Category: CANA News

The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF SPC) has named Saundra Bailey as chair of its board of directors replacing the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Timothy N. J. Antoine after eight years in the position.

‘I am honoured to serve as Chair of CCRIF at this pivotal moment in its development. Over the next five years, we have an opportunity to expand our impact, strengthen partnerships and ensure that innovative risk financing solutions continue to protect lives, livelihoods and advance development prospects across the Caribbean and Central America. ‘I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by Chairman Antoine, working closely with our Board, management, staff, service providers, members and partners to advance resilience, equity and sustainable development throughout the region,’ said Mrs Baily, whom the CCRIF said brings a unique perspective to the role, having contributed to the pioneering work that informed the development of parametric insurance in the Caribbean and ultimately led to the establishment of CCRIF.

Her appointment became effective as of June 1 this year and the CCRIF said that the retired insurance executive has more than 30 years of leadership experience in insurance, captive management, risk management and corporate governance, Mrs. Bailey has served on the CCRIF board since July 2018.

It said that as chairman, Mrs. Bailey will lead the Board in providing strategic oversight and governance as management implements CCRIF’s Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030.

Antoine joined the CCRIF board in March 2014 as a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appointed director representing Caribbean governments. He assumed the chairmanship in July 2018.

‘It has been a privilege to serve CCRIF and its members during a period of extraordinary growth and innovation. I commend the dedicated CCRIF team, led by chief executive officer, Isaac Anthony and supported by a committed and highly effective Board of Directors. ‘Throughout this journey, CCRIF has remained steadfast in delivering on its mission of providing rapid liquidity following natural disasters, helping members respond quickly and recover more effectively,’ Antoine said, adding that Bailey’s deep knowledge of CCRIF, extensive governance experience and unwavering commitment to regional resilience ‘make her exceptionally well qualified to lead the bBoard into the future.’

The CCRIF SPC is the world’s first multi-country, multi-peril risk pool based on parametric insurance. It provides quick liquidity to Caribbean and Central American governments, utilities and public entities following natural disasters, enabling rapid response and recovery.

Education Minister Sonia Parag, Friday said that ‘ a comprehensive file’ regarding the mistreatment of a student of the David Rose Special Education Needs School by two trained teachers, has been sent to the Teaching Service Commission for its consideration and action.

Last week, the government said it was ‘deeply disturbed and hurt’ by a video which was in circulation in the public domain which appears to show acts of abuse being perpetrated against students of the school. Parag said then that children with special educational needs, as all children do, deserve patience, compassion, dignity and love. She said that they deserve to learn in spaces where they feel safe, supported and valued.

In a statement on Friday in which she said she wanted to update the country on the actions so far by the Ministry of Education, Parag said she personally visited the school where she met with affected parents, guardians as well as the principal.

‘The purpose of that visit was to listen directly to the concerns of families, offer reassurance that the matter would be treated with the utmost seriousness and ensure that immediate support mechanisms were put in place for the student affected.’

She said that Ministry of Education officials have also met with members of staff of the school, the executive of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the wider PTA body as part of the efforts to ‘gather information, strengthen communication and ensure that all stakeholders are fully engaged in the process.

‘I wish to advise that a comprehensive file containing the reports, statements, findings and recommendations arising from the Ministry’s investigation has been compiled and sent to the Teaching Service Commission for its consideration and action.

‘It is important for the public to understand that while the Ministry of Education is responsible for the management and oversight of the education system, the authority to appoint, exercise disciplinary control over and remove teachers employed in non-board schools rests with the Teaching Service Commission,’ she added.

Parag said the Teaching Service Commission has advised that the disciplinary hearing process should be concluded within the next 10 days and that her ministry ‘will continue to cooperate fully with the Commission and provide any additional information required to facilitate the timely completion of the proceedings’.

She said also that a Board of Governors has now been established for the David Rose Special Education Needs School, with representation that includes parents, to enhance accountability, supervision and engagement between the school and the families it serves.

