Category: CANA News

The Trump administration says it is providing an initial US$24 million in ’emergency, life-saving assistance’ for Jamaica, Haiti, the Bahamas, and ‘the people of Cuba’ to assist those affected by the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa when it passed through the region last week.

The aid announcement comes as several US lawmakers, including US Senate Democratic Leader, Charles ‘Chuck’ Schumer, appealed to the administration to do much more to assist hurricane-ravaged Caribbean countries.

The State Department said that the funding will be used to provide shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, food assistance, and emergency healthcare. It said the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in Jamaica continues to assess the situation and determine future needs.

Since the Category 5 hurricane hit the Caribbean countries, the State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has authorsed US$12 million for assistance in Jamaica, US$8.5 million in assistance in Haiti, thee million US dollars for ‘the people of Cuba’, and US$500,000 for assistance in the Bahamas.

The State Department said the category 5 storm had caused widespread damage, hospital evacuations, and flooding across the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where fatalities were reported. The storm’s path also includes The Bahamas and Bermuda.

It said President Trump had authorised ‘an immediate US response, directing the Department of State to mobilize support for affected communities.

‘Within hours, Secretary Rubio deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team, including urban search-and-rescue teams, to assess needs and provide search and recovery assistance,’ it said, stating that it is collaborating with United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and host governments to deliver food, water, medical supplies, hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and search and rescue support.

But, Schumer said he had sent a letter to Rubio, stating that ‘officials in the Caribbean have reported early assessments of damage to be widespread, where homes and buildings have collapsed, roadways have been demolished, parishes are completely underwater and currently 77 per cent of Jamaica remains without power.

‘Concerted recovery efforts and humanitarian assistance are imperative in the coming days to save lives and sustain populations in the short term as Jamaica and the wider Caribbean begin reconstruction,’ he wrote in the letter.

‘We welcome the State Department’s announcement of available warehouses from which lifesaving aid can be distributed as well as on the creation of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in the region.

‘This is an important first step, but critical and urgent action is needed to ensure resources are effectively and efficiently mobilised to victims who need it in the immediate and longer-term aftermath of this disaster.’

Schumer said that given that this is the first major disaster in the Caribbean since the closure of USAID ‘which held the expertise and capacity to quickly, efficiently and meaningful respond to these exact scenarios, we write with the following key questions.

‘How many personnel has the Department mobilized as part of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), including those from the Urban Search and Resue team? Where are they stationed and how long will they be there? What direction and mandate have the DART been given? Who is responsible for leading and coordinating hurricane response for the US Government?

‘How is the Department coordinating with the Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capacities to mobilize assets and support in region, including the increased assets recently mobilized in the region? How is the State Department mobilizing health experts, including those at the Department of Defense and Center for Disease Control, to respond to health needs to affected countries?

‘Given the millions of dollars of humanitarian aid that the administration has refused to spend, how does the administration plan to mobilize humanitarian funding quickly to partners on the ground responding to immediate needs?’

Meanwhile, US Congressman Ritchie Torres has led a coalition of legislators in the Bronx, New York in appealing to the Trump administration to immediately deploy emergency aid and support to Jamaica.

In a letter, the legislators called on Rubio to mobilise US federal resources to assist Jamaica in the aftermath of what they described as ‘one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.’

‘As Bronx elected officials, who represent large Jamaican populations, we write to urge you to provide immediate emergency assistance to Jamaica after being devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The United States and Jamaica have deep economic and cultural ties, and, as friendly neighbors, we must stand with them in their time of need.

‘As you know, Hurricane Melissa is recorded to be one of the top five most powerful hurricanes within the Atlantic Ocean, as it topped wind speeds of 185 mph and caused severe damaged throughout Jamaica.

‘It is currently unclear what the death toll from Hurricane Melissa is; and, because of significant flooding, road closures, downed trees, and landslides, the total may not be known for some time,’ the letter notes.

The legislators wrote that it is paramount that the State Department work ‘with our Jamaican partners to coordinate relief effort, and to send as many emergency staff as possible to Jamaica to assist in surveying the damage and reconnecting communities.

