Category: CANA News

Scoreboard of the third day of the third Test between New Zealand and West Indies here at the Bay Oval on Saturday.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 575-8 dec’d

WEST INDIES 1st innings

(overnight 110 without loss)

John Campbell c Latham b Duffy 45

Brandon King b Duffy 63

Kavem Hodge not out 109

+Tevin Imlach c +Blundell b Rae 27

Alick Athanaze b Patel 45

Justin Greaves lbw b Mitchell 43

*Roston Chase lbw b Patel 2

Anderson Phillip not out 12

Extras (lb12, nb2, w21) 35

TOTAL (six wickets; 113 overs) 381

Yet to bat: Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.

Fall of wickets: 1-111, 2-140, 3-206, 4-267, 5-348, 6-351.

Bowling: Duffy 31-7-79-2, Foulkes 20-4-82-0, Rae 21-1-88-1, Patel 33-5-94-2, Phillips 5-0-17-0, Mitchell 3-1-9-1.

Toss: New Zealand elected to bat first.

Position: West Indies trail New Zealand by 194 runs with four wickets remaining.

Umpires: Alladhuddien Paleker, Alex Wharf.

TV Umpire: Paul Reiffel,

Reserve Umpire: Chris Brown.

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has given the clearest indication yet that Barbadians could be going to the polls early next year.

Though elections are not constitutionally due until 2027, Mottley has put supporters of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to be ready for work early next year, fuelling speculation about a general election a year ahead of schedule.

West Indies trail New Zealand by 155 runs on first innings after being dismissed for 420 on the fourth day of the third and final Test here at the Bay Oval on Sunday.

NEW ZEALAND 575-8 dec’d.

WEST INDIES 420 in 128.2 overs (Kavem Hodge 123 not out, Brandon King 63, John Campbell 45, Alick Athanaze 45, Justin Greaves 43, Tevin Imlach 27, Anderson Phillip 17, Jayden Seales 15; Jacob Duffy 4-86, Ajaz Patel 3-113, Michael Rae 2-89).

The international ratings agency, Moody’s, has upgraded Jamaica’s long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to Ba3 from B1, changing the outlook to stable from positive.

The upgrade reflects a decade of strengthened institutional and policy frameworks that have anchored fiscal discipline and enhanced monetary credibility.

Jamaica has reduced government debt by nearly 40 percentage points of GDP since 2020, outperforming peers despite the temporary fiscal setback from Hurricane Melissa.

According to Moody’s, it expects Jamaica to maintain its commitment to sustained primary surpluses, keeping debt on a downward path after a short-term increase related to disaster recovery spending.

The government has mobilized approximately J$6.7 billion in financial support from international institutions to address the hurricane’s impact.

The rating agency forecasts a real GDP contraction of nearly two percent in 2025 and zero growth in 2026.

Emergency and reconstruction spending will increase government expenditure by five percentage points of GDP above pre-storm forecasts.

Debt-to-GDP is projected to rise to 68 percent in fiscal year 2025/26 before returning to 64 percent by fiscal year 2028/29.

Jamaica’s disaster risk management toolkit, including catastrophe insurance, provides about $660 million in immediate liquidity, reducing the need for more expensive commercial borrowing.

Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, all but dismissed the two election petitions filed by the defeated candidates of the main opposition Unity Labour Party (ULP)challenging his victory of Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday and that of his Foreign Affairs Minister, Fitz Bramble in the November 27 general elections.

‘Well, what I would say . is that this is the Christmas season. The people gave us an overwhelming mandate, even after they campaigned about all the things that they wanted to raise, which I suppose they will raise in their petition,’ Prime Minister Friday told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

Carlos Williams and Luke Browne are challenging the victories of Friday and Bramble in the Northern Grenadines and the East Kingstown after the New Democratic Party (NDP) won an overwhelming 14-1 seat majority, ending the 25 year rule of the ULP.

The two defeated candidates want the High Court to rule that the election victory of Friday and Bramble are invalid because they were not qualified to be nominated as candidates, given that they are both hold Canadian citizenship.

