Former West Indies players Royston Crandon and Shane Shillingford have been named in Canada’s 16-man squad for the 2026 International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup, scheduled for October 17 to November 1 in Guyana.
The Canadian side will be led by off-spinning all-rounder Shailesh Patel, who represented Canada at the previous Over-40s World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2024. Former Canada international Jimmy Hansra is also included in the squad after representing the country in 28 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and eight T20 Internationals.
Canada will open their campaign against defending champions South Africa at the Enmore Community Centre ground on the East Coast of Demerara.
Royston Crandon
Shillingford, 43, played 16 Tests for the West Indies, while Guyanese Crandon, also 43, represented the regional side in one ODI.
The 16-team tournament will be hosted by the Cricket West Indies Masters Association, with the par-ticipating teams divided into two groups.
Canada has been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions South Africa, Australia, the West Indies, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Wales.
Group B comprises New Zealand, Scotland, US, India, Pakistan, England, the Rest of the World XI and the Rest of the Caribbean XI.
Canada’s full squad is Shailesh Patel (Captain), Bhavneet Bhatai (Vice Captain), Royston Crandon, Shane Shillingford, Jimmy Hansra, Vijiram Krishnan, Iftikhar Khan, Summit Handa, Nitin Gosain, Siddarth Rastogi, Kumar Erramilli, Saurabh Malik, Deepada Sugith, Manpreet Khaira, Harman DoS-anjh and Harshimran Singh.
Dr. Joan Muir, a Jamaican born licensed psychologist, was featured on a Times Square billboard in New York City, following her recognition by Marquis Who’s Who.
The feature appeared on a 22-story screen at 43rd Street and 7th Avenue on Friday, August 28, 2026. According to information provided by Marquis Who’s Who, the screen is passed by an estimated 1.5 million people each day.
Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Muir has spent three decades working in clinical psychology, family therapy, research and higher education. Her career has included positions at the University of Miami and work with families and young people in the United States and other countries.
A Career Choice That Started in Jamaica
Muir attended St. Andrew’s High School for Girls in Jamaica before attending the University of the West Indies. Her interest in psychology began while she was in high school.
During her first year at St. Andrew’s, she read Dibs in Search of Self, a book about a child and the use of play therapy. The experience sparked her interest in psychology and working with children.
Muir has also credited her high school experience with helping shape her approach to leadership and community service.
“St. Andrew High School has been impactful on my career choice and their training in social skills, leadership and community service have made me successful in the USA. All of these areas were rewarded at prizegiving by the school, not just academics. The model for a St. Andrew girl is how I eventually became a well-rounded woman,” Muir said.
After the University of the West Indies, Muir continued her education in the United States. She earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University in 1989 and later completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology there.
She completed a predoctoral fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in 1993 and a postdoctoral fellowship in child psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University in 1995.
Dr. Joan Muir and many onlookers admiring her Marquis Who’s Who Times Square billboard display.
Building Her Career in New York and Miami
Muir worked at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center before moving to Miami, Florida, in 1997.
At the University of Miami, she served as an assistant research professor from 1998 to 2004. Her research focused on clinical psychology, family therapy, cultural issues and parent-child relationships. She also worked to train and mentor professionals in evidence based practices.
Muir has maintained a private practice as a licensed psychologist since 2000. While much of her career has focused on research and program leadership, she continues to provide direct care to families and individuals.
Expanding Family Therapy Programs
A major part of Muir’s career has been her work with the Brief Strategic Family Therapy Institute at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.
She joined the institute as Associate Director in 2007 and became Executive Director in 2013. She served in the executive director role through 2025.
The Brief Strategic Family Therapy model is designed for families of drug using and delinquent adolescents. Muir developed a dissemination and implementation plan that helped community agencies adopt the model across the United States and internationally.
Her work included building teams that trained therapists and helped programs follow the BSFT treatment protocols. She also worked with clinic directors, stakeholders and University of Miami students while helping launch programs in locations including Lowell, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico.
