Category: CANA News

Police Commissioner Enville Williams has promised that guns will not govern St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the search continues for the gunmen who shot and killed three people over the last weekend.

“The guns will not govern this nation. The law will prevail, and the absolute sovereignty of the state will be maintained,” Williams vowed, warning that anyone assisting the perpetrators, by harbouring them, holding their weapons, driving their vehicles, or keeping their secrets, would be treated as active participants in the killings.

“The law views you as an active participant in bloodshed. The statutory consequences coming for you will be indistinguishable from those coming from the shooter,” he said, promising that no “loophole, no technicality, and no procedural escape hatch”, as investigators build “an airtight, unassailable case designed for maximum disruption and long-term incarceration…

“We are not playing for headlines. We are playing for conviction in the court of law,” he added.

Police said that the killings occurred late Friday night in the Chinatown area in the capital and have identified those killed as Claude John, 50, a cart operator, 34-year-old Karon Bowens aka Twin, and 23 year-old Giovannie Grant, both labourers.

The killings took place in an area across the street from the Central Police Station, where shops and other businesses.

Media reports said that two masked gunmen approached from the seaside behind the public washroom and opened fire, killing the three men at the scene.

In his statement Williams acknowledged widespread anger and fear and conceded that previous assurances from the police may have left some sceptical.

“I know that Vincentians are angry. I know that many are afraid, and I know that the public has heard assurances from the police force before, “ he said, adding “I will not offer another assurance.

“I will tell you what we know, what we are doing, and what we now require from you, the public,” Williams said, describing the shooting incident as a “brazen attack” carried out “in the heart of the capital, and within proximity to the police barracks.”

He said the location, execution, and apparent confidence of the attackers demanded the “full attention of the police force”, adding “so they have it”.

Williams said there would be a fundamental shift in how the police will confront organised and gun-related crime.

“You believe you understand how [the] police force operates. You think you can predict our response, map our patrol, and anticipate our next move based on how things used to be. You are fundamentally wrong. The old playbook is closed,” he said, adding that “a highly coordinated, multifaceted assault is on the way.

“You will not see us coming. You will not be able to guess our strategy, and you will have nowhere to pivot. We do not need to break the law to break you,” Williams said, adding that the response will be grounded strictly in law and that every move will be anchored in constitutional and statutory authority.

“This offensive will be executed with absolute crushing legality. Every asset, every intelligence capability, and every statutory power available under the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is being weaponised against you.

“We do not need to break the law to break you. The law itself is our greatest weapon, and we are unleashing its full, unrelenting weight against you,” Williams said, adding that tactical teams, investigators and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are operating in “absolute alignment” as part of what he called a change in the “psyche” of policing.

Williams urged law-abiding members of the public to judge the police by their actions in the coming days and to end the culture of silence that allows gunmen to operate.

“The rule of law cannot protect a society that protects its killers. Criminals cannot survive without a community to hide in. They rely entirely on your silence to escape the justice system. That ends today.

“Give us the facts, and we will deliver the lawful reckoning,” he said, adding that while justice might appear slow, “rest assured, it is sure as the sun shines”.

Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Raina Forbin, Monday said her country Haiti needs “free, credible, inclusive and above all participatory elections” as she urged the international community not to abandon the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in its time of need.

The last time Haitians voted someone into power was in 2016. the last President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021 and since then, armed gangs have seized control of almost the entire capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as large swathes of rural areas of Haiti.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Forbin said that elections which restore trust, strengthen democratic legitimacy as well as pave the way to lasting peace and stability must be encouraged.

“This is what 12 million men, women and children in Haiti are hoping for. Today, seven of Haiti’s 10 departments are ready for electoral activities without any major security impediments.”

She said that the deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in the three remaining departments is absolutely vital to guarantee that every Haitian citizen can exercise his or her fundamental right to choosing his or her leaders freely without impediments.

The GSF is a 5,550-strong, UN-backed multinational security mission authorised under UN Security Council Resolution 2793 to neutralise armed groups controlling parts of Port-au-Prince. It operates in coordination with the Haitian National Police to secure critical infrastructure and protect civilians.

It was formed to replace the underfunded, smaller Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. It is empowered not only to support local police but to conduct intelligence-led arrest operations.

