Category: CANA News

The police in the western city of Montego Bay say they are preparing for the expected deportation of a former reputed area leader from the Flanker community in the western parish of St. James, while maintaining that his return will not reverse the significant reduction in violent crime achieved across the area over the past decade.

The issue was raised during a town hall meeting this week as Commissioner of Police Dr. Kevin Blake met with senior officers in Area One to review crime trends, evaluate policing strategies and discuss plans to safeguard recent gains against emerging security threats.

During a meeting earlier this week in Montego Bay, Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, commander of the St. James Police Division, confirmed that law enforcement is aware the man-who was previously deported from the United States to Jamaica in 2018-is expected to be returned to the island once again.

Although Samuels declined to discuss specific operational plans, he said police have already begun preparing for the deportation and are confident the individual’s return will not undermine years of sustained crime-fighting efforts.

The strategic review was chaired by Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenford Miller, commander of Area One, and included the commanders of the police divisions in the western parishes of St. James, Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny .

Figures presented by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) highlight the dramatic decline in murders across Area One. The four divisions recorded 563 murders in 2018-the highest annual total during the review period. By the end of 2025, that number had dropped to 135, representing a 76 percent reduction.

As of July 18, 2026, Area One had recorded 68 murders, comprising 38 in St. James, 15 in Westmoreland, 10 in Hanover and five in Trelawny.

The statistics show that murders climbed from 467 in 2017 to 563 in 2018 before falling sharply to 240 in 2019, a decline of more than 57 percent. Murders increased to 303 in 2020, 352 in 2021 and 413 in 2022 before beginning a sustained downward trend, with 401 murders in 2023, 297 in 2024 and just 135 in 2025.

Addressing officers, Blake praised the transformation in the region’s security landscape.

‘Remember those days? Last year it was 135, coming from 563. That’s some amazing achievement,’ he told the gathering.

He also highlighted the turnaround in St. James, once regarded as one of Jamaica’s most violent police divisions.

‘Last year at this time, we were celebrating because we had, I think, one month with one murder. That is unheard of for St. James,’ Blake said.

Despite the progress, the commissioner urged officers not to become complacent, stressing that the Jamaica Constabulary Force remains committed to driving the country’s murder rate down to levels comparable with regional averages.

Area One has historically experienced some of Jamaica’s highest levels of violent crime, particularly in St. James and Westmoreland. Communities across the region have long been affected by organized criminal networks, including the Stone Crusher, Killer Bees and Flanker gangs in St. James, as well as entrenched gangs operating in Kings Valley, Russia, Logwood, Cacoon, Warsop and Duncans.

Police attribute the sustained decline in murders to intelligence-led operations, targeted anti-gang initiatives and close coordination among the four divisions. They say those strategies will remain in place as they prepare for future security challenges, including the anticipated deportation of the former area leader .

New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in urging the United States Congress to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.

The attorneys general also urged Congress to pass legislation to allow for judicial oversight of TPS decisions ‘to ensure TPS holders are not subject to illegal deportations.’

In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could move forward with stripping TPS from hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

The attorneys general said the decision threatens the nearly 350,000 Haitians who have spent years living, working and raising their families in the US, particularly in New York, which is home to one of the nation’s largest Haitian communities.

They said the Supreme Court’s decision also makes it ‘significantly more difficult to challenge TPS terminations in court, threatening these protections for other vulnerable immigrants nationwide.’

In a letter to Congressional leadership, the coalition urges Congress to pass legislation requiring judicial oversight of TPS decisions and extending TPS for Haitian immigrants who are facing deportation.

‘This administration’s attempt to claw back protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working across the United States has caused untold chaos and confusion,’ said Attorney General James on Friday. ‘All across our country, Haitian TPS holders have raised families, started businesses and made valuable contributions to our economy.

‘TPS was intended to help those who cannot safely return to their home country, and I urge Congress to strengthen our laws to protect TPS holders,’ she added.

James said the US has a long history of providing a safe haven to those who flee armed conflict, natural disasters and repressive conditions, and that Haitian immigrants were granted TPS protection in 2010 after a deadly earthquake.

She said these protections have been extended over the last 16 years as the country faced additional natural disasters, political turmoil and public health outbreaks.

As James and the coalition stated in their letter, Haitian TPS recipients make ‘invaluable contributions to the communities and economies where they live.

‘Haitians fill critical health care jobs and contribute an estimated US$5.9 billion to the US economy annually and pay approximately US$1.6 billion in taxes,’ the letter says.

