Category: CANA News

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

NEW YORK – Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have agreed to impose a range of sanctions on the notorious Haitian gang, Viv Ansamn, and 23 other similar narco-terrorist groups operating in several countries of the Americas.

NEW YORK – Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis says while the Caribbean has so far not recorded a single hurricane this season ‘the Atlantic lies as still as a sleeping giant’.

NEW YORK – Guyana and Burundi have joined the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to advance country-led cooperation and financing for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

GEORGETOWN – The Guyana government has described as ‘utter foolishness’ social media reports that it played a role in the decision of the United States government to ‘review’ the visa of High Court judge, Gino Persaud.

BRIDGETOWN -Barbados has become the latest Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country since the start of the new academic year this month to announce a zero tolerance policy for violence at schools.

KINGSTON – The Jamaica government says it is awaiting the ‘next steps’ from the London-based Privy Council after Kingston announced that Britain’s King Charles had referred its landmark slavery reparation petition to the country’s highest and final court.

SPORTS:

KINGSTON -In a move that signals a bright future for Jamaican football, Toronto FC forward Jahmarie Nolan has earned his first call-up to the senior Reggae Boyz squad for his explosive club form.

CASTRIE -New Saint Lucia senior men’s national football team head coach Rajesh Latchoo has selected a strong, experienced yet youthful 25-member squad for his first match in charge, which is Friday’s CONCACAF Nations League clash with Barbados here at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

Several lawyers, including the President of the Jamaica Bar Association, Tenneshia Watkins, Wednesday staged a silent protest outside the Supreme Court here in support of their calls for a review of the mandatory sentencing provisions of the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022.

The lawyers armed with placards, some of which read ‘Tough on guns: yes. Tough on children: no.’ say they are concerned with the mandatory minimum sentencing provisions, particularly the restriction they place on judicial discretion.

‘We have seen the injustices in the system and we are now here for a change. The biggest issue we have is the mandatory minimum which has taken away the discretion of the judge totally,’ Watkins said.

Under the 2022 legislation, certain firearms offences attract mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years, but the lawyers argue that the sentencing regime does not adequately allow judges to distinguish between offenders and the individual circumstances surrounding cases.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck is quoted in the media as saying that a repeal of mandatory minimum sentences is unlikely with the security forces crediting the measure for a decline in murders and shootings.

‘The legislature should not tie the hands of the judiciary,’ said one of the protesting lawyers, with another telling reporters the action ‘is the start, we will take further steps next week if it is we are not called to the table for a meeting….’

‘…by next week we might not be going into the courts to do any matter at all, we will continue to withdraw services until we get some attention and the discussions begin. It can’t be that a guilty plea is of no moment in this piece of legislation. You plead guilty 15 years, you go to a trial on your phone guilty 15 years, that just makes no sense,’ Watkins added.

King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie said that the protest must not be viewed as lawyers being opposed to combating gun crime or taking a political stance.

‘It has nothing to do with JLP (ruling Jamaica Labour Party), PNP (opposition People’s National Party),’ he said, adding that it has to do with the mandatory minimum sentencing that has to be reviewed.

‘It has to do with the fact that we have to look at this in a sense where, and in the context where, for the first time historically, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions also is aligned with our view that there needs to be a review of the legislation.

‘No one is exclusively saying that a 15-year mandatory minimum is to be removed. That’s not it. We need some kind of meeting. We need some action to review the legislation. And to say that murders are down because of the gun law, in my view, in our view, that is something that is absolutely a misfit.’

Champagnie said that while the lawyers must commend the secuity forces for the reduction in crime ‘and we are happy for tha, but this is more than that.

‘So let us not take it as a political campaign, as some are doing by pausing, publicising placards and so on, saying PNP lawyers and gunmen lawyers. We have seen it and it is actually very offensive and it is misleading,’ he said commending the Advocates Association of Jamaica and the Jamaican Bar Association for speaking up about their concerns regarding the legislation.

The protest was held under the banner, ‘Enough Is Enough – Silent Protest: A Fairer Firearms Act for a Safer Jamaica’.

The Jamaica government says it is awaiting the ‘next steps’ from the London-based Privy Council after Kingston announced that Britain’s King Charles had referred its landmark slavery reparation petition to the country’s highest and final court.

