Category: CANA News

The Guyana economy grew by 33.3 per cent during the first half of this year with strong performances being recorded across the various sectors, President Irfaan Ali said on Monday.

He told a news conference that the performance reflects growth against an already significantly expanded economic base and that the non-oil sector also recorded an estimated growth of 10.1 per cent, marking the sixth consecutive year of expansion. ‘Our overall GDP (gross domestic product) grew by an estimated 33.3 per cent in the first half of 2026. The non oil economy grew by an estimated 10.1 per cent,’ Ali said, noting that the strong first-half performance has prompted a revision of Guyana’s full-year real GDP growth forecast to 20.8 per cent, while non-oil GDP is projected to expand by 10.2 per cent.

According to the figures released here, growth was broad-based, with the mining and quarrying sector expanding by an estimated 40.7 per cent. The oil and gas subsector grew by 41.3 per cent, while other mining activities, including sand, stone, manganese and diamond, expanded by 40 per cent. Gold and mining recorded estimated growth of 11.3 per cent.

Construction expanded by 24.7 per cent, while services grew by 7.2 per cent and manufacturing by 3 per cent.

President Ali told the reporters that the expansion is translating into increased economic activity, investment and opportunities, underscoring the link between industrial development and improved household prospects.

‘Industries lead to jobs. Jobs lead to more income. More income leads to better economic prospects. And that’s how the economic cycle works,’ he added.

The half year financial report showed that while agriculture, forestry and fishing collectively contracted marginally by 0.5 per cent amid higher transportation and input costs and challenging weather conditions, several subsectors registered growth.

Sugar expanded by 19.3 per cent, rice by 4.4 per cent, forestry by 15.4 per cent and fishing by 4.1 per cent.

Net domestic credit stood at GUY$1.286 trillion (One Guyana dollar=US$0.008 cents) at the end of June, representing a 15.5 per cent increase over the December 2025 position.

Credit to the private sector grew by 11.5 per cent, while real estate mortgages expanded by 21.2 per cent.

Ali said the cumulative indicators point to an economy demonstrating resilience, diversification and structural strength.

‘Isn’t this an economy that is healthy? Isn’t this an economy that is demonstrating strength, that is demonstrating diversification, that is demonstrating structural stability?’

He said that despite the significant pace of expansion, the government continues to focus on ensuring economic growth translates into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives, with the president reiterating his commitment to expanding opportunities for households.

‘The people of Guyana, every household, will surely, most definitely, see not only enormous improvement in their personal life but enormous policies and programs that will enhance their ability of owning more things and, of course, advancing their own life,’ Ali told reporters.

He said that the Guyana Development Bank (GDB) will become operationalised on October 5, at capitalised at US$100 million.

The government said that through affordable financing options, including zero-interest and zero-collateral loans of up to three million Guyana dollars for eligible borrowers, the development bank will support Guyanese seeking to establish or expand businesses in key sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism, services and technology.

The bank’s launch comes against a backdrop of expanding financial inclusion. Between October 2024 and August 2026, a total of 179,758 new bank accounts were opened across Guyana’s six commercial banks and two non-bank deposit-taking institutions with 96 per cent in the banking sector proper.

Of that total, 59,951 accounts were opened between April and August 2026 alone, a jump the head of state linked to recent easing of requirements for opening accounts.

Meanwhile, President Ali has announced that the New York-based Citibank will establish a presence in Guyana describing the development as another indication of the country’s growing prominence within the regional and global economic landscape.

He told reporters that Citibank’s establishment here comes against the backdrop of an economy undergoing significant transformation, with expanding investment, new industries and major development projects creating greater demand for sophisticated financial services.

‘I’m going to try to push it to an hour, where the representative bank, Citibank, will establish its footprint in our beautiful Guyana,’ President Ali said, adding that the country’s economic trajectory is positioning Guyana as an increasingly important destination for international business and investment.

President Ali also linked Citibank’s presence to broader efforts to mobilise international financing for transformative national development, adding that discussions with international partners are advancing a framework that would combine government-to-government financing with international financial resources.

‘More importantly, we have been able to work on the establishment of a framework that would bring together government to government financing, and also integrate international financing,’ President Ali said, adding that the framework is expected to facilitate major projects with national, regional and global significance and accelerate their implementation.

Ali said Guyana’s growing economic profile and international partnerships are creating opportunities that will have a lasting impact on the country’s development, adding that the government expects further progress to become evident in the coming weeks.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Monday, September 14, 2026.

