Category: CANA News

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association, (JTA) says it is taking steps to protect the employment status of teachers affected by school closures, mergers and consolidations since the start of the new academic year. JTA President La Sonja Harrison says the association has received reports that some teachers are facing significant changes to their employment circumstances and professional status as a result of the restructuring.

She says any move that could negatively affect teachers’ employment rights, tenure, pay or conditions of service requires urgent attention, adding that such action could be viewed as union busting.

The JTA has written to the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information seeking details on the schools affected, the arrangements being put in place and the implications for teachers.

Affected members are being urged to contact the association immediately and to seek guidance before signing or accepting any document that could alter their employment status or conditions of service.

The JTA has also raised concern that the closures, mergers and consolidations are being carried out without consultation with the union.

It says the association, as the representative body for teachers, should be included in the process.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday used his first address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday to call for reform of the international system, including changes to the UN Security Council and global climate financing arrangements.

Friday, who took office following the November 2025 general election, also renewed calls for an end to the United States embargo on Cuba and for reparatory justice for slavery and the genocide of indigenous peoples.

Addressing the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Vincentian leader said confidence in multilateral institutions had been weakened, while small and vulnerable states continue to carry a disproportionate burden from climate change, economic shocks and international conflicts.

He said countries should not abandon the United Nations because of its shortcomings, but should instead work to reform the institution.

Friday backed longstanding demands for changes to the UN Security Council, saying its present structure continued to reflect the global power arrangements of 1945 rather than contemporary geopolitical realities.

He said Africa should have at least one permanent seat, with the same rights and privileges as existing permanent members, warning that failure to address the imbalance would reinforce concerns that global governance was driven more by power than fairness.

Friday also called for a woman to lead the United Nations, noting that all nine secretaries-general since the organisation’s establishment have been men.

He endorsed Guyanese diplomat Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ preferred candidate for the post, describing her as a strong advocate for developing countries and small states.

On climate change, Friday said the threat facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was not a distant possibility but a recurring economic and financial emergency.

He cited the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, saying a few hours of extreme weather could destroy infrastructure and livelihoods built over decades and force governments to borrow repeatedly to finance reconstruction.

Friday renewed calls for the full implementation of a multidimensional vulnerability index to help determine access to concessional financing, arguing that income-based classifications fail to reflect the exposure and limited capacity of small island states to withstand external shocks.

He also supported proposals under the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS and the Bridgetown Initiative, including automatic debt-service suspensions following disasters, expanded use of Special Drawing Rights and more affordable financing from multilateral development banks.

‘Affordable, patient, concessional capital is not charity to small states; it is justice for states that contribute the least to the climate crisis, yet bear the highest costs,’ Friday said.

Turning to international security, the prime minister said wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were having direct consequences for Caribbean countries through higher food, fuel and shipping costs.

He called for an end to the war in Ukraine with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, protection of civilians and a two-state solution guaranteeing peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

Friday reiterated the Caribbean Community’s commitment to maintaining Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace and said regional disputes, including the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, should be settled peacefully and in keeping with international law and the UN Charter.

On Haiti, he said the continuing security and humanitarian crisis was being felt throughout the region and called for sustained international assistance to strengthen institutions, improve security and create conditions for credible elections.

He also urged developed countries to stem the illicit flow of assault weapons into the Caribbean, saying the weapons were contributing to gang violence and undermining public safety.

Friday reaffirmed Kingstown’s opposition to the longstanding US economic embargo against Cuba, describing the measures as collective punishment that restrict access to medicine, fuel, trade and economic development.

He also highlighted St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ 45-year relationship with Taiwan, praising Taipei’s assistance in development, disaster response, education and public health.

Friday called for Taiwan to be allowed meaningful participation in the UN system and its specialised agencies.

The prime minister also renewed CARICOM’s demand for reparatory justice, saying the consequences of slavery and the near-destruction of indigenous populations continue to influence global inequalities.

He pointed to CARICOM’s 10-point reparations plan as a framework for addressing the enduring effects of those historical injustices.

Friday said restoring confidence in the international system would require vulnerable states to see meaningful changes, including fairer debt arrangements, faster disaster financing, wider access to emerging technologies and action on longstanding international grievances.

Despite the challenges, the Vincentian leader said he remained hopeful that the United Nations could fulfil its mandate if member states approached reform with courage, fairness and honesty.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Friday, September 25, 2026.

ST JOHN’S – Antigua and Barbuda has deepened its diplomatic relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan, entering into a visa waiver agreement with the eastern European country

NEW YORK – Prime Minister Mia Mottley says her responsibilities to Barbados and the wider Caribbean are among the main reasons she decided not to seek the post of United Nations Secretary-General.

UNITED NATIONS – Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says Haitians are eager to regain security, return to their homes and participate in the country’s forthcoming general elections.

GEORGE TOWN – Rules governing the importation of dogs and cats into the Cayman Islands, with the new requirements taking effect on October 1.

