Category: CANA News

India’s bowlers held their composure this time around to deny a gusty run chase by West Indies and take the third T20I by 14 runs at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here on Sunday in another high-scoring affair.

For the first time in the series the team batting first prevailed, with Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 69 off 30 balls along with several other crucial cameos from their middle and lower order batters propeling India to 223 in their 20 overs.

The visitors were then unable to replicate Friday’s record-breaking performance, only managing to get up to 209 for seven before running out of overs.

With the win, India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series and will have a chance to close it out when they travel to Hyderabad for the fourth match on Wednesday.

The Windies actually did well to restrict the home side to their eventual total following an impressive display by their top order batters that saw them bludgeon 87 runs in the opening six overs after the early loss of Sanju Samson for three.

Sharma and Ishan Kishan sent the West Indies’ bowlers to all parts of the ground in a brutal attack, with the former bringing up his half century off just 18 balls – inclusive of five fours and four sixes – inside the power play.

At one point India was scoring at over 14 runs an over, until Roston Chase got the breakthrough by having Kishan stumped for 37 off 18 balls, to leave the score 115 for two in the ninth over. Three balls later the offspinner trapped captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for one, and when medium pacer Shamar Springer had Sharma caught and bowled and Naman Dhir hit spinner Gudakesh Motie into the hands of long off, the Windies were in the driver’s seat at 135 for five in the 11th over.

The visitors took wickets regularly thereafter, but cameos by Tilak Varma, who made 28, Nitish Kumar Reddy (21), Axar Patel’s 20 and an unbeaten 13 off six balls by Prince Yadav, got India up to a competitive total.

Chase was the pick of the Windies’ bowlers with 2-38, while Springer (2-50) and Shamar Joseph (2-54) provided support.

The West Indies suffered an almost immediate setback in their chase, with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh bowling their inspirational captain Shai Hope with just seven runs on the board.

Shimron Hetmyer dominated a 60-run partnership with Kamil Pooran for the second wicket, that carried the Windies to 67 for one until India struck two blows to stamp their authority on the match.

Hetmyer looked good for his 43 off 26 balls before he was bowled off his pads by Dhir, and spinner Axar Patel had Rovman Powell caught at long off for five, to reduce the West Indies to 82 for three in the 10th over.

From thereon, the required run rate continued to spiral out of control – reaching 15 runs an over at one point – as India’s bowlers put a clamp on the Windies’ scoring.

Sherfane Rutherford tried his best during his innings of 32 off 25 balls, but Singh made crucial strikes by bowling him and also accounting for the wicket of Keemo Paul to effectively end the contest.

Shamar Springer belted an unbeaten 35 off 11 balls, with 22 runs coming off the last over with the West Indies needing 36 runs to force a Super Over.

Player-of-the-Match Singh claimed 3-44 and Dhir took 2-39.

Ben Hilfenhaus and Fawad Ahmed produced spectacular bowling performances as Australia Champions got the better of West Indies Champions by 36 runs in a low-scoring World Championship of Legends contest here on Sunday.

The Windies would have fancied their chances of recording their third victory in four matches when they bowled out Australia for a paltry 119 in 16.2 overs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell was the main architect of that batting collapse finishing with 3-31, while Fidel Edwards took 2-10.

Opener D’Arcy Short was Australia’s best batter, scoring 34 off 16 balls, while Jonathan Wells made a run-a-ball 26.

Faced with a seemingly straightforward run chase, West Indies were rocked by three wicket hauls by Hilfenhaus and Ahmed to be skittled out for 83 in 18.1 overs.

The Windies never recovered after Hilfenhaus dismissed Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton for ducks to leave them seven for two in the third over.

Only Carlos Brathwaite, who scored 25 from nine balls, put up any resistance.

Hilfenhaus finished with 3-13 and Ahmed took 3-21.

The Mighty Sparrow, the legendary calypsonian whose music helped take the art form to audiences around the world, will receive a national farewell in Trinidad and Tobago on October 16.

The Government has announced that it is organising a state-assisted funeral and celebration of life in collaboration with Sparrow’s family to honour his life, musical legacy and contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural heritage and Caribbean music.

Sparrow, whose given name was Slinger Francisco, was repatriated from New York to Trinidad and Tobago on October 6. His son, Cyril Sancho Francisco, accompanied by Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin and ministry officials, received him at Piarco International Airport.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s support for Taiwan’s full membership in the United Nations as the island’s diplomatic partner marks its 115th National Day.

