Category: CANA News

The St. Lucia government Tuesday said that it has received approval for a US$20 million loan facility from the Export-Import Bank of Taiwan (Eximbank) to expand access to affordable housing and strengthen essential community infrastructure.

The facility, to be on-lent through the St. Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), will help low- to medium-income St. Lucians build or improve their homes, while financing housing infrastructure such as solar PV systems, drainage upgrades, and water tanks, ensuring that new developments are modern, climate-resilient, and sustainable.

Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre

A government statement said that the Exim-Bank facility builds on a series of major housing initiatives already underway including the EC$54 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) NIC-guaranteed SLDB housing loan facility approved by the Parliament in September last year and providing eligible public servants with 100 per cent loan financing.

It also allows for an EC$1,000 grant toward legal fees and a stamp-duty waiver on the first EC$400,000 of residential loans.

The government is also providing EC$10 million National Housing Project and reinstated the two million dollar Distress Fund assists families affected by fires and natural disasters.

The government has also removed the value added tax (VAT) on selected building materials, including cement, lumber, and galvanise, to lower construction and renovation costs.

‘Through smart financing, targeted investment, and practical social support, the government of St. Lucia is incrementally removing the barriers that have kept many families from owning a home and building a housing framework that delivers real, lasting results,’ the statement said.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Tuesday expressed ‘deep concern’ regarding it described as ‘recent reports of intensified military operations by external powers in the southern Caribbean Sea’.

The sub-regional grouping of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis , said they were also concerned over reports of the ‘destruction of vessels alleged to be involved in narcotics trafficking without interception or verification in contravention of international law.

‘While our governments remain firmly committed to regional and international cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, including drug trafficking, we are equally committed to the preservation of the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace – a principle solemnly affirmed by the Heads of Government of our region and supported by the United Nations General Assembly’

The OECS countries said that they are ‘therefore concerned that heightened military activities in and around the Southern Caribbean risk escalating tensions and misunderstandings in a region whose stability and security are essential to the well-being of our peoples.

‘Actions undertaken without adequate consultation or communication with regional partners risk creating misunderstandings and tensions and may inadvertently embroil the entire Caribbean in a wider confrontation, undermining decades of careful diplomacy and peaceful coexistence.

‘We are deeply concerned about the indisputable impact of any potential military action on our small, vulnerable societies and economies and the erosion of the hard-won gains over the past decades,’ the OECS countries said.

In recent weeks, the Donald Trump administration has been building up a military presence off the coast of Venezuela allegedly as part of its fight against the illegal shipment of drugs to the United States. Washington has confirmed that it has bombed several vessels, killing all but two people, in recent times as it puts its policy into action.

But Caracas says the action is part of the plan to oust President Nicolas Maduro from office.

The United Nations UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also strongly condemned airstrikes carried out by the United States against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Volker Trk said in a statement that the strikes ‘violate international human rights law’, demanding that they be stopped immediately.

Among those reportedly killed are two Trinidad and Tobago nationals, but Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has reiterated her full support for President Donald Trump’s move to violently kill drug traffickers.

In their statement, the OECS countries said they were reaffirming that ‘peace and dialogue must remain the cornerstone of regional and hemispheric relations’ as well as ‘respect for sovereignty and non-interference are essential to maintaining trust and stability.’

They are also insisting that ‘collective security and cooperation are the most effective means of combating organised crime and ensuring the safety of our maritime space.

‘We therefore urge all partners to engage in open consultation with the Caribbean Community and the OECS before any initiative that could alter the regional security balance. The Caribbean’s greatest strength has always been its unity, its diplomacy, and its steadfast commitment to resolving differences through peaceful means,’ the OECS countries added.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Tuesday charged seven people, including four Venezuelan nationals, with terrorism following the explosion at a gas station late last month resulting in the death of a six year-old child and injury to several others.

In a statement, the GPF said that the seven – Wayne Corriea, 44, Ramesh Pramdeo, 51, and 33 year-old Krystal LaCruz, all of Guyana as well as Venezuelan nationals, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, 33, Jennifer Rodriguez, 33, Johnny Boodram, 27 and 44 year-old Alexander Bettancourt, will appear in court on Wednesday.

It said that they were charged with committing the offence following the explosion at the gas station on October 26 and following legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

They have each been charged with the offence of terrorism, the GPF said, adding that it wanted to assure the public that the investigation was ‘conducted with professionalism, integrity and strict adherence to due process.

‘The Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens and ensuring peace and public safety across the nation while expressing gratitude to the public and partner agencies for their continued cooperation and support in this matter,’ the GPF added.