SPORTS

ST JOHN’S – With Cricket West Indies (CWI) continuing to face financial hardship, the cash-strapped entity has taken the decision to significantly reduce its international and regional contracts while also cancelling this year’s men’s and women’s Super-50 tournaments along with the women’s T20 Blaze.

President Dr Irfaan Ali says his government is preparing to launch a new investment vehicle aimed at mobilising funds from Guyanese living overseas for major development projects.

Ali made the announcement while addressing hundreds of Guyanese at a diaspora gathering in Queens Village, New York on Thursday.

‘We are going to launch very soon a special investment vehicle to mobilise resources in the diaspora,’ he said, adding that Guyana’s expanding economy would create opportunities for citizens both at home and abroad.

The President said potential investment opportunities could include the planned fertiliser plant and gas bottling facility, both linked to the country’s gas-to-energy project.

The initiative builds on earlier plans announced by the government to deepen diaspora participation in national development.

During Guyana’s 60th Independence anniversary celebrations, Ali said the administration intended to introduce a diaspora bond that would give Guyanese overseas an opportunity to invest in public infrastructure.

Guyana and Barbados have also been working on the proposed Trident Arrow Investment Fund, which is intended to allow citizens of both countries to invest in major infrastructure and long-term development projects.

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley has said the fund would give citizens an opportunity to earn returns while also taking ownership stakes in projects in their respective countries.

Ali also told the diaspora audience that his government is pursuing several other large-scale projects, including a new highway linking Linden and Lethem and additional hospitals offering specialised medical care.

Director of Public Prosecutions Sherma Dalrymple has discontinued an obstruction charge against United Workers Party political leader Dr Thomson Fontaine, bringing an end to proceedings stemming from events in Roseau in February 2017.

According to a notice issued by the DPP, the case against Fontaine was formally discontinued under Section 72(2)(c) of Dominica’s Constitution.

Fontaine had been accused of wilfully obstructing police officers on February 7, 2017, by refusing repeated instructions to allow a truck to move away from the Financial Centre following an opposition-organised public meeting on Kennedy Avenue.

The charge carried the possibility of imprisonment if Fontaine had been convicted.

In a statement following the DPP’s decision, Fontaine welcomed the end of the case and repeated his long-standing assertion that he had done nothing wrong.

He also alleged that the prosecution had been politically motivated, a claim he has maintained throughout the proceedings.

Fontaine said the case had taken a heavy personal and financial toll over more than nine years, including repeated court appearances while he was working in South Sudan.

He said he was required to return to Dominica numerous times during that period, often at short notice, and claimed the cost of travel and legal representation ran into substantial sums.

Jamaican men are being urged to begin prostate cancer screening from age 40 as health officials raise concern about the number of deaths linked to the disease.

Government Senator Dr Elon Thompson made the appeal during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, as the country observes Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

He said prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among Jamaican men, with the age-adjusted mortality rate rising from about 35 deaths per 100,000 males in 1996 to 46 per 100,000 in 2023.

Dr Thompson said 716 men died from the disease in 2023, while 809 deaths were recorded in 2024. Nearly 1,400 new cases were also reported.

He warned that prostate cancer can develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages and said men should not wait until they feel unwell before seeking medical attention.

The senator also pointed to low screening rates identified in the latest Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey. Only about 28 per cent of men aged 40 and older reported ever having a digital rectal examination.

Just 5.1 per cent said they had been referred by a healthcare professional for a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test, while fewer than two per cent reported actually having the test.

Dr Thompson said fear, embarrassment and misinformation remain major barriers to screening and called for a shift in attitudes towards men’s health.

He also encouraged relatives and friends to play a greater role in urging men to see a doctor, noting that family support can often make the difference.

Haiti scored two late goals to record a come-from-behind, thrilling 3-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their CONCACAF Nations League Group A opener here on Thursday night.

T and T looked set to register their first win in seven matches in 2026 and their first over Haiti in five matches, before conceding two goals in the final seven minutes to suffer a heartbreaking loss.

The Haitians, who competed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, took the lead in the 23rd minute when veteran Fafa Picault rose to head home a cross from Wilson Isidor past T and T goalkeeper Denzil Smith and in off the post.

It didn’t take long for T and T to draw level, as two minutes later USA-based Wayne Frederick II connected on a volley from a Rio Cardines free kick that sailed past Haiti’s custodian Alexandre Pierre.

The two sides went into the half tied at 1-1, but captain Levi Garcia gave T and T the lead in the 58th minute after running onto a pass over the top and slotting past Pierre.

T and T seemed headed for victory, but in the 90th minute Haiti’s Garven-Michee Metusala got on the end of a header from Isidor to fire the ball into the back of the nets.

Haiti then completed a thrilling comeback seven minutes into added time, when Isidor found himself in the perfect position at the far post to bundle the ball over the line after a right-sided cross deflected off T and T defender Andrew De Gannes.

T and T will now return home to host the Dominican Republic on September 27 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, while Haiti faces Costa Rica.

