Category: CANA News

The 121st Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED – Agriculture) has been hailed a success, with regional leaders agreeing to three landmark measures designed to transform intra-regional trade and strengthen food security across the Caribbean.

Chairman of the meeting, Barbados’ Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir, said the decisions taken would empower farmers, agribusinesses, and regional supply chains.

Among the agreements reached were: a pre-clearance mechanism for goods, aimed at simplifying and harmonising customs processes to allow freer movement of goods within CARICOM; a regional risk analysis framework, ensuring clarity, transparency, and consistency in how agricultural risk assessments are conducted, reducing barriers to trade; and an e-agriculture strategy, enabling electronic sharing of market information and the online marketing of agricultural goods, creating more efficient regional markets.

Minister Weir noted that the breakthroughs directly support CARICOM’s goal of cutting the region’s extra-regional food import bill.

‘These three agreements represent significant progress for CARICOM. They will enable smoother, more efficient trade flows between our member states while strengthening the framework for agricultural development across the region, he said. ‘In addition, they directly support our collective objective of reducing the region’s food import bill from extra-regional sources by 25 per cent by the year 2030. This target, which we set together as a region, can now be achieved through the measures adopted at this meeting.’

Weir said the pre-clearance mechanism for goods ‘represents an historic achievement for CARICOM, as it removes long-standing obstacles to inter-regional trade’.

‘By easing trade among member states, we are giving our farmers, producers, and traders the ability to compete more effectively, while strengthening regional supply chains,’ he said.

He further explained that the agreement on regional risk eliminates unnecessary barriers and ensures that risk assessments are conducted in a consistent and balanced way that supports regional trade rather than hinders it.

‘For too long, CARICOM has been constrained by barriers that limited the free movement of goods among ourselves, while our food import bill continued to grow,’ he said. ‘By addressing these challenges head-on, COTED – Agriculture has taken decisive steps toward ensuring food and nutrition security for our people, reducing our dependence on external markets, and strengthening our sovereignty.’

The meeting, which formed part of Caribbean Week of Agriculture in St. Kitts and Nevis, brought together ministers, officials, and technical experts from across the Community. Weir commended their spirit of cooperation, stressing that the outcomes prove ‘when we work together with a common purpose, we can deliver transformative outcomes for our region.’

He added, ‘The decisions taken in St. Kitts and Nevis are historic. They will shape the future of regional trade, empower our farmers and agribusinesses, and create opportunities for our people. This is what regional integration is about – building a stronger Caribbean Community that can thrive in the global economy while ensuring prosperity and food security for all.’

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency on Friday released new information it deems to be the ‘criminal history’ and ‘immigration history’ of alleged undocumented Guyanese national Ian Andre Roberts, who was serving as Des Moines, Iowa’s school superintendent at the time of his September 26 arrest.

ICE said when officials of the agency approached Roberts, he identified himself, then sped off, abandoned his vehicle, and hid in a brushy area about 200 metres away, where ICE officers located him with help from Iowa State Patrol officers.

Roberts was charged on October 2 with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.

‘Roberts’ rap sheet and immigration history reveal a long record of criminal conduct in the United States,’ it said. ‘He should never have been serving in a role overseeing children in Iowa’s largest school district.’

ICE said Robert’s criminal record includes charges for criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal possession of narcotics, criminal possession of a forgery instrument and possession of a forged instrument in New York on July 3, 1996; a charge, on November 13, 1998, for third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle in Queens, New York, which was dismissed July 6, 1999; and a November 1, 2012 conviction for reckless driving, unsafe operation and speeding in Maryland.

ICE said Roberts was charged on February 3, 2020 for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (having a loaded firearm outside his home or business); third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (an ammunition feeding device); and fourth-degree weapon charges.

‘A document from February 4, 2020, indicates that the second-degree criminal possession charge was inchoate,’ ICE said.

On January 20, 2022, it said the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania convicted Roberts of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.

On September 26, 2025, ICE said Roberts was arrested with a Glock 9mm pistol and a fixed-blade hunting knife in his possession. He also had US$3,000 in cash, the immigration enforcement agency charged.

On October 2, 2025, it said Roberts was criminally charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.

ICE said Roberts’ immigration history includes two visas, four green card applications (for permanent residency) and ‘subsequent denials, and several trips.’

ICE said Roberts, on June 1, 1994, entered the United States at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York on a B-2 non-immigrant visa.

