Category: CANA News

The Bermuda government is urging the public not to use several products marketed to men experiencing erectile dysfunction or seeking enhanced sexual performance and claim to contain natural ingredients.

The Ministry of Health said that testing conducted by the Government Laboratory has confirmed that these products contain one or more prescription only drugs that are not declared on the product labels.

‘Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our community,’ said Health Minister, Kim Wilson, adding ‘these products are being marketed as natural remedies, but they contain undisclosed prescription only drugs that can cause serious harm, especially for people with underlying conditions or those taking other medications.

‘I urge anyone who has purchased these items to stop using them immediately and to speak with their doctor if they have experienced any side effects. If you still have these products at home, please take them to a pharmacy for safe disposal,’ Wilson said.

According to the government the affected products are Butterfield’s 100% Organic Men’s All Night Pill (4 film coated tablets), Butterfield’s 100% Organic Men’s Black Leopard Male Enhancer Honey (20 g × 10 sachets), Butterfield’s 100% Organic Electrifying Royal Energy Honey (15 g × 10 sachets) and Butterfield’s 100% Organic Feel Good Electrifying Gummies (10 gummies)

The ministry said that the possible side effects include prolonged or painful erections requiring urgent medical attention as well as sudden loss of vision, sudden hearing loss or ringing in the ear and severe hypotension, especially when combined with nitrates.

The ministry said that serious allergic reactions and heart related events, including heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat are other possible side effects.

‘Anyone who has experienced side effects after using these products should seek medical advice from their doctor. In a medical emergency, call 911 immediately,’ the ministry said, adding that the ‘Government Environmental Health Officers continue to monitor this matter and urge members of the public to exercise caution when purchasing products that claim to treat erectile dysfunction or enhance sexual performance, particularly those marketed as ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ remedies.’

The ministry said other products labelled as ‘Royal Honey’ have also been found to be adulterated.

Belize has launched its Basic Needs Trust Fund Eleventh Programme (BNTF 11), reaffirming a shared commitment to reducing poverty, strengthening community resilience and improving the quality of life for vulnerable Belizeans.

‘The Basic Needs Trust Fund has consistently advanced several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. When communities gain access to essential infrastructure and services, they are better positioned to improve livelihoods, build resilience, and break cycles of poverty that can persist across generations,’ said Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Dr. Osmond Martinez.

‘You cannot reduce inequality unless development intentionally reaches vulnerable populations. That is precisely why the Basic Needs Trust Fund remains so relevant,’ he added.

Under BNTF 11, Belize has been allocated more than US$5.2 million to support six sub-projects including four in education and two in water for the four-year project cycle.

The programme launch also celebrated more than two decades of BNTF’s impact in Belize and showcased stories from beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed through investments in education, water and sanitation, and community infrastructure.

‘For more than 45 years, BNTF has translated the promise of poverty reduction into tangible results for communities across the Caribbean. Here in Belize, the programme has strengthened schools, expanded access to safe water and sanitation, improved community infrastructure and created opportunities for people to learn, work and thrive,’ said Dr. Isaac Solomon, Vice President (Operations), at the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

‘Through BNTF 11, we are renewing our commitment to building stronger, more resilient and more inclusive communities,’ said Solomon.

The BNTF 11 was launched in partnership with the CDB and the Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF) and attended by various stakeholders.

Over the past 25 years, BNTF has financed 79 community sub-projects in Belize, representing investments of approximately US$23.79 million. These include 47 projects supporting education, human resource development and livelihoods, 32 projects focused on water and sanitation systems, and three projects that improved community access and drainage infrastructure.

Solomon said that the programme’s success has always been rooted in strong partnerships between governments, communities and development partners.

‘Community infrastructure delivers its greatest impact when it is paired with opportunities for people to earn, learn and thrive. By placing communities at the centre of project design and implementation, BNTF ensures that investments are responsive, inclusive and sustainable,’ he said.