The nomination of Friday, who has been representing the Northern Grenadines since March 2001 and Bramble, who was first elected to Parliament in November 2020, had become an issue in the lead up to the elections, with the ULP challenging their nominations on Nomination Day.

Notices published in the local media also urged voters not to ‘waste’ their ballots voting for either of the two NDP candidates, pointing to section 26 (1) of the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which states ‘No person shall be qualified to be elected or appointed as a Representative or Senator (hereinafter in this section referred to as a ‘member’) if he –

(a) is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state’.

The media notices also pointed to the statutory declaration that a candidate is required to sign, which states ‘That I am duly qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Assembly for this constituency, and that – . I am not by virtue of my own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state’.

The notices said that both Friday and Bramble are citizens of Canada.

However, both Prime Minister Friday and Bramble have argued that the Constitution makes special accommodation for Commonwealth citizens, including allowing them to contest elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, even if they are not Vincentian citizens.

Prime Minister Friday, who spoke to CMC as he participated in the first VAT-free shopping day announced by his administration since coming into office, said ‘we are here to serve the people. This is the Christmas season.

‘Today is VAT-free shopping day, and the Grinch will not steal this Christmas from the people. OK? That is what I have to say about that,’ Friday said with a chuckle.

VAT-free shopping twice a year was among some of the promises the NDP made to Vincentians as part of efforts to counter what it said was a cost-of-living crisis in the country.

Prior to the election and ahead of Nomination Day, then prime minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, had indicated that the issue of candidates being elected to Parliament while having dual citizenship will be taken to court.

Gonsalves, who was seeking an unprecedented sixth consecutive term as head of government, confirmed that the ULP had attempted to prevent Friday and Bramble, from being nominated as candidates for the elections because of their Canadian citizenship.

Both Bramble and Friday were born in St Vincent and the Grenadines but obtained Canadian citizenship as adults.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders Friday night uregd a quick resolution to the decision by the United States preventing or limiting the entry of nationals from three CARICOM countries from entering the North American country.

‘ The Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has noted with concern the proclamation issued by the Government of the United States on 16 December 2025 imposing partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica,’ the leaders said in a statement late Friday night.

The Bureau, comprising the prime ministers of Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica, with the CARICOM Secretary-General serving as an ex-officio member, said it recognises the right of countries to implement policies regulating entry to their borders.

‘Nevertheless, the Bureau expresses concern that this decision was taken without prior consultation, especially in circumstances of its potential adverse effects on legitimate travel, people-to-people exchanges, and the social and economic well-being of these small states.’

On Tuesday, President Trump in his latest executive order said that apart from Antigua and Barbuda, nationals from Dominica and Haiti would also be affected by the immigration policy.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Saturday said the 15-member regional integration grouping, CARICOM will not determine the future of her twin island republic and that it ‘is not a reliable partner at this time’.

‘An organisation that chooses to disparage our greatest ally the United States but lends support to the Maduro narco-government headed by a dictator who has imprisoned and killed thousands of civilians and opposition members as well as threatened two CARICOM members is one that has clearly lost its way,’ Persad-Bissessar said in a statement.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar

She said that on December 16, the US government issued a fact sheet outlining the decision by President Donald Trump to further restrict and limit the entry of certain foreign nationals in the interest of United States national security.

‘The fact sheet detailed the justification for the partial suspension of entry for immigrants and nonimmigrants under the B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visa categories, and referenced the historical operation of Citizenship by Investment programmes without residency requirements in both Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.

‘I have taken note of a subsequent statement issued by the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In its statement, the Bureau expressed concern about the restrictions that the US government announced on December 16, 2025.’

Persad-Bissessar said that she was advising citizens of Trinidad and Tobago that Port of Spain ‘is not a party to the statement issued by the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government.

‘I acknowledge the right of the Bureau of the Conference to express its views. However, the Trinidad and Tobago government maintains its own position on the matter and recognises the sovereign right of the United States to make decisions in furtherance of its best interests.

