Category: CANA News

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has told supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be prepared for the next general election, which is constitutionally due no later than October 2027, but widely expected to be held later this year.

Mitchell, who led the NDC to victory in 2022 after it won nine of the 15 seats at stake, told a ‘mini-rally’ of the party on Sunday night that they should begin the process of ‘knocking on doors…making sure people are registered to vote…making sure people know where their polling division is and) where they have to go to vote.

‘So when we leave here tonight…it is boots, boots, boots. Thank you very much. I love you, and remember, get ready. The conch shell will blow,’ he added.

Mitchell told supporters that it is ‘clear you’re ready’ and that ‘you, me, us be ready…and the job, the job of a leader is to listen to his people. So once you’re ready, and I’m ready, and we are ready, then it’s you, me, us ready.’

Mitchell said that supporters must ‘keep practising for the conch shell go to bloom,’ adding that the party endorsed its 14th candidate over the last weekend.

Mitchell said he is confident that the NDC will be victorious in the ‘entire West Coast once the conch shell blows’ adding that ‘for the people of St. Mark and the people of St. George, Northwest, deliverance day is coming.

‘Proper representation is coming. And we want to show you that when we say we will deliver, we deliver,’ he said, noting that since coming to office, the government has adhered to the ruing by the High Court and pay pension to public servants as well as meeting the twice monthly salary payments.

Mitchell said that in addition, his administration has implemented a national minimum wage as well as reduce the unemployment figure from 16.6 to 7.5 per cent.

‘ So when people are working, when the minimum wage is rising, poverty is going to crumble. Poverty will decline. Dignity, respect, economic growth will take place. And the decline took place across all sectors.

‘Overall, youth, adults between 25 to 64, women and men, all trending down, including importantly, young women. Because historically, young women have had some of the highest rates of unemployment consistently in this country,’ Mitchell said, adding ‘under this administration, unemployment amongst young women dropped by 13.3 percentage points.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene, wants ‘disciplined collective action’ by member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to deal with external threats to the sub-region.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Greene, who has taken over the chairmanship of the OECS Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, told the Council’s 10th meeting taking place here, that he is assuming new responsibility at a time when the external environment confronting the sub-region ‘is more unsettled, less accommodating and more coercive than at any point in recent decades’Therefore, this meeting must mark the beginning of disciplined collective action,’ he said, noting for example, the rules-based international trading system is being weakened by nationalist and protectionist policies.

He said terms of trade are tightening, supply chains remain vulnerable, ‘and our dependence on one major market for much of our food, goods, services and transport exposes us to decisions over which we have little influence.

‘Visa restrictions and changing entry requirements are disrupting business, study, family life and official engagement. At the same time, our countries face continuing pressure over legitimate development initiatives, including international financial services and citizenship by investment programmes,’ Greene said, adding that ‘we must face these realities without illusion, but not without confidence.’

He said that the OECS already possesses tools that other groups of sovereign states have spent generations trying to create, including a single currency, a central bank, an economic union with freedom of movement, a common Supreme Court, joint institutions and a long record of pooling authority where common action serves us better.

‘Among sovereign states, ours is one of the deepest integration arrangements in the world, second only in important respects to the European Union,’ he said, noting however that the issue is not whether ‘we possess a platform, it is whether we are prepared to use it fully’.

Greene said that the OCS must must expand trade in goods and services among themselves , noting that the private sector should be brought into ‘a structured partnership with governments to identify what we can produce competitively, what services we can supply across the Economic Union, and which barriers still prevent firms from treating the OECS as one domestic market’.

He said public procurement should, wherever lawful and practical, support capable OECS suppliers.

‘Standards, licensing and digital systems should be harmonised so that an enterprise established in one protocol member state can operate across the Union with the least possible duplication.’

Greene said that there is also the need to build more shared institutions and service, noting that ‘seven small administrations cannot sensibly replicate every specialised unit at high cost.

‘Functions that can be organised regionally should include a common pool of regulatory experts on financial services, citizenship by investment, international taxation and anti-money-laundering requirements; expanded joint procurement of medicines, equipment and technology; a regional cybersecurity capability; a team of trade specialists to prepare negotiations and secure market access; and strengthened regional statistical capacity.’