BNTF 11 forms part of CDB’s broader commitment to reducing poverty and transforming lives through resilient, sustainable and inclusive development. Across the Caribbean, the programme continues to support investments that improve education, water and sanitation, community infrastructure and livelihoods while strengthening countries’ capacity to respond to climate change, natural hazards and other development challenges.

Scoreboard of the third and final One Day International between West Indies Women and Ireland Women at Bready Cricket Club here on Wednesday.

WEST INDIES WOMEN

*Hayley Matthews c +Hunter b Prendergast 6

Realeanna Grimmond b J Maguire 14

Stafanie Taylor run out 105

+Shemaine Campbelle run out 4

Jannillea Glasgow run out 1

Deandra Dottin st +Hunter b Dempsey 21

Jahzara Claxton c +Hunter b A Maguire 30

Aaliyah Alleyne b Dempsey 33

Afy Fletcher b J Maguire 0

Ashmini Munisar b Prendergast 7

Karishma Ramharack not out 5

Extras (lb3, nb1, w27) 31

TOTAL (all out; 50 overs) 257

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-41, 3-47, 4-48, 5-82, 6-155, 7-205, 8-210, 9-224, 10-257.

Bowling: Prendergast 10-0-37-2, Dempsey 10-0-61-2, A Maguire 10-0-50-1, J Maguire 10-0-44-2, McCartney 5-0-32-0, Little 5-0-30-0.

IRELAND WOMEN

Sarah Forbes lbw b Glasgow 2

*Gaby Lewis c Dottin b Fletcher 50

+Amy Hunter c Matthews b Fletcher 30

Orla Prendergast c +Campbelle b Matthews 8

Rebecca Stokell run out 14

Leah Paul st +Campbelle b Fletcher 32

Louise Little b Ramharack 23

Georgina Dempsey b Matthews 1

Jane Maguire b Ramharack 6

Aimee Maguire lbw b Ramharack 13

Kia McCartney not out 1

Extras (b4, lb3, nb1, w5) 13

TOTAL (all out; 43.1 overs) 193

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-81, 3-86, 4-95, 5-129, 6-158, 7-169, 8-175, 9-190, 10-193.

Bowling: Glasgow 6-0-21-1, Dottin 5-1-19-0, Alleyne 1-0-15-0, Matthews 10-1-37-2, Ramharack 6.1-0-33-3, Fletcher 10-1-33-3, Munisar 5-0-28-0.

Toss: Ireland Women elected to field.

Result: West Indies Women won by 64 runs to win the three-match series 3-0.

Player-of-the-Match: Stafanie Taylor.

Player-of-the-Series: Hayley Matthews.

Umpires: Claire Polosak, Roly Black.

TV Umpire: Gareth Morrison.

Reserve Umpire: Jareth McCready

Match Referee: Phillip Thompson

Stafanie Taylor cracked a second successive century and West Indies’ spinners dismantled Ireland Women’s batting lineup to see them complete a clean sweep of their One Day International series via a comfortable 64-run victory here on Wednesday.

Taylor, who scored an unbeaten, even 100 in the previous match on Sunday, cracked 105 to rebuild the visitors’ innings and get them up to a competitive 257 in 50 overs at Bready Cricket Club after they were sent in to bat.

Spinners Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack and Hayley Matthews then shared eight wickets between them, as they skittled out the home side for 193 in 43.1 overs after they had made a promising start.

The result gave the Windies Women a commanding 3-0 series win, their third straight bilateral ODI series win against Ireland.

Despite having already wrapped up the series with Sunday’s victory, the West Indies made just one change to that side, with Ashmini Munisar replacing Shawnisha Hector.

Ireland’s decision to send the visitors in to bat paid immediate dividends when Hayley Matthews, who scored two centuries in the previous matches, was dismissed by Orla Prendergast with only seven runs on the board.

Taylor joined Realeanna Grimmond and added 34 runs before the latter was bowled by Jane Maguire for a patient 14 off 42 balls.

When both Shemaine Campbelle and Jannillea Glasgow were run out for the addition of just seven runs, West Indies Women were in trouble at 48 for four.

Tax administrators and revenue management experts from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping will meet here later this month, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat announced on Wednesday.