‘We are awaiting directions from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as to the next steps to be taken in the case. We will keep the Cabinet and the Parliament updated on the developments,’ Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange told the Parliament on Tuesday.

She told legislators that the British had confirmed that Jamaica’s legal questions have been passed on to the Privy Council.

‘The King could have ignored us. The King could have delayed responding to us. The King could have made a decision not to refer the questions to the privy council, or he could make a decision to refer the questions,’ she said, adding ‘King Charles has referred the petition filed on the 7th of September, 2026, on behalf of the people of Jamaica to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

‘Indeed we went fearless and boldly into this chapter when we petitioned the King on Monday, September 7, 2026 – one day after the 245th anniversary of the commemoration of the Zong massacre, an event that captures the barbarity of chattel enslavement,’ Grange told legislators.

The petition seeks guidance on three questions: whether the forced transport of Africans to Jamaica was lawful; whether it constituted a crime against humanity; and whether Britain is under an obligation to provide restitution for slavery and its enduring consequences.

United Kingdom-based lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, who helped to formulate the petition as part of a team of eminent Jamaican and UK lawyers, said ‘the petition simply asks the King to refer certain points of real importance to the Privy Council for their determination.

‘There’s a special jurisdiction under section four of the Judicial Committee Act for the King to refer an issue of legal or constitutional importance to the Privy Council, for their determination…Any matter of legal or constitutional nature can be referred that cannot be determined through the ordinary judicial process. And this is obviously one of those issues,’ Fitzgerald added.

Jamaica had activated a rarely used mechanism in the Judicial Committee Act 1833, which allows the King to refer questions of ‘legal or constitutional nature’ to the privy council when they cannot be resolved through ordinary courts.

Grange said that Jamaica had decided on this route given that it did not regard going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as an option.

‘The United Kingdom has placed specific reservations on the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ which prevent the Court from adjudicating on disputes between the United Kingdom and the government of any other country which is or has been a Member of the Commonwealth’.

Legal observers say that a Privy Council opinion would not compel the United Kingdom to pay reparations, but that it could shape negotiations and legal options and set a precedent for other Commonwealth countries seeking reparations.

Grange reminded legislators that the filing of the petition was in keeping with the instructions of the House that ‘Jamaica should pursue reparations in the name of our African ancestors who endured hundreds of years of enslavement on this island, and in the name of the people of Jamaica.

‘We have chosen to pursue a legal pathway. A matter such as this might have been considered by the International Court of Justice. However, our advice is that Jamaica is prevented from commencing inter-state litigation against the United Kingdom before the International Court of Justice’.

Grange said that London has placed specific reservations on the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ which prevent the Court from adjudicating on disputes between the United Kingdom and the government of any other country which is or has been a Member of the Commonwealth.

Grange said that she had also noted some of the criticism that followed the petition.

‘We see that commentators have taken issue with the term petition, suggesting that we are going to the King on our knees. It’s simply the name of the process which is really a right to ask the King, the Head of State, to take some action on behalf of the people of Jamaica,’ she said.

Lord Jonathan Sumption, a former judge of the Privy Council, had also dismissed the strategy as ‘nonsense’.

Lord Sumption said that Jamaica is actively taking advantage of a Britain that is ‘riven by self-doubt and guilt’ and ‘no longer confident in itself’ in order to extract a massive financial payout.

But the Deputy Chairman of the National Council on Reparations, Bert Samuels, said Jamaica has an ‘enormously strong’ case and dismissed Sumption’s arguments as ‘grossly inappropriate for any lawyer or judge who has not read the petition to comment on the petition.

‘Why didn’t he check with us to hear our view and distill our view and give his informed opinion? I think his bias has outweighed his common sense,’ said Samuels, who describes himself as a Pan-Africanist lawyer.

Grange said that the ancestors who survived the Middle Passage and were taken to Jamaica endured the most horrific experience.

‘Their status as human beings was denied. They were categorised as chattel, which means property that was bought, sold, and branded with hot irons to signify them as belonging to specific enslavers.

‘They were abused with impunity – men, women, girls, and boys. They were raped. They were made to breed. They were forced to work for free. This went on everyday for hundreds of years. It was the gravest crime against humanity.’