Greene said that the existing common institutions prove that this approach is practical, adding ‘where a shared service would be better, stronger and less expensive than seven separate national units, we should build it together’.

He said air and sea transportation must be treated as essential economic infrastructure, saying that free movement has limited value if citizens and goods of the sub-region cannot move reliably and affordably.

‘We need stronger air links among our islands, regular sea transport for people and cargo, and new connections to nearby markets in Central and South America. Governments can create the policy framework, but carriers, ports, exporters, importers, financial institutions and investors must help design, finance and manage viable services.’

Greene is also calling for the OECS to reduce excessive dependence on a single supply market, noting that Central and South America can provide food, manufactured goods, energy products and other essential supplies at competitive prices.

‘But diversification requires more than diplomatic visits. It requires market intelligence, Spanish-language capability, shipping arrangements, payment and insurance mechanisms, business-to-business links and coordinated purchasing where scale lowers cost.

‘In parallel, we must strengthen food security within the OECS by matching land, water, skills, capital and markets across our countries. No member state needs to produce everything, but together we should be able to produce and distribute much more of what our people consume.’

The Antigua and Barbuda Foreign Affairs Minister said that the sub-region must mobilise capital for OECS enterprise.

‘Governments and private investors should form joint ventures capable of raising sufficient equity for successful businesses wherever in the Economic Union they are located. Our savings, pension resources and financial institutions should support carefully appraised regional projects in transport, renewable energy, food production, digital services, tourism, the blue economy and manufacturing.’

He said this must be done under sound investment rules and professional management adding that integration should give a viable enterprise access to the capital and market of the whole Union, not only the resources of its home jurisdiction.’

Greene said that the OECS’s response to climate change must be equally collective.

‘We should develop a single pipeline of bankable resilience projects; pool technical expertise for climate finance applications; coordinate insurance and disaster-risk financing; strengthen shared emergency procurement and stockpiles; and establish common resilient standards for public infrastructure.

‘We should also pursue joint renewable energy projects and interconnection where feasible, reducing both emissions and the imported fuel bill that weakens our competitiveness,’ he said, acknowledging that access to financing is central to all of this.

‘Per capita income must not continue to be used as a crude reason for denying vulnerable island states concessional resources. We should campaign together for vulnerability-based criteria, wider use of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, reform of development-bank eligibility rules, climate-related debt clauses and faster disbursement after disasters.

‘But we must also improve our capacity to move from approval to implementation. We should consider reforming the OECS Commission to provide a regional project-preparation facility, staffed with technical, legal and financial expertise.’

Greene said that such a focused unit could serve all members and ensure that available financing does not remain unused because individual administrations lack capacity.’

He said that foreign policy must become an instrument of this programme proposing that the countries ‘agree on a limited set of core OECS foreign-policy objectives, with rotating priorities that can be pursued intensively rather than a long list that exceeds our capacity’.

He said these should include protection of the Economic Union’s development interests; fair treatment of citizenship by investment and international financial services; climate finance and vulnerability-based access to development resources; coordinated diplomatic action to secure reliable and affordable air and maritime links within the OECS and with alternative markets and defence of multilateralism and international law.

Greene said within a re-imagined Commission, the OECS should establish an implementation mechanism composed of qualified diplomats and the necessary technical specialists.

He said it should translate ministerial decisions into work plans, assign responsibility, set deadlines, coordinate our missions and report regularly on results.

‘Foreign Ministers should provide political direction and review performance. We are small enough and close enough to make this machinery agile and effective. This approach does not diminish national foreign policy. It gives each of our countries greater reach.

‘There is no rescue waiting on the near or distant horizon. If we fail to act, the maelstrom of an unhelpful global environment could reverse gains that our people have worked painstakingly to achieve,’ Greene told the Council meeting.

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) Monday said it participated in an international crime prevention initiative resulting in the identification and dismantling of numerous transnational criminal networks and the arrest of more than 490 people.

It said that ‘Operation ATLAS NEXUS’ led to the identification and dismantling of dozens of transnational criminal networks in a coordinated international action bringing together law enforcement, customs and judicial authorities from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and other regions of the world.

Several CARICOM countries, namely Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago participated in the initiative that MPACS said ‘in terms of the volume of seizures and the number of countries involved, is the largest joint operation against organised crime carried out to date between both regions.’

