Category: CANA News

West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews is counting on her batters to break out of their slump and produce the goods when they face England in their crucial top-of-the-table clash in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday at Lord’s.

The winner will automatically qualify for the semifinals, while the loser will need to win their fifth and final remaining preliminary game to secure their spot in the last four.

Despite their unbeaten start to the tournament, the 2016 champions have failed to fire with the bat in their first three matches. Their highest total so far has been the 163 for three they made in 19.5 overs against New Zealand Women in their opening match.

And Shemaine Campbelle, who scored a match-winning, unbeaten 90 in that contest, is the only batter to have scored a half century for the regional side to date.

Meanwhile, England have been mighty with the bat and are the only team to post two 200-plus totals in this World Cup.

The Windies will however, be boosted by the fact that Aaliyah Alleyne and Matthews are among the top three wicket-takers in the competition.

While acknowledging her team’s batting struggles in an interview following their five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday, Matthews said she expected them to come good sooner rather later.

‘I certainly feel like our batters will have the opportunity to peak at the right time and what’s really important is that we are winning matches right now,’ she said.

Matthews said the team’s confidence was extremely high after victories against the defending champions New Zealand, Scotland and Sri Lanka.

She said knowing that they were one win away from qualifying for the semifinals was also an added incentive.

‘It puts us in a really good place. Going into the next match against England we have high confidence.

‘We certainly feel that if we can win one more game here it gets us into the semifinals, so a lot of confidence going into the next two matches, but still we want to take it one game at a time,’ Matthews said.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has agreed to establish a broad-based advisory team to guide negotiations with the United States to accept a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals and refugees.

ST. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Godwin Friday, said the request from Washington comes at a time of ‘profound geopolitical’ uncertainty.

‘We are in a time of profound geopolitical uncertainty, arguably the most consequential our region has faced in a generation. The wider tensions in our hemisphere hold profound implications for our security, our energy supply, the cost of living, our migration flows, and our diplomatic relations,’ Friday told the 78th summit of the OECS which ended here on Monday. Friday said the matter requires thoughtful deliberation and unity as it is ‘a delicate and serious matter’.

‘Very early on in the year, we were required to consider and navigate the delicate and serious matter of the request from our development partner and friend the United States that our member states assist them by accepting persons deported from the USA who were not our own citizens. Watch video

‘We are still working through this matter very carefully because it holds serious implications for our economy, the safety of our people, the utilization of scarce resources and for our sovereignty,’ Friday said, adding that the OECS countries agreed to work closely together to fashion the best outcome possible.

‘Accordingly, we agreed to establish a broad-based, high-level advisory team drawn from across our member states, to carry on technical discussions amongst themselves that guided our negotiations with the United States, individually and collectively.’

Prime Minister Friday said that small states are more sensitive to external shocks than most, because of their size.

‘What may be mere tremors for large nations are experienced as earthquakes by us, small island developing states; We, therefore, suffer the consequences worst and the longest,’ he added.

Meanwhile, the OECS chairman and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, has said that his government will not agree to a third party agreement with the United States for 120 deportees to be sent to the island.

He told his colleagues that the ongoing discussions and arrangements with Washington are akin to ‘the deployment of economic coercion as an instrument of foreign policy’.

He said he has made it clear to Washington that there is no room in the discussions for criminals.

‘As I have said to them, as the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, I cannot willingly cooperate with any other power, any country, to destroy our beautiful twin island state. And we have insisted that we will not accept any criminal elements. At the same time, we want to limit the amount of individuals who they send to this country.’

Prime Minister Browne said Antigua and Barbuda will continue to cooperate with the US authorities on the issue adding ‘we are not being uncooperative here, but this idea that they could send us 120 individuals, we have said to them this is totally unacceptable, and we have sent them a counter-proposal.

‘We said that we’ll accept 10 annually. No more than 10,’ Browne said.

The position by the OECS countries come as Jamaica, last Wednesday confirmed that it is in negotiations with the United States to accept no more than 25 non-criminal third-country nationals and refugees.

National Security and Peace Minister, Dr. Horace Chang Chang said that Kingston had signed ‘after extensive negotiations…an agreement to transition to Jamaica, some third country nationals from the United States.

