Category: CANA News

Democratic legislators in the US Congress have urged Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to provide all members of Congress and the public with the full, unedited video of the September 2 strikes on a suspected drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean. ‘As some of the few members of Congress who have seen the complete, unedited video of the strikes on September 2 against a maritime vessel, we write to stress our grave concerns surrounding their circumstances. As we have expressed directly to you, Secretary Rubio, General Caine, and Admiral Bradley, it is critical that you provide full transparency to Congress and to the American people,’ they wrote.

Two Jamaican fishermen caught with more than 167lbs of marijuana on a boat south of this British overseas territory earlier this year have been jailed after pleading guilty to illicit drug trafficking.

Eric Junior Cunningham, 42, was sentenced to 24 months and Radmond Junior Samuels, 33, to 18 months following a ruling delivered by Justice Emma Peters late last month.

The police report that on March 25, the Cayman Islands Coast Guard intercepted the boat that was 32 nautical miles south of Grand Cayman. Cunningham was operating the vessel while Samuels was the passenger.

The coast guard officers found nine packages of ganja, a GPS device and satellite phone.

Both men initially pleaded not guilty in May but changed their pleas three weeks before their scheduled September trial.

Cunningham admitted he had agreed to smuggle the drugs after being promised payment of US$5,000, which he never received.

According to a social inquiry report, he is a farmer who had suffered significant hardship, including damage to his home during a previous storm and its complete destruction in Hurricane Melissa .

Samuels had told police he had been threatened by a man known as ‘Bigs’, who pressured him to take part in the operation. His background included the early loss of both parents, limited education and ongoing health issues.

Peters accepted that neither man played a leading role in the drug operation, but noted that transporting drugs by sea remains a critical link in the supply chain. Cunningham’s role as the boat operator placed him in the ‘significant’ category, while Samuels’ limited involvement and intimidation placed him in the ‘lesser’ role.

The judge said the sentences were the lowest she could impose while still meeting the need for deterrence, stressing that those tempted by the promise of quick money must have a reason to resist.

‘The miserable trade in illegal drugs is such that, whatever the drug and wherever the operation, those who are at the top of the illegal organisations that profit from the trade are often able to hide away, exposing themselves to the most limited extent possible, as they send out others below them to take the risks,’ Justice Peters said as she delivered her sentencing decision last month.

‘Whilst those middle managers or workers will, of course, profit from the criminality in some way, it is undoubtedly the case that those at the top are making the most whilst exposing themselves the least.’ She said the two men before her were fishermen, who were targeted for the sole purpose of getting these drugs to the Cayman Islands.

Since the evidence against the men was overwhelming, they only received a 20% discount for the guilty pleas. However, with time spent on remand since their arrest and the possibility, based on good behaviour, of release after they have served 60% of their sentence, the men can expect to be returned to Jamaica early next year.

The court also ordered that the seized drugs be forfeited and destroyed.

Barbadian striker Thierry Gale scored a sensational winner to give Bolton Wanderers a thrilling 2-1 victory over Exeter City in the EFL League One here at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday.

The diminutive 23-year-old forward, who came on as a second half substitute, found the back of the nets in the 82nd minute to ensure his side secured all three points at home and extend the Trotters’ unbeaten home record to 16 matches in all competitions. While the hosts started the game on the front foot, it was actually City who took the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute when Jack Aitchison capitalised on a costly error from Bolton’s goalkeeper Sharman-Lowe to calmly guided the ball into the empty net and spark jubilant celebrations among the travelling Grecians.

Bolton eventually drew level in the 70th minute, with Sam Dalby quickest to react to tap home the rebound after a Bolton effort struck the post.

With the game seemingly headed for a draw, Kyle Dempsey picked out Gale on the left wing with a pinpoint cross, and the Barbadian showed skill to get past his defender before curling a superb shot into the far corner to spark wild celebrations.

It was Gale’s fourth goal of the season and his first since returning from injury.

The government of the Dominican Republic has authorized several U.S. military aircraft to land in the country in the coming days as part of an operational support deployment in the Caribbean.

The aircraft will have temporary permits to operate from restricted areas at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport.

The cooperation agreement covers surveillance, transport, and technical support missions.

Aircraft expected to take part include the KC-130 tanker and the C-130 Hercules, two of the U.S. Air Force’s most versatile and widely used platforms.

