Category: CANA News

Four days after the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government reaffirmed the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago startled the region with a public statement that CARICOM should ‘get together’ and take some of the ‘illegal Venezuelans’ sheltering in her country, and that the Community should press Caracas to accept two hundred Venezuelans now in Trinidad’s prisons.

She went further, saying that if any CARICOM state withdrew support for Trinidad’s foreign-policy ambitions because of her stance, ‘she did not care.’

The remark appeared to be an exasperated-and sarcastic-response to the joint statement of her CARICOM colleagues: a perhaps intemperate reminder that Trinidad and Tobago bears one of the heaviest per-capita burdens in CARICOM of Venezuelan migration and the trans-Caribbean narcotics trade.

It was a sharp political riposte that unsettled the harmony of CARICOM’s communiqué of October 18, which sought to reaffirm the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace amid unilateral U.S. military action against alleged narco-traffickers off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia.

In the Caribbean, small states value regional unity, yet face national pressures that make collaboration with other powers tempting. Many have done so from time to time. Therefore, while the position and tone of Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s statement are troubling, every government in the region knows the regular calculus between adhering to regional positions and putting national interest first.

But understanding cannot mean silence when the boundary line is crossed. If the Caribbean’s response to migration, crime, and security becomes a chorus of individual voices – each pitched to its own domestic concerns – then the collective shield that should define CARICOM will splinter. Disunity weakens the strength of the regional collective.

No CARICOM state benefits, for none has the capacity to cope in a world where the might of the powerful is continuously imposed.

CARICOM’s survival has always rested on the discipline of acting within international law, never outside it. Cooperation with larger democracies has served the region well when kept squarely within the framework of law. When cooperation with larger partners begins to place their priorities over the region’s, partnership turns into proxy, and sovereignty erodes.

The problem is not that Trinidad and Tobago drew attention to its burden; it is that the regional discourse slipped from coordination to confrontation. The duty to readmit nationals belongs to the state of origin – in this case, Venezuela. Burden-sharing among CARICOM members is a political choice, not a legal one, and cannot be imposed by rhetoric. To conflate the two is to replace law with leverage.

None of this denies the need for action. Crime, trafficking, and uncontrolled migration are real threats. But security built outside of law inevitably turns inward; lawlessness cannot be disguised as necessity.

The October 18 CARICOM statement warned against ‘security build-ups in the region’ that could disturb peace or sovereignty. It was a caution, not a command. The message was that CARICOM states can cooperate with larger partners -indeed they must – but under clear agreements, transparent mandates, and regional consent. That is how a Zone of Peace becomes more than a phrase on paper.

Properly understood, the Zone of Peace limits the reach of power, not the reach of justice. It forbids aggression between states, not the pursuit of traffickers and lawbreakers. Yes, any external lunge at regime change in Venezuela would ripple across the region – law and prudence both counsel restraint. But restraint runs in two directions: Venezuela must also meet its obligations – consular access, travel documents, and the readmission of its own nationals – while CARICOM holds its line on legality and consultation.

CARICOM’s partnerships with all bigger countries endure best when they are squarely within law, and CARICOM unity holds when it tolerates legitimate national concerns.

CARICOM’s cohesion has always contained diversity. Geography, aid, and commerce dictate that some members will align more closely with some external powers than others. That diversity is not betrayal; it is reality. But collective sovereignty – our ability to act as one where it matters – requires tolerance of those national variations without permitting them to unravel the whole.

As I wrote last week: ‘Governments will have to understand and tolerate why some amongst them, in their national interest, have to be more accommodating of larger powers. They will also have to accept that ‘collective sovereignty’ cannot be exercised if it invites individual punishment.’ Trinidad and Tobago’s position embodies that tension.

The test is whether the Community can absorb it without tearing itself apart. But a necessary condition is that leaders must keep the entrancement of local control at bay; it is unsustainable for small states.

