Category: CANA News

Captain Rivaldo Clarke and Amari Goodridge both hammered unbeaten centuries as the West Indies Academy took opening day honours against the Guyana Harpy Eagles in their warmup match at the Antigua Recreation Ground here on Sunday.

Clarke scored an unbeaten 165, while all-rounder Goodridge ended the day on 109 not out, as the Academy piled up 423 for six in 91 overs.

It was a surprising end to a day in which the Harpy Eagles were in the ascendancy at one stage. Despite opener Mbeki Joseph scoring an aggressive 60 off just 53 balls containing seven fours and three sixes, and Mavendra Dindyal hitting 45 off 53 balls, the Academy found themselves 101 for four with spinners Richie Looknauth and Veerasammy Permaul sharing the wickets.

The Harpy Eagles enforced their dominance by claiming two other wickets to leave the Academy perilously placed at 169 for six and in danger of being bowled out cheaply.

However, Clarke and Goodridge rescued their team in an unbroken 254-run partnership for the seventh wicket, to completely change the complexion of the match.

Clarke reached his maiden first-class century off 120 deliveries by clobbering left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie over midwicket for six.

Goodridge’s first-ever first-class century also came off the bowling of Motie, his sweep shot racing to the fine leg boundary to bring up the milestone.

Clarke has so far faced 213 balls and struck 20 fours and five sixes, while Goodridge has faced 160 balls and hit nine fours and three sixes.

Looknauth (3-86) and Permaul (3-113) have accounted for all six wickets to fall thus far.

Barbados Pride captured two wickets late in the day to wrestle the initiative away from the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the close of play on the opening day of their playoff in the West Indies Championship here on Sunday.

Half centuries by opener Cephas Cooper, captain Joshua Da Silva and all-rounder Terrance Hinds gave the Red Force the upper hand in the contest for the majority of the day, until medium pacers Kyle Mayers and Shamar Springer struck in the closing minutes to restrict them to 298 for seven after 89.3 overs.

Those wickets undid the earlier hard work by T and T’s batters, who justified Da Silva’s decision to bat first at the Coolidge Cricket Ground after winning the toss.

The Pride reaped early success when fast bowler Johann Layne had Evin Lewis caught behind for seven with just 16 runs on the board.

However, Jyd Goolie joined forces with Cooper and together they frustrated their opponents during a 102-run stand for the second wicket.

Barbados eventually got the breakthrough when Springer had Goolie caught behind by wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher for 33, and four runs later Layne dismissed Jason Mohammed for a duck to leave the score 122 for three. Cooper looked a sure bet to reach three figures having progressed into the 90s, but he was denied his first century of this year’s tournament when he was dismissed by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican after reaching 93 off 161 balls, inclusive of 16 fours, as the Red Force slipped to 156 for four.

And when off spinner Roston Chase trapped Jangoo lbw for 41, the Pride would have had high hopes of running through the Red Force’s lower order at 194 for five.

However, Da Silva and Hinds had other plans, as they put the Red Force in complete control during a partnership of 103 for the sixth wicket.

While Da Silva was patient and cautious, Hinds, who has been productive with the ball throughout the championship, played a counterattacking role, slamming six fours and one six on his way to notching his seventh first class half-century.

But with the close of play looming, Mayers broke the stand by dismissing Jangoo via the lbw route for 51 off 74 balls to make the score 297 for six.

And five balls later with just one run added to the total, Springer returned to trap Khary Pierre lbw for a duck to bring the Pride right back into the match.

The in-form Da Silva ended the day unbeaten on 65 off 131 balls with eight fours and will shoulder the brunt of the responsibility if the Red Force are to post a formidable first innings total.

Springer (2-31) and Layne (2-56) have been the Pride’s best bowlers to date.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force elected to bat after winning the toss against Barbados Pride in the West Indies Championship playoff here at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday.

BARBADOS PRIDE: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Joshua Bishop, Leniko Boucher, Roston Chase, Jonathan Drakes, Johann Layne, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Shamar Springer, Jomel Warrican, Kevin Wickham.

TRINIDAD and TOBAGO RED FORCE: Josha Da Silva (captain), Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Terrence Hinds, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.

Trinidad and Tobago goal shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph returned from a one game layoff to guide Loughborough Lightning to a 76-60 victory over Birmingham Panthers in the England Netball Super League (NSL) here on Friday.

