Category: CANA News

Sections of Cuba were rocked by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 early Sunday.

The earthquake that was centred offshore about 34km from Imías, Cuba, and was also felt in parts of Haiti and The Bahamas.

International seismic agencies said the quake was initially measured at 5.9 before being revised to 5.5, occurring at a depth of approximately 15km.

There were no reports of damage or injuries.

A large-scale police operation targeting crime and illegal activity in key sections of the tourism resort town of Ocho Rios in the northern parish of St. Ann resulted in 20 people being taken into custody on Friday, including five foreign nationals held for suspected immigration breaches.

The cordon-and-search exercise was conducted between 3:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (local time) in nearby communities , during which police searched 19 premises.

According to the police, the five foreign nationals detained include two citizens of Dominica, two from Haiti and one from Nigeria, all of whom were arrested for alleged immigration violations.

The remaining 15 men were apprehended in connection with various criminal activities linked to the targeted communities.

The operation was spearheaded by the St. Ann Police Division, with support from approximately 80 personnel drawn from the Fugitive Apprehension Team, the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Canine Units and Specialized Operations.

Head of the St. Ann Police, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell, said the exercise was designed to apprehend wanted persons, recover illegal firearms, seize drugs, conduct vehicle checkpoints, locate undocumented immigrants, carry out snap raids on commercial establishments and enhance the overall security presence in the area.

According to the police, the operation met its objectives, yielding a strong security presence and valuable intelligence to support future law enforcement efforts.

Authorities added that the communities will remain under close monitoring, with increased patrols and follow-up operations planned based on the information gathered.

Caribbean immigration advocacy groups on Saturday welcomed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s initiatives to protect Caribbean and other immigrants in the city. On Friday, the mayor announced and signed an executive order on sanctuary policies to strengthen protections for Caribbean and other immigrant New Yorkers – and the public safety of all New Yorkers.

The executive order will expand the Department of Investigation’s oversight of sanctuary law compliance and establish a partnership with the City Council to strengthen protections and accountability.

Noting that New York is a city built and maintained by immigrants, Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the mayor’s ‘will bring us closer to a city where every New Yorker can live in safety and dignity.’

NYIC is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York.

‘The federal government is waging a lawless and unaccountable campaign of terror against immigrants across the country and right here in New York City,’ Awawdeh said. ‘From our streets to our courthouses, immigrant New Yorkers are forced to look over their shoulders in fear.

‘Mayor Mamdani’s announcement recognizes his responsibility to defend all residents from abusive immigration enforcement, and our moral obligation to protect our immigrant neighbors from these attacks,’ he added. ‘We applaud Mayor Mamdani for taking decisive action to fight for our immigrant neighbors.

‘We look forward to implementing these public safety initiatives together with City Hall, and affirming New York’s values of welcome and inclusion,’ Awawdeh continued.

The mayor’s executive order also includes a prohibition on the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency entering New York City property without a judicial warrant, including schools, shelters, and hospitals; enhancement of privacy protections to avoid New Yorkers’ private data from being unlawfully accessed by the federal government; a public safety audit report submitted to the NYC Mayor to ensure essential NYC agencies comply with City laws; and the creation of an interagency committee to coordinate policy in the event of a major crisis.

Make the Road New York (MRNY), another immigrant advocacy group, also welcomed the mayor’s action.

‘Everyone in New York, whether their family arrived yesterday or generations ago, deserves to live in safety,’ Natalia Aristizabal, MRNY’s deputy director, told CMC. ‘At a time when immigrants are being subjected to brutality and terror from masked federal agents, we welcome Mayor Mamdani’s executive orders to protect all New Yorkers.

At the first annual Interfaith Breakfast of his administration on Friday, Mayor Mamdani announced sweeping new actions to uphold New York City’s sanctuary city laws and protect Caribbean and other immigrant New Yorkers.

The breakfast brought together nearly 400 faith and community leaders from across the five boroughs.

During the event, Mamdani signed the comprehensive executive order, stating that it reaffirms the city’s commitment to being a sanctuary for all New Yorkers.

Reigning Olympic women’s 100 metre champion, Julien Alfred began her 2026 season in impressive fashion by sprinting to gold in the 60 metres over the weekend.

