Category: CANA News

Amir Jangoo and captain Roston Chase scored crucial unbeaten knocks as West Indies recovered from a nervy start to take control of the opening Test match against Sri Lanka at the end of the second day’s play here on Friday.

The Windies were precariously placed at 168 for five at one stage at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, after pacers Asitha Fernando and Milan Rathnayake threatened to run through their usually fragile batting lineup.

However, Jangoo and Chase shared an unbroken stand of 103 runs to rescue their side as the Windies recovered to finish the day on 271 for five, needing a further 37 runs to overtake Sri Lanka on first innings.

In a day of topsy turvy action, the home side started in positive fashion, with openers John Campbell and Brandon King giving them a solid start.

The pair carried the Windies past 50 and to the first drinks break with little alarm, but as has become the norm, the stand was broken almost immediately upon resumption when King drove at a wide delivery from Rathnayake and was caught at cover for 31 to leave the score 58 for one.

Campbell and new batsman Kavem Hodge maintained the momentum, carrying the Windies to lunch at 89 for one. But once again another wicket tumbled after the restart, with Campbell holing out to long for 39 in his attempt to hit left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha out of the ground to make the score 97 for two.

With just five runs added to the total, Hodge was back in the pavilion for 19 after chopping a delivery from Rathnayake onto his stumps.

Amir Jangoo and his compatriot Joshua Da Silva set about rebuilding the innings during a partnership of 52 runs, with Da Silva fortunate to survive a lbw appeal when he was 11 after being given out, with the review showing the ball narrowly missing the stumps.

They looked set to carry the Windies to tea in the ascendancy until Da Silva threw his wicket away by chasing a wide delivery from Fernando and was caught at cover for 20.

Justin Greaves’ stay at the crease was brief, although he could count himself a bit unlucky to be dismissed by a superb catch by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Fernando, to see the Windies limp to tea on 168 for five.

The match almost followed the same pattern as the previous two sessions, but a thin inside edge saved Jangoo from being lbw in the first over after tea.

Jangoo moved to 46 and carried the West Indies past the 200-run mark in nervy fashion with a slash that sailed over the slip corridor for four and five balls later he brought up his maiden Test half century off 111 balls by exquisitely driving Rajitha through cover for another boundary.

The duo then navigated a tricky final session of play, with Fernando and Rathnayake testing them with the second new ball in the final four overs of the day.

Jangoo ended on 78 not out off 174 balls with seven fours, while Chase was unbeaten on 42 from 105 balls with two boundaries.

Fernando has so far taken 2-25, while Rathnayaka has claimed 2-45.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 rattled some Caribbean island on Friday, the Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies reported.

It said that the event occurred at 7.19 a (local time) and was at a depth of 10 kilometers (km).

It was felf in the nearby cities of Point-à-Pitre, the capital of the French-island of Guadeloupe, Roseau n Dominica and St. Johhn’s the Antigua and Barbuda capital.

The SRC said that there were no immedite reports of injuries or damage.

It comes less than 24 hours following the magnitude 7.1 and 7.5 events off the coast of Venezuela that have killed 589 and injuring 2,980 acting President Delcy Rodriquez has said.

International rescue teams have joined the search for survivors in Venezuela as loccal teams searched through the the night in collpased buildings in Caracas and the state of La Guaira.

Former premier, Donaldson Romeo, is calling on legislators to put aside their differences and support a resolution seeking the urgent restoration of safe, reliable, affordable, and continuous day and night medical evacuation services in Montserrat.

‘A united voice from the Legislative Assembly, backed by all of our people at home and abroad, will send a clear message that the safety and wellbeing of Montserratians must remain a national priority and be treated with greater urgency,’ said Romeo, an opposition legislator, ahead of the June 30 sitting of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly. Government has confirmed that night-time medical evacuation services ended in November 2019 after Air Safety Support International (ASSI) concluded that the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander did not provide an acceptable safety margin in the event of an engine failure during night take-off.

Government has acknowledged that a number of technical, regulatory, operational, aircraft capability, and infrastructure requirements must still be addressed before the service can be restored.

Romeo said this demonstrates that restoring night-time medical evacuation services requires not only relatively straightforward regulatory and infrastructure improvements, but also the selection of a readily available aircraft better suited to operate safely in Montserrat’s unique environment than the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.

He said the required measures are relatively low-cost and is standard practice throughout the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies, and other British Overseas Territories.

Romeo, who served as premier of this British Overseas Territory from 2014 to 2019, recalled that 16 days before the eruption of the Soufriere volcano in Montserrat on June, 25, 1997, scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory had warned the Governor and Executive Government Group that Blackburne Airport faced imminent danger and recommended its closure.