The program expanded beyond the United States to countries including Sweden and Hong Kong.
Among her work, Muir secured a contract with the city of Stockholm, Sweden, to implement BSFT at Maria Ungdom, a youth addiction facility. She also received funding to implement the model in New York City through the New York City Administration for Children’s Services.
Research, Leadership and Community Service
Muir’s work has extended beyond clinical psychology and family therapy.
She is a member of the American Psychological Association and has served as National Secretary of the Association of Black Psychologists. She is also a past president of the organization’s South Florida chapter.
Since 2019, she has served on the executive committee of the Woodson Williams Marshall Association at the University of Miami. Earlier in her career, she contributed to the United Way Young Leaders Society and the Parent and Family Skills Task Force under the Mayor’s Early Childhood Initiative.
Muir has also published research on family therapy implementation models and has spoken about youth and families at local, national and international events.
Honors for Her Work
Muir has received several honors during her career.
In 1999, she received the Minority Research Fellow Award from the National Institute of Mental Health at Columbia University’s Department of Child Psychiatry.
In 2025, she received the Healing Thru Leadership Award from the South Florida chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists.
Her Marquis Who’s Who recognition includes the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021 to 2022. She has also been recognized in Marquis Who’s Who in America for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 and Marquis Who’s Who in the World for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027.
Marquis Who’s Who was established in 1898 by Albert Nelson Marquis, with the first edition of Who’s Who in America published in 1899. The organization publishes biographical information on professionals in fields including medicine, education, business, law, science and the arts.
Looking Ahead
Muir plans to continue expanding her private practice so that families from different backgrounds can access psychological support regardless of their financial circumstances.
Her work has remained focused on families, children and access to mental health care. The Times Square billboard appearance on August 28 added a public recognition in New York City to a career that began with a decision to study psychology after being inspired by a book while attending high school in Jamaica.
Two Indonesian nationals were killed while four others were injured following a three-vehicle smash-up along the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in the wee hours of Friday.
The minibus that was transporting the oil and gas workers
Edy Ansyori Sukri and Ikomang Tedy Arsa Bantara Putra died at the scene, while those who sustained injuries were rushed to the Diamond Regional Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment. Based on reports received, the accident occurred at about 03:51h and involved a motor lorry, GAJ 3074, a Route 63 minibus with registration number BAH 6588, and a contracted minibus with plates BAF 1135. At the time, the lorry was being driven by a 36-year-old resident of Land of Canaan, EBD while minibus BAH 6588 was driven by a 48-year-old Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident and minibus, BAF 1135 was being operated by a 55-year-old man of Crane Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara (WBD). However, the two dead men and the injured persons were passengers of minibus BAF 1135. Enquiries disclosed that the motor lorry was heading to Timehri reportedly at a fast rate of speed when the driver allegedly swerved and came into contact with minibus BAH 6588, which was proceeding in the opposite direction. Due to the collision, the driver of the lorry reportedly lost control and crashed into minibus BAF 1135, which was behind the other minibus.
As a result of the smash-up, the occupants of minibus BAF 1135 sustained injuries to their bodies. An ambulance attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) accompanied by emergency medical technicians, responded to the scene where the two Indonesian nationals were pronounced dead. Breathalyser tests conducted on all three drivers showed no trace of alcohol in their systems. They remain in custody and are assisting with the investigation. At the scene, mechanics were repairing the truck after which it will be towed to the Madewini Police Outpost. Persons in the area recalled hearing the loud crashing sound and as they rushed out, they saw the two minibuses and the truck. Some of the passengers, they noted had already exited the route 63 minibus and were assisting those from the other minibus. One man told the Guyana Times that the two now dead man would have sustained severe bodily injuries including broken legs and arms. He added that, from all indication, they were already dead when they were pulled from the wreckage. Within minutes, he stated the GDF ambulance arrived and sped off the scene with the injured persons. Meanwhile, at the Madewini Outpost, the owners of the two busses were making arrangements to remove the mangled vehicles as the police would have released such into their custody. One of the owners related that they were contracted by a company to transport oil and gas workers. She noted that the bus had picked up the workers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and was travelling to Georgetown when the accident occurred. The driver of the bus was also a foreign national and declined to comment when approached. This accident comes on the heels of the GPF’s installation of speed limiters for motor lorries which are intended to help transportation vehicles, such as motor lorries, which are naturally heavy, travel at a prescribed speed. This is expected to support road safety and improve the current safety conditions surrounding motor lorries, thereby leading to a reduction in accidents and the fear of accidents occurring in those circumstances.
Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Singh had stated that the devices are already in the possession of the GPF. “So, the update for the public now is that the speed limiters are already in the police’s possession, and the next step, the very important one, is the training of our licensed and certified officers. That has to happen by the certified specialists.” “So, the training is scheduled to commence on Monday for all of our certified officers who have been pre-identified to this unit. After the process of training is completed, we will commence the process of installation of the speed limiters for verification and certification.” He emphasised that ensuring safety on the roadways also requires a change in driver behaviour. “There is a culture that exists already, and to actually have a change in that, the positive or the negative about, a shift in driver behaviour. Absorb the rules of the road, conform to the signs that are here, travel within the speed limits that exist within the country. Generally, operate lawfully.” He further urged motorists to respect speed limits and give priority to vulnerable road users.
Jamaican basketball player Nick Richards is headed to the Miami Heat after agreeing to a one year contract with the team. The 28 year old center joins Miami after six NBA seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls. The agreement gives Richards another opportunity in the league while bringing a Kingston born player closer to one of the largest Jamaican communities in the United States.
From Jamaica College To The NBA
Richards was born on November 29, 1997, in Kingston, Jamaica. Before basketball became his main sport, he competed in football, volleyball and track and field while attending Jamaica College.
His basketball path changed in 2013 when New York based scout Andre Ricketts saw him at a basketball camp in Jamaica. Richards subsequently moved to the United States, attending St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, New York, before transferring to The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey.
He developed into a highly rated recruit and was listed as a five star prospect in the 2017 recruiting class. Richards committed to the University of Kentucky, where he played from 2017 through 2020.
His journey from Jamaica College to Kentucky and then the NBA made him one of the better known Jamaican born basketball players to reach the league.
A Breakout Season At Kentucky
Richards played 105 games during his three seasons at Kentucky. His college career averages were 7.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 72.8 percent from the free throw line.
His strongest college season came in 2019 to 2020. As a junior, Richards averaged 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 64.2 percent from the field. Kentucky Athletics lists 64.4 percent as his field goal percentage for the season. He was named to the All SEC First Team and the SEC All Defensive Team.
That season helped Richards enter the 2020 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Pelicans selected him with the 42nd overall pick before he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
His NBA Numbers
Richards has played 305 regular season NBA games during his career. Through the 2025 to 2026 season, he has averaged 7.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.8 blocks per game. He has shot 62.1 percent from the field and 72.4 percent from the free throw line.
His best NBA season came in 2023 to 2024 with Charlotte. Richards appeared in 67 games and averaged 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 69.1 percent from the field. Those remain his career best season averages for points and rebounds.
The 2025 to 2026 season was split between Phoenix and Chicago. Richards appeared in 48 games and averaged 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks while shooting 51.2 percent from the field.
A Recent Honor From Jamaica College Old Boys
Richards has also remained connected to Jamaica College.
The Jamaica College Old Boys Association of New York named him among its 2026 Griffin Awards honorees. The organization’s official list identifies Richards as an NBA player and includes him in the 2026 Griffin Awards class, which recognizes alumni and others connected to Jamaica College for achievements in areas including athletics, leadership, service and community involvement.
The honor comes as Richards continues to maintain a connection with his former school.