It said that 27th General Assembly and Technical Conference of the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) will take place from July 27-31 under the theme ‘Future-Ready CARICOM Tax Administration – Smart, Data-Driven and AI-Enabled for Sustainable Revenue’.

The Secretariat said that the events will bring together representatives of CARICOM member administrations as well as regional and international partners to examine the future of tax administration in an increasingly digital and data-driven world.

It said that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), one of the 24 member administrations of COTA, will host the General Assembly and Technical Conference and that matters for discussion at the Technical Conference include how technology, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence can strengthen tax administration, improve compliance, enhance taxpayer services, and support efficient and sustainable revenue mobilisation across the Community.

A High-Level Regional Meeting on Tax and Development, which will be held in collaboration with the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other regional and international partners in the taxation arena, will also be held during the week.

The Secretariat said that meeting will provide a strategic forum for dialogue on opportunities and challenges confronting CARICOM economies and their tax systems in an evolving global tax landscape.

‘The staging of the COTA 27th General Assembly and Technical Conference, reinforces a shared commitment to build resilient, efficient and future-ready tax administrations that can support sustainable development throughout the Caribbean Community,’ the CARICOM Secretariat added.

While acknowledging his team’s strength in chasing down totals, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has pointed out that the regional side needs to also be able to win matches when batting first.

His comments have come ahead of the crucial third One Day International against New Zealand, with the series level at 1-1.

The Windies comfortably chased down New Zealand’s total of 267 in the opening match at Providence Stadium after winning the toss and sending the visitors in to bat, but were then bundled out for a paltry 138 in the following match at the same venue after batting first.

Speaking in a pre-match interview on Wednesday, Sammy said the Windies needed to be a better-balanced side which could perform in all scenarios.

‘It seems like whoever wins the toss looks to bowl first, but we have to become a team that can set totals and also defend it and we’re working on that. ‘We just need to apply that same mindset that we have in the chase, whether it be a turning wicket, which is what we’re faced with now in Guyana, but it is something that we really have to get better at and making better decisions when the challenge comes from the bowlers,’ Sammy said.

The head coach said he expected a better batting performance from his side in a pivotal game three.

He said with the final two matches set to be played at Kensington Oval, it was important that the Windies travel to Barbados with a 2-1 series lead.

‘I think we all know what the big difference was between game one and two; we didn’t bat as well as we should have in conditions that we are quite familiar with.

‘So it’s important for us as a batting group to be a little bit more aware of the situation and assess a little faster as to what is required on the surface and what is a good total on that surface. Yes, the conditions are challenging, but if we stick to the process of how we go about doing things, we give ourselves a better chance of executing our batting plans,’ Sammy said.

‘The bowling was good, we made them fight for the total, but we all saw if we had put a better score on the board we would have been in a better position to win.

‘…Trusting the process is something we’ve been preaching, and home success is really one of the things we really want to improve on…Apart from the Sri Lanka series that was rain-affected, we’ve had a good record at home, so we want to keep that record and we do that by trying to go into Barbados one up and trying to be better in Barbados and give ourselves a better chance of qualifying [for the 2027 Cricket World Cup] and winning the series, which is the main objective,’ he added.

An emotional Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has publicly thanked Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries for their humanitarian aid to the South American country following the June 24 double earthquake that killed thousands of people and left several others homeless.

CARICOM member states, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Haiti, have dispatched 88 containers of emergency supplies, medical specialists, and equipment. The joint effort was loaded and shipped from GuyanaRodriguez says the regional response reflects the strong bonds of friendship shared across the Caribbean and as she inspected the relief supplies on Tuesday, Rodriquez, speaking through an interpreter said she was deeply moved by the assistance provided through CARICOM. Listen to audio

‘I am moved because I am among CARICOM countries, countries of our Caribbean, who with great effort coordinated by Guyana have all sent aid to Venezuela. I want to thank the prime ministers, President Irfan Ali, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the President of Suriname, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, of St. Kitts and Nevis, of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister of Belize.