‘Hurricane Melissa blanketed all of Jamaica, and the images coming out are heartbreaking. Clearly, emergency aid is needed to rebuild electrical grid, health care services, schools, and homes to name a few.’

The legislators said they were ‘deeply concerned that the damage from Hurricane Melissa will leave Jamaica with contaminated water, which may lead to disease outbreaks and mental health care issues stemming from the destruction.

‘That is why, in addition to providing aid to rebuild hard infrastructure, we urge you to provide Jamaica with the most basic of assistance: food, clean water, fresh clothing, shelter and mental health care services.

‘We strongly urge you to mobilise your department to provide all necessary staff and aid to help those throughout Jamaica. As Hurricane Melissa is one of the top five most powerful hurricanes to occur in the Atlantic Ocean, time is of the essence to help those in need.’

Meantime, New York State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham, the son of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York, said that his office is working closely with the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) to help coordinate relief efforts and deliver much-needed supplies directly to those impacted on the ground.

‘As the son of Jamaican immigrants, I have always carried the island in my heart. Like so many in our Central Brooklyn community, my roots, my family, and my story are deeply tied to Jamaica,’ said Cunningham in a message to constituents.

‘Watching the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa has been both heartbreaking and personal,’ he added, stating that the government of Jamaica has shared a list of urgent needs.

Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said her office is launching an Emergency Relief Drive to collect urgently needed supplies that will be shipped directly to Jamaica.

She told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the drive will focus on collecting non perishable items.

‘In times of crisis, we are reminded of the strength and compassion that define our community.Together, we can extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Jamaica as they begin this long road to recovery.

‘My heart and prayers are also with the families across Cuba and Haiti, who are facing tremendous challenges,’ she added.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) Wednesday said there will be a decrease of tropical cyclone activity and of excessively hot and humid days in November as the Caribbean transitions into the dry and cool seasons in December.

It said that a shift to La Niña conditions, characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, caused by stronger trade winds, combined with continued unusual warmth in the Subtropical North Atlantic, increases uncertainty in the seasonal forecast.

‘Nevertheless, the outlook suggests steady decrease of tropical cyclone activity and of excessively hot and humid days in November, high rainfall intensity and shower frequency in the ABC Islands, Belize, the Lesser Antilles through November or December, resulting in high to extremely high potential for flooding, flash floods, cascading hazards and associated impacts.’

CariCOF, which released its latest edition of Caribbean Climate Outlooks looking at the three month period November to January next year, said that the outlook for the region also suggests increasing dry spell frequency in The Bahamas and Greater Antilles as well as the appearance of drought impacts by the end of January in locations with ongoing drought.

It said that as at the end of October, severe or short term drought has developed throughout the Windward Islands, as well as in Aruba, parts of the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, while long term drought will occur in southwest Dominica, northern Jamaica, parts of northern Guyana, St. Croix and St. Vincent.

The Antigua and Barbuda government Wednesday said it ‘ categorically rejects’ an article in an online publication indicating that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is among countries under a heightened Canadian travel warning.

‘Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean’s most peaceful democracies. The country is politically stable, constitution-anchored, and committed to free and fair elections observed by international bodies,’ said Antigua and Barbuda’s non-resident High Commissioner to Canada, Sir Ronald Sanders.

He said that Global Affairs Canada’s official advisory for Antigua and Barbuda remains ‘Take normal security precautions,’ the lowest advisory level. He said there has been no upgrade and no new risk designation.

‘ Our people speak freely; dissent is lawful; the courts stand independent,’ said Sir Ronald, who is also the country’s ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS).

He said regional indicators from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank, Antigua and Barbuda’s rate of serious crime remains well below the Caribbean average. ‘Violent incidents are rare, and our islands continue to enjoy a reputation for safety and tranquility among international visitors. Canadians know this in practice: many visit year after year, and many more have made Antigua their second home.

‘Our welcoming people live by reputation and reality; we refuse to let careless repots blur either. We have called on Travel and Tour World to correct the record and to properly cite official Canadian sources,’ Sir Ronald said.

