Category: CANA News

Prime Minister Mia Mottley says Barbados has completed its economic rehabilitation and is entering a new phase of tourism-driven growth, marked by a surge in hotel development and a strategic shift branded as ‘Tourism 3.0’.

‘Put simply, if the body is bleeding, stop the bleeding. When you stop the bleeding, do the transformation, do the operation, and when you finish the operation, get into recuperation, and when you finish recuperating, get into physiotherapy,’ Mottley told the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Royalton Vessence resort in St James, west of here. ‘We are at the point now where we passed the physiotherapy with the opening of this royalty business over the course of the last few months,’ she said, descripting the project as an unprecedented wave of tourism development, with a significant expansion of the island’s accommodation and hospitality offerings.

Mottley said that the capital, Bridgetown, is undergoing structural transformation aimed at repositioning it as a major accommodation and hospitality centre for both visitors and resident with 10 hotels either recently completed or under construction.

‘When I ask those involved in tourism, what other similar period of time can we reflect on that had this volume of hotels and construction and new product going on, most cannot tell you a comparable period.’

Mottley defended the decision to repurpose existing properties rather than expand inland or rely heavily on land reclamation. She also acknowledged that increasing density remains contentious arguing it is necessary to sustain public services and infrastructure.

‘If this country is to finance its way, then it does need in many instances to increase its density, and that the status quo that worked for some will not be able to deliver a good life for the majority.’

Mottley told the ceremony that post-independence development relied heavily on locally owned properties and that the entry of international brands represents a necessary shift, provided national identity is maintained.

‘Investment is confidence made concrete but confidence from outside must always be matched by confidence within,’ Mottley said in welcoming the new hotel project, adding that it is important that ‘all inclusive must include Barbados.

‘Our farmers, fishers, manufacturers, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and small businesses must all see themselves in the opportunities that tourism creates. Visitors should leave knowing not only the hotel, but the people, culture and communities that make Barbados unlike anywhere else. A global name should carry a Barbadian story and leave a Barbadian legacy.’

‘ What I would love to see going forward, as I said, is an increase in terms of the local purchase. This is what we have done and started to do in a more decisive way with the cruise industry, because Barbados must not just be the place upon which home porting is done, and people get on the ships and leave.’

She said Barbados must be the place where a large part of the procurement, as far as the island can deliver to standard, is done.

‘We have had fleeting examples, regrettably, in the history of the Caribbean, where we have had the level of synergy between tourism and agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, tourism and culture, tourism and essentially the essence of the rest of the engine of the economy. ‘

She said tourism is a sector that commands effectively a reach of 45 per cent indirectly of the island’s gross domestic product, noting that ‘in other words, everything that we produce every year, almost one in every two dollars, is related to tourism in some manner, form or fashion.

‘Whether it is the drivers delivering product here, whether it is the port workers offloading the product on the docks, whether it is the persons who are doing the artwork for here, whether it is the fresh produce that is bought from here.

‘So that this matter of synergies between tourism and the rest of our economy is fundamental in the resetting of what I have come to call Tourism 3.0. COVID made us realise that tourism in Barbados cannot leave out people at the centre.’

Mottley said generally, Barbados has an exciting future and thanked the hotel investors for choosing to be part of the future of the island.

‘You have chosen to be part of it. We thank you for that, and we must continue with focus and with purpose, recognising that until such time as we develop new industries, as we must that can reduce the reliance on tourism from one in every two dollars, then tourism is our business. Let us play our part,’ Mottley added.

Police Wednesday said a 61-year-old musician who was allegedly attacked by two teenage girls at a guest house in Morant Bay in southeastern Jamaica on July 5, this year, has been slapped with several sexual related and firearm charges.

The police said that the charges against Keeble Mclune include rape, sexual intercourse with a person under 16 years, use of a firearm to commit a schedule offense, and assault at common law.

Police said that Mclune on several occasions reportedly assaulted the girls then gave them money in return. He is also reported to have met with one of the girls where he allegedly held a firearm at her head and threatened to harm her and her family if his demands were not met. The authorities said that on Sunday, July 5, Mclune reportedly took both girls to a guest house in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, where he again assaulted them.