Jamaica College has also documented his support for its basketball program. The school previously reported that Richards provided financial support, equipment and mentoring to the team.
Richards Gives Back In Jamaica
Richards is scheduled to return to Jamaica for a youth basketball camp at Jamaica College on August 29. The one day camp is set to begin at 1 p.m. and will focus on basketball fundamentals including shooting, catching and rebounding. The event is expected to include JC players as well as a small number of students from Majesty Gardens in Kingston.
The camp adds another link between Richards and the school where his athletic journey began.
The 2020 U.S. Census reported that Broward County had 96,527 residents identifying as Jamaican, making Jamaicans the largest detailed Caribbean population group in the county at that time.
More recent American Community Survey based estimates place the Jamaican population in Broward County at more than 116,000 and Miami Dade County at more than 37,000. Broward and Miami Dade are among the largest concentrations of Jamaican residents in the southern United States.
For a Kingston native who has spent much of his basketball career in the United States, his move to Miami puts him within reach of a large Jamaican community across South Florida.
A New Chapter In Miami
The Heat’s agreement with Richards brings him into a Miami frontcourt that includes Bam Adebayo and Bobby Portis. NBC Sports reported that Richards is expected to serve as a backup center behind Adebayo. The deal also brings Miami to 14 players on standard contracts.
Richards now begins another chapter of his NBA career, this time in a city with a large Jamaican presence and within a short distance of South Florida’s Jamaican community.
For the player who started his athletic journey at Jamaica College, the move gives him a new NBA home while keeping him connected to a community with ties to the country where his story began.
Electricity supply to residents in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway has been boosted with the donation of six generator sets by Chinese operators in Guyana, adding some 6 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in the coming months. The donation was made to the Government of Guyana, through the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), by Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc and Guyana Manganese Inc Bosai is the main power supplier in Linden, Region 10. On Friday, Head of GPL’s Executive Management Committee, Kesh Nandlall, and George Zhao, representing Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc, inked the donation agreement, which comes weeks after the state-owned power company was forced to take a series of measures in order to stabilise electricity supply to residents in Linden, who had been experiencing short-voltage and regular outages.
GPL Head Kesh Nandlall and Bosai’s representative George Zhao signing the donation agreement for the six 1 megawatt gen sets as Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar and Chinese Ambassador Yang Yang along with other officials watch on
The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar; China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Her Excellency Yang Yang; GPL Director Gary Hall; Major General (Ret’d) Norman McLean; Eric Yu; and other representatives of the two Chinese companies.
According to GPL in a statement on Friday, the six 1 MW generator sets are currently located at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and will be transported to the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, where a new power plant will be set up. “GPL will manage the full relocation of the plant – dismantling the units, transporting them, and reassembling them as a single power plant at a strategic location along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, where it will boost supply to the highway corridor and Region 10, support voltage regulation and strengthen the stability of the grid,” the power company said on Friday. It was noted that the relocation and installation works are expected to be completed within four months. During the signing, PM Phillips, who has responsibility over the country’s energy sector, said this additional generation will strengthen electricity supply in Linden and support communities and businesses along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. He pointed to the pace of development in Linden, noting that increased housing and business activity reflect the impact of policies pursued by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to stimulate investment and economic growth.