Last week, the police could not say whether Peodomo, who was seen on video with a black bag just before the explosion, was militarily trained, but pointed out that he was a member of the ‘R’ gang associated with the feared Sindicato gang. They said information about the suspect was shared with the Caracas Bureau of INTERPOL.

Home Affairs Minister, Oneidge Walrond, said the authorities would be pursuing the death penalty for Peodomo.

Several key players are missing from New Zealand’s squad which will face West Indies in a five-match T20I series beginning Wednesday.

Injuries have ruled out Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring), while former skipper Kane Williamson is also missing after he announced his retirement from the shortest format on Sunday.

Fast bowler Matt Henry has also been left out with an eye on the ODI and Test series with the Caribbean side.

Glenn Phillips will miss the series against West Indies with a groin injury.

Mitchell Santner will captain the side once again, that includes fast bowler Kyle Jamieson and spinner Ish Sodhi, while uncapped pacer Nathan Smith is in line to earn a T20I debut.

New Zealand coach Rob Walter is looking forward to the series against the West Indies, which will be the side’s final series prior to the T20 World Cup that is scheduled to take place early next year.

‘It’s great to have five opportunities to take on a dangerous side like the West Indies.

‘I know the team is looking forward to getting into the rhythm of a full series and building some momentum following the rain-affected series to start the summer,’ Walter said.

‘The T20 World Cup is coming closer and I know it will be on people’s minds, but we need to make sure our focus is on this series at home and playing well in front of our fans.’

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi.

The Fathers’ Association of TT (TFATT) wants urgent legislative reform after it claims that data collected over a five year period shows that one in every three men tested was not the biological father of the child they believed to be theirs.

‘Between January 2020 and September 2025, 440 tests were conducted on men who were told they were the biological fathers of their children,’ TFATT president, Rhondall Feeles, told a news conference.

‘Out of those, 143 men, about 33 per cent, were proven not to be the biological fathers. That means one in every three men tested was not the father of the child they were raising,’ he said, adding ‘can you imagine with a ratio of one in every three, how rampant this can be?’.

Feeles told reporters that there were several instances where men ended up in legal trouble over maintenance for children who were not biologically theirs. He recalled the case of Marlon Thompson, who had to pay TT$35,000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) in maintenance for a child, which a DNA test proved was not his biological son.

‘We were able to have the maintenance removed, and the magisterial level, the magistrate had no power at all to quash the warrant. Though he no longer had a maintenance to pay, he still had a warrant and faced imprisonment for a child that was not biologically his,’ Feeles said adding that a stay was eventually granted by a High Court Judge, and the matter was quashed about two years later.

Feeles also cited a 2019 case where a 31-year-old man demanded a paternity test after paying alimony for his two children. At the hearing for the maintenance and custody case brought by his wife, the man learnt that the two children were not biologically his.

When asked by the magistrate about the money he had paid, the man said he was more affected by the emotional toll of learning the daughters weren’t his. The magistrate dismissed the wife’s application for maintenance .

Feeles said the majority of men don’t care about the maintenance.

‘What they care is that the daughter they held, the son they held, the relationship they held, the one they held, the trust they had in the other party is no longer there.’

The TFATT said it is urging government policymakers to revisit the recommendations of the 2018 Joint Select Committee (JSC), which examined the perceived inequality faced by fathers. That report had called for mandatory DNA testing before maintenance orders are granted by the Family Court.

Feeles said the association recently wrote to Attorney General John Jeremie and then Chief Justice Ivor Archie on the matter.

In the October 7 letter to Jeremie, the TFATT asked for legislation for mandatory paternity testing before issuing child maintenance orders; criminalising a woman’s intentional misleading of a man to believe a child is his, labelling it paternity fraud; and to allow in cases of proven paternity fraud allow compensation for the father, counselling for the father and children, and referring the matter to the police for investigation.

Feeles said while Jeremie expressed interest in the matter, he knows it would take some time for the legislation to be enacted. As such, he asked the Chief Justice in an October 14 letter to issue a proactive direction to require DNA tests for all existing and future maintenance matters and in cases where a man was intentionally lied to about the child being his, allow compensation to him, counselling for him and the children, and to refer the matter to the police for investigation.

An October 17 letter from the Chief Justice Chambers said the matter was receiving consideration. Feeles has since called on newly appointed Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh to continue work on the matter.

Several Caribbean politicians are seeking election to the City Council as New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday to choose a new mayor.

Haitian-born Brooklyn Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, who is seeking re-election, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that she’s ‘proud to be running for re-election to continue delivering real results for the people of the 46th District.