‘It was alleged that both girls then attacked and stabbed him multiple times resulting in him fleeing the scene in his motor vehicle. The incident was reported to the police and Mclune was later arrested and charged after a question-and-answer session,’ the police said.

They said that the court date for Mclune is being finalised.

Barbados took a big step towards retaining their title in the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s 50-over Championship when they romped to their third successive win here on Wednesday.

The defending champs defeated Guyana and are now the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition with two rounds of matches to go.

Trinidad and Tobago, the only other unbeaten side heading into the third-round of matches, went down to Jamaica while the Leeward Islands recorded their first win by thrashing the Windward Islands.

At Coolidge Cricket Ground: Barbados continued their march towards another Under-19 title with a comfortable 63-run win over a still winless Guyana.

While they were not as explosive with the bat as in their two previous matches, half centuries from Jordan Graham and Justin Parris were the mainstay of Barbados’ total of 258 in 49.5 overs.

Guyana never got out of first gear in their run chase and were eventually bowled out for 195 in 44.1 overs.

For the first time in the tournament, Barbados’ batting lineup found itself under pressure following the early losses of openers Damarko Wiggins and Gadson Bowens, which saw them slip to 19 for two.

But Graham, who topscored with 78 off 101 balls and Parris, who hit 67 from 70 balls, repaired the damage during a 111-run partnership.

Barbados did suffer a middle order collapse that saw them slump from 167 for three to 208 for seven, before Seth Smith bolstered the final score with a cameo of 39 off 20 balls.

For Guyana Romario Ramdehol took 3-27, Gilbert Griffith 3-37 and Parmeshwar Ram 2-39.

Guyana then lost wickets at regular intervals and never seriously threatened their target.

Adrian Hetmyer and Ramdehol tried to rescue their side after coming together with the score 98 for four in the 25th over, but when Justin Parris had the latter caught and bowled for 21, Guyana’s resistance faltered.

Hetmyer scored a brave 61 off 113 balls but it was never going to be enough.

Parris capped off a good all-around effort by grabbing 4-19, while Rajeev Parsooram claimed 2-49.

At Liberta Sports Club: Trinidad and Tobago’s title aspirations took a huge hit when they were pummeled by 106 runs by Jamaica.

A terrific performance by Jamaica’s lower order propeled them to 225 for eight in their 50 overs after they were struggling at 76 for five at one stage.

Pacers Jahdae Moore and Perico Henry then ran through T and T’s top order to bowl them out for just 119 in 35.3 overs, as Jamaica registered their second win on the competition while handing their opponents their first loss.

Daniel Holder and Daron Dhanraj actually put T and T in the driver’s seat, sharing four wickets between them to reduce Guyana to 76 for five in the 21st over.

But number nine batsman Adrian Silvera hit an unbeaten 52 off 69 balls, Ryan Lyttleton contributed 41, while Henry finished on 24 not out, to bolster Jamaica’s total.

Holder was the pick of T and T’s bowlers with 3-52, Dhanraj snared 2-37, while Brendan Boodoo took 2-43.

Moore and Henry then ripped the heart out of T and T’s batting to reduce them to 55 for four.

Boodoo provided the only resistance thereafter, with his knock of 54 off 82 balls preventing T and T from being bowled out for under 100.

Moore ended with figures of 3-10, Henry claimed 3-27 and Nicoli McKenzie took 2-29.

At Bethesda Sports Ground: The Leeward Islands stormed to a massive 144-run win over the Windward Islands, who are still seeking their first win.

Led by half centuries from Tanez Francis and J’Quan Athanaze, the Leeward Islands posted a competitive 269 for nine in 50 overs.

The Windward Islands then produced a disappointing batting performance to be dismissed for 125 in 29 overs, to slump to their third straight loss.

Batting at the top of the order, Francis slammed 79 off 75 balls, while Athanaze made a run-a-ball 55 at number four, with their 113-run partnership carrying the Leeward Islands from 35 for two to 148 for two in the 26th over.

When Francis was dismissed by Aiden Burton after striking 13 fours, the Leeward Islands lost three wickets in quick succession to slide to 151 for five.

However, Lawshorn Bergan made 47 and Lyhte Browne scored a quickfire 38 off 30 balls to ensure their side finished their innings with a flourish.

Earshino Fontaine took 3-32, while claimed Tyler Venner 2-54.