Bosai’s contribution
The PM also acknowledged Bosai’s longstanding contribution to Guyana’s economy and development. “Your donation of the six megawatts will help in that growing development and supply of electricity [and meet] that growing demand for electricity in Linden, and we appreciate this gift to the people of Guyana,” PM Phillips stated. This new 6 MW plant forms part of the Guyana Government’s short-term plan to expand generation capacity in Region 10 and along the corridor. It joins a wider programme of investments already underway including GPL’s construction of three solar farms, totalling 15 MW, in Linden and a new substation at Kuru Kururu. Additionally, Bosai is also constructing a 10 MW solar farm in Region 10, which is expected to add further generating capacity by 2028. According to GPL, these initiatives are all part of the Government of Guyana’s concerted effort to respond to the growing demand for electricity in Linden and along the Soesdyke-Linden corridor – increasing generation capacity, diversifying the energy mix toward renewables, and delivering more reliable electricity to customers in Linden, Region 10 and the national grid. To this end, the power company also expressed appreciation to Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc and Guyana Manganese Inc for their generous donation and partnership in strengthening Guyana’s electricity infrastructure. While Bosai is the main power supplier in Linden, the bauxite company was only generating some 14.1 MW of electricity. But heightened industrial activities across Linden has pushed peak demand to over 15 MW which adds pressure to the region’s electricity system. As a result, Government had engaged Bosai to provide 3 MW of additional power through two 1.5 MW engines to assist the grid in Linden. Earlier this week, the first 1.5 MW engine was installed and operationalised at Bosai’s Linden power house. The additional capacity came online on Monday morning, increasing Bosai’s power supply to Linden and Wismar from 14 MW to 15.5 MW, above the current peak demand of approximately 15.1 MW. Work is continuing to bring the remaining 1.5 MW into operation, which will take Bosai’s total output to the Linden and Wismar communities to approximately 17 MW. Meanwhile, the Government has also engaged Linden sawmill operators to address growing pressure on Region 10’s electricity system. At a press conference on August 14, the Public Utilities Minister had told disclosed that there has been a significant hike in sawmill operations in the region. It was estimated that approximately 32 sawmills are operating there, utilising equipment such as Wood Mizer and high-speed motors thus placing significant demand on the grid. In efforts to ease pressure on the system while keeping businesses operational, sawmill operators were asked to shift some of their operations to off-peak hours.
“So, Linden has two peak periods. During the day between 1 to 3 PM and then in night as well between 7 to 9, there is another peak…[when] the demand spikes to a higher level. So, [the sawmill operators have] been asked to work between 10pm to 6am…and it wouldn’t tax the grid further than it is already over taxed at this point,” Indar had noted. Most of the sawmill operators have already agreed to this arrangement, while efforts are being made to increase generation capacity for the region and better coordination of commercial electricity use.
To walk with Jesus is more than believing that He exists, attending church, or identifying as a Christian. Throughout Scripture, “walking” describes the direction and pattern of a person’s life. Enoch “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24), and Noah “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). When Jesus came, His invitation was wonderfully simple but profoundly demanding: “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). His first disciples literally left their nets and walked after Him, but following Jesus eventually meant much more. They listened to His words, learned His ways, accepted His correction, obeyed His commands, and increasingly entrusted their lives to Him. For us, walking with Jesus means living every day conscious of His presence and allowing Him to determine the direction of our lives.
Jesus made clear that this walk requires both relationship and surrender. He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Walking with Jesus therefore means that He leads and we follow. We bring Him our plans, decisions, desires, relationships, fears, and ambitions and continually ask, “Lord, what would You have me do?” We learn His heart through His Word, speak with Him through prayer, and demonstrate our love through obedience. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Walking with Him is not occasional consultation when life becomes difficult; it is daily companionship under His lordship.
There are wonderful benefits to such a walk. Jesus promises light for our journey: those who follow Him “shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12). He offers direction when we do not know the way (John 10:27), rest when life becomes heavy (Matthew 11:28–29), peace when circumstances are troubling (John 14:27), and fruitfulness as we remain connected to Him (John 15:4–5). Most importantly, walking with Jesus changes us. The longer the disciples remained with Him, the more His influence became evident in their lives. Even their opponents “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). We cannot consistently walk closely with Christ and remain unchanged.