‘The government of Guyana and the Ministry of Education remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting every child within our education system. The treatment depicted in the video is wholly unacceptable and does not reflect the values, standards or expectations that we hold for those entrusted with the care and education of our nation’s children,’ she added.

Premier David Burt has paid paid tribute to the longest serving premier and prominent businessman, Sir John Swan, who has died at the age of 90. His exact cause of death has not been made public.

‘Sir John dominated Bermuda’s politics for a generation and for over a decade served as Premier of Bermuda. His tenure was historic and those of us who have followed him in this office still feel the shadow of his larger-than-life presence. ‘Our politics often saw us on opposing sides, but we were united in a love of this Island, and her people. Sir John’s ‘common touch’ remains a hallmark of his life and legacy,’ Burt said, adding ‘he certainly ‘walked with kings but never lost the common touch.

‘On behalf of the Government and People of Bermuda I express our heartfelt prayers for the comfort of his children and his family. The legacy of this patriarch is a story of humble beginnings, dogged determination, business and political skill and success, founded in a genuine heart for service,’ he said with the government announcing that flags on Government buildings will be flown at half mast as of Fridy.

Sir John was a real estate developer and philanthropist, widely respected for his keen political and business insight, matched by his humility and gentlemanly demeanour.

Sir John was visually impaired and had dyslexia from childhood, but he learned to overcome obstacles through determination and a belief in his ability to succeed.

In 1962, he founded the John W. Swan Agency, a real estate development and savings and loan company offering services in architecture, construction, land development, rentals, and property management.

Between 1968 and 1978, the company developed 40 per cent of Bermuda’s residential homes. Sir John helped modernise the City of Hamilton through numerous building projects, including Bermuda’s first condominium complex and the island’s first 10-storey development.

He was elected to Parliament in 1972 and over his 25-year political career, he held several important Cabinet posts and in 1982, Sir John became Premier of Bermuda, a position he held for 13 and a half years until 1995.

His most lasting political achievement was leading the negotiations for the 1985 USA – Bermuda Tax Convention. The resulting agreement helped establish Bermuda’s reinsurance and insurance sectors and secured the island’s reputation as a major offshore financial centre, laying the groundwork for the strong, regulated economy Bermuda has today.

In 1990, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) and appointed a Justice of the Peace. In 2010, he was one of the first four inductees into the Bermuda Business Hall of Fame.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia Wesleyan College, which also awarded him an Honorary Doctorate. He received additional honorary doctorates from Atlantic Union College, the University of Tampa, and Morris Brown College.

Sir John served as chairman of the Swan Group of Companies and remained actively involved in international business, public policy, and real estate development, including his long-time advocacy for the revitalization of the Hamilton Waterfront.

Canada says it will deploy an estimated US$97 million through the GAIA Climate Loan Fund, which is designed to provide long-term loans for climate adaptation and mitigation projects across emerging markets and developing economies.

It specifically targets regions highly vulnerable to climate change, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). A government statement issued Thursday following talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, said Canada viewed the GAIA Climate Loan Fund, the landmark blended finance platform co-created by FinDev Canada and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), with support from the Green Climate Fund, as a platform to reduce the burden of public dollars by adding private and philanthropic financing to fund development projects.

The statement said that two leaders welcomed the announcement earlier this week that the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank board of directors had the First-Loss Portfolio Credit Guarantee with the government of Canada.

Carney had announced the initiative at the last G7 Leaders’ Summit in June last year and the CDB said that the US$200 million guarantee will significantly strengthen the bank’s ability to deliver development financing across the Caribbean.

‘Working alongside the government of Canada, this will expand financing for Caribbean development, as announced at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis,’ the statement said, adding that Canada has contributed CAD$170 million (One CAD$=US$0. 72 cents) to the Clean Energy and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Resilience Facility.

The facility, managed by the World Bank, supports projects to reduce emissions, support clean energy, and better prepare for natural disasters.

Prime Minister Mottley praised Carney for the leadership that you have been showing, not just for Canadians, but for the hemisphere and the rest of the world.

