Category: CANA News

Prime Minister Mia Mottley says Barbados will ‘open our doors with order and with pride’ as Barbados joins three other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries in fully implementing free movement of their nationals among themselves from today.

Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize and Dominica are implementing one of the major aspects of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the region.

The Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that extensive preparations have been undertaken to ensure ‘a smooth and secure rollout’ of the full free movement among the four countries, adding that the other member states that participate in the CSME and have not signed on to full free movement ‘will continue to facilitate movement of their nationals under the existing regime for skilled workers, for the provision of services and the operation of businesses’.

In a nationwide radio and television broadcast on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Mottley acknowledged that Barbados is on the cusp of a change that will touch the lives across the Caribbean region and strengthen the nation.

Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel Wednesday set sentencing for Friday in a case in which a police officer was found found him guilty of discharging a firearm in a public place, stemming from a December 3, 2022 incident

Police Officer, Karim Warner, broke down in tears after the magistrate found him guilty of discharging a firearm in a public place.

The prosecution had said that Warner fired 12 rounds at a vehicle with with two occupants after a confrontation during an attempt to reclaim a leased vehicle.

The court was told that a male occupant of the vehicle had refused to hand over the car before shots were fired.

Warner had initially faced charges for discharging a firearm in a public place and assaulting both vehicle occupants. He maintained his innocence, entering not guilty pleas.

In February, the prosecution dropped the assault charges entirely and the situation became more complicated when the male complainant failed to appear for trial and formally withdrew from the case, stating he no longer wished to participate in the proceedings.

Despite these setbacks, Magistrate Emanuel continued with the remaining charge of discharging a firearm in a public place with testimony from four witnesses, including the female complainant, a taxi driver, police officers, and additional witnesses.

Following the prosecution’s presentation, defense attorney Andrew O’Kola mounted a no-case submission, contending that prosecutors had failed to meet the evidentiary threshold required to sustain the charges. O’Kola requested the case be dismissed outright.

But after considering the arguments from the state and the defence, Magistrate Emanuel rejected the no-case submission.

Chairman of the 15-member regional integration grouping, CARICOM, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has welcomed the decision of the United Nations Security Council to back a resolution authorising the transition of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission for Haiti into a new Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

‘This, together with a new UN Mission Office represents a significant step in strengthening the international response to the crisis in Haiti,’ said the Jamaican prime minister in a statement posted on the social media platform X.

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council backed the resolution that was tabled by the United States and Panama and by a vote of 12 in favour to none against, with three abstentions, namely China, Pakistan and the Russian Federation), the Council adopted the text as resolution 2793.

Through the resolution, the Council authorised member states to transition the MSS mission to the GSF for an initial period of 12 months and among other terms, the Security Council has decided that the GSF shall have an authorised personnel ceiling of 5,550, consisting of 5,500 uniformed personnel, comprised of both military and police and 50 civilians.

US Ambassador Michael Waltz said the resolution, undertaken in close collaboration with the Haitian authorities, offered new hope for the French-speaking CARICOM country where criminal gangs have been seeking to overthrow the provisional government since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

In his message, Holness said Jamaica has been advocating for this advancement to more structured support, and looks forward to this new chapter of partnership through the United Nations, working in partnership with CARICOM, Organization of American States (OAS) and the wider international community.

He said the decision reaffirms that the international community has heard the cries of and on behalf of the Haitian people and underscores the value of persistent advocacy.

‘We remain committed to standing with the people of Haiti and to working with our partners to help restore security, stability, and hope for the Haitian nation,’ Holness said.

Earlier, in a statement, the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors in a statement read by the Barbados Permanent Representative to the United Nations, François Jackman, noted that ‘CARICOM applauds the resounding support of world leaders for the urgent and united action towards the restoration of peace and stability in Haiti, echoed throughout the recently concluded General Debate of the 80th session of the General Assembly’.

But the diplomats acknowledged that ‘these critical objectives can only be achieved if security is restored in Haiti’ adding that they ‘wholeheartedly welcome the Security Council’s adoption .of this Resolution as a fundamental step that responds to the urgency of the security situation in Haiti.

‘CARICOM in particular welcomes the timely transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) with a UN-authorized mandate to bring an immediate end to violence and to restore public safety in Haiti.

‘Furthermore, CARICOM endorses the establishment of a UN Support Office in Haiti to provide the necessary logistical and administrative support for this robust Force. Finally, we underscore the need to ensure sustainable, predictable resourcing of the Gang Suppression Force by all international partners. And we also renew our call for the urgent capitalisation of the 2025 humanitarian needs and response plan for Haiti.’