Grange said it was not enough for the leaders of countries that enslaved our ancestors to regret the suffering that slavery inflicted and to say to us let’s build a new future.

‘They credit themselves with ending slavery without consideration of the successful struggle for freedom by the ancestors themselves including great heroes such as the Right Excellent Nanny of the Maroons, the Right Excellent Sam Sharpe, Tacky, Kojo, Accompong, and many others. Must we congratulate the arsonist for putting out the fire?’

In a move that signals a bright future for Jamaican football, Toronto FC forward Jahmarie Nolan has earned his first call-up to the senior Reggae Boyz squad for his explosive club form.

The 16-year-old sensation has been named in Jamaica’s roster for the upcoming 2026 Concacaf Nations League fixtures, marking a meteoric rise for the former Mount Pleasant Football Academy star.

Nolan has been in scintillating form since moving to Canada, adapting seamlessly to the professional environment at Toronto FC.

His performances in the MLS NEXT Pro competition have forced selectors to take notice, with the teenager registering an impressive 10 goals and three assists in 22 appearances.

While his club form has been noteworthy, his exploits on the international youth stage have been nothing short of prolific.

Nolan has been a talisman for the nation’s youth setups, scoring nine goals in just nine appearances for the U-20 side.

Most notably, he played a pivotal role in Jamaica’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, finding the back of the net seven times in six games to help book the nation’s ticket to the global showpiece scheduled for November.

The highly rated teenager now faces the ultimate test of his rapid development, joining the senior squad to train and compete alongside Jamaica’s established internationals.

Coach Rudolph Speid and his technical staff will be eager to integrate Nolan into the setup, viewing the Nations League fixtures as the perfect environment for the young striker to acclimatise to the pace and physicality of senior international football.

Nolan’s inclusion is an added boost for the Reggae Boyz, who had star winger Leon Bailey pulling out of the original squad due to injury.

Norwich City winger Andre Brooks has also withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

The Jamaica-based Sandals Resort Wednesday announced that it had entered into an agreement with the US-based Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) to form a partnership in the all-inclusive resort space with RCL making a 50 per cent investment.

Under the terms of the agreement, Royal Caribbean Group will acquire a 50 per cent equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately three billion US dollars. Royal Caribbean Group has secured committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley to fund the investment.

The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions, and is expected to be accretive to earnings next year.

‘Building on Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ more than four decades of leadership in Caribbean hospitality, the joint venture will create new opportunities for continued resort growth while broadening the experiences across Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform,’ the parties said in a joint statement following the signing of the agreement by RCL chairman and chief executive officer, Jason Liberty, and Sandals Resorts executive chairman, Adam Stewart.

The statement said that the partnership brings together two of the travel industry’s most celebrated vacation companies, pairing Sandals and Beaches’ all-inclusive resort expertise with Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform, including industry-leading brands – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea – a portfolio of private destinations, new river cruising offering, and an industry-first loyalty programme.

The two companies said that they will offer travellers an unparalleled collection of cruise, private destination and resort experiences, serving guests across more vacation occasions and establishing their undisputed leadership in Caribbean vacations.

The joint venture expands Royal Caribbean Group into an adjacent vacation category, growing its participation in the approximately two trillion US dollars global vacation market, and meets the growing global demand for Sandals and Beaches Resorts by accelerating their expansion.

The partnership will include Sandals and Beaches’ collection of premier all-inclusive properties across the Caribbean, and the companies will explore opportunities to broaden distribution, deepen guest engagement, and make it easier for travelers to discover vacation experiences offered across both portfolios.

‘For nearly 60 years, we’ve reimagined what a vacation can be, constantly expanding the ways we inspire our guests to explore, connect and create lifelong memories,’ said Liberty, adding ‘we have been building a vacation platform that brings joy to millions of people around the world and creates meaningful relationships that last with our guests.

‘Our partnership with Sandals and Beaches Resorts is an important next step on that journey – bringing together two iconic leading vacation companies to further strengthen and grow one of the most admired resort portfolios in the world. The Stewart family has created powerful and beloved brands, and we are honored to build on that legacy. Together, we see tremendous opportunity to expand the reach of Sandals and Beaches Resorts and continue turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations,’ Liberty said.