‘Barbados and Canada have had a long, long long relationship, long before we were even though of, but we have learnt where we have leaders who have a strong relationship much happens,’ Mottley added.

The statement said that during the talks Prime Minister Carney emphasized the ‘strong partnership’ between Canada and Barbados.

‘With 60 years of diplomatic ties, a dynamic trade relationship, and shared values of inclusivity and sustainability, Barbados is a key partner to Canada and a leader in the region,’ Carney said.

‘Building on this foundation, the leaders agreed to deepen ties across development, climate, and security, and to renew the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership,’ the statement said, adding that Carney and Mottley discussed regional security, including the situation in Haiti, underscoring international support and continued coordination with partners to ensure security and stability in the region.

It said that Canada will provide nine million (CAD) for projects to bolster regional efforts to combat transnational crime, enhance maritime security, and reinforce policing capacity in the region.

The two leaders also identified sectors and ways to deepen commercial ties, with Carney expressing Canada’s support for Barbados’ transition to renewable energy.

‘Canada’s world-class expertise on battery energy storage and grid integration could accelerate this mission,’ the statement said, adding that the two leaders ‘agreed to remain in close contact’.

The newly elected president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Gregor Nassief, Friday confirmed that he had been denied a renewal of his United States visa, saying the issue may be in keeping with Washington’s implementation of partial travel restrictions for nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.

The restrictions stem from President Donald Trump’s concerns regarding the screening and vetting of applicants through the Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programme through which foreign investors are granted citizenship of these islands in return for making a substantial investment in their socio-economic development. Both St. John’s and Roseau have been holding talks with officials in Washington on the issue that also includes suspending the issuance of certain immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

The measure came into effect as of January this year with Washington imposing a limited ban on Grenada which came into effect in April.

Nassief, whose tenure as the CHTA president takes effect at the end of this year, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that while his 10-year visa is due to expire in August, the visa for his Venezuelan-born wife, expires in about two weeks time.

‘So, you know, she didn’t have much hope, but I had some hope and I said, let’s go, let’s try. I’ve had a 10-year visa, as most persons have. I lived in the US, I have extensive friends,’ he told CMC.

‘We were turned down, we were denied ….the gentleman was very clear. He asked some questions and then he said, well, you know, there’s a ban on Dominica, so we’re not able to issue a visa. And that was the end of it, really.’

Nassief, a prominent hotelier and businessman, said that he understood that ‘there’s also this bond apparently where in some cases at their (US) discretion they could offer a bond where you put up US$10,000 and you can get a single entry visa for three months.

‘But of course, for the requirements that I have of travel to the US, which is pretty tenuous, that would not have made any sense. But they did not offer such a bond in our case,’ he told CMC.

Nassief said that in his application for a renewal of the visa, he tried to make the application ‘like you would a CV, as convincing as possible on the genuine need. And it’s not just the hotel side of things.

‘I have a software and technology business in Latin America and we have just opened offices in the US, a major investment. And I’ve been spending a lot of time supporting that venture. My wife’s mom is 87 years old.

He said that the Haitian-born woman is ‘not able to travel to visit us anymore. So my wife travels up to visit her.

‘My wife’s sister is also in Florida. And obviously that’s not possible now. But yes, I mean, we obviously tried to put forward the facts of our situation and we were tuned down. Now, I don’t want to assume that everyone will be tuned down,’ he said, adding that he would continue to encourage persons to try, especially if they have an emergency, like medical situation.

‘I mean, the human impact and cost of this is just terrible. It’s for persons that really have emergency medical who have a child’s graduation they want to attend or a funeral,’ Nassief said, adding that he has a close friend that has a spouse ‘who is very ill and they turned him down. He wanted to visit her’.

Nassief, who is in his early mid-50s’, is a graduate of New York University (NYU) and was named Caribbean Hotelier of the Year and, as of May 2026, made history by being elected as the CHTA president.

He is the chairman and chief executive officer GEMS Holdings Limited, which owns and operates Secret Bay, The Residences at Secret Bay, and the Fort Young Hotel and Dive Resort in Dominica.