“Security is a necessary bedrock for legitimate elections. The government has taken significant steps to restore security,” Forbin said, noting that since January this year, over 2,000 police personnel have been trained within the framework of the government programme. She said one and a half thousand new members are being recruited into the armed forces and that “if progress continues as planned, by the end of this year, the national police would have been reinforced by 4,000 additional police personnel.

“Meanwhile, the armed forces would see 1,500 new servicemen join their ranks. Our objective is clear. Aggressively consolidating Haitian security institutions so that they can uphold our country’s security,” she told the UN Security Council.

She told the Council that the children of Haiti are the first to be hard-hit by the security and humanitarian crisis facing Haiti and it is for their benefit that “we should work together so as to restore security in a lasting fashion so that they can grow up in peace, access education and build the future that they deserve”.

She expressed support for CARICOMs statement made at the UN Security Council, saying that today she would like to send a message of hope, “both to our international partners and the people of Haiti.

“Genuine progress is being made on the ground. We are closer than we’ve been in years to restoring security and holding elections that are free, credible, inclusive and participatory.

“Now is not the time to back down. It’s the time for the international community to stand resolutely side by side with the Haitian people, to lock in progress that’s already been made and to help Haiti to return to the path to peace, security, stability, democracy and hope, and this in a lasting fashion.”

Forbin said that despite the challenges, Haiti is making progress, the Haitian security forces, as well as the GSF are fully mobilised with a view to restoring security.

“Our government remains fully committed to restoring constitutional order, all the while implementing the reforms that are necessary for strengthening security, reinforcing public institutions and improving the lives of our people, especially the living conditions.

“The electoral process today has gone further than it’s ever gone over the last decade. Two of the three phases necessary for the holding of national elections have already been completed.”

She said that the remaining phase falls to the Provisional Electoral Council, which should publish the official electoral calendar in the coming days.

“The political party registration process has been completed. The voter registration process is underway. The electoral process is fully operational because now more than ever, the Haitian government stands convinced that the only way for Haiti to make progress lies in the holding of elections.”

She said that three internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps have been closed, allowing many families to go back to their homes.

In parallel, the government is pledging a new approach to the humanitarian response, moving from aid to trade, she said, noting that the goal being to create long-term opportunities for the Haitian people, especially for the youth.

“Alongside these efforts, we’ve reactivated our national disarmament, dismantlement and reintegration commission. We are also continuing the implementation of significant reforms to the judiciary, the objective being to strengthen the rule of law and accountability.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister said two specialised chambers aimed at punishing mass crimes, sexual violence and serious financial crimes have been inaugurated.

“Nonetheless, we’re cognisant that progress is fragile. It is in this spirit that we call on the Security Council to support the full deployment of the gang suppression force, as well as the renewal of its mandate, so as to furnish it with the support it requires to fulfil its mission.

“Genuine progress has been made on the ground. Now is not the time to back down. Madam President, for far too long, Haiti was defined by its crises. Today, Haiti wants recognition for the progress it’s made.”

Forbin said Haitians are demonstrating remarkable resilience with the country’s institutions continuing to operate.

“Security is improving. Recapturing of territory is ongoing. The electoral process is progressing. The Republic of Haiti, under the leadership of the Prime Minister Alex Didier Fils-Aimé, is making progress.

“The momentum is genuine. We cannot lose this momentum. This is why we need partnerships. We need sustained international commitment, so as to lock in the progress that’s already been made.”

Forbin said that the international community is faced with a choice or locking into the momentum Haiti has achieved, thanks to considerable efforts, or it can risk seeing years of collective efforts compromised at the very moment when Haiti is closer than it’s ever been to restoring security and holding elections.

She said supporting security means standing side by side with Haiti.

“This is an investment in democracy, regional stability, as well as international peace and security. Working together, let’s make sure that this progress, fragile for the time being, becomes irreversible.

“Let’s work together to allow the Haitian people to definitively turn a page on this violence and instability, to build a future of peace, security, and stability, because it is high time to lock in these gains,” Forbin added.

The lineup, featuring Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Shayan Jahangir, and Tayyab Arif, has been meticulously assembled with a phased availability plan designed to maximise impact across the tournament’s duration.

The Kingsmen’s overseas roster will operate in distinct waves. Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah commit to the full campaign, arriving from day one to provide a settled all-rounder anchor and a strike-bowling spearhead respectively.

Shayan Jahangir and Tayyab Arif will also join at the season’s outset, completing the overseas core for the opening fixtures.

