Category: CANA News

After leading the West Indies Under-19s to series wins over Sri Lanka and England, Joshua Dorne will captain the side at next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) made the announcement in a press release on Wednesday, with Dorne set to lead a 15-member squad at the World Cup, which will be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6, 2026.

The 19-year-old Dorne was at the helm when the Windies defeated Sri Lanka 4-3 in August and trounced England 5-2 in September.

All-rounder Jonathan van Lange has been appointed vice-captain of a strong team that also includes Jewel Andrew, the youngest player to represent the senior team in T20Is and ODIs, as well as Zachary Carter, Matthew Miller, Jakeem Pollard, Shaquan Belle and Vitel Lawes, who all played starring roles during both home series. Micah McKenzie, who made his List A debut for the West Indies Academy against the Sri Lanka Emerging Men’s team in June, along with 16-year-old Shamar Apple, who was drafted into the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the recently concluded CG United Super 50 Cup, have also been named in the squad.

CWI’s High Performance Manager, Dwain Gill explained that the team was selected following a thorough process.

‘This squad is the product of a deliberate and well-structured preparation and selection process. Performances in regional Under-17 and Under-19 competitions were closely monitored, with an emphasis on identifying players with specialist skills and the adaptability required for international cricket.’

‘In assembling this group, we have aligned their development with the style of play we expect at the senior level, ensured exposure to high-quality match opportunities and placed a strong focus on leadership, tactical awareness and individual support within their territories,’ Gill said.

‘The result is a balanced and competitive squad, well positioned to perform at the Under-19 World Cup and contribute meaningfully to the long-term future of West Indies cricket.’

West Indies have been drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan and Tanzania. All group matches will be played at the High-Performance Oval in Windhoek, Namibia.

Ahead of the tournament, they will play warm-up matches against Ireland and Japan in Windhoek.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six phase followed by the Semi-Finals on February 3 and 4, and the final on February 6 at Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.

SQUAD

WEST INDIES UNDER-19s: Joshua Dorne (captain), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan Van Lange.

RESERVES: Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Earsinho Fontaine, Deshawn James.

MANAGEMENT UNIT: Rohan Nurse (head coach), Jerome Taylor (assistant coach), Nikita Miller (assistant coach), Kwayne Dalrymple (physiotherapist), Shayne Cooper (strength and conditioning coach), Dr Dwain Archibald (team doctor), Clint St Hill (manager).

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission Tuesday congratulated St. Lucia on the formal endorsement of the country’s Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan, saying that it underscores the country’s ‘continued leadership and commitment to sustainable ocean governance and the advancement of its Blue Economy aspirations’.

Developed under the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP),with support from the World Bank, the Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan provides an integrated, forward-looking framework to guide the sustainable use, management, and development of St. Lucia’s coastal and marine resources. The OECS Commission said that at the heart of the plan lies a coastal master plan, which sets out a suite of priority interventions and investment opportunities, designed to strengthen economic resilience and foster inclusive growth.

It said that these priorities, shaped through extensive stakeholder engagement and community participation, reflect the real and emerging opportunities within St. Lucia’s coastal and marine environments.

The key areas highlighted in the accompanying marketing plan include five potential investment packages, namely village tourism, solar farm enhancement, resilient fisheries facilities, business accommodation and wind energy development

‘Together, these initiatives support St. Lucia’s transition toward a robust, climate-resilient Blue Economy, unlocking sustainable economic pathways while preserving the nation’s natural coastal assets.’

The OECS Commission said that the Plan also features a Marine Spatial Plan that sets out a framework for managing nearshore and offshore areas.

‘This tool strengthens decision-making by reducing conflicts among competing uses, aligning land-sea interactions, and mitigating risks associated with coastal and marine investment,’ it said, adding that the tool offers clarity and certainty for public and private stakeholders, which are essential for the foundation of sustainable ocean development.

‘The OECS Commission applauds St. Lucia for this strategic step forward and reaffirms its commitment to supporting member states in the development and implementation of integrated ocean governance frameworks.

‘St. Lucia’s Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan stands as a model for regional collaboration, environmental stewardship, and Blue Economy transformation,’ the OECS Commission added.

The Dominica government Tuesday night said that it is seeking to ‘obtain formal clarification on the scope of the measures’ announced by President Donald Trump earlier in which he stated that nationals the island and two other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries would either be ‘fully’ restricted or have limited entry into the United States.