Nassief told CMC that the denial of the visa ‘maybe it has more to do with me. I don’t know. You can never tell.

‘You know, they don’t give you any specifics. And I would hope, I would be very happy if it was specific to me and more people were able to get through. So I encourage people to continue trying.’

He recalled a situation about 15 years ago where the United States revoked the visas of his family. ‘We never understood why. Me, my wife and my two kids. And then they gave us our visas back and there was no problem. I mean, I remember I was always interrogated by immigration in Miami because I had a name similar to a Lebanese terrorist, apparently.

‘And then when he died like 20 years ago, the interrogation stopped. So you just don’t know if there are other factors at play. So I don’t want to assume that everyone would receive a denial as I was.’

Nassief acknowledged that the visa situation has implications for the entire Caribbean, noting that ‘I’m more talking about the human element of the person,’ citing the impact on medical, on education and splitting families up.

‘I mean, that’s that’s absolutely significant. And then from a tourism perspective and from a business perspective, obviously, there’s a lot of investment. There’s a lot of conferences. There’s a lot of relationships, networking that we are required to do as business persons, as members of the tourism industry.

‘I travel to the U.S. quite extensively to promote Dominica as a destination…and I spend a significant amount of time on that and on the properties. I am part of the DHTA (Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association). I am part of the CHTA…and obviously not being able to represent the CHTA at important conferences in the U.S. is difficult.’

But Nassief said he is confident that the CHTA established in 1959 ‘has an incredibly strong group of people, past presidents’ including the current chief executive officer, Vanessa Ledesma, who is based in Florida.

‘So I’m not too worried there. They can always represent the association. It does not have to be the president,’ he said, noting that he does not think ‘Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda have really contemplated or digested the potential impact of this.

‘And I think visas are now starting to expire more and more. So they’re going to be more and more people travelling to try to get a renewal of the visa,’ he said, noting that most of the airlift from the U.S. ‘is really, really critical.

‘Now, people don’t always understand that an important part of the load factor on those planes are local persons travelling back and forth for the same things, education, medical, family, shopping, business, whatever.

‘And if more and more persons are not able to travel, that means the load factors on those flights could potentially put some airlift at risk. And I would hope and pray it does not,’ he said, adding ‘on the U.S. side, it’s hard to really contemplate and to understand, because obviously there are benefits to the U.S. economy of all of the travel from the Caribbean, investment from the Caribbean, tuition, medical, vacation, business.

‘So there are impacts all around, and I am just very worried that we haven’t fully digested,’ he said, telling CMC he has not asked the CHTA to take up the issue with the United States on his behalf.

‘No, I have not discussed or requested that with the CHTA. This is something that has just happened over the last few days. And I am seeing what potential avenues may exist to get reconsideration. And I could also appeal directly to the (US) embassy in Barbados,’ he told CMC.

But nassief said that it is ‘very important for our islands not to compromise sovereignty. But at the same time, I think we have to be very sensitive to whatever the concerns are and to deal with them as best as we can and as aggressively as we can.

‘And I think it’s unfair to hold a population hostage to whatever issues exist with a government. But sometimes that occurs. And I would just appeal to the U.S. to appreciate how integrated our life is with America and with American life and the education of our children, the health care of our citizens, the success of our businesses and tourism industry, the importance of airlift coming from the U.S. to the Caribbean

‘There’s so much interconnectedness between the U.S. and the Caribbean,’ he said, telling CMC ‘I would plead that we sit around the table and try to sort things out as soon as we can, because the impact on human life is very significant’.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Friday said that Trinidad and Tobago will use its seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on advancing women, peace and the security agenda.

‘For the next two years, TNT will have a seat at one of the world’s most important decision-making tables, alongside some of the most influential countries on earth. In today’s interconnected world, international decisions affect our security, our jobs, trade, investment, and economic opportunities. ‘This seat will strengthen our nation’s voice and influence, create new opportunities for investment and strategic partnerships, and help secure a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future for all citizens,’ Persad-Bissessar told a new session of the Parliament on Friday.