GEORGETOWN -The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appointed Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has ended an eight day visit to Haiti observing ‘several positive developments’ as the French-speaking country continues preparations for elections in December this year, according to a statement issued here on Monday.

PARAMARIBO -The state-owned N.V. Grassalco is emerging as the front runner to provide Barbados with the supply of silica sand and stone to ease that country’s shortage in domestic supplies.

PORT OF SPAIN – The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) says its members will receive outstanding payments from the government in September for the period 2020 to 2023.

GEORGETOWN – President Irfaan Ali says Guyana remains confident that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will rule in its favour in the decades old border dispute with Venezuela.

WASHINGTON – A new study released here Monday has detailed how fiscal institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) can improve fiscal credibility, debt management, and public investment outcomes.

SPORTS:

BUDAPEST – Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond and Jamaica’s Commonwealth gold medalist Romaine Beckford both failed to medal in their respective events on the final day of the World Athletics Ultimate Championships here on Sunday.

BRIDGETOWN -The Barbados Tridents are the hottest team in the Caribbean Premier League right now after dismantling the Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets to record their fourth straight win here on Sunday night.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appointed Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has ended an eight day visit to Haiti observing ‘several positive developments’ as the French-speaking country continues preparations for elections in December this year, according to a statement issued here on Monday.

The CARICOM Secretariat said that the EPG chaired by former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and including former Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding and their Bahamian counterpart, Perry Christie, had visited the country from September 2-9.

It said that the group held discussions with a large number, and broad range of political and civil society stakeholders including the business community, youth, women and human rights organisations; key government institutions; and the leadership of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

‘The visit of the EPG also provided a timely opportunity to assess the political conjuncture and to engage in dialogue on the preparations for the first round of elections scheduled for 13 December 2026.

‘The EPG observed several positive developments, including the work being undertaken to reignite an election process after more than ten years. The EPG noted that political parties were in various stages of preparation to participate in the forthcoming elections, including by forming political groupings,’ according to the CARICOM Secretariat statement.

The first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum are scheduled for December 13, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7,2021.

The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.

Last Friday, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Albert Ramdin told a news conference has held several conversations with the EPG on the issue of politicians in Haiti linked with criminal gangs.

‘I have had several conversations with the EPG not only about this matter, but also the impediments to elections,’ he said, noting that ‘only a couple of days ago’ he held talks with Anthony and in the ‘coming week I will be talking to the EPG once they complete their mission in Haiti.

‘I think the EPG does valuable work to connect with political organisations, and as such gets information, but also understands where they stand in the political realm of developments in Haiti. It is a very difficult situation.

‘It is not easy to organise elections after 10 years, and certainly not under the conditions when many parts of Haiti are controlled by gangs, and that is something which needs to be addressed.’

The CARICOM Secretariat statement said that stakeholders in Haiti have also expressed their views and concerns on the new measures required by the amended Electoral Decree.

‘They claimed that many of these measures were unwieldy and onerous. They were particularly concerned by the number of documents candidates were required to provide to the Electoral Council (CEP) and the slow pace of the registration of electors.

‘ It was drawn to the attention of the EPG that the voter registration process was not meeting expectations. The process was constricted by the existence of territories beyond state control. Many of the stakeholders emphasized the need for greater public sensitisation on the process and wider availability of registration centres.

The statement said that though striving to comply with the demands required to participate in the elections, a number of parties called for the modification of some of the procedures and requirements that might necessitate a deferment of the December 13 election date.

‘Stakeholders however expressed a yearning for fair, credible, impartial and inclusive elections to bring an end to the successive transitional arrangements that have been an unwelcome feature of the multidimensional crisis in Haiti.’

The statement said that the security situation remains of particular concern and that the ‘EPG noted the recent spread and spike in deadly violence and kidnappings, as well as the challenges contributing to the slow deployment of the GSF (Gang Suppression Force)’.

The GSF is a United Nations Security Council-backed multinational security mission deployed to Haiti to dismantle armed gangs and restore public order within an initial 12-month mandate. It is authorised for up to 5,550 police and military personnel.

‘In their discussions, all stakeholders underscored the critical importance of ensuring a security environment that will allow for country-wide registration of voters, political campaigning, freedom of movement and for citizens to vote safely.

‘Deployment of the additional forces and resources pledged by various countries and strategic operational coordination among these and the Haitian security forces are of paramount importance in achieving this objective,’ the CARICOM Secretariat statement noted.

