Category: CANA News

The cricketing fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the death of Barbados’ National Hero, Sir Garry Sobers on Friday.

Sir Garry passed away at the age of 89 at his home in Highgate Gardens, 11 days shy of his birthday.

Considered as the greatest all-rounder in this sport’s history, his son Daniel Sobers, who was at his father’s side at the time of his death, said he had been ailing for some time.

‘His breathing had increased and we had him on oxygen. I couldn’t believe how powerful he is; he just refused to go.

The Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) say they have taken an important step toward working more closely together to help protect the Caribbean’s oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities from the growing impacts of climate change.

A meeting of the leadership of the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) organizations were held on Thursday and according to a statement issued Friday, they ‘discussed how to combine their knowledge, resources, and experience to tackle some of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges’.

The statement said the CRFM shared updates on several major projects that are helping Caribbean countries build stronger, more sustainable fisheries. It said that these initiatives improve marine planning, support renewable energy, strengthen local fishing communities, and promote gender equality in the fisheries sector.

‘One of the biggest topics of discussion was sargassum, the large amounts of brown seaweed that continue to wash up on Caribbean beaches. While sargassum can harm tourism, fishing, and marine ecosystems, both organizations agreed that it could also become an opportunity if safely transformed into useful products through a circular economy approach.’

The statement said that they also emphasised the need for more research, better coordination, and shared information to solve the problem effectively.

‘The meeting also highlighted the growing importance of Blue Carbon; the carbon stored in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses, which plays a key role in combating climate change.

‘It was noted that there has been a conversation in the region about the need to develop a Blue Carbon Policy to help Caribbean countries protect these valuable natural resources,’ the statement said, adding that another major priority discussed was improving access to climate and marine data.

‘Both organizations recognised that better information is essential for making smarter decisions, creating stronger policies, and helping Caribbean countries prepare for future climate challenges. They agreed that sharing data more openly will benefit governments, researchers, fishers, and coastal communities across the region.

‘Both the CRFM and CCCCC emphasised that stronger partnerships are essential for protecting the Caribbean’s marine resources and ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from healthy oceans,’ the statement said, noting that the partnership reflects a shared vision: a Caribbean where healthy oceans, thriving fisheries, resilient coastal communities, and climate-smart development go hand in hand.

Below is a statement issued by President of Cricket West Indies Dr Kishore Shallow on the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers.

‘There are moments in the story of a people when the life of one individual becomes woven into the hopes, dreams, and identity of generations. Today, the Caribbean mourns the passing of such an individual, The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers NH, AO, OCC, a son of Barbados whose extraordinary journey became part of the story of our region and whose brilliance carried the name of the West Indies with distinction across the world.

‘In the story of cricket, there are great players. There are champions. Then, there are those rare individuals who redefine the very meaning of greatness. Sir Garfield Sobers was the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen. His mastery of batting, bowling and fielding was unparalleled, but his true significance reached far beyond the boundary ropes.

‘He emerged from the Caribbean at a time when our region was finding its voice and asserting its place on the world stage. Through his excellence, he gave millions across our islands and in the diaspora, a renewed belief in what was possible. He showed that greatness was not confined by the size of our nations, the geography of our islands or the circumstances of our beginnings.

‘Sir Garfield Sobers became more than a sporting icon. He became a symbol of Caribbean excellence, resilience, and possibility. His achievements brought pride to Barbados, inspiration to the West Indies and admiration from every corner of the cricketing world.

‘As a young cricketer, I was fortunate to benefit from Sir Garfield Sobers’ contribution through the Sir Garfield Sobers International Under-19 Cricket Tournament. I remain grateful not only for that opportunity, but for the encouragement, wisdom and support he personally shared with me over the years. His kindness and influence will forever remain a treasured part of my journey.

‘Sir Garfield Sobers has completed his final innings, but his legacy will forever endure in the hearts of our region, and the story of the cricketing world.

‘On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, the Government and people of Barbados and all those across the world who mourn his passing.’

Antigua and Barbuda has written to United States legislator, Nancy Mace, of South Carolina regarding legislation she has introduced in the United States House of Representatives, indicating that there are several measures that need to be corrected.

The Third World Immigration Moratorium Act was tabled in the House of Representatives on Wednesday and includes Antigua and Barbuda among 40 countries that would be subject to broad immigration restrictions. But Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, in his letter to Mace and copied to several high-ranking members of the House, said that while Antigua and Barbuda fully respects the right of a legislator to propose legislation on immigration policies, he believes that any proposed measures affecting friendly countries, should be informed by accurate information and objective facts.