The regional diplomats said that only through urgent, collective action in the security domain, in support of Haiti, can the scourge of gang violence be arrested.

‘This is a critical first step towards creating favourable conditions for elections, sustained delivery of humanitarian support and relief, the rebuilding of institutions and the laying of the foundation for the long-term economic development of Haiti.

‘ CARICOM reaffirms its solidarity with Haiti as well as our openness and willingness to work with all members of the Security Council to provide the necessary support for the Haitian people, and we look to the wider international community to step up its support boldly and with resolve to end the violence and suffering that the people of Haiti have endured for too long. ‘

Belize has been elected Part III of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the period 2025 – 2028.

A government statement said that the election took place during the celebration of the ICAO’s 42nd Assembly at the Chicago Convention and that the Council, during this period, shall be the body charged with carrying out the directions of the assembly and discharging the duties and obligations laid out in the Convention.

Kennedy Carrillo

The statement said that the work to be carried out by the newly elected Council over the next triennium will include improving aviation security, the development of policies and protocols for the inclusion of artificial intelligence in aviation, achieving environmental sustainability goals, and supporting the next generation of aviation professionals.

‘This is a historic victory for Belize, as it will, for the first time, join and contribute meaningfully to the highest technical body in aviation. Belize is committed to supporting both the Caribbean and Central American sub-regions.

‘Notwithstanding, the representation will be used to promote those policies and initiatives that seek to advance Belize’s aviation strategic objectives,’ the statement said, adding that ‘aviation continues to be a significant contributor to Belize’s socio-economic well-being, as it is one of the most significant pillars that support tourism’.

It said that Kennedy Carrillo, who has been appointed as Belize’s representative to the ICAO Council, will be based in Montreal, Canada, where she will participate in deliberations and initiatives that seek to make Global Aviation safer and more secure for all.

Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre has acknowledged the progress made between St. Lucia and the French countries even as he said challenges remain in certain areas.

Pierre, addressing the two-day ninth Franco-St. Lucia Joint Security Commission meeting that ends here later on Wednesday, said that since the last meeting, while there had been progress in various areas of cooperation, there are persistent obstacles.

‘Since our last meeting, Franco-Saint Lucia cooperation has advanced in several areas of practical cooperation, training and border control. However, challenges remain in communications, deportations and disaster response.’

Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre (second from left) attending the ninth Franco-Saint Lucia Joint Security Commission meeting in St. Lucia.

Pierre made reference to the death of K-9 Tyson, the police dog that had been instrumental in anti-narcotics missions across the island.

In July, police said they had launched a criminal investigation into the suspicious death of the highly trained police dog whose work in narcotics and weapons recovery played a critical role in national security operations.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mashama Sealy, said then that a post-mortem examination had been conducted, and investigators are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including examination of operational environments, forensic testing, interviews and a comprehensive review of recent K-9 deployments.

Media reports said that the dog, which had been donated by the French government had ingested a poisonous substance.

French Ambassador to St. Lucia, Francis Etienne, said his government had given St. Lucia law enforcement authorities a dog 10 years ago and that it had met a similar fate as Tyson.

He said he was now calling for increased protection for the only other canine within the police service and that this incident should be taken as a warning signal.

‘The demise of Tyson has weakened St. Lucia’s interdiction capacity despite the fact that another K-9, Voyou, donated earlier this year, is providing some valuable support,’ Pierre told the meeting.

‘We are heartened by the possibility of our French friends donating another K-9 or two to us and we await its arrival while the police continue to investigate fully the cause of Tyson’s death,’ he said, as he appealed for stronger resolve against organised criminal networks. ‘Let us strengthen our resolve to use all legal methods to rid our countries of the criminal elements that threaten our security and peace.’

The meeting here has brought together senior officials from St. Lucia and France’s overseas territories for discussions on border control and security cooperation.

Martinique Prefect, Etienne Desplanques, Attorney General of the Court of Appeal of Martinique, Patrice Camberou are among those attending the meeting that has so far focused on security and trafficking, as well as operational cooperation including technical equipment, and mutual support initiatives.

Discussions involved the review of radar surveillance systems, border protection measures, and challenges in deportation and immigration procedures. The authorities are also expected to discuss improving coordination between the borders, particularly in preventing ‘undesirable St. Lucians’ re-entry to Martinique and facilitating the handover of deportees wanted by St. Lucian police.

Attorney General Leslie Mondesir said the meeting builds on the last Commission meeting held in Martinique in December 2022.

‘At that meeting a strategic action plan was developed, including training, joint operational actions, provision of technical equipment, judicial cooperation, immigration and the formation of a restricted monitoring committee. This meeting here today further expands that prior discussion,’ he said.