He was classified as ‘a visitor for pleasure’, ICE said.

It said Roberts departed the US on ‘an unknown date but returned before his 1996 arrest for narcotics possession.’

On March 8, 1999, ICE said Roberts entered the US through California’s San Francisco International Airport as an F-1 student visa holder.

ICE said the visa was set to expire on March 7, 2004, and that Roberts departed the US on an unknown date.

On June 28, 1999, it said Roberts reentered the US through San Francisco on the same F-1 student visa, and departed the US on an unknown date.

On August 30, 1999, ICE said Roberts reentered the US at JFK International Airport on the same student visa.

ICE said Roberts, on February 9, 2000, filed an application for employment authorisation, ‘which US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved April 5, 2000, with an expiration date of April 1, 2001.’

On September 4, 2000, ICE said Roberts left the US from JFK International Airport and re-entered the US again, on September 30, 2000, at JFK International Airport on the same F-1 student visa.

On May 21, 2001, ICE said Roberts filed a green card application with USCIS, ‘which the agency rejected January 3, 2003.’

ICE said, on May 15, 2018, Roberts filed another green card application with USCIS, ‘which the agency again rejected on May 30 that year.’

On June 4, 2018, ICE said Roberts filed another green card application, ‘which USCIS rejected for the third time June 20 that year.’

The immigration enforcement agency said that on July 15, 2018, Roberts filed for employment authorisation documents, ‘which USCIS granted on December 18 that year, giving the documents an expiration date of December 18, 2019.’

On July 16, 2018, ICE said Roberts filed, for the fourth time, a green card application, and that USCIS denied it on January 24, 2020.

On November 18, 2019, ICE said he filed another application for employment authorisation documents, which USCIS approved on December 3 of that year and issued an expiration date of December 18, 2020.

ICE said Roberts updated his address with USCIS on February 11, 2020.

On October 2, 2020, USCIS issued Roberts a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

On May 22, 2024, ‘an immigration judge in Dallas, Texas, ordered Roberts removed in absentia.’

On April 24, 2025, an immigration judge in Dallas denied Roberts’ motion to reopen his case.

ICE officials arrested Roberts in Des Moines, Iowa, on September 26, 2025.

‘He is now in US Marshals custody and will be prosecuted for his recent crimes,’ ICE said.

‘At the time of his arrest, Roberts was working as the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, despite being an illegal alien with a final order of removal and no work authorisation,’ it added.

During a targeted enforcement operation on September 26, 2025, ICE said its officers approached Roberts in his vehicle, and after identifying himself, he sped away.

‘Officers later discovered his vehicle abandoned near a wooded area,’ it said. ‘State Patrol assisted in locating the subject, and he was taken into ICE custody.’

ICE said the investigation into how Roberts acquired the handgun is being turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

‘It is a violation of federal law for those in the US without legal status to possess a firearm and ammunition,’ ICE said.

Sam Olson, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director, said: ‘This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement. This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats.

‘How this illegal alien was hired without work authorisation, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district,’ Olson added.

West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has placed the team’s dismal showing in the opening Test against India squarely on the shoulders of the batsmen.

The Windies were routed for 162 and 146 in their first and second innings respectively, on their way to a demoralising innings and 140-run defeat to the home side inside three days at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

While no West Indies batter scored 40, Dhruv Jurel, Ravendra Jadeja and KL Rahul all hit centuries in India’s mammoth first innings total of 448 for five declared.

Speaking in a post-match press conference on Saturday following the defeat, Chase admitted that the team’s batting continued to be a major concern.

‘Obviously we had a poor batting display, and this is something that has been plaguing us for the past two series. We’ve not been able to bat at least 80 overs, bat a day, or even get 250 or 300 runs on the board.

‘Anytime you win a toss in a Test match and bat and you don’t bat out the first day, you’re always going to be behind the eight ball,’ Chase said.

‘We didn’t start well and we never really put any partnerships in place. We never really got back into the game, we never put those partnerships together and we paid for it.

‘In the table obviously, they are ranked higher than us so they’re supposed to be a stronger team, but I think we could have done better. I don’t think that the wicket was a wicket that we should be bowled out twice under 200, 250. I think it’s a pitch that we could have at least gotten 300 runs in the first innings. I thought it was a very good batting wicket,’ he added.

Chase, who opted to bat after winning the toss, maintained that his decision was not to blame for the loss.