Wallace-Joseph, who missed her team’s previous game, finished with a combined 43 goals from 44 attempts, consisting of 33 goals from 34 attempts and five of 10 Amex Super Shots. She was supported by Ella Clark, who added 20 goals, comprised of three super shots from six attempts, and Berri Neil chipped in with 13 goals, inclusive of two perfect super shots.

For the Panthers, Betsy Creak had 41 combined goals with 35 of 40 attempts and three of five super shots, while Sammy Ngubane added 19 goals from 20 attempts.

The win lifted the top-of-the-table Lightning, who have already qualified for the semifinals, to 31 points from 11 matches.

After 10 appearances on the season, Wallace-Joseph leads all scorers with a total of 427 goals, inclusive of 339 goals from 358 attempts at 95 per cent shooting accuracy and 88 super shots scored from 121 attempts.

Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, has updated member states on the organization’s ongoing support for Haiti, citing progress in political facilitation, electoral preparations, security cooperation, international coordination, and strengthening the OAS’s institutional presence in the country.

According to the OAS, Ramdin said the organization remains focused on supporting Haitian-led solutions while improving coordination among local, regional, and international stakeholders under the Roadmap for Stability and Peace in Haiti. He noted that the next phase will centre on implementation and will require sustained political commitment and stronger operational coordination.

Ramdin pointed to the OAS’s diplomatic engagement during the period surrounding February 7, 2026, when Haiti faced heightened institutional uncertainty. Through quiet diplomacy and collaboration with Haitian and international actors, the OAS said it helped maintain executive continuity and prevent a deeper political crisis. On the electoral front, Ramdin said the adoption of Haiti’s Electoral Decree in December 2025 allowed authorities to move toward a more structured electoral process. The OAS, through its Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, continues to work with Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council on matters including electoral technology, information systems, and institutional strengthening.

The Secretary General also highlighted expanded security support, including assistance for the civilian component of the Gang Suppression Force, as well as initiatives aimed at strengthening policing, infrastructure, specialized training, financial investigations, and maritime and port security.

Ramdin further outlined progress on the Haiti Roadmap Dashboard, a platform designed to improve transparency and tracking of international assistance to Haiti. He said the first phase, focused on OAS projects, has already been completed, while a second phase will incorporate information on support provided by member states.

Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Jean Josué Pierre, welcomed the report, saying there are ‘modest but very real signs of hope’ that stability, peace, and security are gradually returning to the Haitian capital. He stressed the need to consolidate recent gains and intensify support efforts.

Pierre also announced that Haiti has submitted a draft resolution titled ‘Support for Haitian-Led Stabilization and Strengthening Coordination of Hemispheric Assistance,’ which is expected to be debated at the OAS General Assembly in Panama City in June.

Ahead of the June 22-24 General Assembly, Ramdin said a new meeting of the Group of Friends of Haiti will be convened to review progress and mobilize further support around Haiti’s priorities.

During the session, Ramdin also introduced Alberto Föhrig as the OAS Secretary General’s Special Representative for Haiti and Head of the OAS Special Mission. The appointment, he said, will strengthen continuity and oversight of the organization’s work in support of Haiti’s stabilization and democratic restoration efforts.

Ramdin said the OAS remains committed to supporting Haiti through dialogue, coordination, and implementation efforts, while the Permanent Council reaffirmed that the Roadmap for Stability and Peace in Haiti remains the central framework guiding regional and international support for the country.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force reached 298 for seven against Barbados Pride on the opening day of their match in the West Indies Championship playoff here at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday.

RED FORCE 298-7 in 89.3 overs (Cephas Cooper 93, Joshua Da Silva 65 not out, Terrance Hinds 51, Amir Jangoo 41, Jyd Goolie 33; Shamar Springer 2-31, Johann Layne 2-56).

The Trump administration is seeking to revoke the citizenship of convicted Cuban spy Victor Manuel Rocha. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said it has filed a civil denaturalization complaint against Rocha in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

According to the DOJ, Rocha, a Colombian native, was convicted of acting as ‘an unregistered agent for the Republic of Cuba.’

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said individuals who secretly work on behalf of foreign adversaries should not retain American citizenship.

‘Our mission is clear: to root out these fraudsters and preserve the sanctity of the naturalization process for those who adhere to our laws,’ Shumate said.

US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones described Rocha as ‘one of the most prolific Cuban spies ever uncovered in the United States,’ noting that he had served as a US ambassador and senior government official while allegedly working covertly for Cuba for decades.