She insisted that the country’s presence on the Security Council will not be just ‘symbolic’ saying that the government will use its campaign theme of building consensus for the realisation of sustainable peace and security.

‘TNT will seek to foster dialogue, bridge differences, and promote consensus in an increasingly complex international environment,’ she told the Parliament to loud applause from government legislators, dismissing in the process, opposition statements that this is not the first time that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country had been successful in gaining a seat on the United Security Council.

Trinidad and Tobago had previously won seats on the UN Security Council under a People’s National Movement (PNM) serving for the periods, 1985-1986 and 2002-2003.

‘I am reminded, Mr. Speaker, that is almost 50 years ago. Many of you sitting here were probably not even born. Today, Mr. Speaker, we are in 2026, and we are now in a more complicated world, geopolitically and otherwise, and it was this UNC government that has given us this mandate and given us this vote from 181 countries,’ Persad-Bissessar said in response to a question from Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles that Trinidad and Tobago had been successful in 1985.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Friday, former prime minister Dr. Keith Rowley, said he was happy that the country had attained a seat on the Council, adding ‘ ýI am therefore pleased that the work we initiated and prepared has borne the expected fruit, and once again this little nation will assume its position to represent our nation and region on the UN Security Council for the next year’.

Rowley thanked his foreign affairs minister Dr. Amery Browne, his current successor, Sean Sobers and others, adding ‘now that we have agreed to accept this responsibility, not for the first time, I am very concerned as to how we as a nation will conduct ourselves at this forum.

‘ýRecently, we chose to throw caution to the wind as our cherished diplomatic legacy was shredded in furtherance of pleasing the misguided. We belligerently attacked our neighbour and offered our territory for foreign excursions and the kidnapping of a foreign head of state. We publicly ridiculed our CARICOM neighbours and diminished our diplomatic security.’

He said he was also now looking forward to how Port of Spain would be voting on internationals issues ýparticularrly ‘when the inevitable votes come to the Security Council, we will not be found wanting on issues such as opposition to the genocide in Gaza and support for the two-state solution’.

In her statement to Parliament, Persad-Bissessar said that October 18, 2016, the PNM government retained a US-based lobby group in an arrangement that was repeatedly renewed until 2025.

She said the Rowley administration paid an estimated US$10.27 million to that group ‘and yet, in spite of that, yes, we got nothing.

‘There is little evidence of measurable achievements. There is little evidence of significant business opportunities. There is little evidence of meaningful diplomatic outcomes arising from that expenditure.

‘While those on the opposite side spent tens of millions to purchase access, my government earned the respect. While they relied on lobbyists, we relied on diplomacy and genuine partnerships,’ Persad-Bissessar said, adding ‘the difference is clear.181 countries voted for TNT, and that is just within one year of our governance’.

Earlier, she told legislators that the United Nations General Assembly vote on Wednesday was ‘ a major diplomatic victory for Trinidad and Tobago’ saying that it had been achieved after her government had been in office for only one year.

‘This is more than a diplomatic success. It is a national achievement which belongs to every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Today our nation has secured a place at one of the world’s most influential decision-making tables. For a small state of just over one million persons, that is no small accomplishment. We accept this responsibility with humility and as a resounded vote of confidence in Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership, credibility, and growing influence within the international community.’

She said the election to the UN Security Council requires the support of a two-thirds majority of the United Nations member states and that Port of Spain, which was the only country seeking the seat allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean, received support from 181 of the 191 countries eligible to vote.

‘Significantly, this overwhelming mandate included the support of all five permanent members of the Security Council, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia. That level of support is exceptional,’ she said, reiterating that ‘this represents a powerful vote of confidence in Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership, credibility, standing and ability to contribute meaningfully to international peace, security and cooperation’.

She said the success was the result of strategic planning, sustained diplomacy and deliberate engagement with the international community, adding that since it launched its campaign for the UN Security Council seat in September last year, ‘my government has engaged countries across every region of the world to advance our candidacy’.