Farah N. Louis

‘As a nurse, small business owner, and immigrant from Haiti, I know what hard work looks like, and I’ve spent every day fighting to bring resources, services, and respect back to our community,’ she said.

‘While others seek to divide or roll back the progress we’ve made, I’m focused on building up our neighborhoods, investing in our schools, improving healthcare access, and standing up for working families, immigrants, and seniors,’ she added.

‘Our community knows what’s at stake, We’ve come too far to let those who align with extremism that attacks immigrants, undermines healthcare, and works to weaken public education represent us.’

Narcisse’s City Council colleague and compatriot, Rita Joseph, also told CMC that she had no opponent in the Primary Elections in June and will also have none in the general elections for the 40th Council District in Brooklyn.

‘I’m walking back to my seat. Previously, incumbents always have opponents. I’m honestly humbled by it. When nobody steps up to challenge you, that means something. It means the community trusts you. And I don’t take that lightly-I’m going to keep showing up for our schools, our kids, and our families the way I have been.’

Mercedes Narcisse

When asked what she’s most proud of, Joseph, a former public school teacher in Brooklyn, responded that it was the first AIMS programme in September, a specialised early education setup for kids with autism and other developmental needs at the P.S. 6 Annex on Flatbush Avenue.

Joseph, who taught at Public School 6 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, for more than 20 years before getting into politics, said ‘this one hit close to home. ‘

City Council member Farah N. Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian immigrants, is seeking her final term in representing the 45th District in Brooklyn.

‘It has been the honour of my life to serve the people of Council District 45,’ she told CMC. ‘As I seek my final term, I am more energized than ever to continue delivering real results for our neighbors.

‘The work we’ve accomplished together is just the beginning, and I will not stop until we’ve built a foundation for lasting change in our district. Throughout my tenure, I have been a tireless champion for the most vulnerable members of our community and New York City, while fighting relentlessly to improve quality of life for all District 45 residents.’

As she runs for my final term in the New York City Council, Louis said she remains ‘laser-focused’ on the priorities that she said matter most to District 45.

New York State Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian-American chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said: ‘No matter how you vote, or who you vote for – make sure your voice is heard.’

In addition to candidates for elected office, there are six questions on the ballot this year.

New York City Board of Elections (BOE) said that ballot proposals are ‘suggested changes to the state and city’s governing documents, the State Constitution and the City Charter.

‘Voters get to decide on the changes they want to see passed,’ it said.

The main opposition New National Party (NNP) says it will boycott Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament saying it was doing so ‘after careful review of the troubling pattern of unacceptable behaviour and blatant disrespect demonstrated’ by the government.

The NNP said it will also not be attending the November 6 sitting of the Senate.

The opposition party said that the last parliamentary sitting last Tuesday ‘was chaotic’ with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell scolding ‘the Speaker and unilaterally dictated the adjournment of the House.

‘It came after serious procedural failures, with members receiving documents late, a clear breach of parliamentary norms and respect for the institution.’

The NNP said that ‘the adjourned date for the sitting of the House was unilaterally dictated to the Speaker by the Government side without consultation with members of the Opposition or respectful adherence to established parliamentary norms and practices.

‘The leader of the opposition’s request for appropriate consultation on the date was ultimately trivialized,’ it added.

The NNP said that the opposition members’ absence from the Parliament on this occasion is an act of principle.

‘As the Opposition in Parliament, we stand firm in protest against the intolerable erosion of our democratic parliamentary norms, the continued shameful attempts to marginalise the official Parliamentary Opposition, and the creeping authoritarianism that has no place in Grenada’s Parliament.

‘We cannot condone a process that mocks the very principles we as members of the House were elected to uphold,’ it added.

Prime Minister Mitchell is due to make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday regarding a request from the United States to temporarily install a radar at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and the deployment of US military assets on or near Grenada.

With a win over Bangladesh in their last T20I series, West Indies white-ball captain, Shai Hope says his troops are bursting with confidence ahead of their matchup with New Zealand.

The Windies, who are coming off an impressive 3-0 series win over Bangladesh, will take on the fourth ranked New Zealand in the first of five T20Is on Wednesday.

It was just their second bilateral T20I series win in nine outings and halted a losing slide following defeats to Nepal, Pakistan and Australia.

The regional side has not defeated New Zealand in a T20I series since 2012 and has lost three consecutive series to the Black Caps.

However, speaking in a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Hope said the West Indies were still on a high and were hoping to carry that momentum into the New Zealand series.

