Category: CANA News

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley Wednesday dismissed as ‘asinine’ a suggestion by United Kingdom parliamentarians with threats to impose visa bans on countries asking for reparations.

Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman sparked major controversy by suggesting former colonies should pay Britain for its historical ‘investment’ in response to Jamaica’s petition for slavery reparations. But, speaking at the news conference following the four-day Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit here, Mottley told reporters she is ‘not sure that you want me to reply to things that really are asinine and certainly the notion that we should pay the United Kingdom for oppressing us, for enslaving us and for treating us as chattel and that is the difference.

‘Slavery existed before but this was the first time that human beings were defined as chattel and I’ve been very clear all along that the 1661 slave code of Barbados which predated the code noir which the French have just repealed less than two months ago, all distinguished themselves and all of the slave laws that followed the 1661 slave code of Barbados by the treatment of human beings as chattel’.

Mottley said that the Caribbean was not asking for charity, adding ‘we are asking to be able to ensure that justice can be done’.

She said that in 1834 the British Parliament did not need to be persuaded (2:03) of that fact with respect to the loss of property ‘because we were chattel and the compensation of the slave owners of 20 million pounds.

‘I would like to advise that those who have not yet read sufficient to understand the history do so before making comments that really do not reflect well on them.’

The regional leaders during their summit approved the ‘CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparations: A Manifesto for the Coming Englighment’ and agreed on several initiatives to advance the region’s reparations agenda.

These include strengthened collaboration with the African Union, a strong CARICOM presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in November this year and the unveiling of the Newton Enslaved Burial Ground Memorial in Barbados where the remains of 570 West African slaves were uncovered through a LIDAR study.

Mottley told reporters that with respect to the reparatory movement, it had now become global, and that the Caribbean had been represented at a conference in Accra in Ghana ‘and as you know the United Nations passed the resolution that Ghana brought in March of this year.

‘ We have seen Pope Leo make comments in this year of our Lord. We have seen President Emmanuel Macron recognise that the conversation for reparations just as his majesty King Charles when he was Prince Charles at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Rwanda stated clearly that reparations was a conversation whose time had come.

‘I have no doubt that there are British parliamentarians who want to distract people from the domestic politics of the United Kingdom at this point in time but the Caribbean should not be used as a prop in those circumstances,’ she added.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders ended their 51st annual summit here on Wednesday saying that the decisions taken during the four day event ‘reaffirm that CARICOM remain united in purpose and determined in action.

‘Together we will continue building a Caribbean that is more resilient, more prosperous, more connected and better prepared for the future generations,’ St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre told the closing news conference. Pierre, who is also the chairman of the 15-member regional integration grouping, said the discussions over the past four days had been ‘guided by one central objective (and that is) ensuring that CARICOM delivers results that people can see and feel in their every day lives.

‘The true success of CARICOM will not be the number of decisions we make, but whether our people see and feel the difference those decision’s make in their every day lives,’ Pierre said.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who since her return to office in April last year, has enjoyed a stormy relationship with the rest of CARICOM, said she is now looking forward to a much more harmonious relationship with the grouping.

‘ My position from the start remains to now and that position has been, whilst I would have levelled some concerns about the operations of the CARICOM, I have always said Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to the CARICOM.

‘We have unwavering support to the CARICOM for us to work together to better the region and of course all our citizens. So I have not changed in that position. However, some matters discussed in the recent days, I think we’ve been able, through the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pierre and of course with the cooperation of the other heads that we’ve been able to iron out some of the concerns I had.

‘So my position has not changed. I remain committed to the CARICOM. We will have issues from day to day, from time to time. In a family you have issues, you have issues of concern and I am, my position is that we must raise them.

‘We must not put our heads down in the sand like ostriches. We raise them when they are and try to find resolutions,’ she said, adding ‘we’ve been able in this51st CARICOM Heads meeting to iron out some of those differences and I think we are better as we go forward’.

