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The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Friday, August 28, 2026.

PORT AU PRINCE – Several children, including a one year old child born in the United States were among the latest batch of Haitians deported from the United States on Thursday to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

BELMOPAN – The Belize government is dismissing claims that Cuban doctors are being shown the exit door after prominent activist, conservationist, and politician, Wil Maheia earlier this week said that boxes containing the personal belongings of the doctors were being shipped back to Cuba.

MIAMI – Residents in the Leeward Islands were on Friday told that they should monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Dolly, which is expected to pass near the islands this weekend.

PARAMARIBO – President Jennifer Simons says the government intends to radically re-organise the gold sector and structurally increase oversight of mining activities in the interior, adding ‘it cannot be a free-for-all’.

KINGSTON – Jamaica’s only petroleum refinery, Petrojam, Friday said that the fire at its refinery on Thursday night has been extinguished with no reports of injuries and no immediate impact on fuel supplies.

SPORTS:

BASSETERRE – Saim Ayub’s maiden T20 century proved to be instrumental in the Jamaica Kingsmen’s 11-run win over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, which helped to continue their resurgence in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here on Thursday night.

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) says samples of a dead manatee have been sent overseas for testing after having received last Friday of a dead manatee.

‘Manatees are not native to Bermuda, and it remains unclear how the animal travelled approximately 1,000 miles beyond its normal range. The open-ocean journey, combined with limited access locally to its primary food source and fresh water, may have contributed to its poor condition,’ the BAMZ said in a statement.

It said that it had first received a report of the dead manatee on August 21 and it is believed to be the same manatee reported in several sightings throughout the month.

‘BAMZ and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) received eight reported sightings over a two-week period and coordinated their response using information from the public while consulting overseas experts on options to assist the animal.’

It said that following the initial sighting on August 5, staff conducted searches by boat and drone over two consecutive days and ‘when those searches did not locate the animal, the team continued monitoring reports from the public and responded to sightings where possible’.

The BAMZ said that manatees can be difficult to detect from the surface because of their slow movement, colouration and limited time above water.

It said that the carcass was recovered and transported to a secure location for a post-mortem examination. Initial findings confirmed the manatee was male and severely emaciated.

‘A healthy adult manatee can weigh around 1,000 lbs; this animal weighed approximately 550 lbs. A definitive cause of death cannot be determined until samples sent overseas for testing have been analysed,’ the BAMZ added.

Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the St. Vincent and the Grenadines owes the US-based airline, JetBlue, more than EC$10 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) as a result of an agreement entered into by the last administration.

Shallow made the disclosure in Parliament as he responded to a question from opposition legislator Keisal Peters, who had question the decision by another US-based airline, Delta Air Lines, to end its non-stop service between Atlanta and Argyle International Airport in September 2026.

While he did not provide a breakdown of the debt owed to the airline, Shallow said that the outstanding money was among financial liabilities inherited by the New Democratic Party (NDP) government when it came into office in November last year.

‘JetBlue, for example, [is a] very important airline to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We entered in an agreement … and from 2024 to when you demitted office, you refused to pay your bill, resulting in us owing that airline over $10 million today,’ Shallow told Peters, criticising also the manner in which the agreement was negotiated.

He said he did not know who represented the government in the talks but that no professional organisation or consultant had been involved.

Shallow said government officials held two meetings with Delta – on May 19 and July 31 – before the carrier’s announcement that it was ending its non stop service next month.

He said Delta cited passenger demand falling short of projections, elevated fuel costs and weaker demand for premium travel as factors in its decision. But he said that the airline has indicated a willingness to consider resuming some level of service for the next winter season.

Delta began servicing the route on December 20, 2025, with a plan for 22 flights per month, Shallow said, describing as ‘ambitious’ the schedule when compared with other carriers operating fewer monthly flights.

Shallow said Delta’s average arriving passenger load rose from 64 passengers in its first three months of service to 117 passengers over the most recent three-month period and that JetBlue’s average arriving passenger count also grew, from 114 in the first three months of the government’s term to 140 in the most recent three months.