The run chase was over before it even began for the Windward Islands, with their entire top order back in the dressing room with the score 42 for five.

Only Cody Fontinelle, who made 22, scored more than 20, with five other batters getting starts but failing to push on.

For the Leeward Islands, Matthew Miller (2-17), Tayari Tonge (2-25) and Kerique Mentore (2-26) all claimed two wickets.

United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres Wednesday announced Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as the new co-chair of Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group alongside Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

‘The Sustainable Development Goals are at risk of slipping out of reach. Our mission is clear: to accelerate progress at scale and speed. I welcome Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez joining Prime Minister Mia Mottley to strengthen advocacy and drive the urgent action needed to deliver the SDGs,’ said Guterres.

The Secretary-General thanked previous co-chair and Canada’s former prime minister, Justin Trudeau adding that Mottley will continue her role as Co-Chair alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. She was appointed in 2022.

With less than five years to go, the world has a critical opportunity to advance progress and deliver on the promise of the SDGs.

Sánchez said the 2030 Agenda is the roadmap that enables countries to tackle the current major challenges and contribute to shared global development.

‘As Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, I am committed to continuing to work to ensure that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda translates into opportunities, well-being, and prosperity for all people, leaving no one behind, while caring for our planet for present and future generations.

‘We need to accelerate action and appeal to our collective responsibility to move forward. The Decade of Action is not lost-it is in our hands, and we must act,’ said Sánchez.

The UN has described Prime Minister Sánchez as a dynamic leader on critical issues, including financing for development, education, equality and climate action.

It said under his leadership, the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development was successfully held in Seville, Spain in 2025, resulting in a global action plan, the Sevilla Commitment.

The SDG Advocates are influential leaders who support the Secretary-General in raising global ambition and action to keep the promise of the SDGs.

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 Guyana

Rodriguez 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.

‘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.

The Guyana government says it has injected more than GUY$2.76 billion (One Guyana dollar = US$0.004 cents) into the rice industry and providing direct financial assistance to more than 5,000 farmers across the country as part of its First Crop 2026 Support Programme.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha described the initiative as another demonstration of the government’s commitment to safeguarding the sector during a period of lower global rice prices. ‘To date, we have paid out to 5,106 farmers, a total of GUY$2,763,249,165. That gives us a total acreage of 234,919.96 acres that were cultivated for the first crop,’ Mustapha said, noting that the financial support was provided to farmers based on acreage cultivated, with those farming 50 acres or less receiving GUY$15,000 per acre, while farmers cultivating more than 50 acres received GUY$10,000 per acre.

The largest allocation was made in Region Five, where 1,387 farmers cultivating 104,519.12 acres received GUY$1,182,326,700.

Mustapha said the cash grant forms part of a broader package of measures introduced by the government to shield farmers from the impact of depressed international rice prices while ensuring the industry’s continued growth.

‘The price of paddy right now and the price of rice have been influenced by the world market. The price is a bit low internationally, and over the last two to three years we have been subsidising the rice industry heavily,’ he added.

Beyond the direct financial support, the government said it has reduced land rental and drainage and irrigation charges, removed taxes on agricultural chemicals and machinery, and is working to make fertiliser and seed paddy more affordable.

Mustapha also pointed to transformative investments that will further reduce production costs, including the construction of Guyana’s fertiliser plant and the expansion of agricultural lands through new drainage and irrigation infrastructure.

He said that approximately 55,000 acres will become available in Region Five and 35,000 acres in Region Six, with additional lands expected to be opened in Region Three, giving farmers greater opportunities to expand production and diversify into high value crops and aquaculture.

Mustapha said Guyana’s rice production has increased from approximately 550,000 tonnes in 2020 to 825,000 tonnes in 2025, with production expected to reach about 827,000 tonnes this year.

The ministry is also actively pursuing new export opportunities, including expanding markets in Mexico and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to secure better prices for farmers and reduce reliance on government support.

‘The rice industry is very resilient right now. It is strong and robust. What we are looking at now is to find more lucrative markets. If we can secure those markets, the industry will become even stronger and farmers will depend less on government subsidies,’ Mustapha said.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced the removal of registration-related fees for first form students entering public and government-assisted private secondary schools on the island.

