Category: CANA News

The Trump administration has approved the presidential permit required for the construction of a submarine power cable connecting Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, marking a major step forward for one of the most ambitious energy projects in the Caribbean.

Although the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has not yet issued a formal notification, the Caribbean Transmission Development Company (CTDC) confirmed it has already received ‘no objection’ clearances from the U.S. Departments of State and Defense.

A public announcement is expected in mid-February.

According to CTDC president Rafael Vélez Domínguez, the official announcement is scheduled for February 17 in the Dominican Republic and is expected to be attended by Dominican President Luis Abinader, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González, and representatives of the U.S. government.

While the DOE website still lists the permit application as ‘pending,’ Vélez Domínguez said the company is preparing to move forward once the federal process is formally completed, including issuing purchase orders for the submarine cable.

The project would allow the transmission of up to 700 megawatts of electricity in both directions, strengthening energy security in both territories.

In the Dominican Republic, the cable would connect to a new natural gas power plant developed exclusively for the project, while in Puerto Rico it would link to the electrical grid through the Mayagez substation. CTDC must still finalize power purchase agreements with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), secure fuel supply contracts, obtain environmental and regulatory approvals in both jurisdictions, and raise an estimated US$2.5 billion in financing.

CTDC aims to energize the cable by January 2031. Initially, the project is expected to supply part of Puerto Rico’s energy demand, but in the long term it could also facilitate the export of surplus solar energy from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic. If completed, the initiative would become the first electrical interconnection in the Caribbean, joining more than 160 similar cross-border power links already operating between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Some reinstated public sector workers are accusing the government of Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday of reneging on a promise to provide a bonus to them as had been outlined during the campaign for the November 27 general elections last year.

The public sector workers have expressed anger, frustration and disappointment over what they described as deception by the two-month-old New Democratic Party (NDP) administration and senior public service officers.

The complaints came after the reinstated workers checked their salary slips only to find that instead of the promised EC$1,500 to $2,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bonus salary, they received in some instances, EC$166.67 and in other cases, as small as EC$125.

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has been reliably informed that close to 100 public sector workers who were recently reinstated under the new government’s policy are the worst affected, receiving as little as a one-twelfth of the promised bonus.

The CMC has also obtained a memo that instructed that public sectors workers who did not work for the full year last year are not entitled to the full salary bonus. The January 26, 2026 memo came three days after the government held a news conference announcing the payment of the bonus.

Prime Minister Friday, Attorney General Louise Mitchell and Minister of Health, Daniel Cummings, all spoke at the news conference, but none of them mentioned that recently reinstated public sector workers would not receive the full bonus.

More than 500 public servants lost their jobs in November 2021 for failing to take a COVID-19 vaccine that had been mandated by the then Dr. Ralph Gonsavles administration.

During the campaigns leading to last November’s general election, the NDP promised that if elected to office, the workers would be reinstated with all benefits intact and abide by the March 2023 ruling of High Court judge Justice Esco Henry that the government action were illegal.

In her ruling, Justice Henry said that the law that the government used to bring the vaccine mandate into effect was void to the extent that it deprives any public sector worker of accrued pension benefits or rights under their contracts of employment.

The judge ruled that none of the workers had ceased to be entitled to hold the respective offices of public officers or police officers and ‘remain entitled to hold those respective offices.

‘The claimants are entitled to their full pay and all benefits due and payable to them in their respective capacities as public officers or police officers inclusive of any accrued pension and gratuity benefits or rights from the respective dates on which they were deemed to have resigned.’

She said that the state was liable to each claimant for damages for the constitutional breaches inclusive of an additional award to reflect the seriousness of the breaches and deter any recurrence, with interest al the statutory rate of 6% per annum.

The judge said the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General ‘are directed to make the necessary arrangements for the respective claimants to receive all payments and benefits to which they are or may become entitled or that may be awarded to them arising from any subsequent assessment of damages.’

The new government made it clear that it was upholding the ruling by Justice Henry that the vaccine mandate was unconstitutional, unlawful and ultra vires, among other things, and that the dismissed workers must be reinstated with all benefits intact.

This has been the NDP’s position despite the ruling of the Court of Appeal overturning Justice Henry’s ruling, resulting in the unions appealing to the London-based Privy Council, with hearing of the matter still pending.