‘The number is 25. It’s an understanding, and at no time will the number exceed 25, because we have the right to refuse anyone at any time, and both parties can terminate the entire agreement without any long-term notice,’ Chang said.

Chang dismissed media reports that Kingston had only made known of the agreement after it had been leaked that the country had agreed to accept 10,000 deportees from the North American country.

‘No, no, the information leaked is different from what I’m talking about, and that’s not the problem. We are conflating two things. Some information was leaked, suggesting that we were in the process of negotiating the reception of 10,000 illegal immigrants.

The Suriname government has defended its decision to appoint Steve Meye as the country’s non-resident ambassador to Israel after legislators questioned the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) support for Palestine.

Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation Minister, Melvin Bouv, said that there has been no change in Suriname’s position on Palestine. He said that Meye’s appointment does not represent a change in Surinamese foreign policy, noting that the country has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel for years and various cooperation projects exist in areas including agriculture, education, and healthcare.

‘There is an existing diplomatic relationship with Israel, and nothing has changed in that regard,’ Bouva told legislators, insisting also that Suriname’s position on Palestine also remains unchanged.

‘Nothing has changed regarding the recognition of Palestine. Suriname has continued to stand by that position unwavering since 2011, and this government also maintains that policy.’

Bouva said that Suriname is increasingly making use of such diplomatic representatives to maintain international relations without the costs of a permanent diplomatic post.

But as Parliament debated the national budget, both government and opposition legislators raised the issue.

Government legislator, Ann Sadi, said that the appointment comes at a sensitive time, given the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. ‘Why was the decision made to proceed with this appointment precisely now?’ asked Sadi, pointing to international concern regarding the situation in Gaza and wanted to know how the decision fits within Suriname’s foreign policy.

The National Party of Suriname (NPS) faction leader, Jerrel Pawiroredjo, also questioned the appointment, referring to human rights issues and stated that Suriname, as a multicultural society, must handle international issues relating to equality, justice, and human rights with care.

The faction leader of Pertjajah Luhur (PL), Bronto Somohardjo recalled that Suriname recognised Palestine as an independent state in 2011 and asked Bouva to confirm that the appointment of an ambassador to Israel does not constitute a weakening of that principled position.

‘Maintaining diplomatic relations is one thing, but Suriname must not for a moment give the impression that it remains silent when civilian casualties occur or when serious accusations of violations of international law are made,’ said Somohardjo.

Government legislator, Ebu Jones, in defending the appointment, noted that some CARICOM countries maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, while simultaneously supporting UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire and endorsing Palestine’s right to a state of its own.

Jones said the appointment of a non-resident ambassador therefore need not be in conflict with Suriname’s position.

‘It is precisely through a diplomatic relationship that one can make one’s views on human rights and the international legal order known,’ he added.

Senior Magistrate Deborah Quintin has set September 18 as the trial date for the corporate secretary of the non-governmental organisation, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS), Gary Aboud, charged with breaching the COVID-19 Public Health Regulations during a protest in Port-of-Spain nearly five years ago. Aboud is accused of participating in a gathering that exceeded the number of people permitted under emergency public health regulations in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The charges arise from a protest held on November 30, 2021, at Woodford Square in the capital, Port-of-Spain, with police saying that nearly 100 people were present.

The police said that no permission had been granted for the event and Aboud was among 31 people charged including the leader of the Islamic Front, Umar Abdullah.

The protest was held during a period when strict limits were placed on public gatherings under COVID-19 emergency regulations, with demonstrators voicing opposition to pandemic restrictions and other government policies.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

WASHINGTON -he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new 36-month precautionary Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Barbados providing critical insurance in the event shocks generate balance of payments needs, while continuing to help anchor macroeconomic stability and support reform implementation under the homegrown Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan 2026 (BERT 2026).

ST. JOHN’S – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has agreed to establish a broad-based advisory team to guide negotiations with the United States to accept a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals and refugees.

ST. GEORGE’S – The US-based international oil and gas company that focuses on exploration and production activities in the Caribbean, Global Petroleum Group (GPG) says it is ready to launch a second major offshore drilling campaign in Grenadian waters.