Stewart said that his father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, had founded Sandals Resorts with the belief that a company built in the Caribbean could stand on the world stage alongside the most respected names in hospitality.

‘Today is proof of how far that vision can go. This partnership is the natural next step in building on that conviction. It gives us the ability to grow faster with a partner that shares our values of exceptional hospitality, long-term investment, and the power of enduring brands. ‘Together, we will introduce more guests to Sandals and Beaches Resorts while creating even more extraordinary experiences for those who have made our resorts part of their lives for decades.

‘As we continue to grow, we will remain true to what has always defined us: delivering authentic vacations that exceed expectations while creating opportunities for our team members, travel advisor partners and the communities we call home. The future has never been brighter, and I know this moment would make my father incredibly proud,’ Stewart said.

The joint venture will be governed by a board under the shared leadership of Stewart and Liberty. Stewart will maintain a leadership role in guiding the company’s long-term strategic growth as executive chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts.

Royal Caribbean Group operates 71 ships sailing to more than 1,000 destinations across all seven continents through its three wholly owned brands – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea – and a 50 per cent joint venture interest in TUI Cruises, which operates the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd brands.

Named to the Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies 2026 list and to Forbes’ 2026 Best American Companies lists, Royal Caribbean Group is guided by its mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly.

Sandals and Beaches Resorts has been redefining the region’s all-inclusive experience for more than four decades. Sandals Resorts is the adults-only all-inclusive brand with beachfront resorts across Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Curaçao, and Sr. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Beaches Resorts is the family all-inclusive with resorts in Negril, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, and coming soon to Exuma, The Bahamas; Barbados; Runaway Bay, Jamaica; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is to pay an official visit to Venezuela after she held a ‘cordial working meeting’ on Wednesday with the acting Venezuelan President, Delcy Rodríguez that both parties say heralds ‘the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations’.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st session of United Nations General Assenbly (UNGA) and according to a joint statement issued afterwards, the two leaders ‘reaffirmed the historical bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago’.

The statement said that ‘with the purpose of maintaining a direct consultation mechanism at the highest level, both dignitaries agreed to pay official visits to Caracas and Port of Spain’ with the ‘Venezuelan side indicatng ‘that the Prime Minister was indeed Persona Grata in Venezuela’.

No date has been announced for the visits.

In October last year, the Venezuelan National Assembly declared Persad-Bissessar, persona non grata, banning her from entering the country. Caracas had accused her of supporting the United States military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic that led to the removal of President Nicolas Maduro form office. He along with his wife are now in a United States jail on several charges including illegal drug smuggling,

According to the joint statement, the two leaders during the meeting reiterated ‘their commitment to consolidating the bilateral agenda under the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty, good neighbourliness, dialogue, and cooperation, for the benefit and prosperity of both peoples.

‘In that spirit, they agreed on a work agenda aimed at strengthening exchange and mutual benefit in the areas of trade, energy, security, disaster risk management, environmental protection, agriculture, tourism, air connectivity and culture.’

Earlier this month, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela said they had agreed on a roadmap to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, culture and collective security following a meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries in Caracas.

According to Wednesday’s joint statement, Rodríguez reiterated the gratitude of the people of Venezuela to the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago for the expressions of solidarity offered following the earthquakes of June 24, 2026.

The statement said that they also ‘ratified their determination to continue promoting a relationship of friendship, good neighborliness, trust, and cooperation, aimed at generating concrete opportunities for development and well-being for the peoples of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, and contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean’.

Antigua and Barbuda Wednesday joined Haiti in urging the Organization of American States (OAS) to call for the renewal and full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force(GSF) in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

The GSF is a United Nations-authorised multinational security and police mission deployed to Haiti to conduct intelligence-led operations, neutralize armed gangs, secure critical infrastructure, and support humanitarian access as the country moves towards holding presidential and legislative elections on December 13.

Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders in joining the Haitian ambassador, Jean Josué Pierre, made the appeal in a Joint Statement as the United Nations Security Council prepares to consider renewal of the 5,500 GSF’s mandate before the end of September.

Sir Ronald, who is Dean of the OAS Corps of Ambassadors, said the central purpose of the proposed statement was ‘clear and urgent.