Persad-Bissessar said also that the victory did not occur in isolation and is ‘a direct result of a deliberate and sustained effort by my government to rebuild TNT’s credibility, influence and standing in the international community.

‘Every engagement, every partnership and every diplomatic initiative has been driven by one objective, creating opportunities and tangible benefits for the people of Trinidad and Tobago,’ she told legislators.

Guyana police are searching for a lone suspect after a seven year-old primary school pupil was stabbed to death at his East Bank Essequibo home on Friday. The police said that Adriel Aftab Mohamed, a student of Zeelugt Primary School, was killed during the deadly attack that occurred during the early hours on Friday. They said his 71-year-old disabled grandmother has been hospotalised suffering from injuries received during the incident.

Deputy Commissioner, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, said investigators are currently pursuing the lone suspect allegedly responsible for the attack at the Zeelugt New Housing Scheme.

Media reports said that the two were the only persons at home at the time and may have awakened to find the intruder in the house and raised an alarm.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Guyana has joined the Latin America and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4) opening the way for the country to benefit from enhanced cybersecurity training, access to advanced digital forensic resources, stronger policy development support, and regional collaboration.

LAC4 was established in 2022 and is implemented by the Estonian Information System Authority and CyberNet. Based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the centre serves as a regional hub dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity capacity across Latin America and the Caribbean. Guyana became the 19th participating country in the European Union funded initiative and the authorities here said at the signing ceremony that as a result Guyana will gain access to LAC4’s state-of-the-art hybrid training facility, digital forensic laboratory and cyber range, which provide practical exercise and simulations designed to strengthen national cybersecurity preparedness.

The partnership will also support capacity building at the technical, policy, and strategic levels, to equip Guyanese professionals and institutions with the skills and expertise needed to address evolving cyber threats.

Guyana will also benefit from research collaboration, cyber analysis, doctrine development, lessons-learned activities, and access to a broader range of European Union cybersecurity training resources and programmes.

Prime Minister retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, speaking at the signing ceremony on Thursday, said the government views cybersecurity as a critical national priority that underpins development, governance, and the country’s digital transformation agenda.

‘As our nation continues to embrace technology and expand digital services, we recognise that this progress must be supported by strong cyber resilience and effective risk management.’

He said that membership in LAC4 presents a valuable opportunity to advance Guyana’s cybersecurity objectives while strengthening collaboration with regional and international partners.

‘Today, we are pleased once again to formalise these cooperation arrangements by joining 18 other participating countries and institutions from across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe in this important initiative,’ Phillips said, adding that Guyana looks forward to sharing knowledge and expertise, enhancing its cybersecurity capabilities, and working closely with partner countries to address emerging cybersecurity challenges.

Head of the LAC4, Leonardo Daniel Ortega Prudencio, welcomed Guyana into the organisation, describing the signing as the natural evolution of a trusted partnership that began in 2022.

He noted that Guyana has participated in more than 120 activities, exercises and seminars conducted by the centre and has worked closely with LAC4 experts on initiatives, including drafting the country’s National Cyber Emergency Response Plan and cybersecurity risk assessments.

‘By stepping into LAC4 as a member today, Guyana gains a seat at the table of one of the biggest cybersecurity groups to shape governance and tailor our work plans to align directly with your national priorities,’ he said.

General Manager of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Christopher Deen, said the country’s cybersecurity strategy is centred on building awareness, investing in modern cybersecurity capabilities, strengthening cyber defences, and improving preparedness across the public sector.

He told the ceremony, which was also attended by European Union Ambassador to Guyana, René van Nes, that Guyana’s participation in LAC4 aligns directly with national objectives and will help strengthen the country’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

A High Court judge has sentenced a man to jail after he was found guilty of hiding an arsenal of high-powered firearms, including assault rifles and a shotgun, beneath his bedroom floor .