The leaders discussed a wde range of issues ranging from cost of living, food security and economic reliance, health, climate change and reparatory justice. But the issues that have been driving policies in the past few months remain without a clear position.

For instance on the issue of situation in Cuba, while regional leaders expressed support for dealing with the humanitarian crisis in that country, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley acknowledged that ‘this is not an easy issue, and I think that we are agreed that the discussions and the debate must take place, but without prejudice to any discussions and debate for a peaceful resolution of what is transpiring with Cuba’.

She said that there is a humanitarian crisis and that you cannot continue to ignore that reality. Mottley said that while the United States has said itself that it will contribute to the relief of the humanitarian crisis, ‘the Caribbean has been resolute in saying that we want to do it’ adding that ‘in Barbados’ own case, we had to spend about five months, and the money was returned twice, and this is the third time for us to buy baby milk.

‘We recognise that this is always going to be a complicated and complex issue, as was reflected in the United Nations debate on Tuesday, but we want to remain focused on humanitarian efforts, and we want to remain focused on the dialogue that should continue to take place for the resolution of this matter, and CARICOM will always be ready and has told both the Americans and the Cubans that we are more than ready to be there to help facilitate this dialogue.

‘Because when you live in a neighbourhood, what happens in the neighbourhood affects everyone, and the neighbourhood stretches from Florida to uyana and Suriname in the south’.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minster Dr. Terrance Drew, who spent seven years studying medicine in Havana, told reporters that the region continues to be touched by the humanitarian crisis in Cuba,

‘Different countries have delivered for different things, and we hope that that gets to the children of Cuba as soon and as quickly as possible,’ he added.

The regional leaders said that they had also discussed the United States policy as it relates to third country refugees (TCR) where Washington is asking individual Caribbean countries to accept refugees or undocumented migrants who entered the US illegally.

Prime Minister Pierre said that the matter had been discussed, adding ‘as you know, it’s an issue that is of concern to all of us. We discussed it, and we took a position that we would share some more information among ourselves about what really is each island doing.

‘Right now, we are not clear,’ he said.

Pierre also said that the meeting had not discussed the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), even though the European Union and the United States have linked their visa policies to the programme through which foreign investors are granted citizenship of some islands in the Caribbean in return for making a substantial investment in their socio-economic development.

‘As an issue that we discuss among ourselves and at the larger curriculum level, it was not discussed. Yes, it was not discussed because …I’ll tell you what, we’ve been trying our best to follow best practise.

‘We’ve been trying our best to ensure that all the requirements that we are asked for, we’ve met them. The latest requirement that we have a unified regulatory body, we’ve done that through the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

‘All the due diligence procedures that we are asked to do, we take these steps. But each country has a right to impose its own domestic policy, and we are in no position to tell anybody what to do as far as their domestic policy is concerned,’ Pierre said, adding that ‘so regardless of what we do, if Europe decides that it does not want us to have CBI programme, that’s what is going to happen

‘Each country has its own domestic policies, and if for their own reasons that is decided by Europe, by countries in Europe, that they do not want to see a CBI programme, there’s literally nothing we can do under these circumstances.

‘But we’re going to follow all what they’ve asked us to do. And we’ve gone, and in terms of history, we have been there before. We’ve done what we do, we took all the steps as far as our bananas were concerned, and we still lost treatment of our bananas as far as our sugarcane is concerned.

‘So we’ve gone there before, we’ve been there before, and we’ve always survived, and I’m sure we’ll continue to survive,’ Pierre added.

On the issue of climate change , the regional leaders reaffirmed their commitment to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and to advocating for the special circumstances of Smalll island Developing States.

‘We also agreed to advance a regional insurance and reinsurance strategy to better protect our people, infrastructure and economies against hurricanes and other natural disasters,’ Pierre said.

He said on the issue of health, the leaders ‘endorsed stronger regional cooperation, including enhanced preparedness for the emerging public health threats and expanded access to specialised healthcare services across member states.