Speaking at the news conference last Friday, Mitchell announced that the government had released the post for almost all of the workers fired under the vaccine mandate who has returned to their jobs after the NDP came to office.

‘So, of the 100 persons that have resumed, placements have been found for 92 of the 100,’ the attorney general told reporters, noting that workers dismissed will be issued letters of resumption of duties and will be appointed to similar or equivalent positions to the post held at the point of dismissal.

But while the government said it was upholding Justice Henry’s ruling, which says the dismissed public sectors are to be treated as if their service had not been interrupted, the public servants are discovering that the Friday government is treating them as if their service has been broken and they are not entitled to full benefits, including the full salary bonus.

The reinstated public servants are being told they did not work for the whole year so they are not entitled to the full salary bonus.

Mitchell had said that the government had stated its policy and that if there’s any resistance to the implementation of the policy, that would be addressed.

‘The policy is for the persons to return to work full with their benefits intact. This is government policy. Everyone in a position that affects the implementation of that policy must adhere with that,’ Mitchell said.

‘Beyond being government policy, it’s the right thing to do, and we want to make sure that those persons who have suffered so much in the past that they don’t continue to suffer when the government has made a commitment,’ she told reporters.

Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, has defended the integrity of the recently opened Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB) after a truck, driven by an unlicensed driver was involved in a fatal accident on Thursday.

Edghill, who has since expressed condolences to the family of the man who died as well as those injured a result of the accident, said that a full investigation is underway.

A section of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge

The accident occurred during the morning hours when a truck, reportedly experiencing a sudden loss of power and brakes while crossing the bridge, began rolling backwards uncontrollably into vehicles behind.

Edghill said a team of three engineers and a senior mechanic had been sent to the area to inspect the truck and determine the cause of the accident.

‘They will write a report that will be signed, and it will become official evidence, but it is clear that the truck was defective,’ Edghill said, adding that the truck driver was unlicensed.

He said that the extent of the damage to the river crossing will be assessed and that in addition to the criminal and court proceedings to be initiated by the police, the owner and operator of the truck will be held responsible for covering the cost of the damages.

Edghill noted that ‘damage to public property will not go unnoticed, we’ve been saying that if you damage public property, you have to pay,’ insisting that the bridge itself was not at fault for the accident.

Edghill is urging drivers to exercise extreme caution when operating their vehicles and to ensure they are properly licensed.

Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize is looking to deepen cooperation with Guyana in agriculture, tourism, and education as it the country hosts President Irfaan Ali over the weekend.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Guyanese leader will pay a three-day state visit to the country from February 1, during which time he will address the opening of the new session of Parliament.

President Irfaan Ali (left) and Prime Minister John Briceno (File Photo)

He will also hold bilateral meetings with Governor General Dame Froyla T’zalam and Prime Minister Briceño.

‘Belize and Guyana have historically shared strong and robust bilateral relations grounded in our commitment to regional solidarity, development and integration,’ the ministry said.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Briceño, described Guyana as a rising regional partner within the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, noting its growing influence fuelled by oil wealth.

‘You know, it’s kind of ironic because at one time nobody wanted to go to Guyana; now everybody wants to go to Guyana. Guyana is a beautiful country. the country is being transformed.’

Briceño said any discussions on Belize seeking cheaper oil from Guyana would likely need to take place at the regional level.

‘Oil, well, that’s something that we probably have to discuss regionally to see if there’s anything that can be done. I wish we could have another Petro-Caribbean programme, but I think that’s highly unlikely,’ he said.

The Petrocaribe programme had been launched by Venezuela on June 29, 2005, aimed at providing preferential, low-interest financing for oil and petroleum products to Caribbean and Central American nations. It was designed to enhance regional integration and foster economic development, allowing member countries to pay only a small portion of their oil bills upfront, ranging from five to 50 per cent, with the remainder financed over 17 to 25 years at low interest rates

President Ali has the lead responsibility for agriculture within the CARICOM quasi cabinet and Prime Minister Briceño said ‘what we are hoping to work with Guyana is to be able to have some agreements, obviously in agriculture, in tourism, in education, and other areas where we can be able to cooperate’.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said 90 days after Hurricane Melissa swept across parts of the Caribbean, countries are transitioning from emergency response toward recovery, while continuing to confront public health risks linked to damaged infrastructure, disrupted services, and heightened vulnerability to disease.