Education and Vocational Training Minister, Phillip Jackson, said the move is part of the government’s broader push to ease the cost of education for Vincentian families and that the the decision also followed ‘much research and deliberation’ within the Ministry of Education. Jackson said the new policy is intended to align with both the Education Act and the stated policy of the government on access to education.

‘This new policy reflects the ambitions of the Education Act, the more general policy enunciated by Prime Minister (Dr. Godwin) Friday on the course of access to education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the NDP’s commitment to ease the cost of living for Vincentian families.’

Under the new policy, fees designated as registration, processing and admission fees, among others, are to be removed from the registration process and Jackson said that while the broad policy has been set at the ministry level, specific details will be issued by each secondary school in revised registration packages.

‘However, the main changes include the removal of fees designated as registration, processing, and admission fees, among others,’ he said acknowledging that some schools had already begun their registration processes with some families paying the previously advertised fees.

The Education Minister said those families will receive refunds, and that schools will set out how and when this will take place:

‘We ask you to exercise patience as the new policy comes into effect after some schools have started registration of new students,’ Jackson said, adding that is taking full responsibility for the timing of the policy shift and any disruption it may cause.

But he insisted that the decision was taken in what he described as the best interests of students and families.

‘Please be assured that we are acting in the best interests of our students and their families as our administration and the ministry implements its commitment to ensuring that every child has equitable access to quality and affordable education.’

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says he is keeping an open mind as leaders of the countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) operating a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme get ready to hold talks with European Union (EU) officials.

The European Commission has given the Eastern Caribbean countries operating CBI programmes until June 1, 2028 to phase out the programmes. ‘And so, we look forward to having those conversations with the European Union to see what is it that they’re offering and how they believe they would be able to assist us in a practical and direct manner.

‘Our view is that let us wait for those discussions, and then a firm opposition will be taken on one way or the other. But that discussion is going to be very important, because no sensible government and no sensible citizen of our country, all of whom know of the importance of the CBI programme, would say, I will end it, and end it indiscriminately, or end it with no consideration to, at least in the medium term, what you’re going to replace it with,’ Skerrit said. Listen to audio

He said that the governments within the OECS who currently have CBI programmes, have all been written to by the European Union, raising concerns about the visa-free regime to the Schengen states vis-à-vis the CBI programme.

‘We have taken note of the concerns raised by the European Union. We believe that those concerns have been raised and continue to be addressed, both at a national level and also at a regional level, with the establishment of regional regulatory authority that will help govern the CBI programme jointly.’

In a three-page statement, the leaders of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis said they would undertake the diplomatic mission ‘at the earliest appropriate opportunity’ to engage directly with the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Under the CBI programme, foreign investors are granted citizenship of the island in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of the country.

Skerrit, speaking on the state-owned DBS Radio, said that the CBI programme is an evolving one and that ‘there are evolving issues in the world.

‘So, every time you address an issue, something else may come up, and therefore, there is a continuous review of the country’s engagement.We should also take note in fairness to the European Union that they themselves have said they recognise and appreciate the importance of the CBI programme to our economies.

‘It is a major source of development financing. In Dominica’s case, we have used it for geothermal. We have used it for roads. We’ve used it for housing, tourism, small business support, agriculture, a number of social safety nets, schools, health centres, hospitals,’ Skerrit said, adding that ”every sphere of our society has been impacted directly, not only indirectly, but directly by the CBI’.

Skerrit said that the meeting in Brussels will be important as the CBI operating countries need to put their case forward.

‘The European Union has indicated that it is prepared to sit with us, to discuss with us how they can help, because it is one thing to ask us to end or to lose the visa-free regime, but it’s another thing to talk about what’s going to replace it, especially in the medium term.

‘…we in Dominica, and if you go to see the records of my statements in Parliament, my statements out to the media, my statements out to the citizens of Dominica, there’s nothing that lasts forever, and we’ve said so.

‘And this is why we have decided, we have always decided as a government, to use the CBI funds to help with economic growth areas. So, we spend a lot of money on tourism, and we criticise, saying, why are we building so many hotel rooms? We have used the money for night landing at the airport.

‘We have used that money for expansion of the runway. We’ve used money for the development of the international airport, public infrastructure, roads, bridges, agriculture. We’ve invested heavily in agriculture, in geothermal, renewable energy, so that we can reduce our reliance on importation of fuel, and seek to make electricity costs cheaper to our citizens. ‘

Skerrit said that CBI funds have also been used to invest in small business development.