In a move that signals a significant shift in the global surfing spotlight, Quiksilver has officially signed Jamaican National Champion Elishama Beckford as a brand ambassador. To celebrate the partnership, the brand orchestrated a unique cultural exchange, flying Australian pro free surfer Lungi Slabb to the island.

The result was a short tour that blended world-class waves with the deep roots of Jamaican music, guided by none other than musician and Bob Marley’s grandson, Zion Marley.

For Todd Saunders, Creative Director of Quiksilver Global Marketing, the initiative was about recognising the ‘magic’ that has long been simmering beneath the surface of the Caribbean.

‘It’s a privilege for Quiksilver to work with surfing communities from around the world, parts of Polynesia where talent has long been identified, to more emerging areas like the Caribbean,’ Saunders stated. ‘We have always followed Elishama and his career coming up through the program here at Jamnesia in Jamaica. Our eyes have been on the Caribbean in general, and Jamaica in particular.’

Saunders noted the organic connection between the sport and the local lifestyle. ‘As someone was saying over the last few days that we spent, reggae is the soundtrack to surfing. And so many people are already living in this frequency, this vibe that is shared across the global surfing community.’

The synergy was palpable when Slabb arrived to link up with Beckford and Marley. ‘We thought what a wonderful time to bring in Lungi Slabb from Australia, who shares so many things culturally, style of surfing, and of course, music,’ Saunders added. ‘With Shama (Beckford), they connected with their friend, Zion Marley, so the last few days have been described as a flow, as a vibe. To be able to document that and to shine a light on the magic that is surfing in the Caribbean globally, the privilege is ours.’

The tour wasn’t just about catching waves; it was about inspiring the next generation. The group visited the eastern parish of Portland, where they engaged with local youth, an experience that Beckford says is the true measure of the partnership’s success.

‘Quiksilver supporting a Jamaican surfer and somebody from the Caribbean is a big deal,’ Beckford emphasised. ‘More than just for me, yesterday we were in Portland, and we saw how the young kids were inspired by that. You see it in their eyes that they see the potential, and they see the possibility, and that’s one of the biggest angles for me. I love moments like that. It’s a full circle. We are just looking forward to continuing to grow, chasing waves.’

For Slabb, the island left an indelible mark. He expressed his admiration for the local talent and the vibrant culture, even setting his sights on a monumental goal for the region’s surfers.

‘I love the island, the vibe, and the culture,’ Slabb said. ‘There is a lot of talent here. I hope that one day a surfer from the Caribbean can make it to the Olympics.’

The connection was further solidified by the presence of Zion Marley, who linked the adrenaline of surfing to the creative flow of music. Speaking to the group’s dynamic, Marley noted the deep parallels between riding a wave and riding a rhythm.

‘It’s special because the Marley family does a lot of outreach, and this is just another form of bringing people together and showing the one love mentality,’ Marley explained. ‘I was able to show them my world a little bit and show them the music side of things. What they feel when they’re riding the wave is the same thing I feel when I’m, for lack of a better word, riding a beat or riding a rhythm.’

He continued, describing the experience as a ‘flow state.’ ‘It’s inspiring to see the fearlessness that they both carry in them that allows them to do the sport to their utmost ability without the comparison part. It’s more so a fun, free-flowing, loving thing. You have to love it first to really do it, and it showed me that we’re more alike than we truly think.’

Adding a commercial layer to the cultural fusion, Quiksilver has recently launched a new apparel line featuring the Bob Marley collection through the Marley family foundation. The collaboration represents a full-circle moment for the brand, marrying the iconography of reggae legend with the dynamic sport of surfing.

As the Caribbean sun sets on this historic collaboration, Quiksilver seems poised to ride this wave of ‘natural mystic’ far into the future, cementing Jamaica as a cornerstone of the global surf community.