The Category 5 storm made landfall first in Jamaica on October 28, causing widespread damage in several Caribbean countries, mainly across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, and placing sustained pressure on national health systems.

The hurricane resulted in 88 deaths and physical damage to 785 health facilities. At its peak, the storm displaced more than 100,000 people; today, that number has fallen to fewer than 6,000, about half of whom remain in temporary shelters.

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, PAHO activated its Incident Management System and deployed technical teams through its Regional Response Team, bringing together expertise in emergency coordination, health services, disease surveillance, logistics, mental health, risk communication, and environmental health.

Medical supplies mobilised through PAHO’s Strategic Emergency Reserve in Panama included approximately 5.5 tons of essential supplies delivered to Jamaica, while 16 tons in Haiti and 21 tons in Cuba, some of which were prepositioned ahead of the storm to ensure rapid support to health services.

PAHO supported rapid assessments of damaged health facilities to inform priorities for structural safety and service restoration, while coordinating humanitarian health actors. As many of the deployed emergency medical teams have since demobilized, PAHO’s support has evolved to meet the needs of the recovery phase-prioritizing continuity of care, system resilience, and longer-term public health capacity.

Restoring services in Jamaica

Jamaica’s health system continues to operate under significant strain. Damage to health infrastructure, pressure on hospital capacity, and ongoing disease risks remain central challenges for public health authorities.

PAHO said that as of mid-January, 89 per cent of health facilities nationwide (299 of 336) resumed service delivery, albeit many of these are outside the hurricane’s main path. However, several major referral hospitals continue to face severe overcrowding, with bed occupancy well above safe operating thresholds.

‘The scale of destruction is still an enormous challenge. When one hospital has been decommissioned, four additional hospitals are severely affected, and 60 primary health care centers have sustained major damage, it’s a whole different experience than when a country is affected by a more isolated event’ says Ian Stein, PAHO Representative in Jamaica.

With significant donor contributions, and in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and partners , PAHO supported urgent repairs for 10 priority primary health care facilities in the most affected parishes.

Emergency roof repairs have been completed at seven health centers, while additional facilities remain in procurement or contracting phases. Facilities built or retrofitted to PAHO Smart Hospital standards sustained minimal damage, reinforcing the value of resilient infrastructure in hurricane-prone settings.

Seventeen Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), including 12 international and five national teams, were deployed during the acute response phase. As of January 21, eight EMTs remained operational, supporting clinical care while transitioning toward nationally led coordination.

EMTs are temporary by design, focused on stabilizing situations, setting up systems, and supporting continuity of care rather than providing long-term services.

Disease surveillance and outbreak control

Between October and mid-January, authorities recorded surveillance of 124 cases of leptospirosis, including 40 laboratory-confirmed cases and 14 deaths. Cases peaked in mid-November 2025 and have since declined, with no confirmed cases reported during the first days of 2026.

Jamaica’s existing surveillance and laboratory capacity, strengthened through PAHO technical support, has played a critical role in detecting and responding to the outbreak.

‘Jamaica has strong surveillance capacity, and that has been key to effectively manage the leptospirosis outbreak, and that’s a success story,’ according to Stein.

PAHO said its support has included the deployment of field epidemiologists, laboratory training, provision of reagents, and strengthened specimen transport systems to ensure timely diagnosis and evidence-based decision-making.

Mental health, health workers, and recovery

Beyond physical damage and risks of disease outbreaks, Hurricane Melissa has taken a significant toll on the mental wellbeing of affected communities and health workers. Many frontline staff continued providing care while coping with personal losses, damaged homes, and disrupted living conditions.

‘Health workers showed up, even when they were victims themselves,’ said PAHO/WHO Representative in Jamaica. ‘They were providing care in tents or crowded rooms, while worrying about their own families.’

In response, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), with PAHO support, has significantly scaled up mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services nationwide. More than 3,000 people have already been trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA), with training continuing in early 2026.

The initiative aims to enable the delivery of additional psychosocial support sessions in the coming months. To date, MOHW teams have delivered 7,784 MHPSS interventions, with additional support from several active partners, as Jamaica works to integrate mental health care into its broader recovery and build capacity to respond to future emergencies.

Cuba: recovery strengthened by anticipatory and early action

The provinces in Cuba affected by Hurricane Melissa have formally transitioned into a phase of normalization, and all health facilities are reported to be operational, with repairs continuing where damage remains.