In a message congratulating the Government and people of Taiwan on the occasion, Pierre recalled his address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, during which he stated: ‘In the same spirit of transformation and consistent with our commitment to the right of all people to self-determination, Saint Lucia supports Taiwan’s full membership in the United Nations.’

Pierre said Saint Lucia’s position reflected its respect for self-determination, peaceful dialogue and international cooperation.

The prime minister also praised Taiwan’s contribution to Saint Lucia’s development, citing cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, youth entrepreneurship and public infrastructure.

In healthcare, Taiwan’s technical assistance has supported efforts to prevent and detect chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, according to the statement.

In agriculture, the partnership has focused on improving crop production, training farmers, promoting climate-smart practices and strengthening food security.

Taiwan has also supported the Government’s Youth Economy Agency through entrepreneurship training, skills development and programmes aimed at helping young people establish and expand businesses.

Assistance through the Constituency Development Programme and other initiatives has also improved public infrastructure and facilities across Saint Lucia.

Pierre thanked Taiwan for its continued support and described the relationship as one that has created opportunities for Saint Lucians and contributed to national development.

Taiwan observes its National Day, commonly known as Double Ten Day, on October 10.

Pierre extended his best wishes to Taiwan’s leadership and people for continued peace, prosperity, and progress, and expressed hope for further cooperation between the two countries.

Jamaica, Haiti and Curacao have risen in the recently released CONCACAF Men’s National Team Rankings to be among the top 10 teams.

The three sides all improved following commendable performances in the ongoing CONCACAF Nations League tournament.

Mexico still occupies the top spot following the Nations League and international friendlies during the September/October window.

After a series of friendlies for both sides, Mexico (2,097) remains in first place in the overall rankings, followed closely by the United States (1,877) in second place. Canada (1,821), Panama (1,655), and Costa Rica (1,534) retained their spots at third, fourth, and fifth respectively to close out an unchanged top five.

Jamaica (1,530), who have moved up one spot to sixth, remains as the highest-ranked Caribbean team after booking a spot in the upcoming League A quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Haiti (1,516) moved one place to seventh, with Curaçao (1,398), who also advanced to the Nations League Quarterfinals in League A, also moving up one spot into the top 10.

Honduras (1464) slipped two places to eighth, while Guatemala (1446) remained in ninth position.

Barbados was the biggest mover this past window, climbing up seven positions in the overall rankings to 28th after an impressive undefeated 3-1-0 record to win Group B and qualify for the Nations League B Championship.

Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke on Friday demanded that agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency leave New York City after an ICE agent shot an undocumented Dominican Republic national in the Marble Hill section of Manhattan.

Law enforcement authorities said the unidentified agent shot Oscar Belgal, 28, in the neck on Thursday afternoon as ICE agents sought to detain him, with his five-year-old son in the back of his car.

‘For nearly two long and painful years, Americans have watched in helpless horror as our neighbours continue to be stolen from their homes and shot in the street by agents of the Trump administration,’ Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants who represents Brooklyn’s 9th Congressional District, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

‘Last night’s attempted murder of a New Yorker in front of his five-year-old son was far from the first disgraceful incident of its kind, but it must be the last,’ added Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). ‘We demand that ICE leave our city immediately, and we are too disgusted to accept any delay.’

Clarke said she had fought against the allocation of hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to ICE, arguing that the agency’s actions under President Donald Trump were predictable.

‘In fact, these depravities are the only promise Donald Trump has kept, serving as more red meat for his MAGA followers,’ she said.

‘Every incident is just another dreadful reminder of the resources that could have been spent positioning our society towards a brighter future – not pulling the darkest chapters of our past back to the present.’

Clarke described ICE as ‘nothing more than a vigilante weapon for the white nationalists to tear away at our multiracial democracy’.

‘It is a rogue agency, built by and for broken men,’ she said. ‘The only path forward is to rip that power away entirely, before ICE has any opportunity to further its relentless escalation of violence and despair in America.’

She called on US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, whose department oversees ICE, to ‘immediately remove ICE from sanctuary cities like New York City and all others his agents have invaded’.

‘The choice is his; however, the power is ours,’ Clarke said, urging people to vote in the November 3 midterm elections.

The CBC also condemned the shooting in a statement on Friday, arguing that the growing presence of immigration enforcement officers in communities was not about public safety or enforcing the law.