The initiative was led by the Belgian Federal Police and was coordinated and conducted jointly by Operational Action 6.1 of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and CARICOM IMPACS and facilitated by EL PACCTO 2.0, the European Union’s flagship cooperation programme with Latin America and the Caribbean on security and justice, which supported the coordination between the various actors involved on both sides of the Atlantic

The operation focused on identifying and disrupting polycriminal networks and high-value targets, seize criminal assets and initiate further investigations, across five priority criminal markets: drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.

IMPACS said that its most significant outcome lies not only in the volume of what was seized – 156,9 tonnes, but in the number of criminal structures identified and dismantled.

‘The more than 490 arrests correspond to the disruption of multiple networks whose routes connect both regions. Faced with organisations operating on an international scale, intercepting shipments is not enough: the aim is to dismantle the structures that make them possible and to deprive them of the resources that sustain them.’

It said among the actions carried out, particular note should be taken of the identification and dismantling of the first cocaine processing laboratory detected in Ireland, as well as two new illegal gold mining sites in French Guiana.

Seizures include 37,6 tonnes of cocaine, 118,6 tonnes of cannabis, 201 firearms, 3131 units of ammunition and explosives, 803 wild animals and livestock, US$135,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, 0.83 kg of gold, 169 properties, 464 pieces of jewellery, 468 fraudulent documents and one1 vehicle.

IMPACS said 37 INTERPOL notices were issued during the operation, 17 of them were red.

‘More than 8,680 police officers and justice authorities took part in the various national operational actions to monitor 110 aircraft, 28 vessels, 415 vehicles and 271 containers at 28 designated checkpoints in ports, airports and on roads. A total of 595 search warrants were executed’ IMPACS said adding that as a result, new modi operandi and routes have been identified.

‘The coordination between this wide range of actors proved decisive in connecting information from different jurisdictions and acting simultaneously against networks operating across several continents.’

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are champions of the Caribbean Premier League for the first time, clinching the title with a commanding performance on Sunday night that captain Moeen Ali described as the culmination of a ‘tough but great journey.’

Speaking after the victory, an elated Moeen Ali emphasised that the triumph meant more than just personal glory’Yeah, very special. I think more for the franchise, more for the players, coaching staff, and everybody that was involved,’ Moeen said. ‘It’s been a tough journey, but a great journey. Time has gone quickly for us because we’ve enjoyed each other’s company, and you can see on the field the way we played.’

The English all-rounder praised his side’s resilience throughout the campaign, highlighting the final performance as the pinnacle of their efforts.

‘I thought tonight was an outstanding performance again, and I’m really pleased with the way we performed throughout the competition. It was a decent fight in the end. I mean, the dew made a big difference, but it was a great touch to win.’

Moeen, who joined the squad midway through the season, revealed that the turning point came during an early stint in Saint Lucia, where he saw the potential in the group despite a narrow loss.

‘Honestly, in that game I played in Saint Lucia, we were only defending 57 off 10 overs, and we almost won. From there, I saw fight and great determination from the guys, and I thought at least there’s something great to work with,’ he recalled.

The captain admitted that balancing the team’s composition was a tactical challenge, especially with injuries forcing changes to the lineup. However, he credited the depth of the squad, specifically naming Rahkeem Cornwall and Fabian Allen, for stepping up when it mattered most.

‘Having two wrist-spinners, two pace guys up top, and then two death bowlers, it’s not always easy to combine. But I think the biggest difference was the players who came in and out for a couple of injuries. Guys like Rahkeem Cornwall and Fabian Allen coming in and out. It wasn’t easy, but they made a huge difference. Quality players who always give everything.’

Head Coach Paul Nixon echoed his captain’s sentiments, lauding the commitment of the squad and the ‘world-class’ support staff.

‘The guys have been immense all year. We’ve been so committed, so clear. Moeen has been an exceptional captain,’ Nixon said. ‘Everybody’s had an impact in the team and the dressing room, and it’s been amazing. The backroom staff’s analysis has been world-class.’

Nixon made special mention of wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo, who played a pivotal role in the final, describing the win as a humbling experience.

‘Amir Jangoo had a great competition and saw it through in style. So proud, so humbled, lovely. Amazing people; surround yourself with quality,’ Nixon added, dedicating the win to the Antiguan faithful who backed the team throughout the season.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC The following is the CANANews and SPORTS SChedule for Monday, September 21, 2026.