Recovery is progressing alongside sustained public health interventions to address ongoing epidemiological risks, even as an economic crisis continues to strain health services, limiting access to essential medicines and underscoring the need for investment to strengthen resilience to future shocks.

PAHO has coordinated a sustained flow of life-saving assistance to Cuba, combining anticipatory action funding, donor contributions, and in-kind support to stabilize health services and address emerging risks.

Between October 2025 and January 2026, PAHO coordinated multiple shipments of medical supplies and equipment, including pneumonia kits, Interagency Emergency Health Kits, medical backpacks, generators, power plants, fuel pumps, tents, water purification tablets, and donated medicines. Overall, external contributions and PAHO-managed funding amounted to more than US$2.5 million, in addition to in-kind donations.

‘One of PAHO’s main contributions has been to promote a continuous dialogue between health authorities and partners, and to reinforce coordination and alignment with national defined priorities, gathering information from field visits to improve effectiveness,’ said Mario Cruz Peñate, PAHO/WHO Representative in Cuba.

Housing vulnerability remains a significant challenge. More than 215,000 homes (645,000 people) were damaged, and 2,760 individuals remained displaced as of mid-December, living in shelters, temporary facilities, or with host families. Slow reconstruction timelines-compounded by pre-existing housing shortages-have left many households exposed to ongoing health risks and future severe weather events.

Access to safe drinking water remains a major concern. As of late December, nearly 500,000 people continued to rely on tanker deliveries due to disrupted water supply services, with 50 water systems still out of service in Santiago de Cuba, located in the southeastern part of the island.

These structural vulnerabilities are unfolding against a complex epidemiological backdrop, including simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Oropouche that occurred in 2025.

By the end of December, Cuba had reported ongoing chikungunya transmission in 15 provinces, with more than 51,000 cumulative cases and 46 deaths, the first outbreak of its kind in Cuba.

Transmission of dengue also continues nationwide, with over 30,000 suspected cases and 19 deaths officially reported in 2025. Heavy rainfall, disrupted supply chains, limited vector-control equipment, and gaps in early case detection have underscored the need for intensified prevention and surveillance efforts during recovery.

In response, Cuban health authorities-supported by PAHO-have expanded vector control activities, including fumigation, focal treatment, and house-to-house epidemiological investigations, while strengthening surveillance among high-risk groups. Health workers, professors, and medical students have also been engaged in community outreach and health education to raise awareness of prevention measures.

Across Cuba and Jamaica, PAHO’s support continues to shift from emergency response toward sustained recovery and system strengthening.

From reinforcing disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and vector control in Cuba to expanding diagnostic logistics, field epidemiology, and surveillance systems in Jamaica, these efforts are helping countries manage ongoing public health risks while rebuilding critical health functions.

Together, they reflect PAHO’s commitment not only to addressing the immediate health impacts of Hurricane Melissa, but also to strengthening preparedness and resilience so health systems are better equipped to withstand future climate-related emergencies.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Friday said that while the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is in ‘urgent need of some transformation’ the twin island republic ‘attaches great importance to our country’s long standing relationship’ with the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar made the remarks in a statement to Parliament where the CARICOM chairman Dr. Terrance Drew, and his delegation that included the CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett were in attendance.

CARICOM chairman and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew (left front) with his delegation at the Trinidad and Toba Parliament on Friday (CMC Photo)

‘So, CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago, we stand as one of the largest contributors and we remain highly invested in CARICOM.

‘We remain highly invested in the region’s success and our commitment to regional growth and development. As a government we share the warm sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Drew, in his New Year’s message to the Community upon assuming chairmanship of CARICOM,’ she said. Watch video

Drew, who is also the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, had said then in part that the region’s collective strength is greater than any single issue before the CARICOM and Persad-Bissessar said that ‘while Trinidad and Tobago believes that CARICOM is in urgent need of some transformation, we remain committed to Caribbean unity.

‘We remain committed to Caribbean unity,’ she repeated as government legislators, banged their desk in approval.

‘My government looks forward to engaging with Prime Minister and his delegation in productive discussions on issues facing the region. We will both ensure that the work of CARICOM remains relevant to the people ,’ she said, inviting Prime Minister Drew to come back to Trinidad and Tobago ‘soon to enjoy the rest of our Carnival season’.