The C-130, in service since 1954, is one of the most successful military transport aircraft in history. Designed for rugged operations during the Cold War, it has been used in conflicts such as Vietnam and Desert Storm, as well as major humanitarian missions in Haiti, during Hurricane Katrina, and in global disaster zones.

The KC-130, introduced in the 1960s, serves as a tanker and logistics aircraft, enabling aerial refueling for fighter jets, helicopters, and drones.

It has supported operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, as well as nighttime special operations and personnel transport.

Although the authorities have not disclosed flight schedules or the number of aircraft involved, their deployment in the Dominican Republic may support maritime and aerial surveillance, movement of sensitive equipment, logistics for regional security operations, in-flight refueling, and transportation of technical personnel.

The mission is said to be part of ongoing security and technical cooperation agreements between both countries.

A visibly frustrated West Indies head coach Daren Sammy dissected another damaging collapse, labelling his team’s nine-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the second Test as a case of ‘two steps backwards.’

Daren Sammy

The tourists, utterly outplayed inside three days at the Basin Reserve, were skittled for 205 and a paltry 128, leaving the Black Caps a trivial target.

While the bowlers shared the wickets in New Zealand’s first innings, with fast bowler Anderson Phillip finishing with four in the match, the batting frailties were terminal.

Shai Hope’s 47 and John Campbell’s 44 were the highest scores of a dismal collective effort, leaving Sammy to draw a painful parallel with a past failure on New Zealand soil.

‘It shows every time we try to take a step forward, we take about two steps backwards,’ Sammy stated. ‘It takes me back to 2013, where we drew the Test in Dunedin, came here, and lost inside three days. It’s just the consistency that we’re looking for.’

The coach pinpointed a familiar foe: a failure to seize crucial moments. ‘We keep getting ourselves in good positions, but little moments switch the momentum, and in this Test match, once we lost the momentum, we lost it for a long period of time.’

While praising a relentless New Zealand attack that ‘answered the call,’ Sammy’s sharpest criticism was reserved for his own batting line-up. He delivered a blunt assessment of their failure to support a battling bowling unit.

‘In a team, you want people to step up when needed the most. In this Test match, nobody stood up for us,’ he said. ‘When you have runs not coming from the number seven and the number five positions, it puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the team. The bowlers are doing their job. It’s not the bowlers’ fault. I think it’s the batsmen that have to take more responsibility.’

Sammy pointed to the fighting draw in the first Test in Christchurch as the blueprint, proof that resilience changes their complexion entirely.

‘You’ve seen in the first Test, when we take responsibility, and one or two people put their hands up and dig deep, we look like a different side.’

The West Indies will take on New Zealand in the third Test at Mount Maunganui, starting on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has strongly urged miners across Guyana to cease the practice of paying workers in raw gold, warning that the illegal method of compensation undermines transparency, weakens gold declarations, and exposes workers to exploitation and unsafe practices.

The call was made during a high-level meeting convened earlier this week by the Ministry of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA).

In a statement, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, reiterated that all workers in the mining sector must be paid through lawful financial channels in keeping with labour and tax laws.

He also reminded miners that it is illegal to allow what is commonly referred to as the ‘Blai box,’ stressing that gold may only be used in transactions with approved buyers and the Guyana Gold Board.

The ministry indicated that inspections will be increased and employers found in breach will face penalties.

During the engagement, Bharrat further emphasised the Government of Guyana’s firm commitment to ensuring that the country’s mineral resources are managed responsibly, transparently, and in strict accordance with the law.

As part of a strengthened enforcement approach, several enhanced measures were identified and are to be implemented immediately.

These include tighter oversight of licensed gold dealers and traders, with intensified audits of purchasing records, verification of gold source declarations, and routine compliance checks.

Dealers found facilitating undeclared gold transactions or failing to meet reporting requirements risk sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of their licences.

The ministry also announced a significant scale-up in field operations across mining districts to curb illegal mining.

These efforts will focus on ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, and production reporting standards, while targeting unauthorised mining activities.

Additionally, agencies under the ministry’s purview have been directed to intensify the seizure of illegal mining equipment, particularly machinery operating without proper documentation or within prohibited areas.

This forms part of what the ministry described as a zero-tolerance stance against activities that undermine national mining regulations.

To further strengthen enforcement, multi-agency operations will be expanded, involving the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and other relevant agencies.

These joint operations will focus on identifying, arresting, and prosecuting individuals and groups engaged in illegal mining.