Competing at the Woo Pig Classic at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Alfred crossed the finish line in 7.00 seconds, way ahead of the University of Arkansas’ duo of Asia Thomas (7.37) and Taejha Badal (7.41), who took second and third place, respectively.

It is the fastest time in the world this year in the event, bettering her time of 7.04 which she ran in the preliminaries.

More impressively, it was the 24-year-old Saint Lucian’s first time competing in a 60 metres in 707 days, dating back to when she took gold at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in March 2024.

It was also her first competitive race since the World Athletic Championships in Tokyo last September, where she claimed bronze in the 100 metres.

Alfred has promised to take part in this year’s World Indoor Championships, which will be held in March in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, where she says she will take aim at the world record of 6.92 seconds held by Russia’s Irina Privalova.

Barbadian Jacob Bethell struck a crucial half century to help England scrape past Nepal by four runs in a thrilling contest at the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup here on Sunday.

The left-hander belted 55 off 35 balls, with four sixes and four fours in his T20 World Cup debut, as England – one of the pre-tournament favourites – posted 184 for seven in their 20 overs at Wankhede Stadium.

Bethell shared a crucial 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Harry Brook, who made 53 off 32 balls and hit four fours and three sixes, while Player-of-the-Match Will Jacks smashed an unbeaten 39 off 18 balls, with four sixes and one four, to help England finish strongly.

Dipendra Singh Airee (2-23) and Nandan Yadav (2-25) were Nepal’s best bowlers.

Nepal then came close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history before falling agonisingly short at 180 for six.

Knocks of 44 from Airee, 39 from captain Rohit Paudel and an unbeaten 39 off 20 balls from Lokesh Bam, carried them within sight of victory.

But needing 13 runs from nine balls, England’s Sam Curran conceded just five runs from his final over to ensure his side got off to a winning start in the tournament.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a virtual reality (VR) platform designed to build capacity and strengthen preparedness across public health laboratories in the Americas, including the Caribbean, for the surveillance of influenza and other pathogens with epidemic potential.

On Friday. PAHO said this immersive digital tool was introduced at the regional meeting of laboratories of the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network (SARInet plus), held in November 2025 in Brasília, Brazil.

The meeting brought together experts from across Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen surveillance of respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19.

The VR platform offers an interactive, 3D simulation of a molecular biology laboratory that is modeled on the structure and workflows of a national influenza center.

Users have the ability to navigate through different areas-such as sample reception, molecular processing, and genomic sequencing-interact with laboratory equipment, and access key resources, including diagnostic algorithms, biosafety standards, quality control manuals, technical protocols, and documents related to the International Health Regulations (IHR).

The tool is accessible via virtual reality headsets, computers, or mobile devices, and allows users to explore documents, videos, and infographics through interactive points.

According to PAHO, this approach complements traditional training and supports hands-on learning for laboratory technicians and professionals, particularly in settings where access to advanced facilities may be limited.

Dr. Juliana Leite, from PAHO’s Laboratory Response Team, the virtual reality laboratory ‘provides a fully immersive experience that encourages exploration and active learning, connects professionals, and contributes to strengthening laboratory capacity and the resilience of health systems across the region.’

The initiative aims to enhance preparedness for public health emergencies and facilitate the onboarding of new professionals by allowing personnel to become familiar with equipment, procedures, and safety measures before entering a physical laboratory.

‘This VR laboratory is a highly valuable training resource,’ said Vernel Feloion, supervisor of the Molecular Biology and Serology Department at the Ezra Long Laboratory in St. Lucia. ‘It helps visualize and plan future molecular biology laboratories, and provides practical learning that helps users become familiar with protocols and workflows, especially for those who have never worked in a fully equipped facility.’

Danilo Franco, from Panama’s Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, emphasized its regional impact: ‘It is a major support tool for laboratories in the region. It provides continuous training and reinforces the protocols, biosafety measures, and tools we use to respond to public health events.’

Through this initiative, PAHO said it reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation and to strengthening laboratory systems as ‘a critical pillar for preparedness, early detection, and effective response to public health emergencies in the Americas.’

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission celebrates has congratulated the citizens of Grenada on their 52nd Anniversary of Independence under the powerful theme, ‘Grenada at 52: Anchored in Faith, Guided by Purpose’.

The commemoration is marked by the country’s commitment to facing continued climatic, political, economic, and diplomatic turbulence with both the steadfastness and grace by which its people are recognised.