Then, on August 19, the contingent pivots. Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, and Usman Khan will link up with the squad, replacing Jahangir and Arif in a strategic handover that injects fresh batting artillery for the tournament’s decisive backend.

Maaz Sadaqat, a left-handed batting all-rounder, has been earmarked as one of Pakistan’s most electrifying white-ball prospects.

With an ODI cap to his name and a destructive top-order game complemented by left-arm orthodox spin, he turned heads during a dominant showing at the 2025 Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.

Saim Ayub needs no introduction. The Pakistan international is widely regarded as one of the most explosive left-handed openers in global white-ball cricket, renowned for his fearless stroke play and improvisation.

His off-break bowling adds a valuable extra dimension to the Kingsmen’s attack.

Usman Khan arrives as a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter with a reputation as one of franchise cricket’s most feared strikers. A Pakistan international, his ability to single-handedly flip a match within overs makes him a lethal weapon in the middle order.

Hassan Khan brings versatility as a right-handed all-rounder, with his slow left-arm orthodox bowling and lower-middle-order hitting earning him runs across multiple international T20 leagues.

Hunain Shah, a right-arm medium-fast bowler from a storied cricketing family, has carved out a reputation for ice-cool composure under pressure.

Shayan Jahangir, the US national team’s right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, joins for the opening phase, bringing dependable glovework and international experience from franchise competitions worldwide.

Tayyab Arif, a right-handed batter with a strong Pakistan domestic pedigree and Under-19 national pathway, rounds out the early-phase contingent, eager to stamp his authority on the franchise stage.

Results of the fifth round of matches in the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s 50-over Championship here on Monday

At Pigotts Sports Ground: Windward Islands Under-19 beat Guyana Under-19 by 219 runs

WINDWARD ISLANDS 315-9 in 50 overs (Theo Edward 87, Derwin Lewis 73, Cody Fontinelle 33; Adrian Hetmyer 4-47, Gilbert Griffith 3-36)

GUYANA 96 in 17.1 overs (Darwin Joseph 33 not out, Gilberth Griffith retired hurt 14; Elran Glasgow 4-30, Tyler Venner 3-11)

At Bethesda Sports Ground: Barbados Under-19s beat Jamaica Under-19s by 7 wickets

JAMAICA 107 in 27.5 overs (Geovanni Grey 24, Joel Williams 16 not out; Zarell Harding 4-24, Justin Parris 3-17)

BARBADOS 110-3 in 14.4 overs (Jordan Graham 29, Gadson Bowens 21, Kemar Dixon 19 not out; Perico Henry 1-9)

At Liberta Sports Club: Trinidad and Tobago Under-19s beat Leeward Islands Under-19s by 4 wickets

LEEWARD ISLANDS 270-9 in 50 overs (Eirette Richards 83, Matthew Miller 65, Tanez Francis 38; Qadeer Juman 4-29, Christian Lall 3-15)

T and T 273-6 in 48.2 overs (Tariq Richards 88, Ethan Ramchran 48, Levi Ghanny 47; Kunal Tolokani 3-38)

Trinidad and Tobago has been rocked by three earthquakes within an hour on Monday, with two measuring 5.2 and 5.0 on the Richter scale, occurring at almost the same time.

The Seismic Research Centre (SRC) at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), said that there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the quakes.

It said that the first quake occurred at 5:45 am (local time) with a magnitude of 5.1 and occurred at a depth of 59 kilo meter (km) and was felt 24 km north east of Scarborough in Tobago 109 km, north east of Arima, east of here and 126 km east of the capital Port of Spain.

The SRC said at 6.55 am, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 and a depth of 10 km was felt 67 km, north west of Port of Spain, 84 km north west of Arima and 96 km, south of St. . George’s in Grenada.

The SRC is also reporting that another earthquake, which occurred at the same time, 6.55 am, had a magnitude of 5.0 at a depth of 80 km.

Many people took to social media to report their experiences with one person saying “ if felt like something slammed into the house,” and another asking “Is the area warming up for a bigger event, i mean considering the global patterns and all”.

The death toll from last weekend’s boating tragedy has risen to 10, after eight bodies were discovered on Monday as teams continue the grim task of searching and retrieving bodies.

A statement issued by the Guyana government said that the ongoing search-and-rescue operation involving the MV Barima is ongoing and that “by 12:35 pm (local time), eight bodies had been recovered during today’s operation, bringing the total number of confirmed bodies recovered since the incident to 10.