NEW YORK – Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene, wants ‘disciplined collective action’ by member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to deal with external threats to the sub-region.

GEORGETOWN – Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman Monday declined to examine a Guyana Police Force (GPF) press release about evidence given by a senior police officer in the ongoing extradition proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his wealthy businessman father, Nazar Mohamed that could amount to he perversion of justice.

ST. GEORGE’S – Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has told supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be prepared for the next general election, which is constitutionally due no later than October 2027, but widely expected to be held later this year.

KINGSTON -The main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has called on the Jamaica government to develop a transparent and people involved programme aimed at rebuilding the west of the island following the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa when it slammed into the country last October causing 45 deaths and damage estimated at more than US$9.9 billion.

NEW YORK – St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday has hinted at the possibility of his ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) administration is preparing to move from diagnosis to potential legal and administrative consequences, after receiving a comprehensive ‘rapid assessment’ of state-owned companies on the Caribbean island.

SPORTS:

BRIDGETOWN – Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim delivered a spell for the ages as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons captured their first-ever Caribbean Premier League title with a commanding eight-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen in a riveting final at Kensington Oval on Sunday night.

President of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) General Conference of Ministers, Dominic Smith, is calling on the region to play an active role in shaping its digital future as artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies continue to transform economies and societies.

Smith, who is also the Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence in the Trinidad and Tobago government, told the CTU’s ICT Week 2026, said deeper regional coordination could allow Caribbean states to share expertise, strengthen AI and data governance, build common capability and approach global technology partners with a stronger collective voice.

‘Our 21 member states and territories cannot afford 21 disconnected digital transformations,’ Smith said, underscoring the need to share expertise and coordinate approaches across the region.

Smith said the Caribbean must move beyond simply adapting to the age of artificial intelligence and work collectively to help shape it in ways that reflect the region’s values, priorities and aspirations for its people.

He said Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing work to strengthen national AI readiness and responsible adoption, include the AI Academy, the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Methodology and initiatives to expand AI literacy and capability across the public sector.

‘We believe very strongly that AI will be the amplification of technology globally. We believe that essentially, it’s the new industrial revolution,’ he said, emphasising that AI adoption must advance alongside responsible governance, with attention to workforce development, skills gaps, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, accountability and appropriate safeguards for citizens.

Smith said forums such as CTU ICT Week provide an important opportunity for Caribbean states to shape discussions on emerging technologies based on the unique circumstances and priorities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

He told delegates that technology must ultimately improve people’s lives, reiterating his view that ‘technology must not surpass the humanity in which it was meant to advance.’

The event, whch is being held under the theme ‘The theme, ‘Advancing Resilience, Inclusion, Cybersecurity and Innovation in Caribbean Digital Development’ is being held in collaboration with the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane and provides a platform for regional and international stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices and shape digital policy and development across the Caribbean.

The organisers said the 2026 edition is particularly significant as it serves as a strategic prelude to the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26), positioning the Caribbean to engage more effectively on the global ICT agenda.

They said that it builds on current CTU themes while responding to emerging global challenges, including climate vulnerability, digital inequality, cybersecurity risks and the rapid evolution of digital technologies.

The objective of the CTU ICT Week 2026 is aimed at managing and overseeing the strategic and operational effectiveness of the CTU, advance regional dialogue and cooperation on digital transformation and ICT policy as well as support the development of inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital economies.

It is also intended to promote strategic ICT leadership among Caribbean governments, provide a platform for sharing insights on emerging technologies and global trends as well as strengthen regional coordination and global positioning in preparation for PP-26

‘CTU ICT Week 2026 is positioned to serve as a catalyst for regional digital transformation, reinforcing the critical role of ICT in shaping a prosperous and connected Caribbean. The event will contribute to shaping forward-looking policies that increase the region’s competitiveness and resilience in an evolving global digital landscape.

‘The CTU, with its members and partners, aim to unlock the full potential of ICTs for innovation, economic growth and sustainable development throughout the Caribbean,’ the CTU added.

President Irfaan Ali has told senior representatives from the banking and private sectors, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders that the soon to be established Guyana Development Bank (GDB) will serve as a transformative instrument that will expand access to finance while creating a broader ecosystem of mentorship, technical support and market opportunities.