The police have arrested two people, a cook and a gold miner in connection with the death of John José Marciano, 55 a gold miner .

The police report that Marciano was chopped to death early on Saturday morning, however the reason behind the incident remains unclear m

‘The deceased was at his mining camp at 14 Miles Issano when an incident reportedly occurred during the early morning hours. He was subsequently discovered slouched on the ground within the mining camp with multiple chop wounds about his body,’ police said.

A suspected murder weapon was recovered in close proximity to Marciano’s body.

An investigation is underway.

Finance Minister, Fayval Williams, has welcomed the latest Fitch Ratings, which has maintained Jamaica’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BB-‘, with a stable outlook.

Fitch, in a statement last week, indicated that the Government has a strong decade-plus track record of adhering to a solid fiscal framework, which has resulted in a sharp reduction in the country’s debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio.

Williams said that the rating affirmation and stable outlook, speaks volumes of the work of the Government, its steadfastness to fiscal discipline and the many sacrifices of the people of Jamaica.

In addition, she said, it reflects Fitch’s expectation that although the economic damages and recovery costs from Hurricane Melissa will be large, leading to an economic contraction in 2025 to 2026 and a deterioration in fiscal metrics, the Government will return to its fiscal consolidation efforts beginning in 2027.

The rating agency projects a temporary economic contraction of 1.5 per cent in 2025 and 2.6 per cent in 2026, as Jamaica advances reconstruction efforts.

Fitch indicated its belief that the Government will remain ‘committed to its fiscal framework and will actively seek to reduce its debt burden once reconstruction efforts are achieved.’

Williams confirmed that this is the commitment of the Government of Jamaica.

Fitch lauded Jamaica’s financial preparedness for Hurricane Melissa, describing it as a ‘robust multilayered financial toolkit’.

Jamaica’s recovery and reconstruction efforts will be supported by a concessional multilateral loan package valued at over US$6 billion, government insurance and contingency funds totalling nearly US$250 million, additional lines of credit, a catastrophe bond facility of US$150 million and substantial expected private insurance inflows.

Fitch also noted Jamaica’s responsible fiscal response, including the temporary suspension of the Fiscal Responsibility Law to accommodate urgent reconstruction costs.

Fiscal balances are forecast to swing into deficit in the 2025 and 2026 financial years; however, primary surpluses are expected to resume in financial year 2027, aligning with the Government’s target to reduce debt-to-GDP levels toward 60 per cent.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission celebrates has congratulated the citizens of Grenada on their 52nd Anniversary of Independence under the powerful theme, ‘Grenada at 52: Anchored in Faith, Guided by Purpose’.

The commemoration is marked by the country’s commitment to facing continued climatic, political, economic, and diplomatic turbulence with both the steadfastness and grace by which its people are recognised.

Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS, shared a message of admiration and encouragement on the occasion. Noting Grenada’s dignity in 52 years of progress, he said,

‘Over five decades, Grenada has demonstrated that independence is not a single moment frozen in time, but a continuous act of renewal. In education, governance, culture, and community life, Grenada has shown that small size does not equate to small ambition, and that sovereignty is strengthened, not weakened, when it is exercised responsibly and collectively.’

Grenada’s Independence Day theme this year is also a message of hope to other OECS member states that are facing similar challenges. Jules said,

‘It is precisely in this context that Grenada’s theme speaks powerfully to the region. To be anchored in faith is to refuse fatalism – to insist that history is not only something that happens to us, but something we actively shape. To be guided by purpose is to engage the world with openness, but also with discernment; with cooperation, but also with self-respect; with diplomacy, but never at the expense of dignity.’

Jules emphasised that Grenada has continuously portrayed the characteristics the region needs for successful cooperation, saying,’Grenada’s leadership within the OECS family reinforces a simple but profound lesson: that unity among small states is not an option. It is our strongest currency in a world of unequal power.’

‘As Grenada marks its 52nd year of independence, this is not a moment for complacency, but for renewed resolve. The task ahead is to deepen sovereignty by strengthening institutions, investing in people, expanding regional cooperation, and engaging global partners on terms that recognise both our vulnerabilities and our value.’

Join the Government and People of Grenada in their celebrations as they mark another year of unity, innovation, and shared prosperity.