Category: CANA News

India elected to field after winning the toss against the West Indies in the opening T20I at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

Kamil Pooran will make his debut for the West Indies, while Naman Dhir makes his T20I debut for India.

It will be Akeal Hosein’s 100th T20I for the West Indies.

SQUADS

INDIA: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

WEST INDIES: Shai Hope (captain), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Roston Chase, Shamar Springer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph.

Umpires: Nitin Menon, Virender Sharma.

TV Umpire: Rohan Pandit.

Reserve Umpire: Jayaraman Madanagopal.

Match Referee: Prakash Bhatt.

Police are investigating the daths of two people, including an 11-year-old boy, whose burnt bodies were found in a house in the capital, Kingston, early on Tuesday.

Police have since identified the victims as Jaydon Whyte and 60-year-old Junior Barrett. They said they were alerted to the fire around midnight and that members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade had been able to extinguish the blaze and conducted cooling-down operations.

Residents said they had tried desperately to assist in extinguishing the blaze and determine whether anyone was trapped inside the house.

The charred remains of Whyte and Barrett were subsequently discovered inside the home.

The Court of Appeal has rescheduled to December 17, a matter in which the junior housing minister Phillip Alexander, is appealing a 2023 ruling that ordered him to pay the daughter of a former prime minister TT$850,000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) in damages for defamation.

The Court of Appeal had originally scheduled the hearing for Monday, but Alexander the political leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) had objected that the proceedings involving the Patriotic Front political leader, Mickela Panday, would be livestreamed on the Judiciary’s YouTube platform. In a statement, the Judiciary said that an objection had been raised to the livestreaming, which was being considered by the court, and that there would be no live streaming of the proceedings.

It later issued another statement indicating that the matter had been rescheduled to December 17.

‘As an attorney at law, I continue to support the Judiciary’s ongoing commitment, as stated on its website last week, to improving public access to justice, promoting transparency and enhancing public understanding of the judicial process,’ Panday, the daughter of former prime minister Basdeo Panday told reporters.

Panday had taken legal action against Alexander based on a live video posted on his personal Facebook page and another page associated with the PEP on July 17, 2020 in which he commented on Panday’s party reversing its decision to contest the 2020 general election.

Justice Devindra Rampersad upheld Panday’s defamation claim, ruling that Alexander’s comments were defamatory and that the court was of the ‘respectful view’ that the statement was malicious and ‘designed to sensationalise an obvious untruth that was fabricated for personal political gain and to denigrate and disparage the claimant’.

The Hugh Court judge also found that Alexander’s statement did not qualify as responsible journalism, as claimed, adding ‘there was no source of the information that was given in the video nor did it seem that there were any steps whatsoever taken to verify the information.’

Alexander had been ordered to pay TT$600,000 in general damages and TT$250,000 in exemplary damages.

The court said its assessment took into account Panday’s family name, which she inherited from her father, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, as well as her unblemished personal reputation as an attorney and politician.

Alexander was also ordered to pay TT$97,750 in legal costs for the lawsuit.

Both West Indies and India were penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their slow over rates in the third and final One Day International on Saturday.

India was fined 20 per cent of their match fees, while West Indies were docked 10 per cent of their earnings after being ruled four and two overs short of their required over-rates respectively, once time allowances were taken into consideration.

The match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium lasted over nine hours, with the West Indies eventually prevailing by five wickets to earn a consolation victory in the three-match series.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Sam Nogajski, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Virender Sharma.

Match referee Prakash Bhatt imposed the sanctions and a statement from the ICC said both captains pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions.

West Indies were dismissed for 171 in 19.1 overs after being sent in by India in the opening T20I at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

WEST INDIES 171 in 19.1 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 56, Shai Hope 52, Akeal Hosein 15, Kamil Pooran 12; Naman Dhir 3-31, Axar Patel 2-26, Kuldeep Yadav 2-33).

