Trinidad and Tobago 81-22 here on Saturday.

Jamaica dominated Trinidad and Tobago from the opening whistle, racing to a commanding 24-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Veteran goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George led the way in the opening half with 27 goals, while goal attack Shanice Beckford added 16 as the Sunshine Girls carried a comfortable 42-12 advantage into the half-time break.

Head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry-Wright made several changes at the start of the third quarter, introducing debutant Azara Wilmot at goal shooter in place of Aiken-George, while Rhea Dixon replaced Beckford at goal attack. The changes had little effect on Jamaica’s dominance as the Sunshine Girls outscored T and T 18-8 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 60-20 heading into the final period.

Wilmot enjoyed an outstanding second-half performance, finishing with a game-high 33 goals from 41 attempts, while Dixon made an immediate impact by converting all 11 of her attempts.

Henry-Wright said while she was impressed with the team’s performance, she expects a much sterner challenge against former World Champions New Zealand, who they face in their next match.

‘We are always excited to play against New Zealand because we know that we are ready to match up against the top teams in the world.

‘…Today (Saturday) was just a test to see how we will manage the ladies in terms of the rotations and combinations, and so we are looking forward to game two against New Zealand,’ Henry-Wright said.

‘However, it is going to be a real tough game for us because they started very well in their opening game, but it is also going to be a tough test for them as well, but I think that the team that makes the least turnovers and converts their centre passes will come out on top.’

Guyana’s parliamentary opposition has welcomed President Irfaan Ali’s decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of the ferry – the MV Barima, but says the process must be broadened to ensure its independence, credibility and transparency.

In a joint statement issued Saturday, the opposition parties-We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), the Alliance For Change (AFC), and the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC)-said the tragedy, which claimed more than 100 lives, demands a full accounting of what happened.

The parties said the victims deserve justice, grieving families deserve answers and Guyanese deserve a thorough and independent investigation into one of the country’s worst maritime disasters.

While welcoming the establishment of the commission, the opposition criticized the government for failing to consult parliamentary opposition parties and other stakeholders on its composition.

According to the joint statement, broader consultation would have strengthened public confidence in the inquiry and enhanced its legitimacy from the outset.

The opposition also questioned the timing of the announcement, noting that it came just before the National Assembly was scheduled to debate opposition motions on the MV Barima disaster.

It argued that while a Commission of Inquiry is important, it cannot replace Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to scrutinize matters of national importance or hold the Executive accountable.

The opposition further maintained that the Commission of Inquiry should not replace a separate, independent marine casualty investigation conducted in accordance with international maritime standards.

It said that, as a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Guyana should undertake a technical marine safety investigation consistent with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the IMO Casualty Investigation Code and the IMO Model Regulations on Domestic Ferry Safety.

According to the opposition, the Commission of Inquiry should focus on issues of governance, accountability and public administration, while a marine safety investigation should examine the technical causes of the disaster and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.

The parties also called for the inquiry’s mandate to examine ministerial oversight, regulatory enforcement, administrative decision-making, emergency preparedness, resource allocation and any systemic failures within government that may have contributed to the tragedy.

They expressed concern over the appointment of the Commission’s secretary, arguing that public confidence depends not only on the independence of the commissioners but also on the impartiality of those responsible for administering the inquiry.

The opposition said the proceedings should encourage full public participation, allow all relevant evidence to be presented and be conducted in a transparent manner that inspires national confidence.

The joint opposition also renewed its call for Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar to resign or proceed on leave pending the outcome of the inquiry, arguing that their continued oversight of ministries that could come under investigation risks undermining public confidence in the process.

The parties said they remain committed to supporting every genuine effort to establish the truth, secure justice for the victims and their families, strengthen public confidence in public institutions and ensure the lessons of the MV Barima tragedy lead to meaningful reforms that prevent a similar disaster in the future.