The diplomat said Antigua and Barbuda welcomes Canadians as friends, investors, and family ‘to a safe, vibrant, and law-abiding nation that keeps faith with its Constitution and with the travellers who honour our shores’.

The Antigua and Barbuda government Wednesday said it ‘ categorically rejects’ an article in an online publication indicating that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is among countries under a heightened Canadian travel warning.

‘Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean’s most peaceful democracies. The country is politically stable, constitution-anchored, and committed to free and fair elections observed by international bodies,’ said Antigua and Barbuda’s non-resident High Commissioner to Canada, Sir Ronald Sanders.

He said that Global Affairs Canada’s official advisory for Antigua and Barbuda remains ‘Take normal security precautions,’ the lowest advisory level. He said there has been no upgrade and no new risk designation.

‘ Our people speak freely; dissent is lawful; the courts stand independent,’ said Sir Ronald, who is also the country’s ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS).

He said regional indicators from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank, Antigua and Barbuda’s rate of serious crime remains well below the Caribbean average. ‘Violent incidents are rare, and our islands continue to enjoy a reputation for safety and tranquility among international visitors. Canadians know this in practice: many visit year after year, and many more have made Antigua their second home.

‘Our welcoming people live by reputation and reality; we refuse to let careless repots blur either. We have called on Travel and Tour World to correct the record and to properly cite official Canadian sources,’ Sir Ronald said.

The diplomat said Antigua and Barbuda welcomes Canadians as friends, investors, and family ‘to a safe, vibrant, and law-abiding nation that keeps faith with its Constitution and with the travellers who honour our shores’.

The Antigua and Barbuda government Wednesday said it ‘ categorically rejects’ an article in an online publication indicating that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is among countries under a heightened Canadian travel warning.

‘Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean’s most peaceful democracies. The country is politically stable, constitution-anchored, and committed to free and fair elections observed by international bodies,’ said Antigua and Barbuda’s non-resident High Commissioner to Canada, Sir Ronald Sanders.

He said that Global Affairs Canada’s official advisory for Antigua and Barbuda remains ‘Take normal security precautions,’ the lowest advisory level. He said there has been no upgrade and no new risk designation.

‘ Our people speak freely; dissent is lawful; the courts stand independent,’ said Sir Ronald, who is also the country’s ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS).

He said regional indicators from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank, Antigua and Barbuda’s rate of serious crime remains well below the Caribbean average. ‘Violent incidents are rare, and our islands continue to enjoy a reputation for safety and tranquility among international visitors. Canadians know this in practice: many visit year after year, and many more have made Antigua their second home.

‘Our welcoming people live by reputation and reality; we refuse to let careless repots blur either. We have called on Travel and Tour World to correct the record and to properly cite official Canadian sources,’ Sir Ronald said.

The diplomat said Antigua and Barbuda welcomes Canadians as friends, investors, and family ‘to a safe, vibrant, and law-abiding nation that keeps faith with its Constitution and with the travellers who honour our shores’.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

KINGSTOWN – The two main political parties here have signed a Code of Ethical Political Conduct ahead of the November 27 general elections.

NEW YORK – Caribbean Democratic legislators in New York easily won re-election in Tuesday’s general elections, riding on an unusually large voter-turn out as Democratic Socialist, Zohran Mamdani, swept into the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York.

SCARBROUGH – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is warning members of the fisherfolk community not to venture beyond the territorial waters of Trinidad and Tobago, reiterating the country’s support for the United States war on drugs in the region.

PARAMARIBO – The Suriname government says it will resume negotiations with the Chinese bauxite company, Chinalco, after announcing the establishment of a special negotiating committee.

BASSRETERRE – The Bureau of Standards Wednesday issued a mandatory national recall for the product ‘Milonga – Cannabis Infused Tea: Yerba Mate’ (ALL FLAVOURS), saying it has not been approved for trade or distribution in the twin island Federation.

SPORTS:

AUCKLAND -The West Indies drew first blood in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand, defending a modest total of 164 to claim a nail-biting seven-run victory at Eden Park here on Wednesday.