At least 19 people were killed when the volcano erupted and a Coroner and Jury concluded that a contributory cause of the deaths of four of the people killed was the continued operation of the airport despite the warnings of imminent danger from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory’s Scientists.

‘Warnings exist to prevent tragedy, not to be remembered after tragedy occurs. The Coroner’s findings remain a sobering reminder of the consequences of failing to act on known risks. Many Montserratians regard those findings as evidence of culpable negligence. Whatever view is taken, the central lesson is clear: known threats to life should be addressed promptly and decisively, especially when funds and other needed resources are readily available,’ Romeo said.

He said that the resolution next week is not about assigning blame, but about protecting lives and restoring confidence in Montserrat’s emergency medical evacuation system.

‘Every 25 June reminds us that the cost of ignoring warnings can be measured in human lives. We owe it to those who died in 1997, to those who may one day need emergency medical evacuation, and to future generations, to ensure that known and foreseeable risks are addressed with urgency, transparency, and determination before another preventable tragedy occurs,’ Romeo added.

Jamaican peace and justice youth advocate, Moesha Allen, has been named as the 2026 Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Youth Award winner

Allen, who founded Helping Youths Pursue Excellence (HYPE), an initiative that reaches more than 10,000 youths through mentorship and literacy programme, was selected from almost 1,000 applicants across the Commonwealth’s 56 member states after a two-stage adjudication process involving 57 judges. She joins 19 finalists recognised for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through innovation and community impact. Each of the 20 finalists will receive a trophy, a certificate and £1,000 (One GBP=US$1.32 cents) to support their work.

Moesha is a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) serving as Sub-Officer in Charge of the St Andrew South Community Safety and Security Unit.

‘My congratulations to you all finalists. You are already winners. To be selected from across 56 nations is a testament to your courage and your creativity. You embody the very best of our family. You have shown resilience in the face of challenge and innovation in the face of constraint,’ said Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at a ceremony on Thursday.

The Youth Awards support young changemakers aged 15-29 by scaling up their innovation. Since their inception, these awards have invested over £400,000 directly into grassroots youth-led enterprises.

A retired United States soldier, who is reported to have been in an intimate relationship with the wife of a man he shot and killed in 2022, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the murder charge.

Emille Tracey, 48, of Pine Terrance Florida, admitted to fatally shooting Craig Senior, 43, a mason, on October 9, 2022, in Hart Hill District, Portland, a parish on the northeast coast of Jamaica.

Appearing before Justice Wiltshire in the Portland Circuit Court on Thursday, Tracey pleaded guilty to murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

He was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for murder and eight years for illegal possession of a firearm. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The court was told that Senior was at his home when a motor vehicle pulled up and someone called him outside. He went outside and was shot. Senior succumbed to his injuries.

Media reports said that investigators later arrested and charged Tracey, who was reportedly involved in an intimate relationship with Senior’s wife.

The Caribbean’s last hope of making it to the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup was squashed on Thursday when Ivory Coast defeated Curacao 2-0 to eliminate them at the group stage.

Nicolas Pepe netted a brace at Philadelphia Stadium to send the African country to the round of 32 for the first time in its history, having exited at the group stage in their three previous World Cup appearances.

With the result, Ivory Coast finish second in Group E with six points after winning two matches at a World Cup for the first time, while Curacao finish bottom of the group with one point from three matches. Needing a win to advance, Curacao found themselves behind after just seven minutes when their defenders were caught out at the back and dispossessed by Yan Diomande, who squared for Pepe to tap in.

The former Arsenal forward then doubled his side’s lead in the 65th minute when he slotted home a left-footed strike into the top corner past Curacao keeper Eloy Room.

Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to play at a men’s World Cup, went down fighting as they created several chances to score.

Their best opening came shortly before half-time when forward Juninho Bacuna broke between two men and into the box but fired wide at the near post.

They leave the tournament with their reputation enhanced from their performances against much larger football nations, including their first World Cup point earned from a draw against Ecuador.

Belize has assumed a key regional leadership role in shaping the future of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by officially taking over the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Regional Center for the Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CENPROMYPE) of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

CENPROMYPE serves as the specialised institution within SICA responsible for strengthening entrepreneurship and MSME development while promoting regional integration, innovation, competitiveness, and inclusive economic growth among its member states.

Belize assumed the presidency for the period July 1 to December 31, 2026 at a ceremony in Guatemala City on Thursday where Ishmael Quiroz, the executive director of Belize’s national Investment Promotion Agency (BELTRAIDE)accepted the presidency.

‘Belize is proud to assume this important regional leadership role at a time when MSMEs remain the backbone of our economies. Our presidency will focus on fostering innovation, strengthening regional partnerships, expanding market opportunities, and ensuring that entrepreneurs, including women- and youth-led businesses, are equipped to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy. Together with our SICA partners, we will work to build a stronger, more resilient regional MSME ecosystem.’ said Quiroz.