ST. JOHN’S -The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is to seek a suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) as the sub-regional grouping moves towards enhancing trade relations with South America, Panama and the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced.

NEW YORK – Several Caribbean candidates are on the ballot in contesting the New York Democratic Primary on Tuesday.

SPORTS:

COLOMBO – West Indies Academy defeated Sri Lanka Emerging Players by two wickets in the opening Youth One Day International at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground here on Tuesday.

The Guyana government says it expects more than four international delegations to visit the country soon and none of them is involved in the oil and gas sectors.

President Irfaan Ali said that the investors are interested in the tourism, food production, manufacturing and value creation industries as he linked the country’s growing investor profile to years of planning.

‘The world is discovering a Guyana that is completely different,’ he said, outlining how Guyana intends to position itself in the regional economy. He said Guyana will not settle for being a buyer of finished goods, but will compete as a producer and price-setter.

Ali said he wants more of the goods sold in Guyana to be produced locally and is encouraging regional manufacturers to establish operations in the country, pointing to the government’s agri-processing incentives, which he said are unmatched elsewhere in the region.

Ali said that that Region Nine is being positioned as a major agro-processing hub to supply markets in northern Brazil, while emerging opportunities in Haiti and Cuba could provide additional export destinations for investors who move early.

‘We cannot go forward without value creation and manufacturing in this country,’ he added.

Guyana’s recoverable oil and gas reserves are estimated at over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with the broader upstream market projected to reach massive, multi-billion-dollar cumulative investments by 2031. Driven by an ExxonMobil-led consortium, the sector is transforming the country into one of the fastest-growing economies globally

The Customs and Excise Division Tuesday said that it had intercepted a shipment of drugs valued at TT$1.4 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16cents) and a firearm during an operation on Monday.

In a brief statement, the Division said that the shipment containing marijuana and the firearm was seized during an intelligence-led operation conducted at a Customs Bonded Ara in POrt of Spain.

‘ The detailed examination of cargo consigned to a retired Customs and Excise guard resulted in the discovery of 11 packages containing a green plant like substance resembling that of the Dangerous Drug Marijuana with an estimated street value of TT$1.4 million as well as a separate package containing a black metallic object resembling that of a firearm concealed within a washer and dryer,’ the statement said.

It did not indicate whether the retired to whom the goods were consigned had been detained or questioned.

The US-based international oil and gas company that focuses on exploration and production activities in the Caribbean, Global Petroleum Group (GPG) says it is ready to launch a second major offshore drilling campaign in Grenadian waters.

But GPG executive director, Eduard Vasilyev, speaking on the Bubb Report television programme here, said the company has been unable to proceed because it has not received the necessary cooperation and approvals from the Grenada government. GPG spudded and subsequently logged a wildcat exploration well known as Nutmeg-2, which is located in about 400 feet of water near the maritime boundary with Venezuela.

Vasilyev told viewers that the company has repeatedly informed St. George’s that is prepared to move forward with a second drilling programme only to receive what he described as silence.

‘We were ready to drill. We informed the government many times in writing. We did not receive a single meaningful response,’ Vasilyev said.

He said that GPG’s first offshore drilling campaign in Block D confirmed the presence of commercially viable natural gas reserves after years of geological studies, including 2D and 3D seismic surveys.

‘The first thing we discovered was gas. We can say with full confidence that the discovery is commercial and can move into the production phase.’

Vasilyev maintained that the company was prepared to invest approximately US$350 million in a second drilling campaign involving five to six additional wells, adding that the programme would have revisited the Nutmeg-2 discovery area and tested several other prospects identified offshore Grenada.

Vasilyev also revealed that GPG has invested an estimated US$200 million in Grenada’s hydrocarbon sector and that it has advanced US$20 million to the government under provisions of its contractual agreement.

‘The government is our partner under the contract. Without the government’s permits and approvals, we cannot carry out drilling operations,’ he said, rejecting suggestions that the company has withheld information from the state.

He said that all geological and technical data generated over the years were formally handed over to government officials.

‘We never withheld information from the government of Grenada. Every document was transferred officially,’ he said, dismissing also reports that GPG had partnered with Nigerian investors, insisting that the company’s contractors remain American firms and that media reports to the contrary were inaccurate.