He said the West Indies’ batsmen needed to work on their defensive tactics heading into the second Test on Friday at New Delhi.

‘I don’t think the decision was a bad decision. We saw the wicket and although it had a bit of moisture, we still thought that it was a good wicket to bat first on. We thought that once we batted well and the openers went out there and saw off that moisture, it would have been a good wicket to bat on as we did see coming on later into the first day.

‘I just think that it’s a case where our defense needs to be a bit tighter. I find that we gifted some of the wickets too easily,’ Chase said.

‘There was some rough and some balls were spinning out of the rough, but there weren’t any devils in the wicket, and I still thought it was a wicket you could stand up and bat on as shown by the Indian batters.’

‘I think we need to trust in our defense a bit more, because I can’t say that we weren’t scoring because the run rate was still good, but I just think that we need to be a little more solid in our defense,’ he added.

Barbados’ tourism sector has recorded a 5.43 per cent increase in stayover arrivals between January and August 2025, for a total of 503,000 visitors. And for the first time, the United States has surpassed the United Kingdom as the island’s leading source market.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Franklin said the US led tourist arrivals, followed by the UK and the Caribbean.

‘Arrivals from the United States of America stand at 179,753 visitors, making the USA now our number one source market this year,’ she said on Friday, the final day of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference at the Hilton Barbados Resort. ‘This is particularly significant because all of you who may know Barbados and the history of tourism in Barbados, you know that the United Kingdom has always been our number one source market.

‘This year, as well, we have the Caribbean performing very well. They are now our number three market, with 70,984 visitors coming from the region,’ she stated.

Franklin credited the BTMI’s focus on airlift expansion for the US becoming the leading source market for the island.

‘So, what we did was a real double down on our airlift strategy. And we really went after building airlift to the destination out of the US market. So, in winter 2025, we had in excess of 60,000 additional seats from the US market. So, our airlift strategy was the pivotal point for us in terms of building the capacity to the destination out of the market,’ she explained.

‘From January to August this year, stayover arrivals in Barbados increased by 5.43 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. That’s an additional 25,000 visitors who chose our island. To put that into perspective, arrivals grew from 477,891 in 2024 to 503,000 in 2025. These numbers tell us that Barbados is not only attracting more visitors but also strengthening its position as a destination of choice in the region.’

Cruise arrivals also showed some growth, with an increase of 117,776 cruise passengers visiting the island. ‘Cruise performance so far for the year, and our stats are only showing January to July, we’ve welcomed 599,826 cruise passengers, which is a growth of 24 per cent over the same period,’ Franklin reported.

She further revealed that the Barbados Port Inc. is enhancing its cruise infrastructure aimed at improving the visitor experience.

‘Some of the things that the Port are working on are ongoing modernisation and expansion of the facility at the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal, including improving the passenger flow, embarkation and disembarkation services and port aesthetics. Plans are also on the way for greener port operations, including looking at digitalisation and shore power readiness and the introduction of smart port technology to streamline logistics and enhance operational efficiency,’ she noted.

Franklin also mentioned significant investments in the island’s accommodation sector, with new hotels expected between 2026-2027. These include the Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club, Hotel Indigo, the Royalton Vessence (the Barbados property will be the first one under that label), Pendry Barbados, Hyatt Ziva, Beaches Barbados (Sandals brand).

West Indies rising star Ackeem Auguste has signed with MI Emirates for the upcoming season of the DP World International League T20.

Auguste, who will join fellow West Indians Romario Shepherd and Andre Fletcher on the squad, is expected to strengthen MI Emirates’ batting lineup with his elegant stroke play during the tournament, which runs from December 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

The 22-year-old left-handed batsman was part of the West Indies team that played Nepal in a three-match T20I series recently, scoring an unbeaten 41 in the third match which the Windies won by 10 wickets.

Auguste, a Saint Lucian, earned the callup after a solid showing for the Saint Lucia Kings in the recently concluded Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, where he averaged 25.44.

He follows in the footsteps of fellow Saint Lucian McKenny Clarke, who was signed by the MI Emirates franchise in 2022.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 rattled several cities in the Caribbean on FRiday, but there were no immediate reports of damage of injuries.

The Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the St. Augistine campus of the Universty of the West Indies (UWI) said that the quake occurred at 10.59 am (loccal time) and was at a depth of 142 kilometers (km).

