Category: CANA News

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) is calling for stronger action to prevent suicide and protect mental health across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), saying greater attention must be paid to isolation, stigma and discrimination.

PANCAP made the call on Thursday, World Suicide Prevention Day, observed this year under the theme ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’.

The organisation said suicide remains a serious public health concern across the Americas and the Caribbean.

According to 2021 data from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago recorded some of the highest age-standardised suicide mortality rates in the Americas, at 26.4, 22.4 and 11.6 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively.

PANCAP said the figures demonstrate that suicide prevention must extend beyond the health sector, with families, communities, schools, workplaces, faith-based organisations, civil society and governments all having a role to play.

It said World Suicide Prevention Day also provides an opportunity to address the continuing impact of HIV-related stigma and discrimination on mental health and well-being.

PANCAP noted that HIV is now a manageable chronic health condition when people have access to effective diagnosis, treatment and care. However, people living with HIV continue to face stigma, discrimination, rejection and social exclusion despite advances in prevention and treatment.

The organisation said evidence from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that HIV-related stigma and discrimination can negatively affect mental health and quality of life and discourage people from accessing HIV testing, prevention, treatment and care.

PANCAP also said social exclusion, discrimination, isolation and inadequate social support are recognised factors that can contribute to vulnerability to suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dr Wendy Telgt-Emanuelson, said compassion and inclusion must form part of the regional HIV response.

‘Suicide prevention is about protecting life, dignity and hope. No person living with HIV should feel rejected or isolated because of their status,’ she said.

‘We must replace stigma with understanding, discrimination with inclusion, and isolation with compassion. Every life has value, and no one should have to face difficult moments alone.’

PANCAP is also encouraging people across CARICOM to become better informed about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

It said accurate information can help people make informed sexual health choices, access HIV and STI testing, use available prevention options and seek treatment when needed.

PANCAP is urging the region to replace fear with facts, stigma with understanding, discrimination with inclusion and isolation with connection.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the National Security Council (NSC) will meet Thursday to decide on the next step regarding the state of emergency (SoE), which is scheduled to expire on September 17.

Persad-Bissessar, who confirmed the meeting while speaking to reporters outside the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain following the opening of the 2026/2027 Law Term on Wednesday, did not indicate whether the Government would seek another extension or allow the emergency measures to end.

‘We will have a meeting of the council on Thursday, and we’ll let you know thereafter,’ the Prime Minister said.

Asked specifically whether another extension was being considered, she said: ‘We will let you know after Thursday.’

The current SoE took effect on March 3 and has already been extended twice.

The first three-month extension was approved by the House of Representatives on March 13, while a second three-month extension was approved by Parliament on June 10 in a 28-12 vote.

A further extension beyond September 17 would go beyond the Constitution’s six-month cumulative limit for extensions and would require a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.

Under the Constitution, a state of emergency can be extended for periods of up to three months by a simple majority in the House of Representatives, provided the total extensions do not exceed six months.

Any extension beyond six months requires the support of three-fifths of all members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Although the Government has the numbers to secure the required vote in the Lower House, it does not have a three-fifths majority in the Senate and would need the support of at least three Opposition or Independent senators.

Persad-Bissessar said national security remained a concern but pointed to a decline in crime statistics during the period of the SoE.

‘We continue to be concerned. It is very clear that the crime stats are down. Anybody with eyes will see. The numbers are down, down, down in every regard, in every division,’ she said.

Asked whether she considered the SoE successful, the Prime Minister said: ‘I think it has been very successful. Maybe it’s not the best thing to do, but it was very successful.

‘And when you watch your numbers, the numbers are very clear. Numbers don’t lie.’

The current emergency is the second SoE declared since the United National Congress returned to office in 2025.

The first was declared on July 18, 2025 and remained in effect until January 31, 2026, after two extensions.

A second SoE was declared on March 3, just over a month after the first one ended.

Meanwhile, Persad-Bissessar says new police posts promised by the Government should become operational within weeks.

Asked when the facilities would open, she said: ‘Soon. I have to go and open the airport to Tobago. I have to open those things. Soon, soon, soon.’

Pressed for a more specific timeframe, she said it would be ‘a matter of weeks’

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the five Colombians received in Dominica under its third-country national arrangement with the United States have all returned to Colombia.

Skerrit made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, saying Dominica had concluded all arrangements with the United States concerning third-country nationals.

He said the United States initially submitted a list of people for Dominica to consider, but the government did not accept those names.

A second list was later provided with additional information, from which Dominica selected five people, all of them Colombians.

‘They came into Dominica, and they’ve all left and returned to Colombia,’ Skerrit said.