‘I hold the view that every sovereign state is responsible for its foreign and domestic policy choices and must be prepared to accept the concomitant consequences. The exercise of power by the United States of America to advance their best interests must therefore be seen as a measured response to the conduct of other nations in the realities of the current environments that they place themselves in’.

In its statement, the CARICOM Bureau, made up of the prime ministers of Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada, said it had taken note of the visa situation and that while it ‘recognises the right of countries to implement policies regulating entry to their borders, nevertheless, the Bureau expresses concern that this decision was taken without prior consultation, especially in circumstances of its potential adverse effects on legitimate travel, people-to-people exchanges, and the social and economic well-being of these small states’.

The CARICOM Bureau said it is also concerned about the lack of clarity regarding the status of existing visas after 1 January 2026.

‘The Bureau urges an early engagement by the United States with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica to clarify the proclamation and address outstanding concerns, consistent with the strong and longstanding partnership between the United States of America and CARICOM.

‘CARICOM remains committed to dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect, shared interests and the rule of law as we seek to secure the prosperity of the region and its citizens,’ it added.

But Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has been critical of the Bureau’s statement, saying despite being advised by him ‘that the issue was resolved and that it would be superfluous circulating this statement after the fact,’ CARICOM still went ahead and issued a statement.

He said the CARICOM position came ‘especially in consideration of their inertia and initial luke warm support’.

Prime Minister Browne also took the opportunity to criticise an unnamed CARICOM leader saying that it had been ‘brought to my attention, that one of our colleague heads, instead of standing in solidarity, publicly accused us of cursing the US administration. I challenge that leader to back her statement with facts.

‘The inertia and insularity within CARICOM continue to undermine the effectiveness of our integration movement,’ Browne wrote, adding that ‘however, as a hardcore integrationist and an eternal optimist, I remain hopeful for a stronger and more effective integration movement’.

In her statement, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar her government ‘does not bind itself to the political ideologies or foreign, economic and security policies of any other CARICOM member government.

‘Member governments are free to make decisions in the best interests of their citizens,’ she said, adding ‘CARICOM is not a reliable partner at this time.

‘The fact is that beneath the thin mask of unity, there are many widening fissures that if left unaddressed will lead to its implosion. The organisation is deteriorating rapidly due to poor management, lax accountability, factional divisions, destabilising policies, private conflicts between regional leaders and political parties and the inappropriate meddling in the domestic politics of member states. That’s the plain truth. ‘

Persad-Bissessar said that CARICOM cannot continue to operate in ‘this dysfunctional and self-destructive manner as it is a grave disservice to the people of the Caribbean.

‘The Caribbean community must face the rot within the organisation with transparency and honesty. Hiding behind the glibness of diplomacy, fake sophistication and false narratives is self-defeating’.

She warned of ‘repercussions’ for supporting supporting Maduro, adding ‘we must all live with the consequences of our actions.

‘Our citizens can rest assured that I will always make decisions that put Trinidad and Tobago first,’ she added.

Kavem Hodge scored a resilient, unbeaten century as West Indies made New Zealand toil for the entire day in a rare show of commitment by their batsmen, to leave the third Test interestingly poised after three days.

Hodge ended the day on 109 not out, his second Test century and first in over 17 months, to help propel the visitors to 381 for six at the Bay Oval, still some 194 runs in arrears of New Zealand’s massive first innings total of 575 for eight declared.

However, what is worrisome for the Windies is the fact that they may be without the services of both the inspirational Shai Hope and Kemar Roach.

There has been no sign of Hope yet, their best batter, who is reportedly unwell and holed up in the team’s hotel since Friday, while Roach’s availability for the remainder of the match is questionable after he suffered a hamstring injury on the opening day while bowling.

If they are unable to bat, it would mean only Jayden Seales remains.

Luckily for the Windies, Hodge’s efforts along with those of the top and middle order, ensured they avoided the follow-on, although they will be hoping to make further inroads when play resumes on Sunday’s fourth day. Despite their commendable performance with the bat thus far, several West Indies batsmen would have been disappointed not to have pushed on after getting promising starts.