‘The Government of Dominica acknowledges the decision of the Government of the United States of America, announced by the White House on December 16, 2025, to impose partial travel restrictions affecting Dominican nationals, effective January 1, 2026,’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy said in a statement. The Roosevelt Skerrit administration said that it ‘understands the concern this announcement may cause and wishes to reassure all Dominicans, that this matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness and urgency

‘To this end, the Government is actively engaging officials of the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, to obtain formal clarification on the scope of the measures, the basis on which they were taken and the specific implications for Dominican travellers, students, families and other legitimate holders of U.S. visas,’ the statement said.

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

He said that during his first administration he had restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to prevent national security and public safety threats from reaching our borders.

He said that the Supreme Court upheld these restrictions and as a result he reinstated these successful policies in his executive order of January 2025.

‘It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security and public safety, incite hate crimes, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.’

He said in an earlier proclamation he had restricted the entry of foreign nationals into the United States from countries with deficient screening and vetting information to protect the national security and public safety of the United States and its people.

Trump said most of the countries identified in the earlier proclamation as well as others, continue to exhibit woeful inadequacies in screening, vetting, and provision of information.

He said that some of these countries have offered Citizenship by Investment (CBI) without residency, which poses challenges for screening and vetting purposes.

Under the CBI programme, several Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica offer citizenship to foreign investors in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of these countries.

Trump said both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have ‘historically had CBI without residency’ and that the entry into the United States of nationals of these two countries as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended.

He said consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica ‘to the extent permitted by law.

Trump said in its latest executive order justifying the action taken against the Caribbean countries that ‘as an example, a foreign national from a country that is subject to travel restrictions could purchase CBI from a second country that is not subject to travel restrictions, obtain a passport in the citizenship of that second country, and subsequently apply for a United States visa for travel to the United States, thus evading the travel restrictions on his or her first country.

‘ Additionally, United States law enforcement and the Department of State have found that, historically, CBI programmes have been susceptible to several risks. These risks include allowing an individual to conceal his or her identity and assets to circumvent travel restrictions or financial or banking restrictions,’ he said.

In its statement, the Dominica government said that it ‘will continue to work closely with U.S. authorities to address any issues identified, to protect the interests of Dominican citizens and to ensure that accurate information is provided to the public.

‘Further updates will be issued as soon as additional details are confirmed,’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she is ‘not bothered’ by the decision of Venezuela to cancel with ‘immediate effect’ any existing contract, agreement or negotiation with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country after accusing Port of Spain of being complicit in the decision of the United States to seize a Venezuela oil tanker last week.

‘They should direct their complaints to President Trump as it is the US military that has seized the sanctioned oil tanker. In the meantime we continue to have peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people,’ Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar told the Trinidad Express newspaper. Caracas had in the past regarded the seizure as an act of piracy and in a statement posted on her Instagram page, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez noted that ‘in immediate response to this ‘escalation of hostilities and serious aggressions’, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has made the decision to immediately terminate any existing contract, agreement, or negotiation for the supply of natural gas to Trinidad and Tobago’.

The statement noted that Caracas had ‘full knowledge’ of Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the ‘theft’ of Venezuelan oil committed on December 10 by the US administration through the assault on a ship transporting the product.

It described the incident as ‘a serious violation of international law and a clear transgression of the principles of free navigation and trade’ and blamed Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar for having ‘revealed a hostile agenda against Venezuela since her arrival in government’.

President Maduro has also denounced the Energy Cooperation Framework Agreement previously signed with Trinidad and Tobago.

‘Faced with this ‘very serious act that aims to blatantly steal Venezuela’s oil’, the Government has decided to sever energy ties with the Caribbean nation.

‘Venezuela demands respect! And it will not allow any colonial entity and its vassals to threaten the sacred sovereignty of the country and its right to development. Venezuela will always prevail,’ Rodriguez said in her statement.

But Persad-Bissessar told the newspaper that Trinidad and Tobago is not dependent on Venezuelan gas.

‘We have never depended on Venezuela for natural gas supplies. We have adequate reserves within our territory,’ she said, adding that her administration is working to address bureaucratic systems that cause delays.

‘We are aggressively working to reduce bureaucratic barriers to speed up approvals for energy companies. The real issue is bureaucracy is hindering our exploration and production,’ she added.

