Category: CANA News

Dhananjaya de Silva produced a captain’s knock of 120 runs from 168 deliveries as Sri Lanka recovered from a disastrous start to post 308 all out on an eventful opening day of the first Test against West Indies here at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and opted to bowl first on a pitch offering encouragement for the seamers, a decision that appeared inspired when the home side reduced Sri Lanka to 42 for 3 inside the first ten overs.

The carnage began in just the sixth delivery of the match when Kemar Roach tucked up Pathum Nissanka, who clipped a pacy delivery into the hands of short-leg fielder Amir Jangoo for two.

Alzarri Joseph then produced a devastating double strike in the 10th over, first trapping Nishan Madushka lbw for 23 with a full delivery that struck the batsman on the shin, before claiming Kamindu Mendis for a golden duck with a delivery that found the outside edge and was safely held at first slip by a diving John Campbell.

Sri Lanka’s recovery began through the counter-attacking Dinesh Chandimal, who combined with de Silva in a 68-run partnership that steadied the innings.

Chandimal was particularly severe through the off-side, driving and cutting with authority as he compiled 54 runs before falling to an exceptional Shamar Joseph inswinger.

That Shamar Joseph’s pinpoint delivery sparked another mini-collapse when Kusal Mendis followed shortly after for a duck. The wicket-keeper was caught at second slip by Justin Greaves, reaching for a wide delivery.

From the rubble of 110 for five, de Silva constructed an innings of immense quality and temperament. His century, the 13th of his Test career, arrived off 150 deliveries when he flicked a delivery sumptuously through midwicket.

The Sri Lankan captain found willing allies in Sonal Dinusha, who contributed a gritty 43 off 75 balls during a 99-run stand, and Milan Rathnayake, who added 27 during a 64-run seventh-wicket partnership.

West Indies’ seam attack toiled commendably throughout the day, with Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, and Shamar Joseph all claiming two wickets apiece. However, it was medium-pacer Justin Greaves who proved most damaging, finishing with figures of 3 for 39.

Greaves broke the crucial partnership when he dismissed de Silva midway through the final session, the Sri Lankan captain giving a catch at cover off a leading edge attempting to work the ball through midwicket.

At 273 for 7, Sri Lanka’s lower order added valuable runs to push the total beyond 300.

The day was not without blemish for the hosts, however. Wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva had a torrid time with the gloves, dropping three catches, including one low chance to his left from Alzarri Joseph’s bowling that would have dismissed Rathnayake.

Despite utilising the full six-and-a-half hours of play, West Indies managed only 72.5 overs, a sluggish rate that may concern match officials.

West Indies survived the solitary over before stumps without loss, with openers John Campbell and Brandon King both yet to score as they trail Sri Lanka’s first-innings total by 308 runs.

The United States has announced a new round of sanctions targeting key Cuban state-owned companies and a member of the extended Castro family, as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Havana.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures target five entities that Washington claims generate revenue for the Cuban government, including three linked to the military-controlled business conglomerate Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA).

‘GAESA continues to operate as the financial muscle behind the Cuban regime’s repressive security apparatus,’ Rubio said in announcing the sanctions.

According to the US State Department, two of the newly sanctioned entities are financial institutions accused of handling funds on behalf of the Cuban government, while another is a logistics company involved in managing the movement of goods across the island.

The sanctions also target two companies operating in Cuba’s mining and metals sector, including the state-owned GeoMinera, which the United States says helps generate revenue through the development and management of the country’s mineral resources.

In addition, the administration sanctioned Annalie Lilliam Rueda Cardero, the wife of Alejandro Castro Espín, who was previously sanctioned earlier this month.

The actions were taken under Executive Order 14404, signed by Trump, which authorizes sanctions against individuals and entities accused of supporting Cuba’s security apparatus or contributing to activities deemed harmful to US national security.

The State Department said the measures are part of a broader effort to restrict the Cuban government’s access to revenue and resources while promoting democracy, human rights, and economic reforms on the island.

Under the sanctions, all property and interests belonging to the designated individuals and entities that fall under US jurisdiction are blocked. US citizens and companies are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with sanctioned persons or organizations unless specifically authorized by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The State Department also warned that foreign companies and financial institutions doing business with sanctioned entities could themselves face sanctions exposure.

The latest measures form part of a broader Trump administration strategy aimed at increasing economic pressure on Cuba through restrictions targeting sectors including finance, mining, energy, defense, and state-owned enterprises.

West Indies, replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 308, closed on zero without loss after one over on the opening day of the first Test at North Sound here on Thursday.

SCORES:

SRI LANKA 308 in 71.5 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 120, Dinesh Chandimal 54, Sonal Dinusha 43, Milan Rathnayaka 27; Justin Greaves 3-39, Kemar Roach 2-32, Alzarri Joseph 2-60, Shamar Joseph 2-79, Jayden Seales 1-73)

WEST INDIES 0-0 in 1 over (John Campbell 0*, Brandon King 0*)

Governments across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have expressed sympathy with the government and people of Venezuela following two devastating earthquakes that rocked the South American nation late Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister of St Lucia, Philip J. Pierre in a statment, expressed profound sorrow at the reports of significant casualties, injuries, and destruction resulting from this natural disaster.