Leader of the main opposition New National Party (NNP), Emmalin Pierre, Monday challenged Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell to a national debate ahead of the November 5 general election in Grenada.

Mitchell on Sunday night said that his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is confident of being returned to office, with the general election coming nearly one year ahead of the constitutional deadline of October 2027.

But in a broadcast posted on Facebook, Pierre, the first woman to lead the party into a general election after its founder Dr. Keith Mitchell bowed out of active politics after 42 years, said the NNP will run ‘a clean campaign.

‘We will debate the issues, present our vision, and give the people of Grenada the respect that they deserve. At the same time, I want to be clear that I do not come to you asking for preferential treatment because I’m a woman. I ask you to judge me on the strength of my policies and programmes. The strength of the team that is supporting me.

Richard Levi and AB de Villiers both smashed half centuries as South Africa Champions trounced West Indies Legends by 97 runs when the World Championship of Legends continued here on Sunday.

Levi struck a destructive 87 off just 39 balls with eight sixes and five fours, while de Villiers blasted 70 off 39 balls, inclusive of five sixes and four fours, to guide the Proteas to a massive 242 for five in 20 overs at the Sharjah Cricket StadiumThe pair put on 104 runs for the second wicket in just seven overs following the early loss of Faf du Plessis, to put South Africa in a strong position of 135 for one in the 11th over.

Dave Mohammed was the Windies’ best bowler with 2-29.

Chris Gayle then scored 60 runs off 31 balls at the top of the order, but he got little other support as West Indies folded for 145 in 18.2 overs.

Carlos Brathwaite, who made 29 off 13 balls and Rayad Emrit, who scored an unbeaten 14, were the only other batters to score in double digits.

The West Indies were rocked by spinner Imran Tahir (3-24) and Aaron Phangsio (3-49), while Robert Frylinck took 2-22.

West Indies Women elected to field after winning the toss against Zimbabwe Women in the second T20I at the Takashinga Sports Club here on Monday.

Zimbabwe Women have made four changes with Christine Mutasa, Chiedza Dhururu, Loryn Phiri and Nomvelo Sibanda replacing Sharne Mayers, Michelle Mavunga, Olinder Chare and Francisca Chipare.

SQUADS

WEST INDIES WOMEN: Chinelle Henry (captain), Eboni Brathwaite, Jahzara Claxton, Realeanna Grimmond, Stafanie Taylor, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Mandy Mangru, Afy Fletcher, Shawnisha Hector, Karishma Ramharack.

ZIMBABWE WOMEN: Josephine Nkomo (captain), Modester Mupachikwa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Christine Mutasa, Nyasha Gwanzura, Chiedza Dhururu, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Kudzai Chigora.

Umpires: Kim Cotton, Oscar Tafirenyika.

Reserve Umpire: Langton Rusere.

Match Referee: Owen Chirombe.

A High Court judge Monday denied a bail request for the coordinator of Guyana’s Border Patrol Unit, Daniel Seeram, pending his sentencing for assaulting his ex-wife.

Justice Joy Persaud-Singh said that the application by attorney Nigel Hughes, on behalf of his client did not meet the test for judicial review. The judge upheld Magistrate Abigail Gibbs’ decision to remanded Seeram to prison until his sentencing on November 2. .

The judge’s decision was made after she heard similar arguments by lawyers for the State, that he should not have been remanded to prison.

Hughes told the court that the magistrate’s decision to remand Seeram violated the Bail Act and that the one month remand to prison awaiting sentencing amounted to a sentence without the benefit of several reports.

Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall, representing the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, agreed with Hughes’ arguments, saying that the law allows the magistrate the option of a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.

‘It’s almost as if the magistrate had showed her hand,’ Lall said, adding that Seeram’s remand ‘almost renders his sentencing hearing rotisserie and perfunctory.’

