Category: CANA News

Former foreign affairs minister, Peter David, Wednesday said he will launch a new political party on November 16, saying it is a first-rate movement inspired by dreams and determination as well as prayer and purpose.

David, an independent legislator, who has been a member of the two main political parties here, said as he announced plans for the new political entity this past year he has ‘done a lot of listening and observing, while at the same time refusing to participate in the politics of noise..

Peter David

‘My listening and observing have allowed me to renew my faith in the Grenadian people. who yes, have sometimes – too many times, been let down by their leaders, but remain faithful in showing their own way.’

David, an attorney said that his politics runs parallel to the ‘very history of our people, many times knocked down, but never knocked out.

‘Each time we fall down, we get back up; dust ourselves and then keep running. There is no adjournment on which we cannot speak; no statement we shall make that could be postponed,’ he said, adding ‘a people’s struggle never grows old. It just continues’.

David told his audience that the ‘bridge we are building to the future, starts in mobilising our communities and inspiring our youth’.

He said that a new movement was launched a year ago by ordinary people ‘ whose conscience of decency and fairness were stirred into action and mobilization.

‘That people’s movement, they have urged – must be given form and structure. And the vehicle they have invested in, must hit the road. And so, in the name of the people who have demanded it, I – as only one of the standard bearers – have the honor of announcing that on Sunday November 16th we start the harvest.

‘We are careful not to say the people are launching a party – because this is too limiting. It’s a first-rate movement inspired by dreams and determination; by prayer and purpose,’ David said, adding that on November 16, ‘we will formally unveil the vision’ of a ‘distinctively Grenadian project.

‘Let this be a moment in history – and yes to all the people who have repeatedly said it, and have wished it into being – this indeed must signal the beginning of everything,’ David said, adding ‘the polls are promising, but the future even more so.

‘We shall bring a different work ethic as we advocate a new sense of purpose. With faith and determination, we shall move together. This new politics must not be just about replacing personalities. It must be about promoting probabilities.’

The West Indies’ bowlers starred in an otherwise unimpressive performance to carry their team to a 14-run victory over hosts Bangladesh in the second T20I here on Wednesday and seal a rare series win.

Skipper Shai Hope and Alick Athanaze scored half centuries that put the regional side in a superb position to post a formidable total at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, but from 106 for one in the 12th over, the West Indies suffered yet another collapse to finish on just 149 for nine in their 20 overs.

Their fielders then dropped four catches, but spectacular work from their bowling trio of Romario Shepherd, who was named Player-of-the-Match, Akeal Hosein and Jason Holder, bailed them out of trouble, as they restricted Bangladesh to 135 for eight.

It gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 advantage in the best-of-three series and assured them of only their second T20I bilateral series win in their last nine encounters.

The victory was set up by their bowlers, whose efforts were all the more impressive considering the several opportunities that went abegging in the field.

Needing to score at a reasonable seven and a half runs an over on a good batting pitch, Bangladesh’s opening pair of Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan were pegged back from the start.

Hassan should have been dismissed in the second over with just three runs to his name, but Brandon King spilled the catch running back from cover point after the batsman miscued his pull off Holder.

It didn’t prove costly though, as Holder had him caught by King at extra cover in his next over, to leave Bangladesh 13 for one.

Captain Litton Das hit Jayden Seales for three boundaries in the following over, but was then given a reprieve on 20 when he was dropped by Sherfane Rutherford at midwicket off Shepherd’s bowling.

Fortunately for the Windies, Das only added three more runs before he was comprehensively bowled by Hosein to make the score 48 for two in the eighth over.

A diving Jayden Seales then dropped Towhid Hridoy at deep backward square leg after he scored just five, but he made amends two overs later by holding onto a stunning catch inches of the turf running in from deep midwicket, as Bangladesh slid to 85 for three in the 13th over.

Six runs short of his half century, Tanzid Hasan was put down by Alick Athanaze, who spilled an easy catch on the midwicket boundary.

Hasan eventually brought up his ninth T20I half century by slapping Shepherd through cover for four, but once Shepherd had him caught by King with Bangladesh still requiring 33 from 18 balls, the West Indies eased to victory.

Hasan made 61 off 48 balls, striking three sixes and three fours.