So perhaps the question is not simply, “Do I believe in Jesus?” but “Am I walking with Him?” Is He part of my everyday decisions or only my emergencies? Am I following where He leads, even when His direction conflicts with my preferences? Jesus still says, “Follow me.” The road will not always be easy, but we never walk it alone. The Shepherd walks with His sheep, knows them personally, and leads them toward life (John 10:27–28). And as we walk with Him day after day, something beautiful happens: we learn His voice, trust His heart, reflect His character, and gradually become more like the One we follow.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me what it truly means to walk with You. Help me not merely to believe in You but to follow You daily. Guide my decisions, shape my desires, correct my ways, and transform my character. Give me the courage to follow wherever You lead and the faith to trust You when I cannot see the road ahead. May my life reveal that I have been walking with You. Amen.
A 47-year-old woman died on Thursday afternoon after she was struck during a collision involving two lorries along the Number 67 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). Dead is Priya Hunt of Lot 95B, Number 67 Village. The accident occurred at about 16:00h and involved motor lorries GAF 6180 and GAE 8823. Reports are that Hunt had crossed the roadway when the two vehicles became involved in a collision. One of the vehicles, a heavy-duty lorry reportedly transporting sand, is alleged to have collided with the other lorry from behind, causing that vehicle to overturn. During the collision, Hunt was struck and sustained injuries. She was subsequently taken to the Number 75 Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Eight occupants of motor lorry GAF 6180 were also taken to hospital following the accident. They reportedly sustained minor injuries. The drivers of both vehicles were taken into Police custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
Dead: Priya Hunt of Lot 95B, Number 67 Village
This publication spoke with Hunt’s father, Pablo Hunt, at his Number 67 Village home. He was struggling to come to grips with the sudden loss of his daughter. He recalled that Priya had left home earlier in the afternoon to attend a Hindu religious function. “She left to go to a jhandi workhouse; religious function there. And then, just one, two hours after me hear, one little girl come and tell me,” the elderly man recalled. Pablo subsequently went to see his daughter but said he was only able to see her feet. The grieving father said the loss has left him deeply saddened and worried about how he will cope without his daughter, particularly at his age.
“It’s sad, very sad. You know, stress…It’s very hard for me too,” he said. Pablo said Priya played an important role in the household and would assist him with preparing meals. He recalled helping her with cooking in the mornings, while she would normally prepare food for him later in the day. “She always like to read books and things, religious books especially,” he said as he reflected on his daughter’s life.
He also recalled the assistance she provided at home. For the elderly father, Priya’s death has also painfully reversed what he had envisioned for his later years. He had expected that as his children grew older, they would be there to care for him.
“Me did say like me children them gon look me, and now me had to look them. And thing come about like this, this girl happened to get in an accident like this,” he lamented. Pablo also expressed concern about the speed at which some motorists traverse the roadway through Number 67 Village. “The truck man them who mark, you know, all kind of speed on the driveway. They didn’t think who live or who dead or what, but they got one kind of speed on this road. Every vehicle now got one kind of speed for them,” he said.
Police investigations into the accident are continuing.
Today's forecast: • Temps chaud et parfois venteux, avec un ciel progressivement
nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
Valable jusqu'au 31 août 2026
Valable jusqu'au 31 août 2026
Situation synoptique dans la Caraïbe et sur l'Atlantique
Temps ponctuellement humide et instable en cette fin d'après-midi
au-dessus d'Haïti. Des averses isolées, localement soutenues et
orageuses sont donc toujours prévues sur certains départements du
pays en soirée et durant la matinée de demain, en lien avec le
thalweg en altitude combiné aux effets locaux.
Par ailleurs, Des averses et des orages épars persistent en lien
avec les restes de la tempête tropicale Dolly, situés à environ
480 km à l'est des Îles Sous-le-Vent. Cependant, rien n'indique que
le système développera une circulation fermée. Un redéveloppement
de ce système est donc peu probable, car il se déplace vers
l'ouest-nord-ouest à environ 40 km/h.. Cette perturbation pourrait
cependant apporter localement de fortes pluies et des vents
violents sur certaines parties des petites Antilles, des Îles
Vierges, de Porto Rico et d'Haïti au cours des prochains jours. Sa
Probabilité de formation dans les prochaines 48 heures est faible
(proche de 0 %) et celle durant les 7 prochains jours est aussi
faible faible (10%).