Leaders declared CARICOM a ‘Community of Sovereign States’; too often, emphasis has fallen on Sovereignty at the expense of Community, accentuating individual weaknesses and deepening external dependence. However, if CARICOM truly wants to keep the Caribbean a Zone of Peace – and it should, because its economies and the well-being of its people depend on it – its members must now commit, more than ever, to regular consultation and to regional positions that account for each other’s specific circumstances as well as their regional commitments.

CARICOM’s strength lies in the willingness of its member states to speak in concert when it counts-and to keep that concert squarely within the law.

If CARICOM leaders allow the region’s security debates to become contests of loyalty – to any external country – they will find that the Zone of Peace has been outsourced, and the rent is payable in loss of sovereignty.

CARICOM states stand at a crossroads familiar to every small state in a power-driven world. They must cooperate with others in the international community – but within the framework first of the CARICOM Treaty and the UN Charter, and thereafter in the context of the multilateral agreements to which they are signatories, including the Law of the Sea Convention.

Accommodation may be necessary; abdication is not. CARICOM can cooperate with others without surrendering agency. And that is what, collectively, CARICOM states must strive to do.

The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Coast Guard is conducting an active search operation following reports that a captain fell overboard from a vessel bound for Dominica late Tuesday night.

The missing mariner has been identified as Phillippe ‘Daniel’ Jules, reportedly fell overboard while attempting to avoid being struck by the vessel’s mast.

Information provided to the Coast Guard indicated that the incident occurred at approximately 2300 hours on October 21.

‘They cleared Customs on Tuesday and moved to Dominica. Five crew, six passengers on board, and somewhere between six and ten nautical miles northeast of Guadeloupe at around 2300 hours . Jules was either struck by the mast of the sailing vessel or he fell overboard as a result of trying to avoid being struck,’ sais ABDF Officer Lieutenant Best.

‘So far, we’ve been able to confirm that five crew . and all passengers are confirmed safe in Guadeloupe. Most understandably they are shaken and we can understand that this is a difficult situation to be in. It is just the Captain who remains unaccounted for,’ he said.

The ABDF Coast Guard expressed regret that official notice of the incident was received only during the early daylight hours the following morning, resulting in a delayed response and reduced likelihood of a swift recovery. ‘Despite this delay, the organization asserts that extensive efforts continue as we work tirelessly to transform this unfortunate event into a successful rescue,’ he stated.

Best reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to safety while noting meanwhile that some passports cannot be recovered.

He said that all available resources are being utilized in pursuit of a favorable outcome and that their thoughts and prayers remain with Jules’ family and friends during this difficult time.

Best also used the opportunity to urge all mariners to maintain proper safety protocols while in port, at anchor, or under weigh, including the consistent use of personal flotation devices and man-overboard alert systems.

Public hospitals islandwide have entered emergency mode which means that in-patient services and elective surgeries have now been suspended.

This was announced by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton who on Thursday afternoon advised relatives of patients admitted for non-critical reasons to pick them up as soon as possible.

Speaking at a press briefing to update the country on plans being rolled out by the Government in response to the impending threat from Tropical Storm Melissa, Tufton said the hospitals have to reserve bed spaces in case they are needed for emergencies.

Tufton said the emergency centre is now fully activated and consultations have been held with the regional health authorities.

At the same time, 702 health personnel are on standby across parishes for emergency responses.

A 29-year-old contractor died on Wednesday after being attacked by a swarm of bees while working on a road contract in the village of Triumph, to the east of here.

Contractor Winston Semple suffered multiple stings about his body and collapsed at the scene. He was rushed to the nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Another worker, 40-year-old Glendon Sampson, was also attacked by the bees. He was also rushed to the hospital and has been listed as being in a critical condition.

The Police said residents in the community of Triumph were key in getting the two men to the hospital after the attack by bees.

A post-mortem examination is to be performed on Semple’s body shortly.