Shepherd then dismissed Jaker Ali for a pedestrian 17 off 18 balls, before Holder bowled Shamim Hossain for one and Hosein had Rishad Hossain caught at long off for a duck, to see the hosts crumble to 133 for seven, with just three balls remaining in the contest.

Hosein took 3-22, Shepherd claimed 3-29 and Holder 2-20.

Earlier, after choosing to bat, the West Indies recovered from the early loss of Brandon King for 1, courtesy of a 105-run partnership between Hope and Athanaze.

But once Athanaze, who made 52 off 33 balls, inclusive of five fours and three sixes, was dismissed by spinner Nasum Ahmed moments after reaching his second T20I half century, the West Indies lost their way.

Ahmed then picked up the wicket of the struggling Rutherford with his next delivery, and when Hope, who brought up his ninth T20 half century off 30 balls, spooned pacer Mustafizur Rahman to point to be out for 55 off 36 balls, the Windies fell to 112 for four in the 13th over.

Last match hero Rovman Powell scored just three and Jason Holder only made four, and it took the efforts of Roston Chase (17 not out) and Romario Shepherd, who made 13, to get them up to their eventual total.

Rahman was Bangladesh’s best bowler with 3-21, Rishad Hossain snared 2-20 and Nasum Ahmed 2-35.

The third and final T20I will be played on Friday.

West Indies defeated Bangladesh by 14 runs in the second T20 International here on Wednesday at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium.

Scores

WEST INDIES 149-9 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 55, Alick Athanaze 52, Roston Chase 17 not out, Romario Shepherd 13; Mustafizur Rahman 3-21, Rishad Hossain 2-20, Nasum Ahmed 2-35).

BANGLADESH 135-8 in 20 overs (Tanzid Hasan 61, Litton Das 23, Jaker Ali 17, Towhid Hridoy 12; Akeal Hosein 3-22, Romario Shepherd 3-29, Jason Holder 2-20).

President Nicolas Maduro has announced the ‘immediate’ suspension of energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, a few hours after his Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, said a formal proposal had been submitted to him to suspend the Energy Cooperation Framework Agreement with Port of Spain.

During his weekly television show on Monday night, Maduro accused Trinidad and Tobago of acting as the ‘aircraft carrier of the U.S. empire’ and said that he was left with no choice but to pull out of treaties signed with the country 10 years ago.

Nicolas Maduro

Maduro said that Trinidad and Tobago ‘ran out’ of gas before Venezuela had agreed to help it with the deal.

But Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has dismissed Venezuela’s suspension saying Port of Spain will continue to pursue its own energy and economic strategies.

‘Our future does not depend on Venezuela and never has. We have our plans and projects to grow our economy both within the energy and non-energy sectors,’ she added.

Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago first agreed to jointly drill for gas in 2018. However, the project has been long delayed and complicated by US sanctions on Venezuela.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the US supports the Trinidad government’s Dragon gas proposal but it would take steps to ensure it will not provide significant benefit to Maduro’s government.

The Dragon gasfield is reported to have 119 billion cubic metres (4.2 trillion cubic feet) of gas.

Last month, President Donald Trump ramped up US military presence in the Caribbean Sea ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser have also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

The United States military has carried out deadly air strikes in Caribbean waters over the past few weeks against what Washington alleges are Caracas-backed drug traffickers. The Venezuelan government denies the charge, accusing the administration of being a threat to the peace and security of the whole region.

Trinidad and Tobago has come out in full support for the US action, with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar already indicating that the drug traffickers should be killed ‘violently’.

On Monday, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto told the United Nations General Assembly that the US has an ‘illegal and completely immoral military threat hanging over our heads’.

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew will pay an official visit to Taiwan next month, according to an official statement issued here on Tuesday.

It said that Prime Minister Drew will meet with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-Te and that the ‘visit is aimed at further deepening the longstanding diplomatic relations between both nations’.

St. Kitts and Nevis is among a handful of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries with diplomatic relations with China, which China regards as a renegade province. The other CARICOM countries with diplomatic relations are Belize, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Haiti.

The statement said that Prime Minister Drew’s visit will include high-level meetings with senior government officials and key development partners, as well as engagements that will explore new avenues for cooperation and investment.

It said that the ‘visit underscores the enduring partnership and mutual respect that have characterized the St. Kitts and Nevis-Taiwan relationship since its establishment in 1983,’ noting that over the past four decades, ‘the two nations have collaborated across a wide range of areas, including healthcare, education, agriculture, technology, and sustainable development, all vital pillars of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Sustainable Island State Agenda.’