The minority opposition Alliance For Change (AFC) Tuesday called for the closer monitoring of foreign operated stores and supermarkets across Guyana claiming that many of them are not adhering to Guyana’s laws and regulations.

In a statement, the AFC said it found that many Chinese supermarkets are selling food products that carry no English description as is required and no expiry or ‘best by’ date,’ adding ‘the health of our people is being put at risk’.

The party said that many Chinese and Brazilian stores and supermarkets fail to issue receipts to customers, adding ‘these are not ‘mom and pop’ businesses.

‘These businesses gross millions and could be fueling massive tax evasion and even money laundering,’ the AFC said, adding that it also found that ‘in most of these foreign operated stores and supermarkets, staff are subject to inhumane treatment.

‘Washrooms are not separated for males and females and there is no lunchroom for staff to use. Staff also report that their lunch period is 20 minutes or less at some stores. The working hours are long with no overtime and NIS contributions are not paid. Most staff are paid in cash, and no pay slips are issued. ‘

The AFC said that these practices put the consuming public, workers, the National Insurance Scheme and state coffers at risk.

‘The Alliance For Change (AFC) calls on the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Labour, the Guyana Competition and Consumers Affairs, NIS, Food and Drug Administration to carry out a national campaign to bring all stores and supermarkets into compliance. The Responsible Minister of Government must ensure these exercises are carried out year-round,’ the party said.

Immigration advocates in New York are welcoming as ‘overdue’ the decision of the United States government to order the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to halt making vehicular stops after ICE agents killed two people at separate traffic stops in recent days.

On July 7, ICE agents killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and, on Monday, ICE killed Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine.

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella group of over 200 immigrant and refugee groups in New York State, said Guerrero was the 11th person that ICE agents have shot and killed during US President Donald J. Trump’s second term, in addition to 52 people who have died in ICE detention.

‘Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero should be alive today,’ NYIC president and chief executive officer, Murad Awawdeh, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

‘Immigrant communities should not have to live under the constant threat that they will be executed in front of their families by masked, unidentified agents. But across America, reckless and violent ICE agents in unmarked vehicles are chasing down our neighbors, inflicting terror in our communities and all too often taking people’s lives.

‘We welcome the development that ICE will pause making traffic stops, because no one is safe when ICE is present. New York State banned all formal agreements between local governments and ICE, and counties doing ICE’s bidding must follow the new law and end their agreements,’ Awawdeh said.

He said Congress wrote ICE a blank check, and communities are paying the price urging lawmakers to cut this funding and chart a path toward ending this rogue agency once and for all.’

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair, Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, extended ‘deepest condolences’ to the families and loved ones of Araujo and Guerrero.

‘We stand with their families, community leaders, and residents in demanding full, independent investigations and accountability for ICE operations that tragically claimed their lives,’ Clarke, who represents the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional District in New York, told CMC.

‘Like so many Americans, we are outraged by what we have witnessed in far too many communities across the country as our neighbors are terrorized and brutalized by ICE and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

She said that the growing presence of immigration enforcement in communities is not about public safety, but about stoking fear.

‘We have seen innocent people killed in cold blood by masked federal agents who are funded by American taxpayer dollars yet believe they are above the law. Any use of deadly force by any law enforcement official must be met with complete transparency, an independent investigation, and full public oversight. This is no exception.’

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is seeking re-election this year, said in a statement that she had urged US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin to ‘cease all non-urgent vehicle stops’ by ICE agents.

But Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said that the order for ICE to cease vehicular stops was temporary.

‘It’s a short pause just to make sure we’re doing the right thing,’ he said, adding that operations continue, arrests are at record numbers, deportations are at record numbers.

On Tuesday, the California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) demanded a ‘full, independent investigation’ into the fatal shooting

David Venturella, ICE’s acting director, said in a statement that Araujo was an ‘illegal alien’, who had ‘weaponized his vehicle’ in trying to run over the ICE agent, who fired at him.

Araujo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, said on Facebook that his father was ‘a hardworking Mexican man.

‘My father has been in this country for nearly 35 years, working in construction to provide for myself, my two brothers, and my mother,’ he said.