‘At this difficult time, the people of Saint Lucia stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela as they mourn the lives lost, care for the injured, and begin the challenging process of recovery and rebuilding. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who have been displaced, and all communities affected by this tragedy.’

The Prime Minister also conveyed Saint Lucia’s support to the Venezuelan authorities and emergency responders who continue to work tirelessly to assist affected communities and provide relief to those in need.

Meanwhile – The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has expressed solidarity with Venezuela and has offered assistance .

In a media release issued late Wednesday , the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs said Trinidad and Tobago stood with the Government and people of Venezuela in the aftermath of the seismic event, which triggered widespread concern across the region.

‘The Government of Trinidad and Tobago stands prepared to provide any requested support and assistance to the Venezuelan authorities, where possible,’ the ministry said.

The ministry said it remained mindful of the Caribbean region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and shared the anxiety of Venezuelans as authorities assessed the impact of the earthquake and began recovery efforts.

It also confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago’s diplomatic mission in Caracas was not significantly affected and that officials were continuing to monitor developments closely.

The statement came as reports emerged of significant damage in Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes that struck west of Caracas on Wednesday.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor approximately 160 kilometres west of here.

On Thursday, officials said the death toll had risen to 164 and is expected to climb.

In a groundbreaking move for sports broadcasting in the region, the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Rush Sports have unveiled Rush Live and Louder, a dedicated 24/7 television channel poised to become the definitive Home of Cricket for the Caribbean.

The channel is set to debut on 1 July 2026, transforming the CPL from a seasonal spectacle into a permanent, year-round media powerhouse.

The new linear channel, among the first of its kind launched by a cricket league globally, will be available across all major cable and television networks throughout the Caribbean.

While it will serve as the premier destination for this year’s Men’s and Women’s CPL tournaments, its scope extends far beyond the region’s flagship competition.

Fans can anticipate a non-stop diet of world-class cricket, featuring live matches, exclusive highlights, original programming, and classic encounters acquired from leading cricket boards worldwide.

From the dramatic finishes of the 2026 Republic Bank CPL season, which kicks off on 7 August, to international rivalries from across the globe, the channel ensures that Caribbean viewers never miss a ball.

Rush Live and Louder marks a significant strategic milestone for the CPL. Building on the immense success of its social media platforms, the league is now evolving beyond content creation and rights ownership to become a direct distributor and curator of premium international cricket.

‘Rush Live and Louder is a huge moment for CPL, for Rush Sports and for cricket in the Caribbean,’ said Pete Russell, Caribbean Premier League CEO. ‘We have always wanted to give Caribbean fans more cricket, more often, and this channel allows us to do exactly that. CPL will remain at the heart of the offering, but fans will now be able to watch live cricket from around the world throughout the year. We are creating a true home of cricket for the Caribbean.’

Beyond live action, the channel will offer a rich slate of original content tailored for the Caribbean audience. Viewers can look forward to talk shows, magazine programmes, documentaries, and classic matches that celebrate the heritage of the game while covering modern rivalries.

Michael Look Tong, CEO of CPSL (operators of Rush Sports), emphasised the pioneering nature of the venture: ‘Rush Live and Louder is an ambitious and innovative project that reflects the passion Caribbean audiences have for cricket. By combining CPL’s world-class cricket properties with premium international rights and original programming, we are creating a channel that will serve cricket fans every day of the year. We believe this is a significant step forward not just for cricket broadcasting, but for sports media more broadly.’

The launch represents a new model in sports media, where a league directly distributes its content while aggregating rights from leading competitions around the world.

This ensures that Caribbean fans have access to elite cricket every month of the year, solidifying the CPL’s ambition to build a robust, year-round cricket ecosystem for the region.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that the government intends to establish a Decolonisation Commission later this year as part of its constitutional reform agenda, saying the body will help educate the public and encourage dialogue on the territory’s political future.

The announcement was part of the Premier’s 2026 State of the Territory address, in which he outlined plans to begin a new phase of constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom in July and complete those discussions before the end of the year, ahead of the proposed enactment of a new constitution in 2027.

‘That is why government will establish the Virgin Islands Decolonisation Commission this year, helping strengthen public education, dialogue and awareness around constitutional development, political advancement and greater self-determination,’ Wheatley said.

He added that the commission would support the territory’s constitutional journey by encouraging greater public understanding of the issues involved.

‘Because constitutional advancement is not only legal work, it is nation-building work.’

According to the Premier, the constitutional negotiations will seek greater internal autonomy, including ‘the right to chair our own Cabinet and responsibility for our public service.’ He stressed that the constitutional review belongs to the people rather than the government.