Prévision pour Haïti
• Temps chaud et venteux par endroits, avec un ciel
progressivement nuageux par endroits en fin d'après-midi et en
soirée ;
• Température max. prévue : 34 à 38 °C ; température min. prévue
: 20 à 24 °C ;
• Des averses soutenues et orageuses, notamment sur la Grande
Anse, le Sud, le Sud 'Est et sur certains secteurs de l'Ouest
en soirée et durant la matinée de demain.
Note
En raison de la persistance de la chaleur sur le pays, l'UHM, en
concertation avec les autorités concernées, appelle la population à
une vigilance accrue et l'invite à :
•Boire régulièrement de l'eau, même en l'absence de sensation de
soif ;
• Éviter les expositions prolongées au soleil, particulièrement
entre 10 h et 16 h ;
• Porter des vêtements légers, amples et de couleur claire ;
• Éviter les efforts physiques intenses aux heures les plus chaudes
de la journée.
Tendance pour les deux prochains jours :
Dimanche et Lundi : Les activités de pluie et orages ainsi que des
rafales de vent devraient être plus marquées et un peu plus
généralisées sur le pays, en lien avec la proximité des restes de
Dolly dans la région. Il y a un risque des inondations soudaines
ou crues éclairs sur le Sud, le Sud-est, l'Ouest et l'Artibonite
pour lundi soir. Situation à suivre…
Prévision pour Port-au-Prince et ses environs
• Temps chaud et parfois venteux, avec un ciel progressivement
nuageux en fin d'après-midi et en soirée ;
Le restructuration de la Brigade de Surveillance des Aires Protégées (BSAP), qui sera lancée la semaine prochaine, constitue l’aboutissement d’un long processus. Ce processus avait été mis en branle par le Conseil Présidentiel de Transition (CPT ) sous la présidence de M. Fritz Alphonse Jean. Les autorités haïtiennes en 2025 avaient dans un premier temps envisagé l’intégration des membres de la BSAP au sein des Forces Armées d’Haïti. Les agents devraient être regroupés dans une unité de gardes forestiers.
Plusieurs séances de travail avaient eu lieu entre le haut état major des FADH et le directeur de l’agence nationale des aires protégées (ANAP), instance de tutelle de la BSAP. En vue d’implémenter ce programme un processus de certification des membres de la BSAP avait été réalisé. Toutefois les autorités gouvernementales haïtiennes ont finalement opté pour une restructuration de ce corps armé spécialisé dans la protection de l’environnement.
Le directeur de la BSAP, M. Cyprien Richard, explique que l’objectif de ce nouveau processus est de transformer les agents bénévoles en fonctionnaires de l’État. Les agents devront être inscrits dans le registre officiel afin que leurs dossiers puissent être pris en considération. Dans un second temps les agents bénéficieront d’un programme de formation devant les habiliter à s’acquitter convenablement de leur fonction.
Éviter toute politisation
L’objectif des autorités haïtiennes est de reprendre la main au sein de cette institution qui avait été instrumentalisée par des dirigeants politiques. En 2024, au moins 4 agents de la BSAP avaient été tués à proximité de Pétion ville lors d’un accrochage avec une patrouille de la Police.
Toutefois de nombreux agents de la BSAP s’étaient illustrés en combattant dans plusieurs régions aux côtés des forces de Police et des brigadiers pour repousser les assauts des gangs armés. Dans l’Artibonite et le Centre notamment les agents de la BSAP avaient repoussé diverses offensives des gangs. De nombreux spécialistes avaient dénoncé une dérive puisque des agents bénévoles, ayant acheté eux mêmes leurs armes à feu, n’étaient inscrits sur aucun registre de l’État haïtien. La BSAP avait été instrumentalisée pour affaiblir d’avantage un État en faillite face à des offensives de grande envergure des gangs.