‘Revoking TPS for Haitians will jeopardize the safety, health, and economic wellbeing of communities throughout the country and cause chaos for families who have been living and working in the United States for years,’ they say, noting that the House has already passed a bill to extend TPS to Haitians.

The coalition is urging the Senate to do the same.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) and the Government of Belize have marked major milestones in education development in Orange Walk District, with groundbreaking ceremonies for two new schools and the handover of a rehabilitated classroom block aimed at improving learning opportunities for rural students.

The groundbreaking and handover ceremonies form part of a broader suite of key infrastructure achievements delivered under the CDB-supported Belize Education Sector Reform Programme II (BESRP II), which is constructing and equipping 35 school building projects across the country.

The new Indian Church Primary School will accommodate approximately 96 students across four classrooms, with administrative and staff facilities, sanitation amenities, and supporting infrastructure. Built to modern construction standards, the facilities will incorporate hurricane-resilient features, water storage and drainage systems, and fire safety measures, representing an investment of approximately US$1.3 million .

The day’s activities also included the handover of a rehabilitated classroom block at Trial Farm Government School, completed at a cost of approximately US$120,000 and the commencement of works on new pre-primary and primary facilities in the Blackwater area of Trial Farm Village, representing a further US$1.51 million investment. Together, these projects will improve learning environments for hundreds of students and strengthen educational access across the district.

Speaking on the significance of these developments, Dr. Isaac Solomon, Vice-President (Operations), CDB, underscored the Bank’s broader vision for the investment.

‘Our commitment goes beyond building infrastructure-we are supporting a stronger and more resilient education system that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need for the future, while contributing to broader social and economic development. Indian Church Primary and the Belize Education Sector Programme as a whole, is pivotal in advancing educational excellence-an ambition that resonates deeply with my Bank’s refocused vision, anchored in the pillars of Innovate, Transform, and Thrive.’

The projects reflect a shared commitment by the Government of Belize and CDB to deliver educational infrastructure that is resilient, inclusive, and responsive to community needs, helping to build human capital and create opportunities for future generations of Belizeans.

This support for Indian Church Primary School, Blackwater Primary, Trial Farm Government School and the wider BESRP II Programme directly advances CDB’s Strategic Plan 2026-2035.

It contributes to the Bank’s Social Resilience objective and its Investing in Youth operational priority by expanding equitable access to quality education. The support further reflects CDB’s Rebirth Vision to Innovate, Transform and Thrive, as the Bank scales up investment in resilient infrastructure to safeguard learning environments across the Caribbean.

Guyana’s parliamentary opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), is calling for the National Assembly to establish an independent Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima ferry disaster, which has unofficially claimed more than 100 lives.

In a letter to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, Opposition Leader in Parliament Dr. Terrence Campbell requested that Monday’s sitting of the 65-member House include a debate on the establishment of the commission and the adoption of its terms of reference.

The opposition says a transparent and independent investigation is essential to determine the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Government-owned ferry, identify those responsible, and recommend measures to prevent a similar tragedy.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), APNU’s largest constituent party, Sherwin Benjamin, warned that the opposition is prepared to organize mass protests if the Government refuses to support its call for a Commission of Inquiry.

Benjamin said the party intends to apply ‘the necessary pressure’ to ensure the matter is addressed urgently, adding that public demonstrations remain an option if Parliament does not act.

Meanwhile, APNU parliamentarian Saiku Andrews pointed to Government tender documents issued in March this year for the docking and rehabilitation of the 87-year-old Scottish-built MV Barima. According to Andrews, the tender required engineers to inspect approximately 10,000 square metres of hull plating and structural frames and replace deteriorated sections where necessary.

The scope of works also included replacing about 3,000 kilograms of corroded steel framing, 2,000 kilograms of deteriorated hatch beams over the cargo hold, 30 zinc anodes, 150 metres of fire lines, 20 air vents, and 180 square metres of hatch-cover tarpaulin. The tender further called for ultrasonic testing of the vessel’s hull and a detailed thickness assessment.

Andrews argued that the tender documents demonstrate Government engineers had already identified significant structural concerns months before the disaster.

‘The real issue is not whether Item 16 contains an error,’ Andrews said. ‘The real issue is that the Government’s own engineers identified the need to examine the hull, replace deteriorated steel, replace wasted hatch beams, replace zinc anodes, service critical components and carry out ultrasonic thickness testing only months before the tragedy.’