Shallow said that the figures showed growth in visitor traffic, while maintaining that the Godwin Friday government was working to strengthen the destination’s tourism and aviation position.

He said the government is restructuring the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, including appointing Shafia London as the new chief executive officer, and creating senior roles in commercial development, marketing, tourism product and experience, quality intelligence and strategy, and internal operations.

Shallow also said the government had started re-engaging existing airlines and was in discussions with two potential new carriers, acknowledging that the airlines had also concerned about the availability of hotel rooms which the government is seeking to address.

Swallow told legislators he is confident that St. Vincent and the Grenadines would secure at least five major brand-name hotels within the government’s first two five-year terms in office.

The Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBB) says Allied Bank and Trust Bahamas is not a licensed entity and is warning members of the public to be on their guard.

The CBB said that the entity with possible aliases or affiliates is ‘falsely claiming to be licensed by the Central Bank’

It said that other entities, namely Allied Bank and Trust Bahamas, Allied Bank and Trust Limited, Allied Fund Services Limited, Allied Investment Advisors Limited, Allied Securities Ltd and Alliance Bank and Trust Limited are also ‘not licensed to conduct banking business in The Bahamas.

‘Any company seeking to conduct banking and trust business must be appropriately licensed by the Central Bank. The public is hereby notified that all persons operating without the required license or registration are to immediately cease and desist operating.’

The CBB said that it can take punitive measures for any entity operating without the relevant license or registration, pursuant to the Central Bank of The Bahamas Act, 2020 and that the list of institutions licensed and registered by the Central Bank can be accessed by visiting the bank’s website.

‘Persons seeking to conduct business with a financial institution or service provider claiming to operate within The Bahamas should independently verify the entity’s regulatory status before engaging in transactions.

‘If you believe that you have been contacted by a fraudulent entity, or have already invested funds in or through such an entity, please report the incident to the Financial Crimes Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force,’ the CBB added.

Saim Ayub’s maiden T20 century proved to be instrumental in the Jamaica Kingsmen’s 11-run win over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, which helped to continue their resurgence in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here on Thursday.

Player-of-the-Match Ayub smashed eight sixes and six fours in his match-winning knock of 102 off 58 balls, the backbone of the visitors’ total of 182 for seven in 20 overs after they were sent in at Warner Park.

The Patriots, who were behind the eight ball in their run chase for the majority of the match, made a late surge at the end but fell just short on 171 for six. It was their fourth loss in five games and left them firmly rooted at the bottom of the points table.

Meanwhile, after beginning the tournament on a three-game losing streak, the Kingsmen have won three of their last four matches and sit in fourth position on six points from their seven matches.

It didn’t look as though the Kingsmen would get up to their eventual target after pacer Naseem Shah removed openers Keacy Carty and Maaz Sadaqat cheaply to leave them in early trouble at 12 for two.

Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga then held on to a good return catch to dismiss Kirk McKenzie for 10, with the bowler then pulling off a spectacular catch diving to his left at cover off the bowling of Obed McCoy to account for the wicket of Usman Khan and make the score 63 for four after nine overs.

However, Ayub teamed up with skipper Rovman Powell to add 72 runs for the fifth wicket and transform the Kingsmen’s innings.

Ayub was 37 by the time Powell came to the crease and he subsequently brought up his half century off 36 balls by thumping Waqar Salamkheil for six over midwicket in the 14th over, which also included two other maximums.

But just as they were looking to accelerate Hasaranga returned to have Powell caught at deep midwicket for 21.

Ayub continued to push on, moving into the 90s with an exquisite cover drive off Shah, before reaching his first-ever CPL century off 57 balls by hitting McCoy out of the ground for another six.

McCoy dismissed him with the very next delivery by having him caught at deep midwicket, but Keemo Paul smashed an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls to ensure the Kingsmen finished with a bang.

Hasaranga finished with 2-18, Shah took 2-35 and McCoy claimed 2-43.

The Patriots’ new-look opening pair of Johnson Charles and Kyle Mayers added just 10 runs before Jediah Blades dismissed the latter for eight with 10 runs on the board.