The Barbados Tridents elected to field after winning the toss against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 32nd match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Thursday.

SQUADS

BARBADOS TRIDENTS: Chris Green (captain), Quinton de Kock, Brandon King, Zachary Carter, Rivaldo Clarke, Sherfane Rutherford, Shadrack Descarte, Daniel Sams, Gudakesh Motie, Allah Ghazanfar, Jakeem Pollard.

ST KITTS and NEVIS PATRIOTS: Jason Holder (captain), Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Navin Bidaisee, Jeremiah Louis, Naseem Shah, Waqar Salamkheil.

Umpires: Chris Wright, Zahid Bassarath.

TV Umpire: Carl Tuckett.

Reserve Umpire: Gregory Brathwaite.

Match Referee: Reon King.

Guyana is moving ahead with plans to develop a gold mining project at Eagle Mountain, with construction expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027 and gold production estimated to start by the end of 2028.

The Government of Guyana on Thursday signed a Mineral Agreement with Mako Mining Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary,Stronghold Guyana Inc., for the Eagle Mountain Gold Project.

The agreement was signed by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Mako Mining Corp. and Stronghold Guyana Inc.

The government said the agreement establishes the legal, fiscal and operating framework for the project.

Mako Mining has maintained a presence in Guyana for more than 10 years and has developed a longstanding relationship with the country and its mining sector.

The company has already begun preparatory activities for the Eagle Mountain project. Gold production remains subject to the completion of the requisite regulatory and environmental approvals.

The government said it expects the project to create opportunities for employment, training and skills development, as well as increased participation by qualified Guyanese workers, contractors, suppliers and service providers.

The agreement also includes commitments related to environmental stewardship, community development and social programmes.

The Ministry of Natural Resources said it will work with the GGMC and other relevant agencies to facilitate the responsible advancement of the project while ensuring compliance with Guyana’s laws and protecting the country’s environmental, social and economic interests.

The government said the agreement represents an important milestone in advancing development of the Eagle Mountain gold resource and reflects its commitment to facilitating responsible investment in Guyana’s mining sector.

The South African duo of Chris Green and Quinton de Kock produced match-winning performances to push the Barbados Tridents within one win of the Caribbean Premier League playoffs via a nervy four-wicket win over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Thursday.

Green’s decision to bowl first paid dividends for the Tridents, with his four-wicket haul putting his side in a perfect position to win the crucial contest, as the visitors were bowled over for a below par 118 in 20 overs at Kensington Oval.

The diminutive de Kock then used all of his experience in his unbeaten knock of 44 off 43 balls to help the home side recover from a tricky position of 27 for three and get up to 120 for six with 12 balls remaining.

With the defeat, the Patriots were eliminated from the tournament without reaching the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

On the other hand, the Tridents who were dead last two matches ago, moved up to fourth position on eight points with two matches remaining against the Jamaica Kingsmen and Guyana Amazon Warriors.

A win against either will secure a top four spot, while two losses could see them drop out of the playoffs on net run rate.

Needing a victory to have any possible chance of staying in the competition, the Patriots got off to the worst possible start with Green bowling Johnson Charles for a duck with the second ball of the match and Daniel Sams having Kyle Mayers caught behind, also for a duck, to leave them nought for two in the second over.

When Green bowled Andre Fletcher for four and had Alick Athanaze caught for 16, the Patriots were in dire straits at 27 for four in the seventh over.

Green then trapped Dasun Shanaka lbw for six and Gudakesh Motie accounted for the wicket of Jason Holder two balls later to see the Patriots collapse to 51 for six.

Wanindu Hasaranga saved their blushes with a counterattacking knock of 45 from 25 balls, which helped to get his side into triple figures.

Player-of-the-Match Green ended with figures of 4-20, while Sams (2-21) and Motie (2-30) provided good support.

Faced with a required run rate of less than six runs an over, Holder had Brandon King caught behind with the third ball of the innings without a run on the board.

The lanky pacer then produced another unplayable outswinger to Rivaldo Clarke that he could only edge behind to the wicketkeeper three balls later to leave the Tridents four for two.

Zachary Carter hit Holder for two consecutive boundaries, but perished trying to pull a short pitched delivery that only made it as far as deep square leg where Hasaranga took a good catch to reduce them to 27 for three.

But de Kock formed handy partnerships with Shadrack Descarte, with whom he added 38 runs, and Sherfane Rutherford, who contributed 23 runs to their 39-run stand for the fifth wicket, which took the Tridents to relative safety.

Following the dismissals of Rutherford and Green, Sams clobbered Nivan Bidaisee for a six over long off to bring the match to an end with two overs to spare.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is to receive an official report from the school where a student was denied the opportunity to use the restroom and subsequently soiled herself.

Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, made the disclosure during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing.

‘When I saw that story, of course, as many Jamaicans did, my heart broke,’ Morris Dixon said. ‘My heart was breaking for that student when I heard the story, and so I understand the outrage. I understand how Jamaicans feel and how they feel it as if it were their child, because I felt similarly that that was my child.’

‘As minister, I have to have all the facts, and it’s for that reason that I’ve asked for an investigation of what took place, so that I can get an official report on it with all the facts on the table. And then we will take action after that,’ she added.

The minister said she spoke with the child’s father on Wednesday, noting that the ministry will provide the necessary support needed.

‘I had a good conversation [and] noted that all of Jamaica feels concerned and that we’re worried about his daughter. We conveyed our love for her and that at the ministry we’ll provide whatever support she may need. There was indication that there may be need for some emotional support and some counselling support,’ Morris Dixon said.

‘In the ministry we’ll do that. We have psychologists on retainer, so any child in our system that needs support, we in the ministry, we pay for the psychologist, or if they need a psychiatrist, we also pay for it. So, we’ll provide whatever support that child needs, and the children of Jamaica are at the centre of our decision-making,’ she added.

The minister also revealed that she spoke with the principal of the school on Wednesday, adding that it was important to listen to all sides.

‘I had a good conversation with the principal, and she assured me that the children are at the centre of all of her policies. And that everything she does is with them in mind. She also went through what happened on the day. She’s indicated we will get the official report from the school, and as I said, we’ll meet with the Board, we’ll meet with the parent, with the school, and in the ministry we’ll get to the bottom of it, and we will take action that is needed,’ she added.

Morris Dixon pointed out that many schools have a difficult balancing act, noting that ‘out of safety for the children and out of other incidents that may have happened, you have to make a call as a teacher’.

‘So, I understand the difficulty in that call. But when there are emergencies, we have to act differently. So even when we have the set bathroom breaks, if a child is ill between those bathroom breaks, we have to give them the time to go to the bathroom. And the good thing is, when I spoke to the principal, the official rules at the school match with the ministry’s expectations, and so what we have to do as a ministry is to check if the rules were broken,’ she said.

The Barbados Tridents defeated St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by four wickets in the 32nd match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Thursday.

Scores

ST KITTS and NEVIS PATRIOTS 118 in 20 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 45, Jason Holder 24, Alick Athanaze 16, Jeremiah Louis 13; Chris Green 4-20, Daniel Sams 2-21, Gudakesh Motie 2-30).

BARBADOS TRIDENTS 120-6 in 18 overs (Quinton de Kock 44 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 23, Shadrack Descarte 19, Zachary Carter 13; Jason Holder 3-31, Naseem Shah 2-11).

The Jamaica Empress Women reached 100 for eight in 20 overs after being sent in by the Trinbago Knight Riders Women in the third match of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Thursday.

JAMAICA EMPRESS WOMEN 100-8 in 20 overs (Rashada Williams 40, Chinelle Henry 22 not out, Syeda Aroob Shah 12 not out; Karishma Ramharack 3-11, Laura Harris 2-10).

The final count in Monday’s Roseau North by-election has confirmed a decisive victory for Dominica Labour Party (DLP) candidate Ashma McDougall, who secured 1,473 of the 2,520 valid votes cast.

United Workers Party (UWP) candidate Daniel Andrew Lugay received 998 votes, while independent candidate Sherman Boston polled 49 votes. In the preliminary count, McDougall was reported to have secured 1,506 votes, compared with 983 for Lugay, with Boston polling 50.

The Electoral Office said 2,566 ballots were polled from 7,892 registered electors, representing a voter turnout of 32.50 per cent.

Forty-six ballots were rejected.

The final figures show McDougall with 58.45 per cent of the valid vote, compared with 39.60 per cent for Lugay and 1.95 per cent for Boston.

Following the result, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the outcome should end the debate over whether Dominica is on the right or wrong track for development under the DLP.

‘I believe that Roseau North has spoken for the whole country. Roseau North has spoken for every part of the country, and I believe that the rest of the country has heard you and seen you,’ Skerrit told DLP supporters.

‘And so I believe that the debate in Dominica is over on whether the country is on the right track or the wrong track. And I think Dominica is on the right track based on what you have said in Roseau North,’ he said.

Skerrit also said he was pleased with the support the DLP received from young voters and indicated that McDougall would be included in the Cabinet.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former minister Miriam Blanchard on June 12 due to ill health.

The final count replaces the preliminary figures released after Monday’s poll, when McDougall was reported to have received 1,506 votes, Lugay 983 and Boston 50.