In 2023, the Dickon Mitchell government established a Hydrocarbons Technical Working Group to review the sector and advise on future policy, while regional discussions have continued on potential energy cooperation involving Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and neighboring states.

Vasilyev said GPG remains willing to work with the government.

‘If we had been able to work productively together over the last four years, Grenada would already be seeing the benefits. The opportunities are still there, and we remain ready to move forward,’ he told the programme.

In June last year, Vasilyev led a GPG delegation to Trinidad and Tobago holding talks with that country’s Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr. Roodal Moonilal and other officials.

A statement issued in Port of Spain then said that GPG is engaged in exploration and appraisal activities off Grenada’s southern coast, close to the Patao/Dragon fields in Venezuela and the North Coast Marine Area (NCMA) fields in Trinidad.

It said that in 2018, GPG successfully established a commercial agreement with the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) and that this partnership emerged from the Energy Sector Development Framework Agreement signed in 2012 between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments.

The statement said that building on this framework agreement, Moonilal reaffirmed the Trinidad and Tobago government’s commitment to collaboration with Grenada and to actively pursuing discussions aimed at strategically strengthening these bilateral relations.

West Indies Academy defeated Sri Lanka Emerging Players by two wickets in the opening Youth One Day International at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground here on Tuesday.

Scores

SRI LANKA EMERGING PLAYERS 184 in 33.4 overs (Nipun Dhananjaya 65, Sineth Jayawardena 32, Asitha Wanninayake 23, Ranesh Silva 21, Kavija Gamage 11, Inuka Karannagoda 11; Zishan Motara 3-32, Jediah Blades 3-42, Raneico Smith 2-25).

WEST INDIES ACADEMY 185-8 in 31 overs (Damel Evelyn 77 not out, Kevlon Anderson 58, Rivaldo Clarke 12; Kavija Gamage 4-18, Traveen Mathew 3-30).

The Suriname government has defended its decision to appoint Steve Meye as the country’s non-resident ambassador to Israel after legislators questioned the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) support for Palestine.

Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation Minister, Melvin Bouv, said that there has been no change in Suriname’s position on Palestine. He said that Meye’s appointment does not represent a change in Surinamese foreign policy, noting that the country has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel for years and various cooperation projects exist in areas including agriculture, education, and healthcare.

‘There is an existing diplomatic relationship with Israel, and nothing has changed in that regard,’ Bouva told legislators, insisting also that Suriname’s position on Palestine also remains unchanged.

‘Nothing has changed regarding the recognition of Palestine. Suriname has continued to stand by that position unwavering since 2011, and this government also maintains that policy.’

Bouva said that Suriname is increasingly making use of such diplomatic representatives to maintain international relations without the costs of a permanent diplomatic post.

But as Parliament debated the national budget, both government and opposition legislators raised the issue.

Government legislator, Ann Sadi, said that the appointment comes at a sensitive time, given the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. ‘Why was the decision made to proceed with this appointment precisely now?’ asked Sadi, pointing to international concern regarding the situation in Gaza and wanted to know how the decision fits within Suriname’s foreign policy.

The National Party of Suriname (NPS) faction leader, Jerrel Pawiroredjo, also questioned the appointment, referring to human rights issues and stated that Suriname, as a multicultural society, must handle international issues relating to equality, justice, and human rights with care.

The faction leader of Pertjajah Luhur (PL), Bronto Somohardjo recalled that Suriname recognised Palestine as an independent state in 2011 and asked Bouva to confirm that the appointment of an ambassador to Israel does not constitute a weakening of that principled position.

‘Maintaining diplomatic relations is one thing, but Suriname must not for a moment give the impression that it remains silent when civilian casualties occur or when serious accusations of violations of international law are made,’ said Somohardjo.

Government legislator, Ebu Jones, in defending the appointment, noted that some CARICOM countries maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, while simultaneously supporting UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire and endorsing Palestine’s right to a state of its own.

Jones said the appointment of a non-resident ambassador therefore need not be in conflict with Suriname’s position.

‘It is precisely through a diplomatic relationship that one can make one’s views on human rights and the international legal order known,’ he added.