Prime Ministers Dr. Terrance Drew and Kamla Persad Bissessar at the Diplomatic Center

Prime Minister Drew, speaking later at the Diplomatic Center, said he is ‘seeking to reach out to all of our members so that we can continue to build CARICOM stronger and more stable and secured heights that would benefit all of us on the principles of respect and that each of us is sovereign within the framework’

Persad-Bissessar said that the ‘conversations’ with the CARICOM delegation ‘were very encouraging and I am very impressed with your approach in dealing with CARICOM as you have taken over the chair’.

Earlier this week, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that the visit ‘is part of the Chair’s focus on face-to-face discussions with regional leaders,’ adding that Prime Minister Drew met last week with the new Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Godwin Friday, in Kingstown.

CARICOM leaders are due to meet in St. Kitts and Nevis from February 24-27 and in recent times the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister has been critical of the integration movement following her country’s support for the United States war on drugs in the Caribbean.

Last December, Persad-Bissessar said the regional organisation was ‘not a reliable partner at this time’ and that every sovereign state must be prepared to accept the consequences of its foreign and domestic policy choices as she defended the United States’ announcement of partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.

‘CARICOM cannot continue to operate in this dysfunctional and self-destructive manner,’ Persad-Bissessar said, highlighting what she described as poor management, lax accountability, factional divisions, destabilising policies, and inappropriate meddling in domestic politics by some member states.

She said also that the organisation’s support for the then Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, which has been accused of human rights violations and threats against CARICOM members, further undermines its credibility.

West Indians Richie Richardson and Leslie Reifer are set to officiate at next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India, having been named by the ICC as match officials for the tournament.

The 64-year-old Richardson, a former West Indies captain, is among six match referees for the February 7 to March 8 event.

Leslie Reifer

It will be Richardson’s second successive World Cup event, after also taking part in the 2024 T20 World Cup co-hosted by the Caribbean and USA. He has officiated in 126 T20Is, 15 Wt20Is and seven T20s.

Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Reifer, a Barbadian, is among 24 umpires selected for the tournament.

The experienced Reifer served as an umpire at the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa and has officiated in 67 T20Is and 237 T20s.

Match Referees: Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson, Javagal Srinath.

Umpires: Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, KNA Padmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri, Asif Yaqoob.

The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) Friday said it has taken note of the ‘serious allegations’ made against two independent legislators, suggesting that they sought personal favours to support the government the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (ZOSO) Bill that was defeated in the Senate earlier this week.

The Kamla Persad-Bissessar government needed a special two-thirds majority to ensure passage of the legislation in the Senate, after it had been able to pass the legislation in the Lower House because of its overwhelming majority there.

Eight of the nine independent legislators voted with the opposition against the bill in the Senate, while one independent senator abstained.

In a social media post hours after the ZOSO legislation was defeated in the Senate, on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar wrote that ‘during the debate, two of the President’s Senators approached a senior Government Senator seeking personal favours in exchange for support and for securing the remaining votes needed for passage. Those requests were rejected. From that moment, it was clear the Bill would not pass. They know who they are. They must live with that shame.

‘My Government will not buy votes. This is why I warn about the fake ‘eat-a-food’ elite. They do not care about decent, hardworking citizens, only self-interest and privilege,’ said Persad-Bissessar, who prior to the debate in the Senate had described the independent legislators as ‘bootlickers and brown-nosers’

‘These shameless President’s senators had no courage to contest any election to sit in that Parliament, they are not there because of the will of the people. The entire country knows that these people were appointed because they are bootlickers and brown-nosers,’ she said, adding that they had been appointed by President Kangaloo, who she described as a ‘low-level PNM (opposition People’s National Movement) functionary.

In a statement, LATT said the allegations have been denied by the independent senators, adding ‘the making grave accusations against parliamentarians, accusations that, would constitute serious misconduct, without providing sufficient particulars to permit identification investigation or response is inimical to the proper functioning of our democratic institutions.

‘Such allegations place all nine Independent Senators under a cloud of suspicion while affording none the opportunity to clear their name,’ the LATT said, adding that ‘if there is substance to these claims, the appropriate course is to provide the relevant details to the proper authorities so that a fair inquiry may be conducted’.