The fiscal debt specialist at the St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Juletta Edinborough, says more than 500 people have shown interest in purchasing retail bonds after the Grenada government announced last Monday that it would be auctioning five million EC dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents.

Speaking at the launch of Financial Information Month, an annual initiative of the ECCB, Edinborough said that hundreds of people have shown interest within the first eight days of the announcement.

Juletta Edinborough

‘As of today, they have already seen interest from persons, about 500 individuals have already indicated,’ she said.

‘Remember, I said earlier that for the 23 years of the market existence only 600 persons across the eight countries have invested in the market and we are already seeing interest, in the case of Grenada’s bond of 500,’ she said.

Financial Information Month is being observed under the theme ‘Financial Investing: from savers to investors’.

Late ast month, Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall said that the retail bond being auctioned would not be made available to institutions but for ordinary Grenadians.

‘This initiative provides a safe, tax-free investment backed by the full faith and credit of the Government of Grenada. It’s a practical step toward making wealth-building accessible to all,’ Cornwall said.

Grenada’s Retail Bond Programme is aimed at raising the five million dollars with a minimum investment of EC$500, which is significantly lower than the traditional EC$5,000 threshold for first time and small-scale investors.

The Ministry of Finance said that the key features of the retail bond include a two-year investment term; tax-free returns; accessibility for first-time and small-scale investors.

‘The initiative highlights the government’s broader vision of inclusive economic growth, citizen empowerment, and fostering a culture of financial responsibility among Grenadians,’ the Finance Ministry added.

The United Nations Wednesday urged the international community to fund a new UN Support Office in Haiti, less than 24 hours after the Security Council adopted a resolution authorising the transition of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

It said that the new office in Port au Prince, to be known by its UNSOH, is meant to provide logistical and operational support to the GSF.

‘Establishing a UN Support Office funded by peacekeeping-assessed contributions was initially recommended by the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres back in February, as you will recall,’ said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

‘We urge member states to support the Gang Suppression Force, including through scaled-up voluntary contributions and the provision of uniformed personnel. All of this to help overcome the challenges that have constrained the Multinational Security Support mission,’ Dujarric told the daily UN briefing.

‘In this regard, we welcome the establishment of a Standing Group of Partners for the Gang Suppression Force by member states to provide high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the new force. This was also among the Secretary-General’s recommendations back in February.’

Dujarric said that the UN is calling on Haitian stakeholders to build on this momentum by accelerating efforts to complete the political transition, adding that the head of the political office in Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, continues to support Haitian actors on that path.

‘The UN Political Mission in Haiti’s prevention and good offices work remains now more relevant than ever,’ Dujarric said, updating reporters also on what he described as ‘the horrific situation regarding gender-based violence’.

He said that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is warning that these atrocities continue at alarming levels in Haiti.

According to the UN spokesman, between January and August of this year, ‘our humanitarian partners reported more than 6,450 incidents, nearly half of those cases being rape. One in seven of these survivors is a girl under 18.

‘According to our partners armed groups were reportedly responsible for 75 per cent of the cases. Displaced people account for 70 per cent of the survivors,’ Dujarric said, noting that only a quarter of rape survivors were able to access medical care within the critical 72-hour window, while another quarter received treatment only after more than one month.

‘These delays are driven by insecurity, stigma, weak referral systems and the absence of health services in so many communities in Haiti,’ he said, adding that the vast majority of incidents were concentrated in the West Department, with the capital, Port-au-Prince, alone accounting for more than 30 per cent of cases.

‘We and our partners have been providing life-saving services, including medical and psychosocial support, legal assistance and temporary shelter. However, OCHA reports that access to services remains uneven, with most of these problems concentrated in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding communes.

‘OCHA warns that chronic underfunding is compounding the crisis and leaving the vast majority of survivors without care. Less than 20 per cent of the US$19 million required this year for gender-based violence prevention and response in Haiti has been received so far,’ Dujarric said.

He said urgent support is needed to extend services beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, and ensure that women and girls across the country can access protection and care.

The United States Department of State has listed several Caribbean countries in its 2025 Trafficking in Person Report, stating that ‘trafficking in persons’ and ‘human trafficking’ are umbrella terms, often used interchangeably, to refer to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex.

‘When a person younger than 18 is used to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion involved,’ the State Department said, adding that Washington recognizes two primary forms of trafficking in persons, namely sex trafficking and forced labour.

In its report, the State Department has placed The Bahamas, Guyana and Suriname in Tier 1 which it said are those ‘whose governments fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago have all been placed in Tier 2 ‘ whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards’.