Hughes said he would appeal Justice Persaud-Singh’s decision immediately to the Guyana Court of Appeal

Seeram reportedly assaulted his ex-wife, causing grievous bodily harm on September 11, 2023 at an apartment in Georgetown they both shared.

He was arrested and placed on GUY$50,000 (One Guyana dollar=US$0.008 cents) station bail.

The head of the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Dr. David Farrell, says earth observation provides an important opportunity for the Caribbean to strengthen the information available to understand, monitor and respond to the hazards and environmental challenges facing the region.

Farrell was speaking at a workshop that ended here last weekend that was aimed at strengthening the capacity of CIMH staff to develop and use satellite-based Earth Observation tools to support environmental monitoring, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience across the Caribbean.

He workshop was supported the European Union (EU) and Farrell, the CIMPH Principal, said it provided participants with greater ability to develop and manage tools that respond specifically to Caribbean needs, without having to rely on external expertise for every stage of the process.

‘By strengthening these skills within CIMH, we can continue to expand the services and information we provide to Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) member states and support better preparedness, decision-making and resilience across the region.

‘The WASDI (Web Advanced Space Developer Interface) platform was used extensively by the CIMH and its collaborators to support impact-based forecasts for Jamaica prior to the impacts of Hurricane Melissa in 2025 and to support post-impact assessments following the passage of the Hurricane,’ he added.

The workshop built on introductory training previously received by CIMH during the Copernicus Latin America and Caribbean EOService Development (CopernicusLAC) project. It provided hands-on experience through the co-development of three Earth Observation applications focused on Sargassum detection, landslide detection and ground deformation detection.

It also focused on the use of the WASDI, a platform that enables users to access and process satellite Earth Observation data and develop applications that turn satellite observations into useful information.

During the CopernicusLAC project, the WASDI platform was installed at CIMH with links to the main production environment hosted in Luxembourg. CIMH said that similar capacity will be developed in CMO member states, the regional academic community, and Institutions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the future.

The head of the European Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States and the OECS, Ambassador Fiona Ramsey, underscored the importance of international cooperation in strengthening regional Earth Observation capabilities in the Caribbean.

‘Through Global Gateway, the European Union is working with the Caribbean Meteorological Organization, in particular with its technical organ the CIMH, and countries across the region to strengthen the use of science, technology and innovation for greater resilience.

‘This training is a concrete example of that partnership in action. It builds on the study tour organized earlier this year to explore how Earth Observation and satellite technologies can support stronger monitoring and early action, and complements initiatives such as Stormwatch, which strengthens Caribbean-EU cooperation on weather and climate-related risks.’

The diplomat said that by enabling CIMH experts to develop and maintain Earth Observation applications themselves, ‘we are helping to build lasting technical capacity in the region.

‘This is at the heart of our approach: working with Caribbean institutions and countries to adapt innovative technologies to local needs, supporting better preparedness and resilience across the Caribbean, while generating knowledge and experience that can also help improve Earth Observation applications and climate services in Europe.’

The CIMH said that initial versions of the three applications were developed during the training with the possibility of further refinement and expansion following the knowledge transfer sessions.

It said the Sargassum Detection tool uses satellite imagery to identify and track Sargassum, supporting on-demand monitoring of blooms that are known to affect tourism, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems.

CIMH said that the Landslide Detection application will utilize both radar and optical imagery to improve the detection of landslides that an occur following intense and prolonged rainfall. Radar can provide observations through cloud cover, making it particularly useful in the Caribbean.

It said that the InSAR-based Ground Deformation Monitoring tool supports the detection and monitoring of displacement in the Earth’s surface, including the gradual deformation and slow-moving landslides that often precede more significant failures.

‘By strengthening CIMH personnel’s ability to develop and maintain these applications, the training helped build a stronger regional foundation for using satellite information to monitor hazards, support preparedness and inform decisions. In turn, this can contribute to better protection of Caribbean communities, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the environment, while strengthening the region’s ability to anticipate and respond to environmental and disaster risks,’ CIMH added.