Professionnaliser les agents
Le directeur de la BSAP explique que la restructuration permettra de changer le statut des agents, qui seront pris en charge par le budget de l’État, mais aussi de professionnaliser l’institution. 24 thématiques seront prises en compte dans le cadre de la formation des agents.
Parmi les thèmes de cette spécialisation figurent la sécurité nationale et la protection de l’environnement. Après deux semaines de formation en salle de classe et plusieurs jours sur site les agents devront subir une évaluation. Il s’agira pour les formateurs de préparer des paramilitaires qui auront la charge de gérer les 32 aires protégées sur l’ensemble du territoire national.
Outre cette mission principale, les autorités admettent que les agents pourraient, en cas de requête, combattre aux côtés des forces de Police pour protéger les vies et les biens.
L’hégémonie des gangs dans les 5 sections communales et le centre ville de Kenskof provoque une rareté des produits maraichers. Dans l’ensemble de la région métropolitaine de Port-au-Prince, y compris à Carrefour, les producteurs de Kenskof spécialisés dans la culture maraîchère, étaient les principaux fournisseurs des commerçants. Les madan Sara s’approvisionnaient dans les mornes de Kenskof en divers produits de bonne qualité tels les carottes, betteraves, laitues, choux, cressons etc.
Les produits étaient acheminés dans plusieurs marchés tels la Croix des bossales, les marchés de Martissant et de Bizoton à Carrefour et télélé à Pétion ville. Les prix des produits maraichers ont connu une hausse de plus de 400% confirment des marchandes au marché télélé. La rareté touche tous les produits maraichers principalement les poireaux, les choux et le céleri. Une tête de laitue est passée de 50 à 200 gourdes à cause de l’absence de la production de kenscoff. Les produits les plus recherchés tels les choux et les carottes ont connu une hausse de 100 à 200 gourdes.
Impossibilité d’acheminer les produits
Une marchande, elle même originaire de Kenscoff, explique que les gens sur place sont confrontées à une insécurité alimentaire aiguë depuis l’invasion des gangs. Les marchandes font valoir que les rares plantations encore fonctionnelles ne peuvent acheminer les produits à la capitale. De plus les madan Sara ne peuvent se rendre sur place à cause de la terreur des gangs.
En plus des pertes en vies humaines et des personnes blessées ou enlevées, des personnes déplacées et des maisons détruites, la terreur des gangs à Kenscoff impacte négativement l’économie nationale. Les cultivateurs sont décapitalisés et les marchandes assistent impuissantes au déclin de leur négoces.
Des spécialistes font valoir que l’absence de la production maraîchère de kenscoff est malheureusement bénéfique pour les produits importés. C’est l’économie paysanne qui paie le plus lourd tribut de la terreur des gangs. Toutefois les commerçants qui peuvent s’approvisionner sur le marché extérieur, dominicain notamment, devront supporter des coûts exorbitants liés aux nombreux barrages routiers. Ces coûts supplémentaires seront répercutés sur le consommateur.
L’État doit rétablir la sécurité
Depuis l’invasion des gangs à Kenskof en janvier 2025, les cultivateurs ont fui pour échapper au courroux des malfrats. Cette région montagneuse et enclavée était considérée comme paisible et éloignée du centre ville de Port-au-Prince. Les kenscovites, dans les sections rurales, sont de braves cultivateurs qui ne rechignent pas au travail et ne s’attendent à aucun support de l’État.
Ils veulent retrouver leur terres afin de reprendre la production agricole et contribuer à la création de richesse. Les autorités locales et la population réclament des actions urgentes des forces de l’ordre pour rétablir un climat sécuritaire indispensable à la prospérité. Le massacre des gangs au centre ville de Kenscoff la semaine écoulée a provoqué le déplacement de plus de 2 600 personnes.
Nombre de ces personnes avaient déjà fui leurs habitations dans les sections rurales.