West Indies defeated New Zealand by seven runs in the first T20 International here at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Scores:

WEST INDIES 164-6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 53, Rovman Powell 33, Roston Chase 28; Jacob Duffy 2-19, Zak Foulkes 2-35).

NEW ZEALAND 157-9 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 55 not out, Tim Robinson 27, Rachin Ravindra 21; Roston Chase 3-26, Jayden Seales 3-32),

The Jamaica government says the preliminary estimate of the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa when it slammed into the country last Tuesday has been put at an estimated cost as high as seven billion US dollars.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Parliament on Tuesday that the figure is about 32 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for fiscal year 2024/2025 and that detailed damage assessments are still underway even as he is providing the ‘very preliminary, high-level estimates only to illustrate the scale of the devastation’.

Holness told legislators that the early assessment is based on benchmarks from comparable regional disasters; physical damage to housing, commercial buildings; roads, electricity, water, and telecommunications infrastructure.

Holness said that the category 5 hurricane, blamed for at least 32 deaths, is not only a national tragedy, but a warning.

‘The storm’s 13-foot surge on our western coastline and up to 30 inches of rain in the central highlands revealed devastating power of a new climate reality. The era of a once-in-a-generation hurricane is over.

‘It is clear that Hurricane Melissa will have a profound economic impact on our country. The storm struck the heart of Jamaica’s productive belt. It tore through our breadbasket parish of St Elizabeth; it disrupted our tourism corridor stretching from Westmoreland through St James and into Trelawny and St Ann; and it inflicted heavy damage on housing, community infrastructure, commercial operations and public utilities across multiple parishes.

‘Thousands of households now face the loss of homes, crops, equipment, and small enterprises. This is not only a humanitarian crisis – it is a shock to livelihoods, incomes, and local economies,’ Holness told legislators.

He told Parliament that the government anticipates a temporary slowdown in economic activity, particularly in the most affected parishes.

‘Agricultural output will decline in the short term as farmers replant and livestock operations recover. The tourism sector, while resilient and working swiftly to reopen, will require targeted support to restore capacity and confidence.

‘Small and medium-sized enterprises – especially those in retail, manufacturing, services, and the creative industries – have sustained significant losses and will need liquidity and recovery support to rebuild inventories, repair facilities, and restart operations.

‘At the same time, supply chains for food, construction materials, and consumer goods are being actively restored, though some market disruptions may occur in the immediate weeks ahead. A very preliminary estimate suggests that short-term economic output could decline by eight to 13 per cent,’ Prime Minister Holness said.

The prime minister said that this means that revenues will decline as economic activity slows, even as expenditure must increase to finance emergency relief, recovery, and reconstruction.

‘This will place pressure on our fiscal targets,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness said that the National Housing Trust (NHT) will grant an automatic six -month mortgage moratorium to homeowners in the parishes most severely affected by the passage of the storm.

He said that these parishes are St. Elizabeth, St. James, Manchester, St. Ann, Westmoreland, Hanover, and Trelawny and that all NHT mortgagers are insured under the Trust’s houseowners’ mortgage policy, which covers damage from hurricanes, storms, flood, fire among others.

‘The NHT has already mobilised its branches island wide to help mortgagers prepare and process their insurance claims quickly and efficiently,’ he said, adding that recognising that many families will need time to prioritise home repairs, ‘the NHT will will grant an automatic six-month moratorium on mortgage payments for mortgagers in the worst affected parishes.

‘This measure will assist some 20,000 home owners. For all other parishes, the NHT will continue to consider individual moratorium applications for those who have lost income or face special hardships,’ Holness said.

The prime minister also announced that several parliamentarians will be allocated funds for trucked water to constituents affected by the storm.

He said the parliamentary representatives in Westmoreland, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Manchester, and Trelawny will be allocated two million dollars (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) under this measure as the parishes most severely affected by the weather system.

The government also announced that all shelters will remain open for as long as needed, equipped with food, water, and psychological support services. It said that the facilities are being managed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) has suspended the import duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) on several hurricane relief items until Friday, November 28, 2025.