The GDB is schedule to be officially open on October 5, and the government said the financial institution will have an initial capital injection of US$100 million, offering eligible borrowers financing of up to three million Guyana dollars (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents), including zero interest and zero collateral loans.

President Ali said the institution will be deliberately structured to reach communities at the grassroots level, including hinterland and riverine communities, while targeting opportunities across agriculture, agro processing, tourism, manufacturing, services and technology.

‘This is not a grant. This is your opportunity to earn. This is your opportunity to pay back. This is an opportunity to build your credit,’ he told the stakeholders, adding that the bank’s role will extend beyond simply approving loans.

He said prospective borrowers will be assisted in refining their ideas, developing proposals and connecting their enterprises to existing government programmes, technical services and established markets.

Ali said this approach could allow individuals with modest operations to work collectively, creating larger and more efficient enterprises, pointing to examples in agriculture where groups of single mothers, farmers or young entrepreneurs could combine their efforts, access modern infrastructure and benefit from technical expertise, thereby improving productivity while addressing challenges at the community level.

‘The whole intention is to use this opportunity to build something that is long lasting, strategic, strong, and of course, is not in competition at all with the commercial banks. This is really to unlock more financing.’

Ali said there were opportunities for locally produced foods, agricultural products and other Guyanese brands to enter larger domestic, regional and international markets, adding that the development of local brands and their expansion throughout the Caribbean must become part of the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.

He spoke of possibilities such as organised dragon fruit production, modern poultry facilities, eco lodges and packaged Guyanese food products, stressing that the emphasis should be on moving from fragmented individual production towards coordinated and scalable enterprises.

‘It’s economic transformation. Financial empowerment. It’s about widening the depth of income, adding more disposable income in your pocket, helping in the diversification of our economy and building the grassroots aspect of the economy stronger,’ Ali said, adding that the GDB will also provide a mechanism through which entrepreneurs can build credit histories and eventually graduate to larger financing through the commercial banking system.

Under the planned co financing arrangement, successful borrowers can potentially access additional financing of up to seven million Guyana dollars from traditional lending institutions at favourable interest rates. The GDB will also facilitate the formation of consortia, allowing beneficiaries to achieve greater scale, specialisation and risk sharing.

President Ali said the initiative will require the collective involvement of commercial banks, established businesses, mentors, technical professionals and community leaders.

Meanwhile, the government has said that foreign currency flowing through the country’s financial system increased sharply during the first half of 2026, but growing consumer spending, business expansion and other foreign-currency requirements continue to drive strong demand for United States dollar.

Ali said total foreign currency availability reached US$3.115 billion between January and June 2026, representing a 27.7 per cent increase over the US$2.440 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

Commercial banks purchased US$2.279 billion in foreign currency during the first half of 2026, compared with US$1.798 billion during the same period last year. Foreign currency injections also increased from US$642 million between January and June 2025 to US$836 million during the corresponding period this year.

Ali said despite the increase in availability, commercial banks have estimated outstanding foreign-currency demand at just over US$200 million and that changing consumer behaviour is one factor contributing to the increased demand.

Credit-card settlements, for example, climbed from approximately US$140 million in 2024 to US$430 million in 2025, an increase of more than 200 per cent. So far this year, credit-card settlements have reached approximately US$356 million.

‘That is a type of growth and difference we’re talking about. That’s just one indicator of changing patterns,’ he said, noting that demand is expected to remain elevated during the final months of the year.

President Ali said projected foreign-currency demand from September 10 to the end of December stands at approximately US$1.575 billion, comprising projected demand of US$354 million between September 10 and 30, US$385 million in October, US$400 million in November and US$436 million in December.

Against this backdrop, the government and commercial banks are examining what is driving demand and how foreign currency is being utilised across the economy and President Ali said particular attention is being paid to large corporate users of foreign currency, including regional and multinational companies.

One area under examination is the repatriation of profits. He explained that companies may require US dollars to send profits overseas while also seeking additional foreign currency to finance plant, machinery and other capital expansion locally.

‘So, you take your profit out with US dollars, and then there’s a second demand on US dollars for a capital expenditure,’ he said, adding that the government is also examining whether there is any misdirection of foreign currency or whether US dollars sourced in Guyana are being used to finance other operations.