Resuming the day in a strong position of 110 without loss, New Zealand struck early when pacer Jacob Duffy had John Campbell caught at second slip in the day’s third over, with the left-hander failing to add to his overnight score of 45.

Hodge joined Brandon King at the crease, and the pair looked comfortable until Duffy bowled the latter off his pads with an inswinger for 63 to reduce the visitors to 140 for two.

Hodge, who started nervously, began to find his rhythm and when pacer Michael Rae served up three poor deliveries, he was hit for three successive boundaries, the last, a crunching pull that raced away to the midwicket boundary in the blink of an eye.

He brought up his half century just before lunch, and together with Tevin Imlach, shared a 66-run partnership to take the score to 206 for two at the break.

But as has been the case throughout the entire series, the West Indies lost a wicket almost immediately after the restart, with Imlach being caught behind chasing a wide delivery from Rae to be out for 27.

Alick Athanaze looked in superb nick in his knock of 45 off 57 balls, dominating a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket with Hodge.

However, with a half century imminent, Athanaze was unlucky to be bowled by spinner Ajaz Patel by a wide delivery down the leg side that ricocheted off his leg and onto the stumps, to leave the score 267 for four.

Hodge all the while continued to trudge on, and by the tea interval he had reached 83, with the Windies 310 for four.

Similar to Athanaze, Justin Greaves look untroubled during his innings of 43, combining with Hodge to add 81 crucial runs for the fifth wicket.

In search of a bowler to break the partnership, New Zealand captain Tom Latham turned to part-time spinner Daryl Mitchell, and he responded by trapping Greaves lbw with a full, straight delivery that the batsman played all around.

And when skipper Roston Chase’s nightmare tour continued when he was trapped lbw by Patel for just two, the West Indies were in danger of not avoiding the follow on at 351 for six.

Hodge. who survived some nervous moments in the 90s, including being hit in the groin and having to seek medical attention, eventually reached three figures with an audacious pull of Rae for four.

His unbroken 30-run partnership with Phillip took the Windies past the follow-on score of 375, but they will be hoping for much more come Sunday, including the services of Hope and Roach to carry on the fight.

Hodge has so far faced 254 balls and hit 14 boundaries in his unbeaten knock.

West Indies trail New Zealand by 194 runs after reaching 381 for six at the close of play on the third day of the third and final Test here at the Bay Oval on Saturday.

NEW ZEALAND 575-8 dec’d.

WEST INDIES 381-6 in 113 overs (Kavem Hodge 109 not out, Brandon King 63, John Campbell 45, Alick Athanaze 45, Justin Greaves 43, Tevin Imlach 27, Anderson Phillip 12 not out; Jacob Duffy 2-79, Ajaz Patel 2-94).

A Greece-made ferry vessel was on Friday commissioned on the Essequibo River and renamed Konawaruk 1899 to further imprint Guyana’s legal right to the region being claimed by neighbouring Venezuela.

After being commissioned, the ferry immediately began plying the Parika- Supenaam route, which has a growing demand for more ferry services.

The vessel that cost just under US$5 million, can accommodate nearly 400 persons, 81 cars, and is Guyana’s first modern double-ended ferry.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed that the vessel was sought in response to the demand for more transportation services between Regions Two and Three.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips highlighted the government’s aim of boosting trade and connectivity along the coastal regions.

‘It means the farmers’ produce from Region Two reaches the markets of Region Three with its freshness intact and its value undiminished; it means businesses move at the speed of opportunity, not the speed of outdated schedules,’ Phillips said.

The MV Konawaruk, which was called ARIS IV before its commissioning, has been named after an Indigenous area in Region Eight.

Altogether, the Konawaruk 1899 name reflects on Guyana’s territorial integrity and the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award.

Meanwhile, Edghill also revealed that another modern vessel is being acquired to ply the Georgetown to Region One route. That vessel, like the Konawaruk 1899, is expected to help meet the increased demand for ferry services.