‘It is about stoking fear in Black and brown communities,’ the caucus said. ‘It is about sending a message to our communities that our lives, safety, and security do not matter.’

The CBC said the incident, in which Belgal was shot and handcuffed in the street with his five-year-old child in the car, was deeply disturbing and should not become normalised.

‘We cannot and will not turn a blind eye to this abuse of power by the Trump administration,’ it said, calling for the officers involved to be held accountable.

The caucus also demanded that Mullin end vehicle stops in civil immigration enforcement and that arrest quotas, which it said had contributed to racial profiling and unnecessary, often violent encounters, be abolished.

The CBC said it would continue working with civil rights groups to remove ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers from the streets. It added that Democrats would seek to hold the administration accountable if they regained the majority in Congress.

In a joint statement, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, whose father is from Trinidad and Tobago, condemned the shooting and expressed concern about the conduct of immigration officers.

‘We pray for the victim and for his young family,’ they said.

The borough presidents said Belgal had been taken from hospital by ICE officers hours after the shooting and reportedly transferred to a detention facility outside New York State.

They also criticised what they described as officers operating with impunity, including allegedly disguising themselves in plain clothes and carrying military-style assault rifles on city streets.

They called for an independent and transparent investigation and the release of body-camera footage.

‘New York is a city of immigrants – and despite Donald Trump’s best efforts, we will never back down from standing up for our immigrant neighbours,’ they said. ‘It is long past time for ICE to get out of New York City.’

Faiza N. Ali, commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, also condemned the shooting.

‘Seven shots. In broad daylight. On a residential street, as children were coming home from school. ICE agents opened fire on a New Yorker with his five-year-old child in the backseat. This is outrageous. It is unacceptable. And it should never happen in our city,’ Ali said on Friday.

She said no parent should have to fear that picking up a child from school could end with the child witnessing the parent being shot.

‘No family should have to live with the fear that going to work, walking down the street or simply going about their lives could mean being detained, separated or harmed by the very agents who claim to keep us safe,’ Ali added. ‘But that is the reality ICE is imposing on our communities.’

Ali said the shooting showed that ICE’s actions were making immigrant communities less safe and called for an end to the agency’s enforcement operations in New York City.

‘We demand accountability for this shooting. And we demand an end to ICE enforcement in New York City,’ she said, pledging to use every available means to protect residents regardless of their birthplace or immigration status.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also called for a full and transparent investigation.

‘New Yorkers are grappling with horror and outrage,’ James said. ‘They deserve nothing less than a full and transparent investigation conducted without fear or favour.’

She added that she had full faith in Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.

On Thursday, Caribbean immigration advocates in New York also expressed outrage over the shooting.

Jamaica has stepped up preparedness and monitoring in response to international developments involving Ebola, while continuing efforts to maintain high measles vaccination coverage, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie says.

Speaking at a recent post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Bisasor-McKenzie said the Ministry of Health and Wellness had reviewed clinical management protocols, isolation facilities and other emergency response arrangements to ensure the country was prepared to respond to a potential threat.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie. (Photo: JIS)

She said the ministry had been monitoring the international situation since Ebola was declared a public health emergency of international concern, drawing on preparedness measures and lessons from the major outbreak in 2015.

The ministry is also monitoring developments in Kenya, where a new case had been reported, as part of its ongoing surveillance activities, the CMO said.

On measles, Bisasor-McKenzie reported that Jamaica had maintained vaccination coverage above 95 per cent across all antigens, despite disruptions to immunisation programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said Jamaica had sustained comparatively high coverage while several other countries recorded declines in vaccination rates.

Coverage for the first and second doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine increased from approximately 89 per cent to 93 per cent last year, she added.

According to Bisasor-McKenzie, the improved coverage places Jamaica in a favourable position to limit the risk of local measles transmission if cases are imported.

She said the ministry continues to monitor reports of fever and rash through its routine disease surveillance system, with testing carried out where necessary to investigate suspected cases.

The CMO said continued monitoring of international disease developments, preparedness planning, surveillance and immunisation remained important to protecting the Jamaican population.

Trinidad and Tobago’s trade union movement has rescheduled a planned march through Port-of-Spain by one week to avoid a clash with the state-assisted funeral of calypso legend Slinger ‘Mighty Sparrow’ Francisco.