Sanders said that the Gaston Browne administration has repeatedly advised the United States government that the statement made about Antigua and Barbuda in Presidential Proclamation 10998 is factually incorrect.

The Proclamation states that Antigua and Barbuda ‘has historically had Citizenship by Investment without residency’ but Sanders said that Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme has always included a residency requirement and that this has been formally communicated to Washington on several occasions.

Under the CBI programme. Antigua and Barbuda grants citizenship to foreign investors in return for making a substantial investment in the island’s socio-economic development.

Ambassador Sanders also drew attention to a drafting error in the proposed legislation, which refers separately to ‘Antigua’ and ‘Barbuda’ as though they were two independent countries. The diplomat said that Antigua and Barbuda is a single sovereign state and that ‘the error illustrates the importance of ensuring that legislation affecting friendly nations is founded upon accurate and verified information’.

He also challenged the listing of Antigua and Barbuda in the same category as several countries facing armed conflict, prolonged economic instability or large-scale irregular migration.

Ambassador Sanders said that Antigua and Barbuda is an upper-middle-income country with one of the highest per capita incomes in the Caribbean. He said it is a stable parliamentary democracy founded upon the rule of law, with an independent judiciary and democratic institutions that have earned the confidence of its citizens and international partners alike.

Addressing the implication that Antigua and Barbuda presents immigration or security concerns comparable to those of the other countries listed in the proposed legislation, the Ambassador said that ‘the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States is longstanding and mutually beneficial.

‘United States citizens travel to Antigua and Barbuda without visas, many own homes and businesses in the country, and American investment has long been welcomed and protected under Antigua and Barbuda’s laws. The two countries cooperate closely in security, law enforcement, disaster response, education, tourism, trade and investment’

Sanders said that the movement of people between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States has, for decades, been orderly and lawful, noting that no citizen of Antigua and Barbuda has ever sought refugee status in the United States.

He said visa overstays have traditionally remained at little more than one per cent, and that Antigua and Barbuda has consistently cooperated with United States immigration authorities in accepting the prompt return of its nationals who are lawfully removed.

Ambassador Sanders has since invited Mace to reconsider the inclusion of Antigua and Barbuda in the proposed legislation and to ensure that any future consideration of measures affecting the country is informed by accurate and current information.

The death toll from the early morning vehicu;ar accident involving a truck and a minivan along the Trelawny leg of the North Coast Highway has climed to seven, health officials have confirmed.

Five of the victims died at the scene of the accident, while two of three injured passengers died at the Falmouth General Hospital from their injuries. The driver of the Toyota Regius bus is reported to be the lone survivor

The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.

Media reports said that the death toll in traffic crashes in Trelawny since the start of the year has risen to 20, five more than what had been recrded for the corresponding period last year.

out recovery operations while investigators work to determine the cause of the crash.

How do you tackle corruption in a country grappling with insecurity, weak institutions and widespread impunity? In Haiti, the government and the United Nations are betting on the country’s youth.

Corruption and related financial criminality come in many forms in the embattled Caribbean island nation, according to the regular quarterly report of the UN Secretary-General. They include money laundering, financial crimes, illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition, financing of armed groups, political and business collusion with gangs, non-transparent public contracting in security, customs, immigration and penitentiary services as well as impunity that enables corruption and organized criminal networks.

Recently, 60 students and young civil society leaders – selected from 180 applicants – took part in the first Summer School on Anti-Corruption, organized by Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) with support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC).

During an intensive week of lectures, interactive workshops and practical exercises, participants learned how to identify, prevent and report corruption.

Using real-life scenarios, they confronted ethical dilemmas, deciding whether to report corrupt practices depending on the role they had been assigned. They also practiced filing complaints through the ULCC’s anti-corruption hotline (5656), gaining firsthand experience with official reporting mechanisms.

For Adamson Junior Lavéus, the programme was transformative.

‘As a citizen, this activity enabled me to understand the phenomenon of corruption through its various manifestations: extortion, illicit enrichment, misappropriation of public assets, and bribery, among others,’ he said in a testimonial collected by UNDOC.

Beyond expanding his knowledge, the training reinforced his belief that everyone has a role to play.

‘Civic education is essential. It contributes to the empowerment of Haitian society and allows us to build our foundations on moral values.’

The programme’s success has sparked strong interest. This year, a second Summer School is being organized, attracting hundreds of applications within just a few days.

For Adrian Banu, UNDOC’s anti-corruption adviser in Haiti, the Summer School is far more than a training programme. In a country where more than half the population is under 25, it is an investment in the generation that will one day rebuild public institutions.