Meanwhile, several agencies are assisting with the investigation.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has refuted claims made in an article published on Demerara Waves online news that the rescue and fire-fighting capacity at the Cheddi Jagan International airport has been downgraded.

In a statement late Thursday, the GCAA’s Director General, Lt. Col. (Retd) Egbert Field, said there has been no downgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s status from category eight to category five and he has not signed any document to suggest such a change.

‘The GCAA wishes to highlight that unnamed sources in the article, unfortunately, provided inaccurate and misinformation regarding the category rating of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.The GCAA does not disclose or discuss inspection findings and reports on aviation stakeholders with third parties.’

The release added that the GCAA ‘maintains its commitment to the highest standards of aviation safety and regulatory oversight and assures the public that Cheddi Jagan International Airport continues to operate safely and efficiently.’

Bangladesh reached 296 for eight off their 50 overs after electing to bat against the West Indies in the third and final One Day International here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

BANGLADESH 296-8 in 50 overs (Soumya Sarkar 91, Saif Hassan 80, Najmul Hossain Shanto 44, Towhid Hridoy 28, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 17, Nural Hasan 16 not out; Akeal Hosein 4-41, Alick Athanaze 2-37).

Guyana is set to host a major three-day regional training programme, in partnership with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), aimed at bolstering the Caribbean’s anti-doping efforts.

The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (Caribbean RADO), the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), and WADA are facilitating the Doping Control Officer Training Programme from October 24 to 26.

Delegates from ten countries will attend the workshop, which is being led by expert trainers from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

The primary objective is to build capacity across the region by empowering participants to execute sample collection processes confidently in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

The workshop’s timing is crucial as Caribbean nations prepare for a packed 2026 international sporting calendar. Major events looming include the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.

The training will provide participants with the theoretical background and practical skills necessary to ensure high standards of testing and compliance across their respective territories.

The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) 60th Anniversary Medal Presentation Parade was on Wednesday marked by reverence and pride as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, decorated Officers and Other Ranks with prestigious military medals for their distinguished, faithful, and exemplary service to the nation.

A total of 871 special medals were approved; however, the Commander-in-Chief conferred 32 medals at the parade; the remaining recipients will receive theirs at a later date.

Addressing the event Ali noted that this year’s ceremony holds special significance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the GDF.

The president described it as six decades of unwavering commitment to national security and sovereignty.

The Commander-in-Chief emphasised that the awarding ceremony is much more than recognition; he said, ‘it represents sacrifice, leadership and perseverance.’

‘Each medal conferred today tells a story, a moment of sacrifice, an act of leadership, a mission fulfilled on the challenge, and a distinguished record of dedicated service,’ he said.

GDF ranks were awarded the Military Efficiency Medal, which is awarded to officers and ranks of the regular force who complete 10 years of continuous service without any disciplinary issues. The Border Defence Medal honoured those who protect Guyana’s frontiers, serving with patience, perseverance, and pride.

‘The mark of Guyana engraved on that medal is not just a symbol,’ he stressed, ‘It is a promise that our land will always be defended by those who love it most.’

Additionally, five new medals have been introduced under Ali’s authority to recognise the excellence of officers across diverse operations.

These include the Commander-in-Chief’s Special Series of Medals for Search and Rescue Operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response, Engineering and Border Operations, Special Operations, and Joint Services Operations.

These new medals affirm that service is not confined to combat,’ he said. ‘They honour those who save lives from floodwaters, who build bridges where isolation once stood, who deliver relief by air and river, and who work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners in defence of national peace and safety.’

The head of state reminded the nation that the recipients symbolise the nation’s trust and resilience.

In addition to recognising soldiers, the president vowed the government’s unwavering commitment to modernising the GDF, not only in equipment but investments in technology, personal wellbeing, and training.