‘We call upon the United Nations Security Council to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force, and upon the international community to ensure its full and consistent deployment,’ he said, cautioning that renewal of the mandate would achieve little unless governments honoured their commitments of personnel, financing, equipment and logistical support.

‘A force authorised on paper but deprived of the resources necessary to fulfil its mandate cannot deliver the security that the Haitian people desperately need. Words of support must now be matched by the resources and resolve that can turn solidarity into security,’ Sanders added.

The proposed Joint Statement calls for the GSF to support the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti in restoring lawful state authority in gang-controlled areas, securing the airport and port, reopening vital transport routes and protecting the population.

It also calls for stronger international action to stop the illicit flow of arms and ammunition into Haiti, disrupt the financial and supply networks sustaining the gangs, and identify, expose and bring to justice those who finance, arm or otherwise enable them.

‘Security must create the space in which constitutional and democratic government can be restored.It must also permit humanitarian assistance, economic recovery and opportunity for Haiti’s young people.

‘Haiti is asking us to help create the conditions in which the Haitian people can reclaim their future for themselves. Let us call with one voice for renewal of the mandate, full deployment of the Force and fulfilment of the commitments made to Haiti,’ Sir Ronald added.

The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), says while Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has reached a milestone in its energy transition, this rapid growth also presents critical challenges for the region.

In its latest report, OLACDE said that LAC has surpassed one million electrified light-duty vehicles for the first time and that as of June 2026, the region had registered 1,016,034 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), including 285,785 units added in the first half of the year alone.

It said that this represents exponential growth compared with the 17,541 units recorded in 2020.

OLACDE said that the data point to a commercial turning point with 10 per cent of all light-duty vehicles sold in the region so far in 2026 are BEVs or PHEVs.

‘Electric public transport is also expanding steadily. The regional fleet reached 10,685 electric buses, adding 967 units in just three quarters, an increase of nearly 10 per cent in three months,’ OLACDE said, adding that charging infrastructure is expanding alongside this growth.

It said beyond decarbonization, the projected economic benefits for the LAC is an estimated annual energy savings per vehicle amount to US$26,210 for each electric bus and US$2,240 for each fully electric car.

‘When extrapolated to the current fleet in operation, the net benefit to the region’s economies translates into US$1.519 billion in annual energy savings, equivalent to nearly US$4 million per day. This flow helps ease pressure on countries’ trade balances by reducing structural exposure to fluctuations in international gasoline and diesel prices.’

But OLACDE said that despite the positive figures, it notes that consolidating the electric mobility ecosystem will require an accelerated expansion of charging infrastructure, robust planning of electricity distribution networks and the development of competitive financing conditions.

It said these challenges will be at the heart of the first Regional Sustainable Mobility Summit to be held here on November 26 ‘as a strategic forum to strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate the transformation of the transport sector’.

Suriname Tuesday said the in-coming United Nations Secretary General must portray strong commitment to multilateralism, dialogue, and the rule of law as it endorsed the Guyana diplomat Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the position.

‘Many capable candidates, including women leaders, who have taken up the challenge have been put forth, and for the first time in history, we have a female candidate from the Caribbean,’ Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons told the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The incumbent Antonio Guterres will office at the end of December at the end of his second five-year term

President Geerlings -Simons told the international community that the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, endorses Rodriques-Birkett’s candidacy, adding ‘we are at that time in history where trust in the United Nations must urgently be restored.

‘Suriname will do what we can, and we call on the more influential members of the United Nations to help maintain peace, to make sure that there is peace in the world, because only a United Nations capable of safeguarding international peace and security will deliver for all,

she added.

Earlier, the Suriname Head of State said that her country is firmly committed to the upholding of international law ‘as we depend on a rule-based international order without which, like many other vulnerable nations, we simply cannot exist as sovereign countries’.

She said the consistent application of international law and the strengthening of its institutions is also essential to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, and ensure sustainable development for all.

President Geerlings-Simons said that the international community is experiencing profound uncertainty, including energy and food security crises, leading to intensified displacement of many people globally.

‘Armed conflicts continue to claim innocent lives, while geopolitical tensions escalate. Children are living through unimaginable horrors. The United Nations has not been able to prevent this or to end the continuation and we have to ponder on that. ‘

She said other developments, for example in the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrate how quickly wars can affect energy markets, suddenly and steeply increasing the cost of energy, adversely impacting economic and social development.