Justice Christopher Birch in sentencing Juan Juist Gerlado Clement made reference to the current violent climate in Barbados, highlighting also the unprecedented scale of the offences after he was found on April 21, 2018, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, two AK-47 automatic rifles, and a .223 calibre semi-automatic rifle without valid licences. ‘To be confronted with a man who, up to now, was not known to the court, to all intents and purposes, was living a decent good life to find himself better armed than some military formations.

‘He had no right nor business, being found in possession of a single firearm, a handgun, a pipe gun, but he finds himself better armed than a soldier, a shotgun, and three assault weapons, no lawful excuse, no licence. I can’t even say he has to be mad, because to be so armed takes deliberation, sophistication, planning,’ the judge said.

After the court factored in his early guilty plea, time already spent on remand and the delay, on the sentences, which are to run concurrently, Clement will now serve almost seven years in prison after a 15-year starting point per weapon.

The judge had noted that while the custodial sentence for firearms normally starts between eight to 10 years, in this case, 15 years was appropriate due to Clement’s possession of four military-grade weapons.

The judge said that the current legislation did not contemplate multiple high-powered weapons and suggested that this may have to be addressed soon.

‘Given the circumstances, and acknowledging the point that Bovell did not contemplate people running around as heavily armed as this. The eight to 10 years as contemplated and put forward by counsel, yes, for a single weapon, but I take note that we did not mention that the bill did not touch the multiplicity argument, and it did not touch the types of weapons, and maybe the time will come where the courts higher up than mine will revisit to take those things into account, but that may lie in the future.’

The judge made reference to the recent murder of one man and injuries to others within ‘spitting distance’ of the Supreme Court Complex.

Clement also admitted to having five rounds of ammunition and being in possession of and trafficking 208.49 grammes of cannabis and cultivating a cannabis plant.

The court heard that the police had executed a search warrant at Clement’s St James, home, and saw plants suspected to be cannabis in pots and white buckets through a broken pane at the back door. There were 33 in total.

The police found additional plants and observed stalks hanging on a line in the corner of the bedroom and noticed a piece of plywood nailed to the floor behind the bedroom door. They removed it with a hammer, revealing a hole leading to a cellar beneath Clement’s room where they found a cloth and a bag, which both contained ‘something heavy’.

These contained two black and rust-coloured firearms, one shotgun, one rifle and six magazines. The shotgun was examined, and five rounds of ammunition were found in its chamber.

When asked where he got the firearms, Clement said he had found them and, when pressed further as to the location, replied: ‘I can’t even remember’.

Justice Birch imposed a jail term of 2 456 days after discounts were made for his plea, remand time and delay. The sentences are to run concurrently.

He was sentenced to five years for the ammunition, which was given as time spent after the deductions, and convicted, reprimanded and discharged on each of the drug charges.

Saint Lucia’s sprint sensation Julien Alfred delivered a statement victory at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Wanda Diamond League on Thursday night, storming past reigning World Champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the women’s 200m at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Just one week shy of her 25th birthday, Alfred clocked a blistering 21.93 seconds with a legal 1.3 m/s tailwind. Despite a shaky start, the two-time defending Diamond League 100m champion showed remarkable composure to hold off her American rival.

Jefferson-Wooden, who swept both the 100m and 200m titles at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo, finished second in 22.17 seconds.

While the victory was impressive, it was far from Alfred’s absolute best. She currently owns the world’s fastest time for 2026, a scorching 21.86 seconds set back in April.

Thursday’s winning effort ranks as her sixth-fastest clocking ever. The race marked Alfred’s first Diamond League appearance of the season.

For Jefferson-Wooden, the meet signalled a return to competition after a nine-month hiatus. The American used her time away from the track for a honeymoon, spent in Alfred’s home nation of Saint Lucia.

The budding rivalry is far from over. Both sprinters are scheduled to clash again in the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic on July 4.

In other action on the Rome track, Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds produced a brilliant performance to storm to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles, crossing the line in a season’s best 12.50 seconds.

Fellow Jamaican Danielle Williams also impressed, finishing fifth in a highly competitive field with her own season’s best of 12.69 seconds.