The LATT warned that if such particulars cannot be provided ‘the repetition of unverifiable accusations serves only to undermine public confidence in our Parliament’ and must therefore be ‘publicly withdrawn’.

The LATT said it wanted to remind the country that the presumption of innocence is a corner stone of the legal system here and that ‘public condemnation in the absence of proof is inconsistent with the values that ought to guide discourse in a society governed by the rule of law’.

It further expressed concern about the tone of recent commentary directed at constitutional officeholders, including the Office of the President.

‘The Independent Senators occupy a unique and vital role in our bicameral Parliament,’ the LATT said, warning that attacks on senators for voting according to conscience could undermine the independence required of their office.

‘The Association calls upon all participants in public life to refrain from making serious allegations that cannot be substantiated or properly investigated; afford those accused of wrongdoing the opportunity to know the case against them and to respond; maintain respect for constitutional officeholders and institutions they represent and engage in political debate in a manner consistent with the dignity of Parliament and the expectations of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago’.

West Indies were officially eliminated from semifinal contention at the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup after Sri Lanka defeated South Africa in their Super Six, Group 1 encounter on Thursday.

The Windies’ only hopes of advancing to the final four hinged on both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan suffering heavy defeats in their final matches, after they ended the Super Six phase on four points.

West Indies Under-19s were eliminated at the Super Six stage of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

However, led by a knock of 117 from opener Viran Chamuditha, Sri Lanka reached 265 for five in 46 overs, easily overhauling South Africa’s total of 261 for seven at the Queens Sports Club.

Despite the result, Australia and Afghanistan advanced to the semifinals from Group 1 after the latter thumped Ireland by 191 runs on Friday.

Faisal Khan scored an impressive 163, while Mahboob Khan made 89, to lead Afghanistan to a formidable 315 for seven in their 50 overs at the Harare Sports Club.

Ireland was then bundled out for 124 in 40.4 overs, boosting Afghanistan’s net run rate (NRR).

While both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka ended on six points, the former qualified with a superior NRR of +1.725 compared to Sri Lanka’s -0.113.

A senior Caribbean Community (CARICOM) official has positioned deeper regional integration as a strategic response to an increasingly fragmented and uncertain global trade environment, as global rules-based systems weaken and economic nationalism intensifies.

Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Single Market and Trade, was a panelist discussing Prospects for International Trade in 2026 in the Context of the Changing Global Geopolitical and Economic Landscape – Impact on Trade and the Challenges and Opportunities for the Caribbean and Latin America.

The discussion was held on Wednesday, at the World Trade Centre here.

Contextualising the region’s position, McCook said: ‘For our Region, the scars of the immediate past are visible. The devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa encapsulated the dual challenge we face: the existential threat of climate change and the inherent economic vulnerabilities of our CARICOM Member States. Simultaneously, we have navigated dramatic shifts in global trade, driven largely by an intensified ‘America First’ trade policy that has significantly impacted our exports, value chains and supply chains through a suite of unprecedented tariff measures.’

Against the background of what he described as ‘a truly tumultuous 2025’ for international and regional trade, he highlighted CARICOM’s ‘oneness’ and its resilience to navigate the ‘choppy waters’ of the 21st century.

McCook warned that the erosion of multilateral trade norms is no longer theoretical, but already affecting investment, supply chains, and growth prospects worldwide.

According to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global foreign direct investment fell by 11 per cent in 2024, marking a second consecutive year of decline, with further weakness expected in 2026. Global trade growth has slowed dramatically, falling below one per cent in 2025, even as uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry reshape supply chains.

Despite these headwinds, CARICOM’s trade performance has shown resilience. Between 2023 and 2024, CARICOM exports grew by 32 per cent to US$34.7B, with exports to the United States increasing by 86 per cent. However, recent data reveals uneven impacts across Member States.

The Assistant Secretary-General pointed to the recent steps toward full free movement of people by Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as tangible progress toward a more integrated Community.

‘Fundamentally, CARICOM integration should be seen as a strategic response to a shifting global order,’ he emphasised.

Addressing prospects for international trade in 2026, he advanced a multi-pronged strategy focused on strengthening intra-regional trade, strengthening existing relationships while diversifying global partnerships beyond traditional allies, and deepening economic integration. Central to this approach is the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy (CIPS), and the 25×25+5 food security agenda aimed at reducing food import dependence and boosting regional production.