Charles struggled in his 14 off 17 balls before Paul sent him packing and when Blades had Kevin Wickham caught for one, the home side had slipped to 42 for three in the sixth over.

The match seemed all but over when Shah bowled Mikyle Louis for nine to make it 64 for four in the 11th over.

Andre Fletcher kept the Patriots in the game with a well-played knock of 55 from 38 balls that contained four fours and three sixes and after he was dismissed by Ayub, skipper Jason Holder and Dasun Shanaka combined to give the Patriots an outside chance of victory.

But Shah bowled Holder for 34 with 33 runs still required from eight balls and even though Shanaka tried his best by clobbering Odean Smith for three sixes in the final over, it proved not to be enough to get his side over the line.

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) is providing technical and operational support to Antigua and Barbuda as the country moves towards implementing a Passenger Name Record (PNR) Framework.

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Minister, E. Paul Chet Greene, has since updated the Cabinet on the progress of the PNR, according to a statement issued following the weekly Cabinet meeting.

It said that CARICOM IMPACS has welcomed Antigua and Barbuda’s enactment of the legislation, describing it as an important step towards strengthening national and regional capacity to combat transnational crime and improve border security through more effective passenger risk assessment.

Under the proposed arrangement, Antigua and Barbuda will be provided access to CARICOM IMPACS’ regional PNR solution, which facilitates the secure collection, processing and analysis of passenger information for risk-assessment purposes.

The regional system is intended to allow participating authorities to better identify potential risks while ensuring that passenger information is handled in accordance with national legislation and applicable data-protection requirements.

Cabinet was also advised that the initiative will support the establishment and operationalisation of Antigua and Barbuda’s Passenger Information Unit (PIU).

‘CARICOM IMPACS will provide assistance with the development of policies, procedures, governance arrangements and operational protocols required for the effective functioning of the Unit.

‘Importantly, specialised training will be provided to officers assigned to the Passenger Information Unit in areas including passenger risk analysis, intelligence development, PNR processing and data-protection requirements. Ongoing technical assistance will also be provided to ensure the sustainability of the national system,’ the statement noted.

Greene told Cabinet that the regional approach will allow Antigua and Barbuda to utilise existing CARICOM security infrastructure and expertise while benefiting from economies of scale.

He said this will avoid the considerably greater costs that would be associated with independently acquiring, operating and maintaining a standalone national PNR system.

‘Cabinet welcomed the initiative and agreed to proceed with the proposed arrangement with CARICOM IMPACS. The appropriate written confirmation will be provided, allowing the administrative, technical and implementation processes to move forward.’

The statement said that following formal confirmation, CARICOM IMPACS and the relevant national authorities will meet to finalise implementation arrangements, technical requirements, respective responsibilities and a proposed timeline for bringing the system into operation.

‘Cabinet noted that the implementation of the Passenger Name Record Framework forms part of the Government’s continuing efforts to modernise border management, strengthen national security and deepen security cooperation with CARICOM institutions and regional partners.’

Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have signed an agreement for an ‘ambitious initiative’ aimed at strengthening Belize’s capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters.

A government statement said that over the next four years, the Belize Multi-Hazard Risk Management Capacity Building Project, which it described as an ‘ambitious initiative’ will empower government to better anticipate and respond to disasters, enhancing hazard monitoring, forecasting, early warning, and emergency response.

‘By zeroing in on critical challenges like flood and wildfire management, and fostering strong partnerships among organizations such as the National Emergency Management Organization, the National Meteorological Service, the National Hydrological Service, and the Forest Department, the project aims to safeguard communities, preserve natural resources, and protect vital infrastructure.’

The government said that the initiative has since been formalised after Public Service, Disaster Risk Management and Enterprise Minister, Henry Charles Usher, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management Minister, Orlando Habet, and Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, Amino Chi, signed the joint Memorandum of Understanding.

President Jennifer Simons says the government intends to radically reorganise the gold sector and structurally increase oversight of mining activities in the interior, adding ‘it cannot be a free-for-all’.