It said that the quake was felt 33 km north east of Kinstown, the capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 67 km, south, south west of Castries in St.Lucia and 128 km south of Fort-de-France, the capital of the French island of Martinique.

The chief executive officer of the state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL), Garvin Medera has resigned after eight years in the position, the Trinidad Express newspaper reported on Friday.

CAL has issued no statement on the media report, but the resignation, if confirmed is the latest to hit the airline, after Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar had issued an ultimatum to the airline’s management, telling them to ‘sort out the mess’ within two years or face replacement.

‘I am giving the management of CAL two years to sort it out; otherwise, everyone there will be looking for a new job,’ Persad-Bissessar said in August, stressing that taxpayers would no longer bankroll under-performing State enterprises.

In recent weeks, CAL’s Kern Gardiner was dismissed from his role as executive manager of finance and Corporate communications executive manager, Dionne Liqoure, also left.

Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, who is the line minister for CAL, told the newspaper that he was unaware of Medera’s resignation.

‘Thank you for the information. Frankly I don’t think it’s the practice for persons resigning from jobs they held, to advise me. But I note your confidence that I am intimately familiar with Mr Medera’s or anyone else’s ­actions,’ he told the newspaper.

The paper quoted sources as saying that Medera is currently on vacation ahead of his departure and that ‘he is reportedly in talks with third-party organisations in the private sector about new roles’.

On June 24, Reyna Kowlessar was appointed chairman of the airline’s board of directors, replacing Shameer ‘Ronnie’ Mohammed, who had been on the board since November 2016.

Centuries by Dhruv Jurel, Ravendra Jadeja and KL Rahul, have left West Indies with a herculean task if they are to avoid a heavy defeat against India in the opening Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Jurel scored an impressive 125, Jadeja finished unbeaten on 104 and Rahul stroked an even 100, as the home side piled up a massive 448 for five at the close of play on the second day, giving them an already mammoth first innings lead of 286 runs.

India’s batsmen made the visitors toil in the sun all day with little success, with captain Shubman Gill chipping in with a half century against a tame West Indies bowling attack that lacked venom.

Resuming the day on 121 for two with Rahul on 53 and Gill 18, the duo dominated proceedings in the morning session during a 98-run partnership.

Rahul survived a scare in the day’s first over when his outside edge flew between the wicketkeeper and first slip and into the third man boundary, but apart from that was solid in defense and quick to latch onto anything short or wide offered by the bowlers.

They navigated the first hour with ease and Gill brought up his eighth half century in Test cricket with a single off left-arm spinner Khary Pierre.

Skipper Roston Chase got the much-needed breakthrough for the Windies when he had Gill caught at first slip by Justin Greaves as he attempted a reverse sweep, to leave India 188 for three.

Rahul, meanwhile, continued his march to three figures, sweeping Pierre for four to move into the 90s.

He eventually notched his 11th Test century and second at home with a single through midwicket off Chase, as India went to lunch in a strong position of 218 for three, a lead of 56 runs.

The West Indies reaped success again immediately after the break when left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican enticed Rahul into a cover drive that went straight to Greaves without any addition to the score.

In all, Rahul faced 197 balls and hit 12 fours.

Jadeja joined Jurel at the crease and the two crushed any hopes the Windies had of staging a fightback during a backbreaking 206-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Jadeja was in a no-nonsense mood early on, smashing Warrican for two massive sixes and driving Chase down the ground for four.

Jurel reached his half century by cutting Justin Greaves past backward square for a boundary and it didn’t take long for Jadeja to score his seventh fifty plus score in his last nine innings with a quick single off Warrican, as India went to tea at 326 for four.

West Indies took the second new ball in the day’s final session, but it made no difference as the two batters dominated proceedings.

It came as no surprise, therefore, when Jurel, playing in his sixth Test, scored his maiden Test century with a boundary off Chase past mid-off.

Jurel brought up the 200-run partnership with a straight six off Warrican, but after facing 210 balls and striking 15 fours and three sixes, he edged Pierre behind to wicketkeeper Shai Hope to give him his first Test wicket at 424 for five.

While there was little else for the West Indies to celebrate following his dismissal, Jadeja was all smiles when he became the third Indian to reach three figures in the innings, scoring his sixth Test century with a single off Warrican.

Together with Washington Sundar, they navigated the final few overs to ensure India kept the Windies in a stranglehold heading into Saturday’s third day.