‘I also thank St. Lucia Antigua and Dominica, well, for all this effort to support our people. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the Venezuelan people, I thank you for this support you are providing to our country,’ she said.

The Acting head of state said that the humanitarian assistance is a powerful demonstration of regional cooperation and brotherhood.

‘Venezuela is in your hearts, but we know that you are also in our hearts because at all times we have maintained our close ties of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood. So on behalf of the government, thank you.

‘Haiti, who also sent doctors, 35 doctors and a field hospital. We spoke about how Haiti will always be with Venezuela and Venezuela will always be with Haiti. It is marked in our history and with that commitment to where we come from and who we are when we set our course toward the future,’ Rodriquez added.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Tuesday that nearly three weeks after the devastating earthquakes, the health response in Venezuela is entering a critical early recovery phase focused on restoring essential health services, strengthening referral networks and preventing secondary public health emergencies.

According to PAHO’s latest Situation Report, which provides an overview of the evolving response, and the Organization’s accompanying Public Health Situation Analysis for Venezuela, the earthquakes have claimed 4,333 lives, left 16,740 people injured, displaced 17,907 people and damaged 38 health facilities.

PAHO said that while emergency medical care and rapid assessments helped save lives in the immediate aftermath, the priority is now shifting to restoring health services, rehabilitating damaged facilities and ensuring people continue to receive essential care as recovery begins.

PAHO said that as the response transitions into this new phase, it continues to support the Ministry of Health, including through technical cooperation and the coordination of the Health Cluster, which brings together 110 organizations involved in the health response and is co-led by PAHO and the International Rescue Committee.

West Indies Women defeated Ireland Women by 64 runs in the third and final One Day International at Bready Cricket Club here on Wednesday.

Scores

WEST INDIES WOMEN 257 in 50 overs (Stafanie Taylor 105, Aaliyah Alleyne 33, Jahzara Claxton 30, Deandra Dottin 21, Realeanna Grimmond 14; Orla Prendergast 2-37, Jane Maguire 2-44, Georgina Dempsey 2-61).

IRELAND WOMEN 193 in 43.1 overs (Gaby Lewis 50, Leah Paul 32, Amy Hunter 30, Louise Little 23, Rebecca Stokell 14, Aimee Maguire 13; Afy Fletcher 3-33, Karishma Ramharack 3-33, Hayley Matthews 2-37).

A financial initiative developed by the Grenada-based Climate-Smart Agriculture Compliant (C-SAC) has been officially selected as one of the top 13 global finalists for the 2026 Global AgriInno Challenge (GAC).

In Hangzhou, China, the C-SAC will compete for up to US$$30,000 in seed funding and the prestigious opportunity to showcase its blockchain-powered solution at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Science and Innovation Forum in Rome this October.

Science Advisor to the North East Farmers Organisation (NEFO), Steve Maximay, has described the selection of C-SAC’s groundbreaking AgTech solution, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Compliant (CSAC) tool and protocol as a major victory for Caribbean agricultural innovation.

Developed by Maximay, C-SAC represents a paradigm shift in how smallholder farmers are compensated for ecological stewardship, noting that historically, traditional commodity markets have compensated farmers strictly for crop yields, offering zero financial rewards for the vital, heavy-lifting ecological work demanded by international climate treaties.

‘The best way to encourage adaptation and have people adopt it is by attachings a financial incentive at the end,’ said Maximay.

‘We have found a proven mechanism to reward farmers… which is going to come from the climate justice and just transition funds that we have been able to negotiate. This is a shift from climate vulnerability to real, sustainable abundance,’ he added.

Stopping greenwashing and triggering the ‘Climate Premium’ previously adopted by St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) as their de facto climate-smart mechanism, C-SAC operates as a strict auditing protocol.

The tool evaluates farms across five operational arms, namely resource conservation, energy use, safety, biodiversity support, and greenhouse gas reduction. To achieve C-SAC certification, a farm’s output must meet an absolute baseline score of 40 out of 100 points, effectively filtering out greenwashing

Maxmay said that C-SAC’s true breakthrough lies in its digital architecture. He said utilising a secure, blockchain-based distributed ledger and smart contracts, the system facilitates an automated, mathematically guaranteed ‘Climate Premium’.