‘This is not work that will yield an impact in a year or two,’ he said in an interview with UN News. ‘It is work whose results might only be seen in 20 years, but it is work that can truly bring about profound societal change.’

The initiative forms part of a broader prevention strategy. With UNODC support, around 50 integrity clubs have already been established in schools across Haiti, where students take part in role-playing exercises, short plays and awareness campaigns highlighting the consequences of corruption and the importance of civic responsibility.

‘In doing so, young people are developing a genuine culture of integrity,’ Banu emphasized.

The strategy also focuses on reinforcing Haiti’s justice system.

In late May, with United Nations support, the authorities inaugurated two specialized judicial units: one dedicated to financial crime and corruption, and another focused on mass crimes, particularly sexual violence. Twenty-five specially trained magistrates have been appointed to investigate and prosecute these complex cases.

‘What can change the situation regarding impunity in Haiti is the creation of a system,’ Banu explained. ‘These judicial units are not a magic bullet, but rather a solution within a broader system.’

According to him, progress is already visible. Thanks to stronger cooperation between institutions, the ULCC has referred 68 investigation reports to judicial authorities over the past four to five years – more than during the previous 17 years combined.

UNODC is also helping strengthen protections for magistrates, witnesses and whistleblowers in an environment where gang violence makes investigations especially dangerous.

The agency is supporting the development of legislation to better protect those who report corruption.

‘When I had someone before me who wanted to blow the whistle, the first question was: ‘How can you protect me if I share something sensitive with you?” recalled Mr. Banu, a former police investigator in Romania.

Protecting magistrates remains another priority. Measures such as improving courthouse security and providing specialized equipment are under consideration, although no safeguard can fully eliminate the risks posed by Haiti’s current security situation.

For Banu, fighting corruption is ultimately a long-term undertaking. The young people being trained today could become tomorrow’s leaders, helping build institutions founded on transparency, accountability and integrity.

Drawing on more than thirteen years of anti-corruption experience, he points to Romania as proof that change is possible.

‘Thirty years ago, corruption was far more prevalent there,’ he said. While challenges remain, the country’s anti-corruption system has become ‘functional’.

That experience underpins his optimism for Haiti.

‘Progress – I would say it is possible, even in Haiti.’

The prosecution has filed an appeal against the ruling of a High Court judge who imposed an EC$8,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) fine on entertainer Harrison Horsford, better known as Jesse Fyah, after he was found guilty of two sexual offences committed against a young woman in 2020.

The Court ordered that Horsford to pay an EC$5,000 compensation award to the complainant following his conviction for serious indecency and an EC$3,000 fine on the charge of indecent assault.

But the state in its appeal is arguing that the punishment is unduly lenient and does not reflect the seriousness of the offences, each carrying a maximum prison term of up to five years. Horsford had remained in custody since May, when a jury convicted him on both counts after deliberating for less than an hour.

The court was told that on October, 27, 2020, that a woman, in her early twenties, and who had known Horsford for several years in what had been described as a casual relationship, had accepted a lift from Horsford, believing he was taking her home.

Instead, he drove to another location explaining that he needed to meet someone regarding a billboard. But the court heard no such meeting took place and that once there, Horsford allegedly began making sexual advances that the complainant repeatedly rejected.

The court heard that he kissed her against her will, grabbed her by the throat as she resisted, exposed and fondled her breasts, and forcibly touched her genital area while telling her she belonged to him.

Despite her repeated pleas to be taken home, Horsford instead ordered her out of the vehicle, leaving her on the roadside.

A passing motorist, who stopped after seeing the complainant, testified that she was crying, visibly shaken and holding her clothing together before asking to be taken to the Johnson Point Police Station, where she made a report.

Horsford denied committing the offences and in an unsworn statement from the dock, claimed he had simply offered the complainant a ride after seeing her standing in the rain. He told jurors they spoke amicably during the journey and that he had even offered to help her secure employment.

He said that thewoman had requested EC$3,000 from him, which he refused to provide and that he had dropped her off without incident. Horsford said he only learned of the allegations later that evening after receiving a Facebook message accusing him of rape. He said he responded by warning that legal action would follow if the false allegations continued.

But the jury rejected Horsford’s version of events and convicted him on both charges.

Justice Ann Marie Smith in delivering the sentennce said Horsford appeared to believe the complainant’s perceived sexual history entitled him to treat her as he did. The judge rejected that notion, saying that every woman has the right to refuse unwanted sexual advances and that consent must be respected regardless of past relationships or reputation.

President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has maintained that the Caribbean has lost a giant with the passing of former West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers.

Sir Garry, as he was affectionately called, passed away at the age of 89 on Friday.