Quiñones said the civil denaturalization case is intended to ‘finish the job,’ alleging that Rocha secured American citizenship through ‘lies, concealment, and betrayal.’

The DOJ said the complaint seeks to revoke Rocha’s naturalization based on admissions he made during criminal proceedings that he began spying for Cuba in 1973, several years before becoming a US citizen in 1978.

According to the department, Rocha falsely declared during the naturalization process that he had not committed undisclosed crimes, was not affiliated with the Communist Party of Cuba, did not support communism, and believed in the US Constitution and system of government.

Federal prosecutors charged Rocha in 2023 with multiple offences linked to spying for Cuba and passport fraud.

In April 2024, Rocha admitted that beginning in or around 1973, he secretly supported Cuba and its intelligence-gathering operations against the United States by serving as a covert agent for Cuban intelligence services.

The DOJ said Rocha pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. He is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence.

The department said it is pursuing seven separate counts aimed at revoking Rocha’s US citizenship, arguing that he was never eligible for naturalization because he committed unlawful acts, gave false testimony, supported communism, and concealed material facts related to his espionage activities.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday met with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé at the Vatican, as Haiti continues to grapple with deepening violence, political instability and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Following the audience with the Pope, Fils-Aimé also held talks with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolinand the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Scoreboard of the opening day of the match between Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Barbados Pride in the West Indies Championship playoff here at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday.

T and T RED FORCE

Cephas Cooper c Layne b Warrican 93

Evin Lewis c +Boucher b Layne 7

Jyd Goolie c +Boucher b Springer 33

Jason Mohammed c Drakes b Layne 0

Amir Jangoo lbw b Chase 41

*+Joshua Da Silva not out 65

Terrance Hinds lbw b Mayers 51

Khary Pierre lbw b Springer 0

Extras (b4, lb4) 8

TOTAL (seven wickets; 89.3 overs) 298

Yet to bat: Anderson Phillip, Bryan Charles, Jayden Seales

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-118, 3-122, 4-156, 5-194, 6-297, 7-298.

Bowling: Layne 12-1-56-2, Springer 13.3-2-31-2, Mayers 8-1-26-1, Chase 20-3-65-1, Bishop 18-3-56-0, Warrican 17-1-54-1, Brathwaite 1-0-2-0.

Toss: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force elected to bat.

Position: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force lead by 298 runs with three wickets remaining.

Umpires: Carl Tuckett, Deighton Butler.

Match Referee: Michael Ragoonath.

Premier Natalio Wheatley has defended the decision by elected leaders to exclude same-sex marriage from the territory’s next constitution, which is expected to be finalised following negotiations with the United Kingdom. Elected leaders recently accepted a recommendation from the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) to amend Section 20 of the Constitution to explicitly state that marriage is between a man and a woman of the opposite sex.

Lawmakers later expanded the wording, agreeing that marriage should specifically be defined as a union between a man and woman ‘of the opposite sex at birth.’

According to legislators, the wording is intended to provide greater constitutional certainty and maintain consistency with the proposed definition of marriage.

During a public engagement session on constitutional negotiations earlier this week, a resident questioned Premier Wheatley about why the government was choosing to deny same-sex marriage and what role it should play in protecting minority rights, particularly while a court challenge involving same-sex marriage remains active.

In response, Wheatley said he did not want to comment extensively because the matter is currently before the courts.

‘I don’t want any of my comments to impact the court proceedings,’ the Premier said.

However, Wheatley stressed that the negotiating team remains mindful of internationally recognised human rights standards, especially those linked to the European Convention on Human Rights, which the United Kingdom has extended to the territory.

‘What I can assure you [is] the concept of adhering to principles, particularly the European Convention on Human Rights, is really foremost in our minds,’ he said.

The Premier also suggested that while marriage may continue to be traditionally defined, there could still be accommodation for ‘other forms of partnerships’ without discrimination.

Wheatley argued that BVI society is capable of maintaining its traditional definition of marriage while still respecting the rights of others.

‘At the very same time, ensuring that we defend and represent our culture, our heritage and our way of life,’ he said. ‘I believe that in a tolerant society that we have here today, that it’s possible for those two things to coexist.’

Although elected leaders have adopted the recommendations on marriage, the proposals are still subject to formal constitutional negotiations between the BVI and the United Kingdom before any final decision is made.