The demonstration, originally set for October 16, will now take place on October 23, National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) general secretary Michael Annisette confirmed, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

Annisette said the change followed discussions among union leaders, who agreed that the labour movement should be allowed to pay its respects to Sparrow without staging a demonstration on the same day as his funeral.

He clarified that the decision was made by the unions themselves, not at the request of the police.

According to Annisette, law enforcement officials contacted the organisers after the scheduling conflict became apparent, informing them that Sparrow’s funeral would coincide with the proposed march.

‘They never called to ask us to postpone it. They called letting us know that on that day, right, it’s Sparrow’s funeral,’ he said.

Extending condolences on behalf of the labour movement, Annisette offered sympathies to the calypsonian’s children and wider family.

‘Just on behalf of the labour movement, we wish to extend our condolences to the Mighty Sparrow, his children and his family and may his soul rest in peace.’

The funeral arrangements are expected to involve road closures and the deployment of police personnel in areas near the unions’ planned route through the capital. Annisette said the unions opted to select another date rather than conflict with those arrangements.

‘There’s a consensus and agreement by everybody out of respect for Sparrow, that we should look for a new date to have our march rather than clashing with it,’ he said.

Annisette confirmed that October 23 had been agreed on as the new date for the demonstration.

The decision has the backing of several unions, including the Communication Workers’ Union, Estate Police Association, Steel Workers Union of Trinidad and Tobago, Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union, All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union, Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union, Prison Officers’ Association, Trinidad and Tobago National Nurses Association, Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association, Contractors and General Workers Trade Union and the Amalgamated Workers Union.

Four CARICOM assessment teams will examine whether the region can meet its own demand for paints, other hydraulic cement, glass bottles and bitumen, with their findings expected to help determine future tariff treatment for the products.

The teams will meet between October 12 and 27 to assess regional production and demand, competitiveness and the challenges affecting trade within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), according to a statement from the CARICOM Secretariat.

The assessments will provide input for regional trade ministers as they consider future tariff treatment for the products.

The teams were established by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at its 62nd regular meeting in June.

Ministers at the Sixty-second Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development in Georgetown, Guyana, 11-12 June 2026, where four teams were established to assess regional supply of paints, cement, glass bottles and bitumen. (CARICOM Secretariat file photo)

Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General for the CARICOM Single Market and Trade, said the assessments must examine regional supply and demand rigorously while taking into account the interests of businesses and consumers.

‘The Council has directed the assessment teams to be rigorous in examining the regional supply and demand for products and give careful consideration to the sensitivities of all stakeholders and consumers who rely on a stable and predictable supply of the products being assessed,’ McCook said.

The teams will examine how regional products compete with imports from outside CARICOM, including the effects of the Common External Tariff, non-tariff barriers and transport and logistics costs.

They will also review how CARICOM’s Rules of Origin apply to the products, while seeking input from public- and private-sector stakeholders, consumers and civil society.

The assessment teams will cover four product categories: petroleum bitumen, other hydraulic cement, glass bottles, and paints and varnishes.

A team from Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago will participate in the assessment of petroleum bitumen while another will deal with glass bottles.

The cement team will comprise Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The paints and varnishes team will include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, along with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission.

The teams are coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission and the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation have also been invited to participate in the meetings.

The Organisation of American States (OAS) conducted a technical mission in Haiti this week to assess waste-management challenges and identify local solutions that could receive support from the regional body.

The delegation, led by Mark Lambrides, director of the OAS Department of Sustainable Development, also sought to determine how the organisation could support Haiti’s priorities.

The mission followed a commitment made by OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin during his August 16-19 visit to Haiti, in response to priorities identified by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

In the North and Northeast Departments, the delegation visited communities affected by solid waste and plastic pollution, as well as the new landfills at Morne Casse and Mouchinette, a composting centre, a government tree nursery and a protected mangrove area.

The team also met local authorities and entrepreneurs working to develop environmental solutions.

In Port-au-Prince, Lambrides and OAS Representative in Haiti Catherine Pognat met on Thursday, October 8, with Fils-Aimé and Minister of the Environment Valéry Fils-Aimé.

Their discussions focused on OAS support for Haiti’s proposed ‘Clean, Safe, and Resilient Territories’ initiative, which seeks to address pollution while creating jobs and income opportunities, particularly for young people.

The OAS said it would work with Haitian authorities to develop the initiative into a concrete programme and explore financing opportunities with international partners.