The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) has released a new publication that systematically measures the level of preparedness, adoption, and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in 19 countries of the region.

The third edition of the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA 2025) was done in collaboration with the National Center for Artificial Intelligence of Chile.

Based on more than 100 sub-indicators organised into three dimensions, namely enabling factors; research, development and adoption; and governance, the report provides a detailed overview of the progress made and the challenges that Latin America and the Caribbean still face in this field.

The results show that the region is accelerating AI adoption, surpassing what might be expected given its digital weight.

According to ECLAC estimates, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 14 per cent of global visits to AI solutions, compared to an 11 per cent share of the world’s internet users. However, this trend is marked by sharp contrasts across countries in the region.

ILIA groups countries into three categories according to their level of maturity: pioneers, adopters, and explorers.

The study highlights significant structural gaps in talent, investment and governance. In particular, advanced training in AI remains insufficient and is concentrated in a small number of countries. Since 2022, the talent gap relative to the global average has widened, associated with an accelerated brain drain of specialists.

In terms of investment, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 6.6 per cent of global GDP, but receive only 1.12 per cent of global AI investment.

‘This severely restricts the region’s ability to scale productive, technological and innovative initiatives, according to the report prepared with the support of the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Digital Alliance (EU-LAC) project and several academic, public and private organizations.’

The report also warns that, while a growing number of countries have developed national AI strategies, most lack financing, implementation mechanisms and impact evaluation systems, reducing the effectiveness of these policies.

Furthermore, environmental and gender equality approaches are largely absent, despite their importance for sustainable and inclusive development. Policies also tend to focus on regulatory aspects, rather than consolidating a technological ecosystem to support productivity and well-being.

According to the document, AI adoption in the region is concentrated in a small group of countries and is primarily oriented toward the consumption of ready-made, end-user solutions with low technical requirements.

However, the growing interest in such tools creates an opportunity to democratize innovation and strengthen productivity, since AI can generate significant benefits across economies of different sizes and structures-provided there are favorable environments for innovation and entrepreneurship.

‘ILIA 2025 confirms that artificial intelligence can become a driver for overcoming the development traps of Latin America and the Caribbean,’ said ECLAC’s executive secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs.

‘But for this to happen, it is essential to align digitalization policies with productive development policies, including the digital transformation of priority sectors, in order to close infrastructure, talent, innovation and governance gaps, while also advancing regional cooperation to ensure an ethical, inclusive and responsible use of this technology,’ he added.

Salazar-Xirinachs said that AI adoption can contribute, among other areas, to the design of new productive strategies; democratizing access to education, health and other public services; expanding social protection; reducing gender gaps and lowering environmental pollution among other areas.

ECLAC said the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index is an essential benchmark to guide evidence-based policymaking and to assess the implementation and progress of such policies, ensuring the development of AI that is geared toward a more productive, inclusive and sustainable future for the region.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank (WB) have in collaboration with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government have determined a set of priority actions to strengthen project implementation and ensure continued alignment with the country’s development agenda.

They have agreed to streamline their portfolios for greater efficiency, deepen their partnership to maximise resources, and assess local market conditions in light of the construction boom and the demand for skilled human resources.

They are also committed to strengthening inter-ministerial coordination, building the capacity of Project Implementation Units, contractors, and consultants, and fostering internal reflection within both institutions to adopt a more client-focused, flexible, and collaborative approach.

According to a statement issued here, the agreements are as a result of the Country Project Portfolio Review that brought together senior government officials, CDB and WB representatives, and key stakeholders to examine the status of jointly financed projects.

The discussions also highlighted national priorities in disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, resilient infrastructure, education, health systems strengthening, and economic diversification.

The statement said that lessons learned were shared from major initiatives such as the Volcanic Eruption Emergency Recovery, Hurricane Beryl Emergency Resilient Recovery, Port Modernisation, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management, and the Caribbean Digital Transformation.

‘By working alongside the World Bank and the government, CDB is ensuring that investments are both transformative and sustainable, tackling immediate needs while laying the groundwork for long-term growth,’ said CDB acting director of Projects, L. O’Reilly Lewis.

The World Bank Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc, also underscored the depth of collaboration, saying ‘this review highlights the strong collaboration between the government, the World Bank, and CDB in addressing urgent recovery needs while advancing reforms that support resilience, innovation, and opportunities for Vincentians’.