“The identification process includes the involvement of relatives and will be done at the Suddie Hospital. The Government remains fully committed to the operation and continues to deploy all available resources to locate and account for every person who was aboard the MV Barima at the time of the tragic incident,” the brief statement added.

Tragedy struck on Saturday night when the MV Barima with more than 133 people on board capsized after after apparently being hit by a big wave as it made its way from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, a small village within the Barima-Waini administrative region of the country. The authorities said 67 people have so far been rescued.

The passenger and cargo ferry capsized approximately seven miles offshore near the mouth of the Pomeroon River while en route to the North West District.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Monday, July 20, 2026.

GEORGETOWN – A third body has been recovered as the search and rescue operations resumed on Monday with President Irfaan Ali meeting survivors of the MV Barima tragedy in Port Kaituma, hours after cutting short his visit to Canada.

UNITED NATIONS -The 15-member UN Security Council is holding one of its regular meetings about Haiti on Monday.

PORT OF SPAIN – Attorney Criston J Williams says the legality of the state’s decision to transfer dozens of prisoners from the Maximum-Security Prison to Teteron Barracks of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) under the 2025 State of Emergency (SoE) could become another major test of the constitutional limits on executive power.

KINGSTOWN – Police Commissioner Enville Williams has promised that guns will not govern St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the search continues for the gunmen who shot and killed three people over the last weekend.

WASHINGTON -The Trump administration has announced the publication of a final rule that officially eliminates what the administration claims to be the “duration of status loophole” that allowed Caribbean and other foreign students, exchange visitors and media representatives to remain in the United States indefinitely without routine government oversight.

SPORTS:

BRIDGETOWN – In a gut-wrenching finish that left the Kensington Oval crowd stunned, the West Indies crashed to a one-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the fourth ODI on Sunday, surrendering the series 3-1 with just one match left to play.

Results of the fourth round of matches in the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s 50-over Championship here on Saturday.

At Pigotts Sports Ground: Barbados defeated Trinidad and Tobago by six wickets.

T and T 141 in 37.1 overs (Christian Lall 54, Levi Ghanny 25, Brendan Boodoo 22; Rajeev Parsooram 5-35, Justin Parris 2-9, Raphael Lovell 2-21).

BARBADOS 142-4 in 31.1 overs (Seth Smith 40 not out, Jordan Graham 37, Justin Parris 27 not out, Kemar Dixon 23; Renaldo Fournillier 2-20).

At Bethesda Sports Ground: Jamaica defeated Windward Islands by 113 runs.

JAMAICA 252-3 in 50 overs (Tyson Gordon Jr 102 not out, Odane Binns 55, Demarco Scott 52 not out, Pajay Nelson 16).

WINDWARD ISLANDS 139 in 25.3 overs (Cody Fontinelle 47, Aiden Burton 38, Johnathan Daniel 18, Earsinho Fontaine 12; Perico Henry 4-28, Joel Williams 2-25).

At Liberta Sports Club: Guyana defeated Leeward Islands by 121 runs.

GUYANA 272 in 47.1 overs (Parmeshwar Ram 79, Adrian Hetmyer 76, Emmanuel Lewis 42, Dhanesh Persaud 10; Matthew Miller 4-45, Kerique Mentore 2-51).

LEEWARD ISLANDS 151 in 37.4 overs (Kunal Tilokani 37, Lawshorn Bergan 31 not out, J’Quan Athanaze 22, Jathan Edward 17, Rondre Daniel 11; Dhanesh Persaud 4-31, Gilbert Griffith 3-29, Parmeshwar Ram 2-32).

Pakistan reached 184 for two against a West Indies Select XI at the close of play on the opening day of their four-day warmup match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy here on Saturday.

PAKISTAN 184-2 in 60.4 overs (Azan Awais 78 not out, Shan Masood 70, Babar Azam 14 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 10).

Barbados defended their CWI Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 50-over Championship title in emphatic fashion by defeating Trinidad and Tobago in the fourth and penultimate round here on Saturday.

It was their fourth win in as many matches and with the Leeward Islands’ loss to Guyana, Barbados cannot be overtaken in Monday’s final round of matches.

In the day’s other result, Jamaica emerged victorious by trouncing the Windward Islands.

At Pigotts Sports Ground: Barbados will be crowned champions once again following their comprehensive six-wicket victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

The win moved their record to 4-0 with just one round of matches to go, with their nearest challengers holding 2-2 records.