A government statement here said that during its six-month presidency, Belize will spearhead a regional agenda aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of MSMEs centered on six strategic priorities.

These are the formalisation of MSMEs and entrepreneurship; regional competitiveness and productivity of MSMEs; regional integration and trade relations; women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment; agro-industrial innovation and transformation; and regional and institutional governance.

‘As Pro Tempore President, Belize reaffirms its commitment to regional integration and collaboration and looks forward to working alongside member states, development partners, and the private sector to advance sustainable, inclusive economic growth throughout the SICA region.

‘Beyond advancing the regional agenda, Belize’s Presidency creates new opportunities for Belizean MSMEs through increased access to training and technical assistance, support for business formalization and women-led enterprises, stronger regional partnerships, and expanded market opportunities across SICA and CARICOM. These efforts will help strengthen the competitiveness of Belizean businesses while reinforcing the country’s role as a regional leader in MSME development,’ the statement added.

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) leaders have approved the reappointment of Dr. Didacus Jules to a fourth term as Director General, reaffirming its confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to advancing the OECS integration agenda.

According to a statement issued here, the decision to re-appoint the St. Lucian-born Jules, who first assumed office in 2014, was taken during last weekend’s OECS summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where the leaders of the sub-regional grouping ‘commended Dr. Jules’s distinguished service and significant contributions to regional development, cooperation, and institutional strengthening over the course of his tenure’. The statement said that Jules has played a pivotal role in advancing key regional priorities, including food sovereignty, digital transformation, healthier communities, and educational reform, while strengthening the OECS’s capacity to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities facing member sates.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday in a statement recognised Jules’ strategic ‘vision, dedication to public service, and commitment to fostering deeper regional integration and sustainable development throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

”The (reappointment) decision reflects the confidence of the Authority in your leadership and acknowledges your valuable contribution to the advancement of the OECS integration agenda and the continued strengthening of the Organisation.

‘On behalf of the OECS Authority, I extend sincere congratulations on your reappointment and look forward to your continued service and dedication to the people and Governments of the OECS member states,’ Friday added.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

West Indies Academy defeated Sri Lanka Emerging Players by 76 runs in the third and final One Day International at Nondescripts Cricket Ground here on Friday.

Scores

WEST INDIES ACADEMY 349-4 in 50 overs (Shaqkere Parris 177, Kevlon Anderson 86 not out, Rivaldo Clarke 38, Damel Evelyn 27).

SRI LANKA EMERGING PLAYERS 273 in 42.4 overs (Ranesh Silva 69, Dinura Kalupahana 54, Vishen Halambage 42, Chamika Heenatigala 32, Traveen Mathew 29; Amari Goodridge 4-56, Zishan Motara 2-46, Giovonte Depeiza 2-52).

The Antigua and Barbuda cabinet has endorsed the recommendations and negotiating position outlined by Prime Minister Gaston Browne regarding ongoing discussions with the United States to accept a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals and refugees.

In supporting the Prime Minister’s position, cabinet noted the longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries adding that the United States remains one of the country’s ‘most important strategic partners, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, tourism, security, education and development assistance’. A statement issued after the Cabinet meeting said that Prime Minister Browne had informed his ministers that negotiations with United States officials have resumed following the submission of Antigua and Barbuda’s counterproposals and that ‘constructive dialogue continues between the two countries’.

The statement said that Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, is leading the negotiations on behalf of the government and ‘is actively engaged in advancing the country’s interests while ensuring that any agreement reflects Antigua and Barbuda’s laws, values and national priorities.

‘Cabinet was further advised that Antigua and Barbuda has made it clear that it will not accept any individuals with criminal backgrounds and that comprehensive due diligence must be conducted in every case.’

It said that the government has insisted that ‘detailed reports be submitted on each individual, including information relating to criminal history, security assessments and health status, before any consideration is given to admission into Antigua and Barbuda’.

The statement quoted Prime Minister Browne as emphasising that the government ‘ must retain the sovereign right to determine who may enter and reside within the country.

‘Cabinet was informed that Antigua and Barbuda has indicated a willingness to consider accepting a limited number of persons annually, estimated at between fourteen and sixteen individuals, subject to the strict screening and approval processes established by the Government.

‘Consideration would also be given to skilled individuals whose qualifications and expertise could contribute positively to national development and economic growth,’ the statement noted.

Meanwhile, Cabinet agreed that Antigua and Barbuda should continue to engage constructively with the United States administration on matters of mutual interest, including migration and border management issues, while ensuring that the country’s national security, public health and social interests remain fully protected.

‘The government remains committed to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with the United States and will continue to pursue discussions in a manner that reflects Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty, humanitarian values and responsibility to safeguard the welfare and security of its citizens and residents,’ the statement added.