‘Coming off that 3-0 victory that we had in Bangladesh is a great confidence booster for us as a team, so it’s just to keep challenging ourselves and testing ourselves to see where we’re at as a team and building to that World Cup.

‘.You have to take a lot [of pride], especially going into conditions that you may not have faced ever in your career and getting the success that we’ve had says a lot about the unit, the strength of the unit and like I said it’s a great confidence booster going into this series,’ Hope said.

‘It’s a place I’m sure the batters and even the bowlers will be much happier to be playing on these surfaces, but yes, confidence booster from Bangladesh, and hopefully we can turn things around in New Zealand and get a lot more success here.’

Hope acknowledged that the conditions in New Zealand were expected to be much different than the ones they faced on the Asian subcontinent.

Therefore, he said it would be important for the players to adapt to those conditions as quickly as possible.

‘Slightly different conditions, maybe totally different conditions, but as we all know it’s one of the biggest things of being a professional cricketer; you have to be able to adapt to the conditions you go into.

‘Like I always speak about, conditions, dimensions, adaptability, and in this particular situation you have to understand that I don’t just expect the New Zealand bowlers to put it in the slot for the shorter straight boundaries either, so it’s about understanding what you’re going to get and formulating those plans to be as successful as possible, whether with bat in hand or ball in hand,’ Hope explained.

‘On the back of that success in Bangladesh it’s about trying to repeat. We want to be a very good team and it’s about consistency and if you want to be the best you have to beat the best in their home territories, so it’s something else we need to tick off our boxes.’

The managing director of the state-owned oil and energy company, Staatsolie, Annand Jagesar, is pleased with the company’s financial and production figures.

‘Our production, refining, and offshore activities are proceeding according to plan. The Gran Morgu project, with which Suriname is expected to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day starting in 2028, is on schedule and within budget,’ Jagesar told shareholders at a meeting where Rudolf Elias was elected as the new chairman of the Supervisory Board of the state-owned company.

Elias had previously served as managing director of Staatsolie from 2014 to 2021.

According to Jagesar, the project will not only generate direct revenue through royalties and taxes but also contribute to local employment and business activity.

‘Local content development is crucial. We want Surinamese employees and businesses to actively participate in this growing sector,’ Jagesar told the shareholders.

The state-owned Communications Service Suriname (CDS) said that with the appointment of Elias, Staatsolie strengthens its strategic oversight during a crucial phase of further growth in the oil and gas sector, both onshore and offshore.

It said that the new board, together with the management, will oversee professional governance and sustainable value creation for Surinamese society.

Supervisory board member Sergio Akiemboto spoke of the importance of close cooperation between the board, management, and the state as shareholder.

‘The supervisory board represents the shareholder and safeguards the direction and vision of the State within Staatsolie. At the same time, our task is to supervise, monitor, and advise, so that the management can adequately fulfill its responsibilities,’ Akiemboto said.

‘Oil revenues must be used to strengthen other sectors, such as education, agriculture, and tourism so that we can build a resilient and diversified economy.’

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) says the government empathy after the Ministry of Education announced that it was moving towards reopening schools following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa last Tuesday.

The category 5 storm tore into the country, particularly on the western section of Jamaica, leaving millions of dollars in damages and being responsible for at least 28 deaths.

School books left in the open after Hurricane Melissa destroyed a school in Jamaica

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said that schools in parishes that fared better than others following Hurricane Melissa may reopen on Monday and that the Parliamentary Secretary in the ministry, Marlon Morgan, has been tasked with spearheading the emergency plan for students in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James and Hanover.

‘The call for a rapid resumption of normal school operation does not reflect the empathy and understanding required in a national crisis of the magnitude, ‘ said JTA president, Mark Malabver, who is advocating that more time be given to teachers and principals to recover from the ordeal of the hurricane.

‘The JTA is urging the ministry to demonstrate crisis leadership grounded in compassion, flexibility and responsiveness to the emotional and physical realities facing our education committee.

‘The immediate focus should not be on academic recovery, but rather emotion recovery providing, students, teachers and school leaders with the space, time and psychosocial support they need to bein the healing process’.

Malabver, says the union is reminding the ministry that over the past few years educators have been called upon to weather numerous storms, ‘both literal and emotional’.

He said that from the tragic deaths of students to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and now the destruction cause by Hurricane Melissa ‘our teachers and principals have been tested beyond measure.

‘Their resilience must not be mistaken for invincibility. The Association therefore calls on the Ministry of Education to exercise due care, empathy and responsible decision making as the nation recovers,’Malabver added.