The result always seemed likely once T and T were routed for just 141 in 37.1 overs, thanks mainly to a five-wicket haul by Rajeev Parsooram.

Barbados had a slight wobble early on, losing both their openers cheaply, but recovered to comfortably reach 142 for four in 31.1 overs.

T and T seemed on track to post a competitive total when openers Christian Lall and Levi Ghanny were at the crease during a 92-run stand.

But once Parsooram got the breakthrough by having Lall caught for 54 off 63 balls, T and T lost their way.

Raphael Lovell had Ghanny stumped for 25, while Tariq Richards, Christiano Ramanan and Renaldo Fournillier all fell cheaply to leave T and T stuttering at 110 for five after 26 overs.

Captain Brendan Boodoo scored 22, but no other batters got into double digits and their innings folded meekly.

Parsooram finished with figures of 5-35, while Justin Parris took 2-9 and Lovell 2-21.

Barbados found themselves in a spot of bother when Fournillier accounted for the wickets of Gadson Bowens and Damarko Wiggins to leave them 11 for two in the sixth over.

But knocks of 37 from Jordan Graham and 23 from Kemar Dixon, along with an unbeaten 40 by Seth Smith and Parris’ contribution of 27 not out, helped Barbados ease to victory with almost 20 overs to spare.

Smith and Parris shared an unbroken partnership of 54 for the fifth wicket that rescued them from a ticklish position of 88 for four.

At Liberta Sports Club: The Leeward Islands were the only side that stood a chance of unseating the defending champions, but their title hopes went up in flames when they were surprisingly trounced by 121 runs by the previously winless Guyana.

After choosing to bat first, Guyana was led by half centuries from captain Parmeshwar Ram and Adrian Hetmyer, before being bowled out for 272 in 47.1 overs.

The Leeward Islands were then doomed by a middle order collapse that saw them crumble from 70 for two to 151 all out in 37.4 overs.

It was a solid all-around performance from a Guyana outfit that had failed to win any of their three previous matches.

They owed their total to a 104-run partnership between Ram and Hetmyer that steadied the innings following the early dismissals of opener Khush Seegobin and Justin Dowlin.

When Ram was needlessly run out for 79 off 82 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, Guyana were still well placed at 143 for three after 26 overs.

At that stage they would have been hoping to post a bigger total, but Matthew Miller’s four wicket haul and the unfortunate run out of Hetmyer for 76 off 90 balls, which included seven fours and one six, stunted their momentum.

Emmanuel Lewis scored a vital 42 batting at number seven, which contributed to the final total.

Miller ended with 4-45, while Kerique Mentore took 2-51.

After losing Tanez Francis and Lyhte Browne early, Kunal Tilokani and J’Quan Athanaze consolidated during a 41-run partnership for the third wicket.

However, when Gilbert Griffith bowled Tilokani for 37, the Leeward Islands lost four wickets for 28 runs to slide to 98 for six.

Lawshorn Bergan, who scored 31, led a brief lower order fightback, but they lost their last three wickets for four runs to seal their defeat.

Griffith took 3-29 and Ram 2-32.

At Bethesda Sports Ground: Jamaica kept the Windward Islands winless by handing them a 114-run whipping.

Buoyed by an unbeaten century from opener Tyson Gordon Jr and half centuries by captain Odane Binns and Demarco Scott, Jamaica coasted to 252 for three in their 50 overs.

The Windward Islands’ batters then failed to fire, with Perico Henry’s four-wicket haul helping to bowl them out for a meagre 139 runs in 25.3 overs.

Henry claimed the wickets of Earshino Fontaine, Zach Thomas and Tyler Venner in quick succession to reduce the Windwards to 51 for six.

The Windward Islands only managed to get over the 100-run mark thanks to a fighting knock of 47 from Cody Fontinelle, with the outcome of the match long decided.

Henry claimed 4-28 and Joel Williams 2-25.

Earlier, Gordon Jr and Binns shared a partnership of 103 runs for the first wicket, which helped to set the tempo for the remainder of the innings.

Binns was eventually dismissed for 55 off 97 balls, with the wickets of Demario Hall and Pajay Nelson falling in quick order to make the score 141 for three.

But Gordon Jr, who finished unbeaten on 102 off 132 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, and Scott, who scored 52 not out off 45 balls, shared an unbroken partnership of 111 runs to take Jamaica to a winning target.