Seven people, including the Venezuelan national who is alleged to have confessed to being the person who laid a bomb outside a gas station that killed six-year old Soraya Bourne and injury to four others late last month, has been denied bail and remanded into custody when they appeared in a magistrate court here on Wednesday.

Venezuelan Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, 33, who is alleged to be the bomber, along with 44-year old Alexander Bettancourt, 33-year old and Johnny Boodram and 33-year-old Krystal La Cruz, appeared before Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty on a charge of terrorism, who remanded them into custody. The four were not required to plead to the indictable offences.

People accused of terrorism make first court appearance

The prosecution alleges that Poedemo on October 26, with intent to threaten the security and sovereignty of Guyana or to strike terror among its people, used an explosive device at the Mobil Fuel Station at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, resulting in the death of the six-year-old child.

The court also heard that Boodram aided and abetted Poedemo with intent to commit the same offence.

Boodram’s defence lawyer, Nikel Puran, told the court that his client is a taxi driver and La Cruz is his customer whom he usually picks up from a bar which she operates and takes her home. The lawyer said Boodram had no knowledge of the circumstances leading to the offence.

They were all remanded into custody until November 12.

The other accused persons, Ramesh Pramdeo, 51, Wayne Corriea, 44 and 33-year-old Jennifer Rodriguez, have been charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo with intent to threaten the security and safety of Guyana to strike terror on the people by the use of an explosive substance by placing it at the gas station resulting in Bourne’s death.

Pramdeo, Correia and Rodriguez appeared remotely before Leonora Magistrate Alisha George because they allegedly committed the offence in East Bank Essequibo, which falls in the West Demerara Magisterial District, between October 24 and 29, 2025.

The Magistrate said a bail application would be considered then, but for now ‘this is a very serious offence and it has public safety issues’.

Defence Lawyer Bernard Da Silva made an unsuccessful bail application for Pramdeo. They were remanded to prison until November 24.

Da Silva told the court that Correia had Pramdeo requesting that he transport two Venezuelan gold miners.

The lawyer said that he picked up the men at Parika and transported them to a hotel at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.

He said that Pramdeo was not the taxi driver who took them to Georgetown, was nowhere near the explosion, had no knowledge of the intent, no agreement, was not present and did not see the explosive device.

There was a heavy police presence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, with the accused arriving in three vehicles as armed members of the Guyana Police Force patrolled the courthouse compound on foot and in vehicles.

Civilians were barred from standing near the entrance as the accused were escorted in and out and family members of the Venezuelan defendants waited across the street, in front of a nearby church.

Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond has said that the government will seek the death penalty for anyone convicted of terrorism under Guyana’s laws.

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) says it has launched a new initiative aimed at accelerating the rollout of real-time, low-cost digital payment systems throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

It said that IDB Pay will bring financial services to the 30 per cent of the region’s population that remains unbanked by 2030 and will support countries to build inclusive, interoperable, and secure Fast Retail Payment Systems (FRPS) and other Digital Public Financial Infrastructures (DPFI).

IDB Pay will also use strategic technical cooperation, policy innovation, and flexible financing instruments to support the build-up of inclusive, interoperable, and secure fast retail payment systems that align with global best practices and are tailored to national contexts.

‘IDB Pay is designed to accelerate the inclusion of those who have been historically unserved by the financial system. By integrating them into modern payment systems, the door to formal financial ecosystems, we empower individuals, strengthen communities, and uphold the fundamental right to economic participation,’ said Anderson Caputo Silva, Chief of the IDB’s Connectivity, Markets and Finance Division.

The solution was unveiled during the FinnLAC2025 Forum, an event organised by the IDB Group to discuss the future of the financial industry in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The IDB Group said that IDB Pay will support interoperability, noting that as the foundation of a truly inclusive and efficient digital payment ecosystem, IDB Pay supports establishing technical and regulatory standards that allow different payment systems to communicate and operate seamlessly.