Simons said that the situation has been left unchecked for years and that the system of ad-hoc intervention is no longer sufficient. She said new permits, extensions, and transfers have been temporarily halted, mining companies will be inspected, and polluting activities may be shut down.

In addition, the use of mercury must also be phased out, and the government wants to prevent small-scale gold miners from switching to cyanide.

Simons, speaking during an emergency meeting of Cabinet to discuss the results of the investigation into the pollution of the Saramacca River, said while the findings regarding the fish mortality are not only grounds for taking action against an individual company, the way gold mining takes place in Suriname must change structurally.

‘We have gold everywhere in Suriname, but we cannot search for gold everywhere,’ President Simons said, adding it must be clearly defined where mining is and is not permitted, and under what conditions.

She said previous government attempts to bring order to the sector have been insufficiently effective.

One of the first measures is the temporary suspension of new permits, renewals, and transfers. The government said also that it then intends to systematically scrutinize legal artisanal gold mining.

President Simons acknowledged that this will not be a simple operation, given that the situation has largely been passive for decades.

The government intends to use satellite imagery, among other things, to detect more quickly where new mining or deforestation activities are emerging. Special teams of police, army, and security services must then be able to be deployed to take action on the ground.

She said that the gold sector would contribute towards the financing of this initiative with funds needed for laboratories, police, and military support.

‘We should actually get that out of that same gold sector,’ she said, adding that an important part of the new policy will be reducing the use of hazardous chemicals.

President Simons said that while mercury is banned it is still being used and a s a result, she is calling for a process to effectively eliminate its use from gold mining giving a possible time frame of five to seven years.

Simons has also warned against a trend where gold prospectors who have switched to using cyanide without sufficient knowledge of the risks, noting that this could actually lead to serious incidents insisting that small-scale gold mining should not involve cyanide.

President Simons said that the new policies go beyond merely monitoring mining companies with the government seeking to better protect communities close to rivers where mining occurs.

Simons said that certain areas will be designated as specially protected areas, meaning that no mining activities may take place there. Furthermore, she said the environmental problem should no longer be treated as a matter for a single ministry and that the Public Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), the environmental authorities, land management, and other involved government services must act jointly.

The capacity to investigate pollution within Suriname itself must also be expanded. President

Simons acknowledged that enforcement is becoming one of the biggest problems and that the government does not have sufficient police and military personnel to maintain a permanent presence in the vast interior.

She said that while the government cannot promise that the problem will be solved in the short term, it intends to deal effectively with the current situation.

‘We start and we continue, regardless, without regard to person,’ he said, adding that the message to the sector is that gold mining remains necessary for the economy, but can no longer take place without clear boundaries.

‘It cannot be a free-for-all,’ she added.

The Suriname government is to provide a 15 per cent salary increase to public servants, even as negotiations with their trade unions are continuing.

According to a joint statement issued here, the salary increases go into effect from the end of September this year.

The statement was signed on behalf of the government by Minister of the Interior Marinus Bee, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Commission, the Director of Finance Vincent Fernandes, while representatives of Ravaksur PLUS, BVL/ALS, the joint education unions, and security unions signed on behalf of the trade unions.

The statement explicitly states that no agreement has been reached between the two parties with President Jennifer Simons telling a news conference that the discussions with the trade unions are continuing.

According to the statement, the two parties have agreed to establish a joint working group, consisting of eight representatives from the government and seven from the trade union movement.

The working group has been given three months to develop concrete proposals for the further elaboration of employment conditions and the financial framework.

The Trinbago Knight Riders elected to field after winning the toss against the Barbados Tridents in the 19th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at the Queens Park Oval here on Friday.

Teams:

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS: Nicholas Pooran(c and wk), Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Sunil Narine, Matthew Tromp, Kieron Pollard, Jyd Goolie, Dominic Drakes, Akeal Hosein, Abdul Raheem Toppin, Usman Tariq

BARBADOS TRIDENTS: Chris Green(c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Zachary Carter, Shian Brathwaite, Rivaldo Clarke, Kevlon Anderson, Sherfane Rutherford, Gudakesh Motie, Daniel Sams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ramon Simmonds