‘Haiti is at a critical juncture. With important steps being taken by Haitians towards stability and a return to democratic governance in their country, the EPG calls on international partners to refocus efforts to deliver with despatch on security commitments made to ensure the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2793,’ the statement added.

The Belize government says it is committed to having students access their education safely and consistently amid reports that some school bus routes would be disrupted as a result of outstanding payments to school bus contractors.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST) said that t is aware of reports regarding the potential disruption of some school bus routes acknowledging ‘that delays in the contractual process have contributed to delays in payments’.

Education Minister Francis Fonseca said the contracts were delayed because of approvals at the Contractor General’s Office, but assured that the issue was being resolved.

‘Yes, we are having some issues. This year, for the first time, we introduced a new system that provides for the contractor general to review all of these contracts. And they’re small contracts, but they have to go through a process.

‘So there have been some delays in approval of those contracts by the contractor general’s office. But we’re working through those. And I believe that all of those will be resolved over the next few days. So there should not be any further interruptions in terms of school bus transportation,’ Fonesca said.

Bus drivers spend an estimated BDZ$100 (One BDZ$=US$0.49 cents) daily on fuel and cannot keep buying diesel out of pocket. They said also that fuel stations are also demanding payment for accounts.

While it did not say how much is owed to the contractors, the MoECST said ‘we are working diligently, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, to facilitate payments.

‘Recognising that some school bus routes may be affected, the Ministry sincerely regrets the inconvenience this may cause to students, parents teachers and school.

‘Principals and school communities that may be affected have been notified and asked to support students who may be impacted,’ the MoECST said, adding that it wanted to assure the public and other stakeholders ‘that we are working to resolve this matter, with payments expected to be facilitated by midweek.

‘The MoECST remains committed to ensuring that students can access their education safely and consistently and will provide further updates as this matter proceeds’.

Guyana police Monday said they are investigating the discovery of 72.1 pounds of cocaine, which was found last Friday, during an operation along the Five Miles-Ituni Trail, Upper Demerara River.

In a brief statement, the police said that during the operation, officers observed a motor pickup travelling out of the trail. It said that upon seeing the police, the driver stopped the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes, leaving the pickup behind.

The police said that they subsequently searched the vehicle and found a large garbage bag on the floor behind the driver’s seat containing 30 rectangular parcels.

‘Upon examination, the parcels were found to contain a whitish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine. The suspected cocaine was escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 72.1 pounds (32.7kg), before being lodged pending investigations.

The police did not give a street value for the drugs, noting also that ‘no arrests have been made as investigations continue’.

Meanwhile, police say they detained three people, including a 43-year-old businessman following the discovery of nearly 10 pounds of cannabis and over two pounds of cocaine in Bartica, Region Seven.

In a statement, the police said that the cannabis and cocaine were found on Sunday and that acting on information received, proceeded to the property, where they contacted a 38-year-old female dispatcher and conducted a search in her presence.

During the search, the police found a cardboard box wrapped in a plastic bag in the front portion of the yard. The box contained seven bulky parcels including six containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, and the other containing a whitish, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine.

The woman was arrested and escorted to the Bartica Police Station along with the suspected narcotics. The police said during further investigations, they apprehended a 43-year-old businessman of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, in connection with the matter.

The businessman was also wanted in connection with an arrest warrant relating to a separate narcotics matter. At the time of his apprehension, he was in the company of a 36-year-old taxi driver and a search of the vehicle resulted in the disovery of a plastic bag containing a whitish, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine was found in the driver-side door pocket.

The suspected cocaine was weighed in the presence of the taxi driver and amounted to 2.7 grams. The taxi driver was arrested in relation to the discovery, while the businessman was also taken into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appointed Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has ended an eight day visit to Haiti observing ‘several positive developments’ as the French-speaking country continues preparations for elections in December this year, according to a statement issued here on Monday.

The CARICOM Secretariat said that the EPG chaired by former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and including former Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding and their Bahamian counterpart, Perry Christie, had visited the country from September 2-9.

It said that the group held discussions with a large number, and broad range of political and civil society stakeholders including the business community, youth, women and human rights organisations; key government institutions; and the leadership of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

‘The visit of the EPG also provided a timely opportunity to assess the political conjuncture and to engage in dialogue on the preparations for the first round of elections scheduled for 13 December 2026.