It will also enables creating legal and policy frameworks that support the implementation of FRPS and other Digital Public Financial Infrastructures. IDB support includes co-developing regulatory roadmaps and enabling regulations with financial authorities; facilitating peer learning and regional dialogues to harmonize regulations; and offering policy-based loans to incentivize reforms.

‘ A thriving digital financial ecosystem depends on active participation from the private sector. IDB Pay helps in designing policies and mechanisms that encourage private-sector participation, public-private cooperation in innovation, and investment in digital financial services. It supports offering alternative payment system architectures that leverage existing private-sector infrastructure and support pilot programs and public-private partnerships.’

The IDB Grup said that strong governance is the backbone of any resilient and inclusive financial system.

‘Without defined oversight, coordination, and accountability, digital financial infrastructures risk fragmentation, inefficiency, and erosion of public trust. IDB Pay supports establishing strong institutional oversight and coordination mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.’

The IDB Group said that the new initiative builds on the IDB’s successful work in several countries and its support for regional digital finance infrastructure, including technology sandboxes and its partnership with the Bank of International Settlements to offer open-source technology among central banks to facilitate the implementation of payment systems and other settlement infrastructures.

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson says environmental issues are becoming increasingly relevant in law because they are directly related to human action.

Anderson, who is leading a delegation from the Trinidad-based court to Suriname, made the disclosure while participating in a symposium organised at the Faculty of Legal Sciences of Anton de Kom University in connection with the 50th anniversary of Srefidens, under the theme ’50 Years of Law, Governance, and Security: Then, Now, and Beyond.’.

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson, is greeted on arrival at the Faculty of Legal Sciences of Anton de Kom University

Justice Anderson, who assumed the presidency of the region’s highest court in July this year, said on the issue of environmental matters becoming increasing relevant in law ‘there’s still debate about this, but we clearly see a link between, for example, the increase in greenhouse gases and global warming and climate change’.

He made reference to the passage of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean region last week, resulting in deaths and widespread damage in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas and Bermuda.

‘Aid from the richer countries that produce the greenhouse gases that warm the planet is a moral and psychological issue, but internationally, the question is now also being asked whether this can be interpreted legally.

‘We are looking at ways to argue this legally, to actually obtain aid to repair the damage caused,’ said the CCJ president.

The event which was held on Tuesday, will continue on Friday covering topics such as integrated safety, cybersecurity, maritime law in relation to oil and gas, and forensic criminology.

Justice Anderson’s visit to the university was part of his programme to complete the CCJ’s Referral Training Session with the Surinamese Bar Association.

On Monday, the CCJ delegation paid a courtesy call on the Justice and Police Minister (Juspol), Harish Monorath, with Justice Saunders presenting him with a copy of the CCJ Original Jurisdiction Rules 2024, which have been translated into Dutch.

A statement issued by Juspol said that during the meeting a manual outlining the steps to be followed from the Surinamese court to the CCJ had also been translated.

A High Court judge has sentenced a former police officer to four years in jail after he was found guilty of trying to intimidate a woman into trading sex for her freedom.

Justice Renae McKay also imposed a two year probation on Shaquille Williamson, who had been fired after he was convicted of procuration on June 4. The unmarried father of two will also serve an additional year in prison if he violates the terms of his probation.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on July 5, 2023 when during the early hours of the morning the woman and her boyfriend were having sex on the hood of a car when they were startled by a patrol car’s flashing lights.

They scrambled to get dressed, and Williamson, who was in a marked patrol car, ran a name check on them.

The court heard that while he told the woman’s boyfriend that he had no outstanding matters, she had an outstanding warrant for an unpaid traffic ticket.

Williamson suggested that he could make the warrant go away if the woman went with him.

When she told him that she had just had sex with her boyfriend, he allegedly said, ‘I don’t care.’

The woman made a panicked call to Police Control Room while Williamson was talking to her boyfriend. A patrol unit came and Williamson was arrested.

But Williamson said that it was the woman who had suggested swapping sex for her freedom.

Justice McKay in handing down the sentence, said Williamson would have to live with the consequences of his actions, given the publicity surrounding the case.

But she said that a clear message needed to be sent to members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and other military, that to whom much is given, much is required.