Reflecting on the life of Sir Garry, a Barbados National Hero, Dr Ali said his death would be felt throughout the region and the world.

‘A giant has fallen. And the cricketing firmament seems a little dimmer today. The news of the passing of Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers has swept across the Caribbean, carrying with it a tide of grief that touches every shore. For we have not just lost a cricketer; we have lost an icon,’ Dr Ali said in a statement. ‘Sir Garry adorned the game of cricket with a flamboyance that was pure, uncut poetry. He defined what it was to play cricket the West Indian way. He was, in my humble estimation, the greatest all-rounder the game has ever known. His batting was pure genius; his fielding, especially close to the wicket, was breathtaking, and his bowling, whether pace or spin, was a master class in cunning and control.

‘His significance transcended the boundary. In the nascent, hopeful dawn of West Indian independence, Sir Garry was a colossus striding across a global stage, embodying the very essence of our West Indian identity. He carried the hopes of a region still finding its voice, and he roared with a style that was defiantly and, beautifully ours. His flair, his grace, and the class with which he conducted himself were a balm to the spirit of the Caribbean. For decades he was our champion, our talisman, our hero,’ he further added.

President Ali described Sir Garry as a ‘gentleman of the game’ and its ‘most glorious master’.

‘Guyana, with its rich cricketing heart, salutes this beloved son of Barbados and the wider West Indies. He belongs in the pantheon of great West Indians. He is the standard by which all others are measured, the foundation upon which our legends are built. He was a gentleman of the game; and the game’s most glorious master.

‘To his beloved family, Guyana offers its deepest condolences. To the people of Barbados, we share your immeasurable loss, for a jewel has been stolen from your crown. And to the cricketing world, which has lost a figure of mythic proportions, we say: cherish the memory of this supreme artist,’ Dr Ali added.

‘His spirit will forever dance in the sunlight. In the sound of leather on willow, in the roar of a packed stadium, in the dreams of a young boy or girl picking up a cricket ball for the first time, Sir Garry lives on.’

The cricketing fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the death of Barbados’ National Hero, Sir Garry Sobers on Friday.

Sir Garry passed away at the age of 89 at his home in Highgate Gardens, 11 days shy of his birthday.

Considered as the greatest all-rounder in this sport’s history, his son Daniel Sobers, who was at his father’s side at the time of his death, said he had been ailing for some time.

‘His breathing had increased and we had him on oxygen. I couldn’t believe how powerful he is; he just refused to go. ‘This morning his rate of breaths had increased, and it came to a point where it couldn’t increase anymore and he let go and he passed peacefully and he is now with Jackie, his other half in heaven at peace,’ Sobers said in an interview on Starcom Network.

‘But he put up a good fight. He is a very, very strong man, and he is deeply loved by his family and will be deeply missed.’

Sir Garfield St Auburn Sobers was born on July 28, 1936, and went on to become one of the greatest cricketers of all time.

He represented West Indies between 1954 and 1974 and played 93 Test matches, scoring 8032 runs at a spectacular average of 57.78.

He held the world record for the highest Test score of 365 not out for 36 years, before it was broken by Brian Lara in 1994.

Sobers also claimed 235 wickets at an average of 34.03 and an economy rate of 2.22.

By an act of Parliament in 1998, Sobers was named as one of the 11 National Heroes of Barbados.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Friday, July 17, 2026.

BRIDGETOWN – Sir Garry Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the cricket, has died.

PORT OF SPAIN -Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has been declared ‘persona non grata’ by the Venezuelan National Assembly in October last year, says she is ‘deeply touched’ to have receive a letter from Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations says it has been made aware of the ‘horrific report’ of human rights abuse resulting in the killing of at least 61 people, including 14 children during the period July 4-9.

PORT OF SPAIN – The Court of Appeal late Thursday night granted an interim stay after the state filed an urgent application seeking to suspend the decision of the Court that had earlier ordered the immediate release of prominent businessman, Dominic Hadeed and his wife, Genevieve, and placed under strict house arrest.

NASSAU – Prime Minister Philip Davis has welcomed the decision of the New York based global financial services, J.P. Morgan to open an officer in The Bahamas, saying ‘this is a statement of confidence.

SPORTS:

BRIDGETOWN – The cricketing fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the death of Barbados’ National Hero, Sir Garry Sobers on Friday.

GEORGETOWN -West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer is confident that the regional side will put up a much-improved batting showing against New Zealand in the remaining two One Day Internationals at Kensington Oval.

ST JOHN’S – All-rounder Justin Greaves and opening batsman Brandon King have been drafted into the West Indies squad for the final two One Day Internationals against New Zealand in Barbados.