The Saint Lucia Kings have locked in their overseas firepower for the 2026 Hero Caribbean Premier League season, unveiling a five-man international roster that blends crafty spin, explosive batting, and all-round grit.

The franchise confirmed the signings of Afghan wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad, New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, Sri Lankan off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana, Sri Lankan left-hander Charith Asalanka, and USA seamer Shadley van Schalkwyk ahead of the upcoming campaign. The 2026 recruitment drive signals the Kings’ clear ambition to fortify both spin and pace departments while preserving the destructive top-order firepower that has defined their recent CPL identity.

Noor Ahmad, one of the most coveted white-ball spinners on the global T20 circuit, returns to spearhead the Kings’ middle-over attack.

Despite his youth, the Afghan has earned a reputation across leagues for striking at pivotal junctures and outsmarting batters with deception well beyond his years.

Tim Seifert extends his stay with the franchise, cementing his role as one of the CPL’s most feared wicketkeeper-batters. The Kiwi’s flexibility throughout the order and consistent run-scoring in worldwide franchise tournaments make him an indispensable pillar of the Kings’ batting spine once again.

Maheesh Theekshana arrives as a new weapon, armed with subtle variations and unerring accuracy in both the powerplay and death overs.

The Sri Lankan off-spinner has become a franchise cricket mainstay, prized for his composure and ability to stifle batters across every format.

Charith Asalanka brings not only left-handed elegance but also a cool captain’s head to the group. The Sri Lankan is a proven finisher, capable of anchoring a chase or unleashing late-overs fireworks with equal fluency.

Completing the overseas quintet is USA quick Shadley van Schalkwyk, whose pace and bounce add a fresh dimension to the Kings’ bowling arsenal.

Passenger traffic at the island’s two international airports declined during the first half of 2026 as the country continued to recover from the impact of Hurricane Melissa and other external challenges affecting the tourism sector. According to figures released by Mexico-based airport concession operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), Sangster International Airport handled 1.91 million passengers between January and June, a 26.7 per cent decrease compared with the 2.60 million passengers recorded during the corresponding period last year.

The decline has been attributed largely to the effects of Hurricane Melissa, which struck in October 2025, as well as reduced hotel room capacity resulting from ongoing repairs at several tourism properties.

Sangster International Airport, Jamaica’s busiest airport, serves as the primary gateway to the island’s tourism corridor stretching from Ocho Rios to Negril.

Passenger traffic at Norman Manley International Airport also declined during the six-month period, although at a more modest rate. The Kingston-based airport processed 850,200 passengers, representing a 3.6 per cent decrease from the 881,500 passengers recorded during the same period in the previous year.

Airport officials have attributed the reduction in traffic at Norman Manley International Airport to lower visitor arrivals from certain markets in the United States, Jamaica’s largest source of tourists.

The June figures reflected similar trends, with Sangster International Airport recording a 23.4 per cent decline in passenger traffic. The airport handled 336,300 passengers during the month, down from 438,900 in June 2025.

Norman Manley International Airport experienced a slight decline, processing 151,000 passengers compared with 152,200 during the same month last year.

Despite concerns about the closure of low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines on May 2, GAP said the impact on Jamaica’s airlift was limited.

Prior to ceasing operations, the airline accounted for approximately 3.5 per cent of passenger traffic through Kingston and 2.6 per cent through Montego Bay.

However, industry stakeholders remain optimistic about future growth, pointing to several new air services that are expected to strengthen Jamaica’s connectivity.

During June, low-cost carrier Wingo launched a new route between Medellín, Colombia and Montego Bay, providing increased access to the South American market.

Jamaica is also expected to benefit from expanded service from Porter Airlines, which plans to introduce non-stop flights from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton during the 2026-2027 winter tourism season.

Tourism officials have expressed confidence that the new routes, coupled with the reopening of hotels undergoing repairs, will help drive a recovery in visitor arrivals and passenger traffic in the months ahead.