Also addressing the media, APNU parliamentarian and attorney Dexter Todd announced that a team of 15 lawyers has been assembled to represent and protect the interests of survivors and affected families.

Todd also disclosed that the captain and two crew members remain in police custody and could face manslaughter charges as investigations into the ferry disaster continue

CMC President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali says an international and independent Commission of Inquiry will be established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the ferry – the MV Barima.

In a statement on Saturday, the President said the five member panel to be announced Sunday, would comprise ‘distinguished experts and professionals’ with extensive experience in law, marine engineering, maritime safety and disaster investigation.

He said the members had been selected for their independence, technical expertise and proven ability, and would determine their own procedures and methods of work.

The Commission will be mandated to conduct what the President described as a ‘thorough, impartial examination’ of the disaster, including the events leading to the vessel’s capsizing and sinking, the emergency response, and all related matters.

Its investigation will seek to identify any shortcomings or failures, recommend accountability where appropriate, and propose reforms to improve the safety and reliability of Guyana’s maritime transport system.

Among the issues to be examined are the vessel’s loading, passenger boarding procedures, conditions on board, seaworthiness and maintenance history, compliance with maritime laws and safety standards, the conduct and competence of the master and crew, passenger management, life-saving arrangements, and the impact of weather, sea conditions and other operational factors.

The Commission will also review the search, rescue and recovery operation, assessing the adequacy, coordination and effectiveness of the response by all agencies and stakeholders involved.

Ali said the inquiry would have the authority to determine whether negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or institutional failures contributed to the tragedy, and to recommend any legislative, regulatory, institutional or operational reforms needed to prevent a similar disaster in the future.

The announcement follows the sinking of the MV Barima, one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Guyana’s history, which claimed dozens of lives and prompted calls for a full independent investigation.

The President had previously committed to establishing an international Commission of Inquiry once the search and recovery phase of the operation had progressed.

West Indies reached 127 for three at tea against Pakistan on the opening day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Saturday.

WEST INDIES 127-3 in 43 overs (Kavem Hodge 56 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21, Amir Jangoo 21, Brandon King 12, Shai Hope 11 not out; Mohammad Abbas 2-40).

Both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will have to navigate their way through challenging Concacaf Nations League groups when the competition kicks off in September.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz have been drawn in a tough Group B of League A with fellow Concacaf powerhouses Honduras and Guatemala, as well as Suriname, Martinique, and El Salvador.

Meanwhile, T and T will battle in Group A with Haiti and Curacao, who took part in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, along with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Following group-stage play in the September to October FIFA match window, the top two finishers from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, joining the four highest-ranked League A teams – Mexico (1), United States (2), Canada (3), and Panama (4) – who receive direct entry.

The quarterfinals will be played in a home-and-away series in November, with aggregate winners advancing to the Concacaf Nations League Finals, to be played at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

Chairman of the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), Marvin Gonzales, has burnt a copy of the High Court ordered unexplained wealth order granted to the Trinidad and Tobago Police last week, saying it ‘was born in sin and it was shaped in political iniquity’.

The High Court order compels the political party to provide financial and other records to explain the funding for the reconstruction of the PNM’s ‘Baliser’ headquarters. It was officially reopened on January 27, 2024, coinciding with the party’s 68th anniversary.

Earlier this month, High Court Judge Margaret Mohammed granted an order to the police to compel the PNM to explain its funding for the multimillion-dollar headquarters. Watch video

On July 10, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, who appointed acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdath Phillip to lead the investigation, authorised him to make an application in the High Court for a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order, in accordance with Section 58(1) of the Civil Asset Recovery and Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, 2019.

The application names the trustees of the PNM as the first respondent; and the PNM, represented by its general secretary, as the second respondent.

In his affidavit, ASP Phillip stated that investigators have identified property during the course of an investigation into what is described only as a ‘specified offence’.

The application alleges there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the total wealth of the respondents exceeds the value of their lawfully obtained wealth; the total wealth of the respondents exceeds $500,000; the property in question is owned by the respondents or is under their effective control; and the property was obtained through the commission of a specified offence.

But as he addressed a public meeting dubbed ‘In Defence of Our Democracy and Freedom,’ Gonzales said that the legal move is political prosecution, telling supporters ‘enough is enough. The time has come for us to act in this country’.

He said that the country should not be afraid of the ruling United National Congress (UNC) or the ‘despicable’ Homeland Security Minister, Roger Alexander.