‘Common people suffer when food and energy prices rise, so the quality of life of our people is directly threatened, even by wars in regions far from their homes. And we as government, we have to make sure that we try to protect them.’

She said Suriname is therefore calling for a renewed commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, namely the peaceful resolution of disputes, insisting that ‘dialogue is paramount for safeguarding a solid and proven UN system.

‘The people of Cuba, a Caribbean country, are adversely affected by the current situation in their country. Suriname calls on the parties involved to remain committed to dialogue and negotiation, to end the economic, commercial, and financial embargo.

‘We plead for continuing of negotiations in order to prevent further escalation and to reach a resolution that will benefit the people of Cuba,’ she said.

The United States, which has in place a decades old trade and economic embargo against Havana, has in recent months stepped its programme of seeking to remove the government on the island.

The aggressive strategy, led by the Donald Trump administration has pushed the island into an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis, and following Washington’s removal of the Nicolás Maduro government in Venezuela, it has completely halted Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba, cutting off the island’s primary energy lifeline.

In her address, President Geerlings-Simons also called for sustained international support for Haiti to restore security, constitutional order, and democratic governance.

‘Suriname supports solutions that place the Haitian people at the centre,’ she said, adding that reform must protect and improve the United Nations’ capacity to deliver and also make the system easier to navigate.

‘It should not reduce support where it is most needed. Equally important is the overdue reform of the Security Council. Hence, Suriname reiterates its call for making it more representative, more accountable, and more capable of acting.’

She said the Dutch-speaking CARICOM country supports Africa in its demand for ‘just permanent representation’ on the UN Security Council, adding ‘likewise, we underscore the relevance of a dedicated representation for small island states and low-lying coastal developing states’.

President Geerlings-Simons said that regional and international partnerships remain indispensable to achieve economic and social objectives as Suriname continues to actively engage in various regional bodies and mechanisms, including CARICOM, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Brasilia Consensus.

‘As Suriname prepares to be the chair of the Caribbean community CARICOM in 2027 we are also committed to further strengthen our partnership globally in different areas of shared interest.

‘Our regional priorities are practical. Food and energy security, climate resilience, improved connectivity and movement of skilled people, transportation of goods and services,’ she said, adding ‘these are essential to economic integration and our ability to withstand external shocks’.

She said that the pursuit of restorative justice gained new momentum with the adoption of the resolution n slavery and transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans in March this year.

‘This development is relevant for Suriname and equally important for the countries of the Caribbean region. The discussion is no longer about whether slavery and colonialism have caused lasting consequences, negative consequences.

‘We know we are living them. We increasingly must focus on how to overcome these effects and on the question of what form reparation should take to achieve that. How countries that have benefited from slavery and colonialism will compensate the effect.

‘That is the important issue now. It is therefore that the CARICOM 10-point plan for restorative justice is now of eminent importance,’ she told the UNGA.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons assistant coach and bowling consultant Sir Curtly Ambrose said he is not surprised by the team’s title-winning performance in the just concluded Caribbean Premier League.

The Falcons captured their maiden CPL title on Sunday night in dominant fashion with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen at Kensington Oval.

While the accomplishment might come as a surprise to many, the legendary West Indies fast bowler said he always believed the team had the talent to go all the way.

‘When we started the CPL tournament, not many gave us a chance to qualify, let alone win the championship. They called other franchises, but we were happy with that because being underdogs means we were under no pressure to perform.

‘We knew that we had a great team that is capable of not only winning games, but winning the championship, and for 2026, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are the CPL champions,’ Sir Curtly said.

It proved to be the perfect birthday gift for Sir Curtly, who celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday.

He said the commitment of the entire coaching staff as well as the support of Antiguans and Barbudans contributed towards the team’s success.

‘Coach Nixon always stressed that: no pressure. We work hard, we play together as a team, we enjoy what we do and we reap the benefits. As Ibis [Steve Freeland] always says, ‘Believe nah man!’ We kept believing, and we knew we had what it takes.

‘And, of course, our Prime Minister [Gaston Browne] is here, the other ministers of government are here, the Barbados Prime Minister [Mia Mottley] is here as well, so it’s a total celebration, and I’m loving it,’ Sir Curtly said.