A 25-year-old Jamaican man has been charged with the murder of a local businessman Sterling Francois, whose bloodied body was found inside his home last month.

The Jamaican, Deandre Markland, appeared in court earlier this week and the matter was adjourned to October 30 for a status hearing.

Markland who was arrested on June 26, was charged on July 4 by the police following legal advice from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard.

The police report that Francois, 45, was found dead at his home on June 20 after a relative, concerned when repeated calls went unanswered, went to check on him.

The relative found the front door closed but unlocked and discovered blood-stained footprints inside the house before finding Francois lying face down, naked and covered in blood at the top of a staircase.

Investigators found blood-stained footprints and blood splatter throughout the house and recovered a machete believed to be the murder weapon, along with a plastic cup suspected to have been used by the killer.

Police later established that Francois had returned home around 8.40 p.m. (local time) on June 19 with a male companion after leaving earlier that evening in his black Chevrolet Colorado pickup.

The visitor was reportedly seen leaving the house shortly after midnight carrying a knapsack before boarding a brown 4×4 pickup that drove away from the area.

Relatives also reported that several items were missing from the house, including Francois’ iPhone, laptop, PlayStation and wallet.

Francois owned several businesses, including an auto rental company.

West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves has emerged as the biggest winner in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings following his heroic performance in the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka at North Sound.

The Barbadian catapulted himself into the top 50 of the batting charts while making significant strides with both ball and as an all-rounder. Greaves, whose magnificent 180 in the first innings anchored the West Indies’ total, has climbed an impressive 14 places to claim the 49th spot in the batting rankings.

The 32-year-old’s all-round prowess didn’t stop there; he also moved up to 69th among bowlers after adding one wicket in the match, finishing the series with four scalps, while soaring to 17th in the all-rounder rankings.

His exceptional contributions throughout the two-match series earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours, cementing his status as a rising force in West Indies cricket.

The Caribbean batting contingent received further encouragement as several of Greaves’ teammates also made upward moves. Shai Hope advanced six places to 51st, Amir Jangoo climbed two spots to 60th, and John Campbell improved six places to 64th, giving West Indies fans reason for optimism ahead of future Test assignments.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando has forced his way back into the top 20 of the bowling rankings after a destructive spell of five for 130 in the first innings, reaffirming his status as one of the subcontinent’s most promising pace bowlers.

In the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana has surged 17 places to a career-best 12th position after his devastating six-wicket haul of 6 for 21 in the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare, which powered the home side to a 25-run victory.

Zimbabwe’s new-ball pair of Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani also made gains, advancing to 19th and 33rd respectively after sharing five wickets between them.

England batter Jacob Bethell has achieved a career-best eighth position in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings following his unbeaten 76 off 56 balls in the second T20I against India in Manchester.

India captain Shreyas Iyer made a spectacular leap of 425 slots to 93rd after amassing 110 runs across three innings.

In the T20I bowling rankings, England all-rounders Sam Curran (up from 72nd to 65th) and Will Jacks (up from 135th to 92nd) both enjoyed positive movement after their recent performances.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC- The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday July 8, 2026.

KINGSTON – The Alpart Bauxite refinery in the southern parish of St Elizabeth could be open for business by June 2027.

PORT-AU-PRINCE – The government of Haiti has dispatched a humanitarian medical mission to Venezuela to assist victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck the South American country on June 24, despite the economic and security challenges facing the French-speaking Caribbean nation.

GEORGETOWN – The historic Stabroek Market is set to undergo restoration and expansion, while another market – the Bourda Market, will be completely rebuilt as part of ongoing efforts to transform the capital.

PORT OF SPAIN – A Trinidad and Tobago student has been selected to participate in a prestigious United States science programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

SPORTS

DUBAI – Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been appointed captain of the Desert Vipers for this month’s ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, replacing the injured Chris Green.