‘But let me be clear, this is not government’s constitution, this is the people’s constitution….government will launch a broad public education and communications campaign to ensure every Virgin Islander has the opportunity to understand, engage with and help shape our constitutional future.’

The Premier also welcomed what he described as bipartisan support for constitutional reform, noting that the House of Assembly had recently agreed on a common vision for the territory’s future relationship with the UK.

‘Because there are moments when unity must rise above division. And this is one of those moments. The future of the Virgin Islands is larger than politics. It belongs to all of us.’

The proposed commission follows several years of increased engagement by the Virgin Islands with the United Nations’ decolonisation process. In 2024, a visiting mission from the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) assessed the territory’s progress towards self-government.

The committee’s subsequent report recommended a national public education programme on self-determination, continued discussions with the United Kingdom on constitutional advancement and consideration of a future referendum following an extensive public education campaign. The government has welcomed those recommendations and has said it will inform its constitutional review process.

In his address, Premier Wheatley said the territory had reached an important point in its constitutional development, arguing that recent governance reforms and the removal of the threat of an Order in Council had created an opportunity to pursue greater self-government through dialogue and public participation.

Scoreboard of day one of the 1st Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka here at North Sound.

SRI LANKA

Pathum Nissanka c Jangoo b Roach 2

Nishan Madushka lbw A Joseph 23

Dinesh Chandimal b S Joseph 54

Kamindu Mendis c Campbell b A Joseph 0

Dhananjaya de Silva (c) c King b Greaves 120

Kusal Mendis c Greaves b S Joseph 0

Sonal Dinusha lbw Roach 43

Milan Rathnayaka b Greaves 27

Kasun Rajitha c Roach b Greaves 8

Lahiru Kumara not out 12

Asitha Fernando c A Josepth b Seales 0

Extras (b4, lb5, nb4, w6) 19

TOTAL (ten wickets; 71.5 overs) 308

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-42, 3-42, 4-110, 5-110, 6-209, 7-273, 8-287, 9-303, 10-308

Bowling: Roach 12-2-32-2, Seales 15.5-2-73-1, A Joseph 12-1-60-2, S Joseph 16-1-79-2, Greaves 11-1-39-3, Chase 5-1-16-0

WEST INDIES

John Campbell 0 not out

Brandon King 0 not out

TOTAL (zero; 1 over) 0

Bowling: Fernando 1-1-0-0

Toss: West Indies, elected to field.

Umpires: Ahsan Raza, Sharfuddoulla

Reserve Umpire: Deighton Butler

TV: Umpire: Paul Reiffel

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath

The West Indies opt to bowl after winning the toss against Sri Lanka on the opening day of the first Test at North Sound.

Shai Hope is unavailable after picking up an injury during training in the build-up some days ago.

TEAMS:

West Indies XI: John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (capt), Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayake, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

Umpires: Ahsan Raza, Sharfuddoulla

Reserve Umpire: Deighton Butler

TV: Umpire: Paul Reiffel

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath

Jamaican law enforcement authorities are reporting a record-breaking surge in cocaine seizures, with drugs valued at an estimated J$3 billion confiscated during the first half of 2026.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said the unprecedented seizures were the result of targeted operations conducted by the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID), aimed at disrupting transnational organized crime networks operating in and through Jamaica.

According to police statistics, more than 5,100 kilograms (11,000 pounds) of cocaine have been seized since the start of the year, making it the largest cocaine haul recorded in the past decade.

he amount confiscated during the first six months of 2026 exceeds the combined total seized over six consecutive years between 2016 and 2021. During that period, authorities recovered 4,916 kilograms of cocaine.

Police data show that between 2016 and 2025, a total of 11,852 kilograms of cocaine were seized nationwide. The 2026 figure alone represents approximately 43 percent of that decade-long total.

This year’s seizures have also more than doubled the previous annual record of 2,508 kilograms, set in 2024.

Director of the FNID, Superintendent Patrae Rowe, described the achievement as a major blow to international drug trafficking operations.

‘Removing more than 5,000 kilograms of cocaine from the illicit market in less than six months is a significant accomplishment for our investigators and border security partners,’ Rowe said.

He noted that the seizures have dealt a substantial financial setback to criminal organizations.

‘This $3 billion seizure directly impacts the financial infrastructure of criminal syndicates and helps prevent the violence and criminal activity associated with the drug trade from reaching our communities,’ he said.

Rowe emphasized that the police remain committed to identifying, targeting, and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for trafficking narcotics through Jamaica.

The JCF said it will continue working closely with local and international partners to strengthen border security and disrupt the operations of organized crime groups involved in the illegal drug trade.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Thursday, expressed deep condolences over the tragic loss of life, the growing number of injuries, and the extensive damage to infrastructure and homes as a result of the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday.

‘We stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela during this time of immense grief and offer prayers for a swift recovery to the injured and displaced.’