The Cayman Islands-based Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) says it entered the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season stronger than ever with the total coverage in force rising from US$1.44 billion to US$1.8 billion.

According to the CCRIF, the world’s first multi-country, multi-peril risk pool based on parametric insurance and the leading provider of parametric insurance for Caribbean and Central American governments, as well as electric utility companies and water utilities, its membership has also grown from 35 to 39 members.

‘Behind those numbers is a clear story: more governments and utilities across the region are choosing pre-arranged, rules-based financial protection, and choosing it in greater depth. As Hurricanes Ivan, Maria and Melissa each showed, it only takes one storm to change a country’s trajectory and members are acting now, with foresight,’ CCRIF said in its September edition of its monthly newsletter, Communication Connections .

It said that total coverage in force has grown from US$1.44 billion in the 2025/26 policy year to US$1.8 billion this policy year, an increase of 25 per cent, with gains across both the Caribbean and Central America portfolios, reflecting expanding protection across sovereigns, water and electric utilities and fisheries.

‘More coverage means a larger, more diversified risk pool, which strengthens CCRIF’s financial resilience and its capacity to absorb large, single-country events without compromising its promise to every other member.’

CCRIF said that since 2007, it has made 82 payouts totalling US$483 million with each payment being made within 14 days of the disaster.

‘This growth strengthens CCRIF’s position as the world’s leading development insurer, delivering fast, rules-based liquidity within 14 days and safeguarding members’ development gains when disasters strike,’ said CCRIF, which was formed in 2007 as a regional catastrophe fund for Caribbean governments to limit the financial impact of devastating hurricanes and earthquakes by quickly providing financial liquidity when a policy is triggered..

CCRIF said that its membership has expanded from 35 to 39, and that notably all four are utilities namely the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the National Water Commission, Jamaica (NWC) ; the Nevis Electricity Company Limited an the Nevis Water Department.

‘These additions reflect a growing recognition among utilities, not just governments, that pre-arranged financing is essential to financial stability,’ said CCRIF’s chief executive officer, Isaac Anthony.

‘Hurricane Melissa, which caused losses equivalent to more than half of Jamaica’s GDP, laid bare how a single storm can knock out the essential services that communities and economies depend on. By taking up parametric coverage, these utilities can restore power and water faster after disaster strikes.’

CCRIF said it has also welcomed the decision of the governments of Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda to purchase the COAST for fisheries product.

CCRIF describes COAST as its parametric solution for the fisheries sector bringing the number of Caribbean countries with COAST fisheries insurance to eight, up from six in 2025/26.

It said Jamaica’s decision follows the severe impacts of Hurricane Melissa, which caused US$35 million in fisheries losses, destruction of over 3,200 vessels as well as damage to gear sheds, processing facilities, and aquaculture operations.

The state-owned N.V. Grassalco is emerging as the front runner to provide Barbados with the supply of silica sand and stone to ease that country’s shortage in domestic supplies.

A statement posted on the website of the state-owned company, said that a meeting was held last weekend in Barbados with the country’s Senior Minister and Minister of Energy, Business Development and Commerce, Kerrie Symmonds and a visiting delegation from N.V. Grassalco.

Symmonds said that the availability of natural resources is essential for Barbados to carry out infrastructure projects more quickly and on a larger scale.

‘When we talk about natural resources in this part of the world, we are also talking about silica sand, stone, and similar materials. These raw materials are crucial for Barbados, as we want to increase the speed and scale of our infrastructure investments.’

Barbados has traditionally relied heavily on locally sourced building materials. However, Symmonds acknowledged that these raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce.

‘We all know that we traditionally sourced a large portion of our silica sand and stone materials from Barbados itself. However, these supplies have been significantly reduced. Therefore, we now have to import a large portion of the required materials.’

The search for new suppliers is part of a broader effort to strengthen economic ties with Suriname. Symmonds described Suriname as a ‘ sister state within CARICOM’. The location of Suriname on the South American continent offers significant opportunities for Barbados.

He also stated that Bridgetown and Paramaribo need to revisit the agreements from the 2018 Brokopondo agreement. Implementation of these agreements has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bilateral agreement includes cooperation in the areas of air and sea transport, tourism, agriculture, and food security, trade, and investments, as well as natural resources and renewable energy.

The Surinamese oil and gas industry and the possibilities in the field of renewable energy can also offer opportunities for further cooperation.

‘COVID is behind us now, and we need to put the issues from the Brokopondo agreement back on the agenda.’