But he stopped short of concluding that such practices are occurring, noting that the analysis is still underway and that commercial banks have been asked to provide further information on the structure of foreign-currency demand.

‘They have said to me that there were unmet demand from earlier this year. So there is some carry-forward of demand every month because they are not meeting their monthly demand,’ he added.

The main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has called on the Jamaica government to develop a transparent and people involved programme aimed at rebuilding the west of the island following the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa when it slammed into the country last October causing 45 deaths and damage estimated at more than US$9.9 billion.

PNP and Opposition Leader Mark Golding addressing the public session of the PNP’s 88th anniversary conference in Westmoreland, south of here on Sunday, told supporters that 11 months following the passage of the category 5 hurricane, people in the western section of the island are still awaiting a number of basic services.

‘I want to outline a recovery roadmap for Western Jamaica. Firstly, Jamaica needs a public reconstruction dashboard showing every damaged school, health facility, road and public building, the money allocated, the contractor who is responsible and the deadline for completion,’ Golding said.

‘The people must be able to see where the money is going and whether work is being done for the money,’ he said, recalling that in November last year, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced plans for a dashboard.

‘ Well, we are still waiting 10 months later and no dashboard is there. Secondly, we need a properly funded recovery facility for farmers, for fisher folk and for small businesses. Assistance must reach the people quickly and on reasonable terms so they can replace equipment, restore production, rehire workers, restock businesses and start earning again.

‘Thirdly, we need accelerated settlement of legitimate insurance claims. People who pay their premiums should not be waiting indefinitely to receive their insurance money. Where delay becomes unreasonable, the regulators, the government and if necessary Parliament must act. Act’.

Golding said said reconstruction must make the west stronger than it was before, more resilient roofing, more resilient public buildings, better drainage, stronger electricity and water systems and construction standards fit for a country that is exposed to more powerful storms than ever before.

‘And…we need a special land titling and adjudication of title programme in disaster affected communities. Families cannot rebuild securely without the peace of mind of owning the land where their home is built. And throughout this recovery, the people must be respected and given a seat at the table. It is the people who are affected by the decisions that impact their lives.’

Golding said that reconstruction cannot be designed in the capital, Kingston, and announced in the west, saying community organisations, churches, farmers, business operators, local representatives must be involved in setting priorities and monitoring delivery.

‘ It must be shaped with the people who live right here in the west. That is a recovery roadmap for Western Jamaica. Rebuild with transparency, reject political victimisation, restore livelihoods, revive the economy, strengthen infrastructure, secure land ownership and leave no community behind.’

Golding, who led the party into the September 2025 general election that saw the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) win a third consecutive term by a 34 to 29 seat margin, told supporters he remains committed to the task of making Jamaica a much ‘better place for all Jamaicans.

‘As a leader, it is not the status and trappings of office that keep me going. Those things are really a distraction. And if you indulge in them, you will inevitably succumb to arrogance and a deluded belief in the quality of your own performance.

‘Deluded belief in the quality of your own performance. I am here now because I know Jamaica can do better. And I have the skills, the experience and most importantly, the caring heart to lead this country forward to a better place,’ Golding said, recalling the words of former prime minister and PNP leader, Michael Manley that a leader must walk humbly with the people, listen, learn and understand the reality of what needs to be done from the people.

‘He knew where we were going and so do I. What has happened in the west reflects a wider national problem. Too many Jamaicans are left to struggle alone against the raging tide of high prices, unreliable public services, insecure housing, inadequate healthcare and an economy in which work does not deliver a better life for so many people who are working.’

Golding said Jamaica does not lack talent.

‘We do not lack hardworking people. We do not lack good ideas. What we lack is governance and policies that put the people first. My vision, my vision for Jamaica is anchored in the core principles of the People’s National Party. Our policies must always seek to benefit the majority of the people.

‘That is what putting people first really means. We pursue social justice because we know that the way things are is not how they are meant to be and better must come because positive change is not beyond us. ‘

Golding said that is why PNP when n office had created the National Housing Trust and the National Health Fund to provide and passed laws to eliminate bastardy so that everyone is equal and lawful and to guarantee maternity leave and equal pay for women.