Last Wednesday, Guyana said the oil tanker seized by the United States earlier during the day ‘was falsely flying the Guyana flag’ and is not registered there.

In a statement, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) said it has ‘observed the proliferation and unacceptable use of the Guyana flag by vessels that are not registered in Guyana’.

It said that the US government had informed MARAD ‘that they encountered the Motor Tanker SKIPPER (ex-ADISA) IMO Number 9304667 in international waters. It was falsely flying the Guyana Flag, as it is not registered in Guyana’.

US President Donald Trump had earlier said that the SKIPPER was the largest crude tanker ever seized by American authorities even as the Venezuelan authorities called the seizure of the vessel ‘piracy’

Trump said that the US would seize the oil in the tanker.

The United States has been beefing up its military presence near Venezuela allegedly to deal with the illegal drugs trade, even as some political observers say it is part of the Donald Trump strategy to engage in regime change in Caracas.

The Trump administration has declared Maduro an alleged narco-terrorist and a key figure in Cartel of the Suns, both of which have been sanctioned by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

So far more than 80 persons have been killed by the US military as they were travelling in the Caribbean sea and the Pacific allegedly with cocaine destined for the US.

A High Court judge has sentenced a man to 63 years in jail for the murder of Darnell Govia, which occurred on June 20, 2017.

Justice Iain Morley sentenced Shakeim Cranston, also known as ‘Shaq’ and ‘Little Nuzzle’ after he was unanimously convicted by a jury verdict.

The court found that the killing was wholly premeditated, carried out with a firearm, and occurred in a public hospital setting, placing members of the public at risk.

The court was shown extensive CCTV footage, forensic findings, and eyewitness testimony and in sentencing, the judge identified multiple aggravating factors, including the use of a firearm, the public location, the calculated nature of the offence, and the fact that the murder was committed while the defendant was on bail for a previous firearm offence.

The High Court noted there was no formal mitigation, no admission of responsibility, and no expression of remorse.

Time spent on remand since June 2017 will count toward the sentence, and the defendant will be eligible for statutory remission for good behaviour in accordance with prison regulations.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, to brothers, Divon Trotman was jailed for 22.5 years and Dijon Trotman to 21.5 years’ imprisonment for the offence of wounding with intent to murder.

They were convicted following a lengthy trial relating to a coordinated and sustained attack on Keon Fyfield on March 7, 2021.

The High Court heard that the defendants jointly attacked the victim using a knife and a concrete block, inflicting multiple severe head injuries, including stab wounds penetrating the skull.

Although Fyfield later died in hospital, the murder charge was withdrawn after the Crown could not establish causation beyond reasonable doubt due to intervening medical issues. The Court nevertheless characterised the offence as a particularly grave example of attempted murder, involving weapons, multiple blows, and efforts to conceal evidence.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is forecasting that economic growth in the Caribbean, except Guyana for 2026, will be 1.8 per cent, at a slightly slower pace compared with 2025.

It said economic expansion is subject to tourism and construction trends in the subregion, which is highly vulnerable given its dependence on imported energy, high transport costs and exposure to natural disasters.

In its ‘Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean,’ released here on Tuesday, ECLAC said that economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean remained subdued in 2025, constrained by weak domestic demand and an uncertain global environment.

It said external sector results were mixed: some countries recorded higher exports of goods and services, while others were affected by pressure on the terms of trade and greater trade volatility.

Latin America and the Caribbean will experience moderate economic growth in 2025. The slight uptick from 2.3 per cent in 2024 to a projected 2.4per cent this year is supported mainly by domestic demand in several economies, especially private consumption.

ECLAC says the regional economy remains largely dependent on services sectors, which account for the bulk of value added and continue to drive job creation and the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Tuesday, December 16, 2025

SANTIAGO – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is forecasting that economic growth in the Caribbean, except Guyana for 2026, will be 1.8 per cent, at a slightly slower pace compared with 2025.

BASSETERRE-St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister to present 2025-26 national budget to Parliament.

ST. JOHN’S – The Antigua and Barbuda Parliament has approved an amendment to the island’s constitution paving the way to change the oath from swearing to the United Kingdom Sovereign to one swearing to Antigua and Barbuda.