According to Symmonds, the talks on Friday offer an opportunity to turn the long-standing relationship between the two CARICOM countries into concrete economic benefits for Barbados.

Grassalco was established in 1971. The name is an abbreviation of Grasshopper Aluminium Company. The mining company is fully owned by the Surinamese government and is engaged in the development of the country’s mineral wealth, including gold and natural stone.

For Grassalco, however, Barbados would not be a new export market. The state-owned

mining company was already doing business with Bridgetown more than 10 years ago. In 2015, Grassalco received an order for the delivery of 14,000 tonnes of granite boulders to Barbados, which according to the reports at the time, represented a value of approximately US$700,000 to US$800,000

In 2014, Grassalco worked with the Barbadian company CO Williams on possibilities to export granite blocks and crushed stone from Suriname to the Caribbean. The aim was to find a logistics model whereby ships bringing material to Suriname could transport Surinamese building materials on the return journey.

President Irfaan Ali says Guyana remains confident that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will rule in its favour in the decades old border dispute with Venezuela.

Oral hearings in the territorial controversy concluded on May 11 and Guyana’s case affirming the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award is now fully before the ICJ with a final, binding ruling expected early in the new year.

In June, the Ali administration all that remains to be done is for the ICJ to deliberate, draft its judgment, and deliver it in a public session, a process the ICJ has historically completed within six to eight months of the close of hearings.

‘We are hoping that early in the new year, there will be a ruling at the ICJ; we are very confident,’ Ali said in an interview with the international broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Ali said beyond the ruling the focus turns to ‘building a relationship and ensuring that the region remains strong, stable, secure, and that both countries can advance its economic potential and opportunity in an environment that is free from fear.’

The case, filed by Guyana in 2018, seeks the Court’s confirmation that the 1899 Award and the boundary it established between then-British Guiana and Venezuela is valid and binding under international law.

The ICJ has twice affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the matter, ruling in 2020 that it had authority over the case and dismissing a further Venezuelan objection in 2023. The Court has also twice granted Guyana’s requests for provisional measures, most recently ordering Venezuela in 2025 not to proceed with elections in the disputed Essequibo region.

Venezuela’s representatives maintained their rejection of the Court’s authority during the May hearings, arguing their territorial position predates and stands apart from the ICJ process.

But Ali asked about Caracas’s position during his interview replied ‘those are words that we have heard many times, but we know the fact and the truth in relation to the 1899 Award, and the court is going to determine the merits of words and facts.’

On whether Guyana is bracing for continued resistance from Venezuela regardless of the outcome, Ali said ‘I wouldn’t say we are bracing, but we are prepared for any reaction to the court ruling.

‘We are very conscious of these words… notwithstanding the fact that Venezuela has participated fully in every aspect of the case before the ICJ,’ President Ali said, adding that the United States continues to play an important role in supporting regional stability and that Georgetown’s relationship with Washington remains unchanged and rooted in principle.

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond and Jamaica’s Commonwealth gold medalist Romaine Beckford both failed to medal in their respective events on the final day of the World Athletics Ultimate Championships here on Sunday.

LaFond, who copped gold in the women’s triple jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finished just outside the medals with her leap of 14.47 metres good enough for fourth.

The event was won by Saly Sarr of Senegal with a leap of 15.06m, with the Cuban duo of Davisleydi Velazco (15.04m) and Leyanis Hernandez (14.90m) placing second and third respectively. Ackelia Smith of Jamaica was fifth with her leap of 14.23m.

Meanwhile, Beckford also narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the men’s high jump.

The 24-year-old had to settle for fifth after clearing 2.26m, the same height as bronze medalist Erick Portillo of Mexico and Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk who placed fourth.

Jamaica’s Ashanti Moore finished fifth in the women’s 200m in 22.34 seconds, with USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completing the sprint double by capturing gold in a world leading time of 21.47 seconds.

Fellow Jamaican Bryan Levell was sixth in the men’s equivalent in a time of 20.07 seconds, as Kenneth Bednarek of the USA added to his 100m title by storming to victory in a world leading 19.52 seconds.

The Jamaican pair of Sanique Walker, who clocked a personal best of 53.61 seconds and Rushell Clayton (54.32), finished fifth and eighth respectively in the women’s metres hurdles and their 4x400m mixed relay team of Zandrion Barnes, Shana Anderson, Assinie Wilson and Stacey-Ann Williams were sixth in 3:11.46.