‘It is why we created the PATH programme to provide a safety net for the people who need it and it is why we under my guidance decriminalised ganja to end a century of oppression and created a new lawful industry in medical and therapeutic cannabis that should be open to all whether you’re big or you’re small,’ Golding told supporters.

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman Monday declined to examine a Guyana Police Force (GPF) press release about evidence given by a senior police officer in the ongoing extradition proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his wealthy businessman father, Nazar Mohamed that could amount to he perversion of justice.

‘I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to prejudice my mind. I sequestered my mind a long time ago. Yes, I do not pay attention to any media. I do not pay attention to phones or screens. I concentrate on what is being said in this in the walls of these courtrooms from that witness box and no place else,’ The Chief Magistrate saidDefence attorney Siand Dhurjon told the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that the statement issued by the GPF earlier this month had sought to explain the testimony of the head of the GPF’s Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine.

Testifying under oath on September 10, Narine said that the notes were burnt ‘near a furnace’.

‘There is an area in Special Branch compound next to a furnace, which is condemned but we use the area immediately close to that furnace where I placed the shredded document I mentioned, along with others, and I light them. I can’t recall if it was a lighter or match and I light them afire,’ Narine said.

Dhurjon told the court that he was concerned that the GPS statement misquoted evidence, mischaracterised what was said, and sought impermissibly to prejudice not only the public’s opinion, but also the court’s opinion on what Narine meant to say or should be saying.

‘He indulges that opportunity to confer, and in the interim, none other than his employer issues an institutional explanation, an institutional post justification, and misquotes mischaracterized evidence, and I don’t think any other description could be attributed to the press release of the police force, other than it being an attempt to pervert the course of justice,’ Dhujron said.

He argued further that the GPF statement had been issued while Narine remained a witness under cross-examination.

‘What has become all the more compounded now,’ Dhurjon said, was the publication of the police release, which he described as an institutional explanation and justification of Narine’s evidence.

The GPF has maintained that it was correcting media reports and rejecting any suggestion that evidential documents connected to the extradition proceedings had been destroyed.

In its statement the GPF said that Narine had produced and tendered the official records required for the proceedings, including his statement, relevant Station Diary entries and executed arrest warrants.

It said the destroyed material consisted of working notes which were disposed of in accordance with procedures for sensitive documents and contained no evidential material that had not already been incorporated into Narine’s statement.

In a September 18 letter to Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde said Narine had not given the evidence attributed to him in the police statement.

The defence also pointed to Narine’s evidence that he personally shredded and burned three books in January 2026 and that he believed one of them contained a note about an interaction between the Mohameds and US law-enforcement official Sandy Rao after their arrest.

Narine had also acknowledged that the interaction was not recorded in the Brickdam Police Station diary and was not mentioned in his police statement.

But the Chief Magistrate Monday rejected any attempt to show her the press statement.

‘Do not show me. Do not bring it to my attention. I don’t want to see the. I’ve not seen the content. I don’t want to see it. I don’t intend to see the content either,’ she told the court.

The United States is seeking the extradition of the Mohameds on an 11-count Grand Jury indictment for alleged wire fraud, money laundering and mail fraud linked to their then registered gold trading business.

The United Nations Monday reported that more than 1,500 people have been displaced over the past week due to ongoing violence in Haiti where criminal gangs are forcing people to flee their homes.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told the daily news briefing that according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 900 people were displaced in the communes of Saint-Marc and Verrettes and that they are now staying with host families.

He said in Saint-Michel de l’Attalaye, another 600 people were forced to flee their homes due to several days of violence.

‘Many of those affected had already been forced to flee their homes two months ago and had only recently returned before being displaced once again. Overall, 1.5 million people, or about 12 per cent of the country’s population, remain internally displaced,’ Dujarric told reporters.

‘We, along with our humanitarian partners, continue to provide shelter assistance, essential household items and other critical support to displaced communities, despite an extremely challenging operating environment. ‘We are also working closely with our partners and national authorities to coordinate the response and ensure that displaced people can safely access essential services and assistance.’

Dujarric said as he has indicated on ‘many times, Haiti is no different from other humanitarian appeals; they are also underfunded, with only 47 per cent of the required US$880 million received so far’.

The UN has said that 1.5 million people are internally displaced and over 1,400 people were killed in a single three-month window in Haiti. It said ongoing violence has forced more than 100,000 additional people from their homes since the start of the year.