Bangladesh defeated West Indies by 179 runs in the third and final One Day International here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

Scores

BANGLADESH 296-8 in 50 overs (Soumya Sarkar 91, Saif Hassan 80, Najmul Hossain Shanto 44, Towhid Hridoy 28, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 17, Nural Hasan 16 not out; Akeal Hosein 4-41, Alick Athanaze 2-37).

WEST INDIES 117 in 30.1 overs (Akeal Hosein 27, Brandon King 18, Alick Athanaze 15, Keacy Carty 15, Justin Greaves 15, Sherfane Rutherford 12; Nasum Ahmed 3-11, Rishad Hossain 3-54, Tanvir Islam 2-16, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-35).

Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette. D. Clarke has joined Caribbean immigration advocates in New York in strongly condemning a raid on Tuesday on Canal Street in Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown by agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and the US Department of Homeland Security.

Clarke and immigration advocates said that the federal agents descended on the neighborhood, detaining street vendors and community members.

‘On seemingly nothing more than a radical-right influencer’s instructions, New York City tragically faced a reality yesterday that too many other communities across our nation have known since Donald Trump took power: ICE goons descending upon our streets, bringing the same chaos, violence, and pain that follows them everywhere they go,’ Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Wednesday.

‘Our city is defined by the solidarity and compassion our neighbors share among one another,’ added the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. ‘The havoc New Yorkers have been accused of harboring is, at every level, a lie. But of course, the orchestrators of this attack on Canal Street know that.

‘In the absence of the disorder that the president’s false narratives rely upon, this administration and its goons are hellbent on creating their own by any means necessary,’ Clarke continued. ‘We see their endgame. We know they will fail.

‘No matter what these thugs and their masters might have to say about it, New York City will always be a sanctuary to the oppressed and powerless,’ the congresswoman said. ‘Our doors will always be open to those seeking refuge and safety. And they will always be closed to Donald Trump and his agents of hatred.’

On Tuesday, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), elected officials, member organizations and community leaders held an emergency rally in response to the raid.

‘Today’s raid on Canal Street was a horrifying display of federal overreach and authoritarian tactics,’ NYIC President and CEO Murad Awawdeh told CMC.

NYIC is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York.

‘ICE descended on Manhattan’s Chinatown with military-style vehicles, masked agents and riot gear to target street vendors trying to make a living,’ Awawdeh said. ‘This operation had nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and communities.

‘Federal agents created a violent spectacle, tackling bystanders to the ground and using force against New Yorkers simply for doing what they do every day,’ he added. ‘Federal agents storming our streets and targeting peaceful community members is unacceptable.

‘Instead of creating pathways for citizenship, restoring legal work authorizations or supporting the immigrant entrepreneurs who enrich our city and culture, the Trump administration and its lackeys are wasting taxpayer money to spread fear and traumatize our communities,’ Awawdeh continued.

He said ‘this is exactly why our cities need to reinforce sanctuary policies and why New York State must pass the New York for All Act to stop local police from colluding in these reckless federal enforcement tactics.

‘Our communities deserve safety, dignity and due process – not fear and violence that tear families apart,’ Awawdeh demanded.

A New York group calling itself the Street Vendor Project also condemned Tuesday’s raid.

‘Yesterday’s immigration raid targeting Canal Street’s West African street vendors is a disgraceful federal escalation of the city’s status quo,’ said the group in a statement on Wednesday. ‘We have been sounding the alarm for a year about the threats New York City street vendors face under this current administration.

‘Yesterday’s raid is inextricably tied to the city’s failure to reform the street vending system,’ it added. ‘Every time a vendor goes out to work without the protections a business license affords them, they are viewed as criminals with a target on their back.’

The Street Vendor Project said that at least five of the nine individuals who were detained by ICE are street vendors, several of whom have worked in New York City for 20-plus years.

The group claimed that ICE ‘racially profiled anyone walking by who ‘looked like an African vendor’ – demanding their IDs, their passports, and running their information through their system.

‘Seeing street vendors targeted and kidnapped by ICE agents was nothing short of terrifying,’ it said.