PORT OF SPAIN – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she is ‘not bothered’ by the decision of Venezuela to cancel with ‘immediate effect’ any existing contract, agreement or negotiation with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country after accusing Port of Spain of being complicit in the decision of the United States to seize a Venezuela oil tanker last week.

BRUSSELS -The European Council sys it has adopted additional restrictive measures against former Haitian president Michel Martelly, as well as one entity in view of the escalating gang violence, unremitting serious human rights abuses and the continuing impunity for the perpetrators in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

SPORTS:

MOUNT MAUNGANUI – West Indies assistant coach Floyd Reifer has issued a blunt assessment of his batting unit ahead of the decisive third and final Test against New Zealand, starting here Wednesday at Bay Oval.

President Donald Trump Tuesday named Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti as countries where citizens from these Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries would either be ‘fully’ restricted or have ‘limited’ entry into the United States.

The measure goes into effect from January 1, 2026.

Trump said that during his first administration he had restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the North American country to prevent national security and public safety threats from reaching our borders. He said that the Supreme Court upheld these restrictions and as a result he reinstated these successful policies in his executive order of January 2025.

‘It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security and public safety, incite hate crimes, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.’

He said in an earlier proclamation he had restricted the entry of foreign nationals into the United States from countries with deficient screening and vetting information to protect the national security and public safety of the United States and its people.

‘The proclamation also directed the United States Government to immediately engage countries identified in the proclamation on measures that must be taken to comply with the screening, vetting, immigration, and security requirements of the United States. ‘

He said that despite those engagements, most of the countries identified in the earlier proclamation as well as others, continue to exhibit woeful inadequacies in screening, vetting, and provision of information.

He said that some of these countries have offered Citizenship by Investment (CBI) without residency, which poses challenges for screening and vetting purposes.

Under the CBI programme, several Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica offer citizenship to foreign investors in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of these countries.

Trump said both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have ‘historically had CBI without residency’ and that the entry into the United States of nationals of these two countries as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended.

He said consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica ‘to the extent permitted by law.

Trump said in its latest executive order justifying the action taken against the Caribbean countries that ‘as an example, a foreign national from a country that is subject to travel restrictions could purchase CBI from a second country that is not subject to travel restrictions, obtain a passport in the citizenship of that second country, and subsequently apply for a United States visa for travel to the United States, thus evading the travel restrictions on his or her first country.

‘ Additionally, United States law enforcement and the Department of State have found that, historically, CBI programmes have been susceptible to several risks. These risks include allowing an individual to conceal his or her identity and assets to circumvent travel restrictions or financial or banking restrictions,’ he said.

Trump said as a result of his latest executive order citizens from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will be ‘fully’ restricted as well as ‘limit’ their entry into the US.

He said after accounting for the foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives of the United States, he has determined to ‘partially restrict and limit the entry of nationals’ of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

He said these ‘restrictions distinguish between, but apply to both, the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants’.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has defended his government’s decision to implement an increase in the minimum wage amid concerns by private sector leaders who have raised a number of issues.

Dominica recently implemented a new, tiered minimum wage structure effective December 1, 2025, replacing the old EC$7.50/hour rate (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) with varied increases for different sectors, such as agricultural workers now at EC$9.75/hour, and daily-paid workers in tourism/manufacturing at EC$9/hour, with specific rates for cashiers, security guards, drivers among others.

Skerrit told an end of year news conference that his government appreciates the ‘significant role’ the private sector continues to play as important pillar of Dominica’s economy, especially in the employment of thousands and making key investments in the development of our national product. He said that while he has taken note of the concerns raised since the minimum wage increase went into effect, the government had established the Minimum Wage Advisory Board precisely to ensure that all sectors had an opportunity to contribute to the process.

He said that the board conducted its review over several months and considered submissions from the representative organizations of the private-sector.

‘We recognize that some recommendations were not fully reflected in the final schedule of rates. However, it is important to clarify that the board’s mandate required it to balance private sector concerns with the overriding objective of ensuring a fair and livable wage for workers, particularly those at the lowest end of the income scale.’

Skerrit said that while the implementation date has necessitated adjustments for some employers, the government had to weigh this against the urgent need to address wage stagnation and the rising cost of living affecting thousands of workers across multiple sectors.

‘It is also worth noting that many private-sector employees have not seen real wage growth in over a decade, even as the economy has recovered and as certain sectors have posted strong performance.