The statement gave no dates for the visit to Taiwan.

The Guyana police Tuesday said they have found the clothing won by the person, who allegedly planted some form of explosive device that killed a six-year-old child and injured several others on Sunday at a gas station in the capital.

The police have also released an updated photograph of the suspect after indicating that they had obtained a positive identification of the main suspect. However, they have not released the name of the suspect, but in the updated photograph of the man, he could be seen wearing a hat similar to the one later found by police with a blue t-shirt and black pants.

The main suspect was captured on CCTV footage placing a black bag close to cooking gas cylinders moments before the explosion that killed a six-year-old girl and injured her family members.

Surveillance video recordings also captured the man, said to be a Spanish speaking foreign national, attempting earlier to place the bag near the fuel tanks, but being prevented from doing so by a staffer at the gas station.

In a statement on Monday night, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said investigators have made significant progress with the arrest of three individuals, including a Venezuelan national. The three, according to the police, have been taken into custody and are assisting with the investigation.

A Wanted Bulletin has since been issued for the suspect, who is believed to be a Spanish speaking foreign national and the police are urging members of the public who may have seen or interacted with the suspect or who may have information on his whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or call 911 immediately.

The police said the scene of the explosion is still being assessed with damage being observed to the Mobil mini-mart, storage bond, and four fuel pumps, as well as to several nearby buildings.

The police said that experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory have collected samples, including plastic and metal fragments which are being analysed to determine their origin and evidential value.

With the investigations ongoing, the police said every effort is being made to bring those responsible to justice and to safeguard the lives and property of all citizens.

President Irfaan Ali has held talks in with Saudi Arabia with that country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Monday as the two countries seek to deepen their relations, according to a government statement issued here

The statement said that both leaders agreed to establish an implementation and follow-up mechanism to ensure that the expanding partnership translates into material results.

It said the discussions focused on advancing cooperation in several strategic areas, including opportunities in Hajj, energy, food security, biodiversity, sports, infrastructure, investment and development cooperation.

‘President Ali and the Crown Prince reaffirmed their shared commitment to translating potential opportunities into projects that directly benefit citizens of both nations,’ the statement said, adding that ‘the strengthened dialogue builds upon a growing foundation of collaboration between Guyana and Saudi Arabia over recent years’.

It said that the two countries have already forged significant partnerships through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).

In 2023, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh signed two development loan agreements worth US$150 million to fund the ‘Infrastructural Development Works for the Housing Sector Project’ and the construction of the Wismar Bridge project.

In 2022, Guyana and Saudi Arabia also signed an air services agreement, paving the way for direct air transport connectivity and greater movement of people and goods between the Middle East and South America.

The statement said additionally, cooperation in agriculture, particularly through hydroponics and food security initiatives, continues to advance as part of Guyana’s wider effort to position itself as a regional food hub.

It said that at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Saudi Arabia summit held in 2023, President Ali led discussions on the establishment of a US$25 million hydroponics facility for the Caribbean region, and in recognising the importance of the many challenges faced, Saudi Arabia set aside a sum of US$2.5 billion for the development of the region.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

KINGSTON – Jamaica braces for the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

CARACAS – President Nicolas Maduro has announced the ‘immediate’ suspension of energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, a few hours after his Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, said a formal proposal had been submitted to him to suspend the Energy Cooperation Framework Agreement with Port of Spain.

PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that her country will not be ‘held to ransom’ as she accused some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries of siding with Venezuela over the ongoing security situation in the region.

GEORGETOWN – Police say they have detained three people in connection with the explosion at a gas station that killed one person and injured several others on Sunday night, but that the main suspect is still on the run.

SANTIAGO -The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has updated its growth projections for the region, estimating that gross domestic product (GDP) will rise 2.4 per cent this year and slightly reduced to 2.3 per cent next year.

SPORTS:

CHATTOGRAM – Having lost their last three T20I series, the West Indies are trying to turn things around against Bangladesh, says veteran player Rovman Powell.

GEORGETOWN – Respected veteran cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira believes it is time for Cricket West Indies (CWI) to replace West Indies’ batting coach Floyd Reifer after a string of woeful performances by the team’s batsmen.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that her country will not be ‘held to ransom’ as she accused some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries of siding with Venezuela over the ongoing security situation in the region.