The government of Haiti has dispatched a humanitarian medical mission to Venezuela to assist victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck the South American country on June 24, despite the economic and security challenges facing the French-speaking Caribbean nation.

The mission, led by Haiti’s Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Sinal Bertrand, arrived in Venezuela on Tuesday with a team of 29 specialist physicians and 5.5 tonnes of medical supplies to support relief and recovery efforts. Venezuela is continuing to grapple with the aftermath of twin earthquakes that authorities say killed 3,685 people, injured more than 16,700 others and left thousands missing.

The Haitian delegation includes specialists in orthopedics, surgery, anesthesiology, gynecology and internal medicine, who will work alongside Venezuelan health officials in providing care to those affected by the disaster.

According to the Haitian government, the humanitarian shipment also includes ultrasound machines, oxygen concentrators and specialized pediatric medical equipment.

‘We did not come here to deliver leftovers, but to share what little we have with the Bolivarian people of Venezuela as a sign of solidarity and fraternity,’ Bertrand said upon the delegation’s arrival.

We did not send a consultative delegation; we came with specialists ready to make themselves available to the Venezuelan government for 15, 20 or 30 days, or even as long as necessary,’ he added.

The delegation was received at Simón Bolívar International Airport by Venezuelan health officials, including Vice Minister of Outpatient Care Networks, Dr. Noly Fernández.

Fernández thanked the Haitian government and people for their support, describing the mission as a powerful demonstration of regional solidarity during one of Venezuela’s most difficult periods.

She said Venezuelan health authorities are coordinating the deployment of the Haitian medical personnel to some of the areas hardest hit by the disaster, particularly Caracas and the state of La Guaira.

‘Venezuela welcomes them with great love, solidarity and respect for Bolivarian ideals. We share a common history that will allow us to move forward together,’ Fernández said.

The Haitian government said the mission reflects its commitment to humanitarian cooperation and regional solidarity, extending condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and expressing confidence in Venezuela’s ability to recover from the tragedy.

Officials said the medical team will remain in Venezuela for as long as needed to assist with emergency healthcare services and support ongoing recovery efforts.

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been appointed captain of the Desert Vipers for this month’s ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, replacing the injured Chris Green.

The 27-year-old will lead the side in the five-team tournament starting July 23 at Providence Stadium, featuring the Guyana Amazon Warriors, San Francisco Unicorns, Lahore Qalandars and Perth Scorchers. Shadab expressed mixed emotions about the role, speaking on the Vipers Voices podcast. ‘I’m very sad for Chris (Green) because he’s a very good friend. While I am happy to get the opportunity, I am also sad for my friend.’

The leg-spinner brings extensive leadership experience, having captained Islamabad United in the PSL for seven seasons, including their 2024 title-winning campaign, where he was named player of the tournament.

The new captain made no bones about how he plans to lead, saying he prefers one-on-one conversations with players rather than group chats, which he says is most effective for his leadership style.

‘When you give players clarity as individuals, that helps to build their confidence.’

Shadab cited Ricky Ponting as his leadership inspiration and looks forward to reuniting with Vipers head coach Azhar Mahmood, whom he describes as a ‘big brother’ figure who guided his Pakistan career.

Currently playing in England’s T20 Blast, filling the spot vacated by Green, Shadab sees the tournament as ideal preparation for the GSL.

‘You have to be spot on from the very first ball,’ he noted. After shoulder surgery in July 2025, Shadab made a strong PSL return, scoring 173 runs and taking 17 wickets. He said the injury changed his perspective.

‘I feel it is a bonus playing cricket now… I am seeing the game differently.’ Shadab also aims to settle ‘unfinished business’ with the Vipers after a disappointing 2024 ILT20 campaign. ‘Hopefully, now in the GSL, I can show the Vipers fans how good I am,’ he said.

The all-rounder has played 6 Tests, 73 ODIs and 124 T20Is for Pakistan, taking over 200 international wickets.