‘At the exact moment of harvest, farmers receive the base commodity price from buyers, simultaneously paired with a 10 to 20 per cent Climate Premium top-up wired directly to their wallets.

‘Crucially, this premium is not funded by local consumers, but is instead funneled directly from global just transition and climate justice reserves to the grassroots level.’

Maximay said that representing the Caribbean on the Global Stage, the C-SAC Caribbean Programme, spearheaded by NEFO, aims to scale this mechanism to approximately 3,000 smallholder farmers across Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it is providing millions of US dollars to Grenada through a consortium of development partners as the island develops its energy sector.

It said that the funding will support the installation of a utility scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and that it marks a decisive step in strengthening grid stability and advancing the nation’s transition towards cleaner, renewable energy.. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy, Peron Johnson, said the BESS represents a transformative investment that will significantly strengthen the reliability and resilience of the island’s electricity grid, facilitate the increased integration of renewable energy, and support the national objective of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.

‘This project demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in advancing Grenada’s climate resilience, energy security, and sustainable economic development, and brings us another step closer to achieving a cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient energy future for all Grenadians,’ said Johnson, expressing the country’s ‘sincere appreciation’ to the CDB and ‘our valued development partners’.

The implementation of the BESS will be undertaken by Grenada Electricity Services Limited (GRENLEC) under a subcontracting arrangement designed to strengthen national operational capacity and enhance the country’s electricity infrastructure.

The project forms a core component of a broader energy sector investment effort supporting resilience, reliability, and renewable energy integration. The initiative also aligns with CDB’s Strategic Plan 2026-2035, which outlines a strong commitment to building resilient energy systems across the Caribbean through innovative investments.

The CDB said that through its Special Funds Resources, it is channeling contributions from development partners, including a combined a three million US dollar grant from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the European Union (EU), as well as a US$5.7 million loan from the government of Grenada under the Supporting Resilient Green Energy (SURGE) in the Caribbean Programme.

The World Bank, working in close collaboration with the CDB, is providing parallel financing for a compatible BESS installation and associated grid upgrades, ensuring seamless integration and reinforcing Grenada’s long term grid modernisation strategy.

‘The Caribbean Development Bank is proud to support an initiative that reflects what is possible when development partners and national institutions work together with a shared vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future. We look forward to seeing the long term impact this investment will have on Grenada’s energy security and climate smart development,’ said . L. O’Reilly Lewis, CDB’s Director of Projects.

Programme Manager – Energy at the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States and the OECS, Kyle Farnum said, reliable energy is the backbone of resilient economies.

‘With this Battery Energy Storage System project, the European Union is supporting Grenada not only in expanding renewable energy, but in ensuring that clean power is available when it is needed most. This is part of a comprehensive partnership between the EU and Grenada on energy transition encompassing different technologies, in line with the EU’s Global Gateway initiative.’

The UK Development Director to the Caribbean and Executive Director to the Caribbean Development Bank, Tom Coward, said London is pleased to work alongside the Grenada government, the CDB and other partners to support battery energy storage in Grenada.

‘This investment delivers on our ambition to support resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the Caribbean. Energy storage is critical to maintaining grid stability, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy, and strengthening long-term energy security.

‘For small island states, increased storage capacity is a vital step in reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while supporting climate resilience, sustainable economic growth, and economic securit,’ Coward said.

Underscoring Canada’s continued investment in climate-smart development across the region, Brenda Wills, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, said, her country is proud to support Grenada’s efforts to strengthen energy resilience and advance climate-smart development.

‘Through the Supporting Resilient Green Energy (SuRGE) programme, Canada is partnering with the Caribbean Development Bank, and other regional and international institutions, to advance climate mitigation and strengthen energy resilience across the Caribbean.

‘Our US$5.7 million investment in this battery energy storage project reflects Canada’s commitment to practical, climate-smart solutions that improve grid stability, reduce climate risks, and support sustainable growth.’