‘CARICOM is proving to be unreliable partners in some regards. Some of our CARICOM partners have chosen Venezuela over Trinidad and Tobago and that is something we need to remember,’ Persad-Bissessar said, during a live interview on the Crime Watch programme with Ian Alleyne on Monday night.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar appearing on the Crime Watch programme on Monday night

But she told viewers that no regional government or organization would ‘pressure or blackmail’ her administration in its security efforts.

Earlier this month, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that regional leaders had discussed several issues on the regional agenda, including the security build-up in parts of the Caribbean and its potential impact on member states.

It said that the position at that meeting was not endorsed by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Last month, President Donald Trump ramped up US military presence in the Caribbean Sea ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser have also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

The United States military has carried out deadly air strikes in Caribbean waters over the past few weeks against what Washington alleges are Caracas-backed drug traffickers. The Venezuelan government denies the charge, accusing the administration of being a threat to the peace and security of the whole region.

Trinidad and Tobago has come out in full support for the US action, with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar already indicating that the drug traffickers should be killed ‘violently’.

Responding to the announcement by the Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, that Trinidad and Tobago has been colluding with Washington to destabilise the South American country, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar that this has never been the case.

On Monday, Rodríguez said she would recommend to President Nicolás Maduro that all energy agreements between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago be suspended, as the US Navy destroyer USS Gravely arrived here last Sunday for joint training exercises.

Persad-Bissessar told viewers to the programme that her government, which came to office on April 28 this year, has never engaged in any communication or negotiations with the Venezuelan authorities regarding energy matters and has not received any formal notice about suspending bilateral energy cooperation.

‘And I will share with you, Ian, and I stand by my words, no one, whether it is Venezuela, CARICOM, or any other entity, no one will pressure or blackmail my government into retreating in the fight against drug cartels.

‘We have no plans for Trinidad and Tobago to be used as a base for any attack on Venezuela. There has been no such request from the US government,’ she said, adding that while her administration stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela, it will continue to support international efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, illegal firearms trade, and human smuggling across the region.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said that Trinidad and Tobago faces unique security challenges, including a spiraling murder rate and transnational criminal networks, insisting that ‘there is no zone of peace here’ given the country’s crime situation.

She said that the Parliament will meet on October 31 to vote on the government’s proposal to ‘extend’ the current state of emergency (SoE), that was called on July 18 to deal with the crime situation and extended on July 28 by a further three months until late October.

Respected veteran cricket commentator Dr Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira believes it is time for Cricket West Indies (CWI) to replace West Indies’ batting coach Floyd Reifer after a string of woeful performances by the team’s batsmen.

Perreira has suggested that legendary West Indies opener, Desmond Haynes take over from Reifer ahead of the team’s tour of New Zealand next month, where they will play five T20Is, three ODIs and three Test matches.

With the regional team’s batters continuing to falter in all formats, especially in Tests, he said Reifer had failed to produce results.

Perreira said Haynes, who formed one of the best opening partnerships in the sport’s history with Gordon Greenidge in the 1980s and 90s, was the perfect fit for the job.

Haynes, a Barbadian, played 116 Tests for the West Indies, scoring 7487 runs at an average of 42.29. After retiring from cricket, he served as the West Indies’ lead selector, head coach of the Barbados Tridents, and currently serves on the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee.

Desmond Haynes

‘I certainly would like to suggest, due to what has happened since the start of the international series against Australia, our batting has struggled since then, that Desmond Haynes be considered by the West Indies to go to New Zealand as the batting coach.

‘Desmond Haynes has a great track record in New Zealand, and his background says it all when he interacts with players,’ Perreira told the St Lucia Times.

‘But we really must bite the bullet at this time. [Floyd] Reifer has had his run. He has not produced. I’m not being unfair. I think I have a majority of Caribbean people and commentators who will support the inclusion of Haynes to New Zealand.

‘Clive Lloyd is on record as saying when Haynes was made chairman of selectors, he was given the wrong job. He should have been given this appointment as batting coach. Let’s see if the West Indies board will think along these lines and make the appropriate adjustments,’ he added.

Additionally, Perreira said acquiring the services of former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin to the coaching unit would also assist the West Indies.

He said Franklin’s knowledge would ‘improve fielding and catching, which has been at a very low level.’