St. Lucia and Barbados have been placed in Tier 2 Watch List ‘whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards (with certain exceptions), and for which the estimated number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing, and the country is not taking proportional concrete actions’.

Sint Maarten, Venezuela and Cuba have been placed in Tier 3 ‘whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.’

The State Department also listed Haiti, along with Libya, Somalia and Yemen in the ‘Special Case’ category.

The State Department said the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (TVPA), defines ‘severe forms of trafficking in persons’ as sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harbouring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

The State Department said more than 180 countries ave ratified or acceded to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (the UN TIP Protocol), which defines trafficking in persons and contains obligations to prevent and combat the crime.

The report says the TVPA directs the US Secretary of State to consider, as proof of a country’s failure to make significant efforts to fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards, adding that governments on Tier 3 may be subject to certain restrictions on foreign assistance, ‘whereby the President may determine not to provide US government nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance as defined in the TVPA’.

The report states that the US President may also determine to instruct the US executive director of each multilateral development bank and the International Monetary Fun(IMF) to ‘vote against and use their best efforts to deny any loans or other uses of the institutions’ funds to a designated Tier 3 country for most purposes.

The St. Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission says it will launch the second call for proposals for the regional MSME matching grants programme on Friday, saying the initiative presents a golden opportunity for blue economy entrepreneurs.

The programme is a flagship component of the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project, which seeks to strengthen blue economy value chains, promote sustainable entrepreneurship, and improve livelihoods across the OECS.

The Commission says that by supporting MSMEs in fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management, the programme not only drives economic growth but also contributes to environmental sustainability and food security.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the OECS Commission, ‘UBEC is building a resilient, competitive, and sustainable Blue Economy across the Eastern Caribbean,’ the Commission said.

It said that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management now have the chance to strengthen and expand their businesses with grant funding ranging from US$5,000 to US$25,000. T

The Commission said that the project is already transforming businesses and improving livelihoods in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with MSMEs in the three participating islands already being awarded grants from the previous call for proposals earlier this year.

‘The regional MSME matching grants programme continues to make significant strides in advancing blue economy efforts within the OECS. To date, 28 grants valued at over US$500,000 have been awarded to MSMEs,’ said UBEC’s senior grants advisor, Kyle Garnes.

‘In addition, the programme has begun delivering tailored capacity-building and training services to MSMEs in waste management, fisheries, and tourism. Training has already commenced in St. Lucia, with more than 25 MSMEs actively participating, while rollouts in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are scheduled for the weeks of October 13, and October 20.’

The Commission said that individual MSMEs in the three OECS countries may be may be eligible if they are legally registered and have been in operation for at least two years, with supporting financial or bank statements.

Guyana has officially launched GuyExpo 2025 calling for large and small-scale businesses and entrepreneurs to take the opportunity to showcase their products to local and international customers.

The November 13-16 event will be held under the theme ‘Transformation Through Entrepreneurship and Innovation’ and Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Susan Rodrigues said this year’s event will have new features to enhance its impact describing GuyExpo as both a legacy and a living platform that must evolve with the country’s rapidly changing economy.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues addressing the launch of GuyExpo 2025.

‘Guyexpo is unmatched in terms of exposure; it offers a rare platform to showcase products and services not only to local consumers but to international investors and partners,’ Rodrigues told the ceremony on Monday night, noting that even with the changes, the exposition will still promote the economy’s dynamism while preserving its core identity.

‘We are creating a dedicated space for businesses and investors to engage in serious conversation about collaboration and expansion.

‘The vision is not only to sustain the legacy but to reimagine and elevate this national showcase, ensuring that it remains relevant to the dynamism of the economy while preserving its core identity,’ she said

She said this networking component will be supported by the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), whose expertise will be pivotal in linking entrepreneurs with investors.

‘The physical layout of the expo will also undergo a transformation, while the traditional elements that Guyanese have come to cherish, such as the vibrant food courts, the children’s area and tourism village, will remain. These features will be enhanced for greater prominence and impact,’ Rodrigues explained.

The organisers say businesses that have grown with GuyExpo in the past three decades will also be honoured, while illuminated signs and improved directional systems will be introduced.

‘GuyExpo is unmatched in terms of exposure. It offers a rare platform to showcase products and services not only to local consumers but to international partners and investors,’ Rodrigues stressed, encouraging private sector players to seize the opportunity.

Rodriques said that while GuyExpo is being supported by the government, the private sector will be integrally involved in the trade exhibition that was first launched in 1995 and has been the longest-standing trade expo in Guyana, attracting hundreds of exhibitors each year.