‘Let us not be afraid of none of them because Trinidad and Tobago belong to all of us. If they want, they can threaten us… but our voices will always be heard in the communities, in the streets, in the highways and the byways because as long as we have the People’s National Movement, our voices will not be buried .

‘Therefore this order that was served on the People’s National Movement to ask what we are doing and how we came about with funds to construct our Baliser House. We will not be afraid of this order because the PNM, ladies and gentlemen, is not only in brick and concrete and mortar.’

Gonzales said that the PNM lives in the heart and the dreams of every single citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

‘You can burn it down. You can rip it apart. The PNM lives in the hearts of every single citizen and we will not be covered by this order because this order, we will confine it to where it’s supposed to be because as the Psalmist say, just like the UNC and John Jeremy, it was conceived in political sin….

‘It was born in sin and it was shaped in political iniquity just like John Jeremy and Kamala Prasad-Bissessar and therefore tonight we will burn this court order. We will burn this court order because it will not desecrate the grounds upon the People’s National Movement was built upon and we will send them to the political ashes in the political cemetery of the people of Trinidad and Tobago,’ Gonzales told supporters.

Speakers at the public meeting maintained that the party will legally defend itself and challenge the High Court order requiring the party to disclose the financing sources used to construct the headquarters, maintaining that the funds were acquired legally.

‘I want to give every member of this movement the firm assurance that the People’s National Movement is standing strong. Its officers are at their posts. Its affairs are being managed. Its attorneys are ready,’ said the party’s general secretary Foster Cummings.

‘Nobody inside Balisier House is packing up any bag, searching for no backdoor, or negotiating any surrender of the People’s National Movement. We are ready and determined to defend our people, our party, and to defend our party headquarters.’

The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is holding discussions with several other airlines following the decision of the US-based carrier, Jet Blue Airways, to discontinue servicing the route.

Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Shenella Govia, told legislators that JetBlue’s withdrawal was the result of an internal commercial decision made by the airline without prior notice to the the government here.

‘As per public knowledge, JetBlue, without advance notice, indicated that they had made an internal commercial decision as part of their wider strategy to redeploy their aircraft to fill the slot in Fort Lauderdale that became available through Spirit Airlines,’ she said.

Govia said that the airline had also cited rising fuel prices and increasing operational costs among the factors influencing its decision to redeploy aircraft within its network.

But she said despite the development, officials from the Ministry of Tourism have already intensified efforts to secure replacement service and that the Director of Tourism for North America has been holding talks with American Airlines.

‘Our Director of Tourism is currently in negotiations with American Airlines, of which I am not at liberty to disclose what is being discussed, but we look forward to greater arrivals from American Airlines,’ Govia said, adding that discussions are not limited to American Airlines and that discussions are ongoing with other US airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines as part of a roader strategy to maintain and expand Antigua and Barbuda’s airlift.

‘Our Ministry of Tourism officials are currently in negotiation-not limited to American Airlines-but all other airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and I can assure you that for the 2026-2027 tourism period and beyond, we will see that slot being replaced or filled,’ she said.

Govia said that Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez and representatives of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) met with JetBlue officials earlier this week to discuss the airline’s decision.

According to Govia, the airline reiterated that its withdrawal was based on commercial considerations rather than issues specific to Antigua and Barbuda and maintained that tourism officials have been working diligently to ensure the destination experiences little to no

disruption from the loss of the service.

‘Our Ministry of Tourism officials have been working tirelessly to ensure that it does not impact us at all,’ she told legislators.

Two Venezuelan nationals, including a five-year-old child, have died after a pirogue carrying 29 people overturned off Los Iros Beach, on the south coast of Trinidad, during an illegal sea crossing to Venezuela on Wednesday.

The child has been identified as Brithanny Linneth Yanett León Palacios, who would have turned six years old on October 6, while the body of a man was retrieved by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

The girl’s body was discovered by members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT) headed by Vallence Rambharat who told the Trinidad Express newspaper that the child had boarded the pirogue with her mother and grandmother as they attempted to return to their homeland.

Rambharat said all the other persons on board the boat, including five other children, had been accounted for.

A resident of Los Iros, who spoke to the Express on the condition of anonymity, said the tragedy unfolded before midday, when items of clothing and other personal belongings were seen floating near the shoreline.

The incident is the latest in a string of fatal incidents involving Venezuelan migrants attempting the perilous sea crossing between Trinidad and Venezuela.