Also in Group A, FC Porto’s Pablo Rosario snatched a dramatic late winner for the Dominican Republic in their 3-2 triumph over Nicaragua to the delight of their home fans at the Estadio Cibao FC.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley says her responsibilities to Barbados and the wider Caribbean are among the main reasons she decided not to seek the post of United Nations Secretary-General.

Mottley addressed the issue during a discussion earlier this week, hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, where she was asked why she had chosen not to enter the race to succeed António Guterres.

‘I have a country to run and a region to take care of,’ Mottley said, pointing to her continuing responsibilities at home and across the Caribbean. She also joked about whether the international community was ready for her outspoken style, saying she was ‘not sure that the world wants somebody whose tongue is as heavy as mine.’

The Barbadian leader has featured prominently in international discussions on climate finance, reform of the global financial system and the concerns of vulnerable developing states. At the CFR event, she discussed challenges facing climate-vulnerable countries and efforts to expand access to development financing and reform the international financial architecture.

Mottley has instead backed Guyana’s United Nations Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the position. Addressing the UN General Assembly this week, she said Rodrigues-Birkett has the experience, skills and understanding needed to serve the wider UN membership. Barbados’ support is in keeping with CARICOM’s endorsement of the Guyanese diplomat.

The race is under way to select a successor to Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31. The UN Security Council recommends a candidate to the General Assembly, with the five permanent members of the Council able to block a nomination through the veto.

Mottley said that despite speculation surrounding her possible candidacy, she intends to remain focused on her responsibilities as Prime Minister of Barbados and her work in the Caribbean region.

President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF), Franklin Wilson has hailed the country’s hosting of the 2028 Fesupo South American Powerlifting Championships as a ‘landmark’ achievement.

The decision was confirmed by South American Powerlifting Federation (Fesupo) Secretary General, Jose Luis Inguanti following the organisation’s 2026 Congress, where Brazil’s Julio Conrado was re-elected president for a four-year term.

The 2028 event will see powerlifters from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, and Chile travel to Guyana to take on the host nation. Wilson, who attended the congress alongside vice-president Edwin Gordon-Spencer, described the hosting rights as a momentous occasion for the country.

‘We are looking forward to this historic moment and as a federation, we are ecstatic to make our contribution to the sports tourism landscape in Guyana,’ Wilson said, noting the move aligns with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s drive to bring major international competitions to the nation.

The announcement caps off a notable 2026 campaign for Guyana, which saw local athletes maintain their international medal-winning record alongside the accreditation of two local coaches, including the nation’s first female coach at this level.

Fesupo officials backed the venue choice, with Conrado expressing confidence in Guyana to stage a successful event.

Canadian T20 franchise NCL GT20 Canada is set to hold its 2026 edition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines beginning next month.

The staging is designed to deepen cricketing, developmental and commercial ties between Canada and the West Indies, with Cricket Canada and Cricket West Indies (CWI) working together to bring Canadian, Caribbean and international talent on one platform.

The tournament provides an opportunity to strengthen player pathways between Canada and the Caribbean, while building relationships that can continue when the tournament returns to Canada next year.

Under the collaborative framework, CWI will play an important role in governance, compliance, and regulatory coordination and will also hold a direct franchise investment.

The structure reflects a broader objective of creating sustainable sporting and commercial connections across the Americas, while maintaining strong standards of administration and competition.

Chief executive officer at CWI, Chris Dehring praised the collaborative effort, saying it would benefit all parties involved.

‘NCL GT20 Canada, together with the deep cricketing tradition of the West Indies, creates an exciting opportunity for collaboration. Hosting the 2026 tournament in the Caribbean before its return to Canada next year marks the beginning of a partnership that can facilitate the continued development of Canadian cricket while showcasing our region as one of the great cricketing regions of world cricket.

‘As the only full member of the ICC in the hemisphere, we believe it is important to forge mutually beneficial relationships with ICC Associate Members across the region, for the health of the game and, indeed, for the continued development of West Indies cricket,’ Dehring said.

President of Cricket Canada, Arvinder Khosa also lauded the initiative.

‘NCL GT20 is fundamentally a Canadian tournament, and the Caribbean provides a special home for our 2026 edition. This is about much more than taking a tournament to another country for one season. It is about building a bridge between Canadian and West Indies cricket, connecting players, administrators, fans and commercial partners.

‘We thank Cricket West Indies for their support in delivering this tournament in the Caribbean. When NCL GT20 returns to Canada next year, we want to bring those relationships with us and create a lasting pathway between the Caribbean and Canada,’ Khosa said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Creative Industries for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Kaschaka Cupid said the island was set to benefit significantly from hosting the tournament.

‘We welcome the opportunity to host the NCL GT20 League in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

‘Bringing world-class sporting events to our shores is a major part of my mandate, and I am delighted that we can respond favourably to the request to host this historic event in the Caribbean,’ Cupid said.

‘We look forward to working with the NCL GT20 and all stakeholders to deliver an outstanding event and a memorable experience for players, fans and visitors alike.’