‘Nonetheless, the Ministry of Labour will review the transition challenges raised by employers and assess whether practical administrative support or reasonable phased arrangements may be appropriate in specific cases.’

Skerrit insisted that the government’s objective is not merely to raise wages but to raise standards, to encourage decent work, and to support a sustainable, competitive, and vibrant private sector.

He said the government wanted to assure the public that the adjustment to the minimum wage is being facilitated in ‘a responsible, measured, and economically sound manner’ designed to protect workers’ incomes without triggering an unnecessary rise in prices.

‘Contrary to common misconception, an increase in the minimum wage does not automatically lead to higher inflation. What matters is how the adjustment is managed. Government has therefore adopted a strategy that cushions the economy, supports businesses during the transition, and safeguards the purchasing power of all citizens,’ he told reporters.

Skerrit said the minimum wage increase will not cause significant retail inflation, noting that in retail stores across Caribbean economies – supermarkets, clothing shops, hardware outlets – wages typically account for only 10-15 per cent of the final price of goods.

He said the biggest drivers of price increases are external factors, not local wages, adding that retail prices move mainly because of international freight costs, global commodity prices, exchange rate shifts, and import duties.

‘A higher minimum wage does not affect these cost drivers,’ Skerrit said, adding that businesses have adjustments options that don’t involve raising prices.

Skerrit said that retailers can cushion wage increases through progressive improvements in the efficiency and profitability of supply chain operations by increased productivity, better inventory management, waste reduction

‘Caribbean countries that increased minimum wages in the past decade – Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia – saw no significant retail inflation linked to wage hikes. The price movements remained tied to global factors, not local labour costs,’ Skerrit said, adding to ensure a smooth and stable implementation, the government is pursuing several initiatives.

These include investments in skills training, digitalization, and process improvements to help businesses generate higher output per employee, temporary relief measures such as reduced duties on essential inputs, faster customs processing, streamlined government services, reduced administrative burdens and support for energy efficiency.

He said labour-intensive and small enterprises will receive targeted assistance to ensure the wage increase does not place them at risk or lead to unintended inflationary pressure and that the government is closely monitoring the market to prevent unfair price increases.

‘Stronger competition and regulatory oversight ensure that any cost adjustments remain fair, transparent, and justified.

‘A fair minimum wage lifts vulnerable workers without burdening consumers. The economy becomes more stable, not more expensive. Government remains confident that these policies will enhance the livelihoods of low-income workers, support sustainable growth, and prevent inflation,’ Skerrit told reporters.

Suriname is likely to host an international United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to promote ‘Suriname 2.0’, the vision for the next 50 years, Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation Minister, Andrew Baasaron, has said.

He said the collaboration is intended to boost not only trade and tourism, but also the country’s factories and industry, with the goal of becoming a regional leader. His statement comes as President Jennifer Greelings-Simons has given her blessing for the launch of the Country Partnership Programme (PCP) with UNIDO, marking a significant step for the government toward economic diversification and sustainable industrial development. The head of state Monday met with Stein Hansen, director of the UNIDO-Barbados Global SIDS Hub, following the signing of a Joint Declaration in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, over two weeks ago.

The authorities say the partnership aims to diversify the Surinamese economy and expand its earning capacity, thereby reducing its dependence on sectors like offshore oil, gold, or bauxite.

UNIDO and Suriname have set aside a five-year period to develop a roadmap or blueprint for national development. The collaboration focuses on identifying and developing new economic sectors.

‘This country has an abundance of natural resources. It’s a very wealthy country. I can’t wait to work much more closely with the ministers, the president, the private sector, the business community, and other stakeholders so we can help shape the economy and the future priorities that President Simons and her cabinet set for the country when it comes to industrial development,’ said Hansen.

Baasaron, who also attended the meeting, said the collaboration focuses on, among other things, agro-culture, maritime culture, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and foreign trade standards.

‘We’ve made it very clear that we want to diversify. This means that money will soon come in from oil revenues, from offshore oil revenues. But we don’t want to be an economy that, like in the past, rests solely on, for example, gold or bauxite for revenue. And now on that offshore oil.’

The authorities said that the next six to 12 months will be dedicated to intensive collaboration between the government, the business community, and civil society to analyse the country’s potential and develop final plans.

They said that this national partnership programme will serve as a guiding document for Suriname’s future industrial development.