Miners were also strongly urged to sell gold only to the Guyana Gold Board or licensed dealers, a move the ministry said is critical for maintaining accurate national production data, promoting fair trade, and ensuring the sector’s benefits are properly accounted for.

Free agent forward Michail Antonio is in advanced talks with Leicester City over a short-term deal, as the veteran Reggae Boy forward aims to complete a remarkable return to professional football nearly a year after a serious car accident.

The 35-year-old Jamaican international, who has been without a club since his West Ham United contract expired this summer, trained with the Championship side on Thursday and held positive discussions.

Leicester, operating under financial constraints, sees the experienced striker as a potential low-cost option to bolster its attacking ranks.

Antonio’s journey back to full fitness has been arduous. In December last year, he survived a crash in Epping, Essex, that left his vehicle severely damaged.

He has not played senior competitive football since, dedicating himself to a lengthy rehabilitation initially continued at West Ham.

Following his release, the forward has diligently worked his way back, featuring for West Ham’s Under-21s in August and maintaining fitness through a training spell with Brentford earlier this season.

Now, with his recovery having progressed significantly, a move to the King Power Stadium appears imminent. For Antonio, it represents a chance to defy the odds and reignite a career that seemed in jeopardy just twelve months ago.

He will also be eyeing a return to the Reggae Boys squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup play-offs in March next year.

England delivered a commanding performance to defeat a short-handed Jamaica 80-37 at the Copper Box Arena here on Saturday, marking a strong start to their two-match netball series.

The hosts, seeking redemption after two consecutive losses to the Caribbean side, imposed their authority from the outset.

Led by an inspirational captain’s performance from Fran Williams, named Player of the Match, England built a formidable 23-point lead by halftime and never relented.

The victory serves as a measure of revenge for England, who were dethroned from third place in the world rankings by Jamaica earlier this year.

The Sunshine Girls had claimed the inaugural Horizon Series 2-1 in 2024, a result that propelled them above their rivals.

This 2025 series was originally scheduled as a four-test contest, with two matches in Jamaica in early December followed by two in England.

However, the fixtures in Kingston were cancelled due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, leaving Jamaica underprepared and unable to field their full-strength squad.

The two nations will complete their abbreviated series with a second match at the same venue on Sunday, where Jamaica will aim for a swift response.

The United States Navy Admiral overseeing US forces in Latin America and Caribbean retired on Friday, two years ahead of schedule.

Admiral Alvin Holsey

The Miami-based US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which overseas military operations in the region, said Admiral Alvin Holsey relinquished duties as commander to Air Force Lieutenant General Evan L. Pettus at the command’s headquarters on Friday.

Holsey reportedly was in disagreement with the Trump administration and its military operations in the Caribbean Sea.

‘One of Admiral Holsey’s most significant achievements was the transformation of US SOUTHCOM into a more agile, capable and operationally present force,’ said SOUTHCOM in a statement.

‘Under his leadership, the command expanded from roughly 3,500 personnel to nearly 15,000 personnel in direct support of operations in the region,’ it added. ‘The operational impact was immediately felt, with the expanded US presence across the region, improving responsiveness and strengthening deterrence.’

SOUTHCOM said Pettus, who was SOUTHCOM’s Military Deputy Commander, is a career Air Force officer with multiple combat deployments and stints in leadership roles, including the Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College, the Commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, and the Commander, Air Forces Southern.

SOUTHCOM said Holsey’s career includes numerous deployments aboard US Navy frigates and cruisers, as well as missions flying the SH-2F Seasprite and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters.

He commanded a helicopter anti-submarine squadron; the US Navy’s first hybrid electric propulsion warship, USS Makin Island (LHD 8); and Carrier Strike Group One aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

Holsey previously served as Military Deputy Commander at SOUTHCOM prior to assuming command.

Hosley assumed command of SOUTHCOM November 7, 2024.

‘Under his leadership, SOUTHCOM strengthened security in the Caribbean, reached an historic drug interdiction milestone by seizing and disrupting more than a million pounds of cocaine; expanded the US security partnership with Panama to a level not seen in decades; provided robust logistical support to the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti; and stood up Joint Task Force Southern Guard to support the Department of Homeland Security,’ SOUTHCOM said.

One of America’s six geographically focused unified commands, SOUTHCOM is responsible for US defense and security cooperation with partner nations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as US military operations in the region.

The Dubai Capitals withstood a ferocious late assault from Andre Russell to clinch a tense nine-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Saturday, sealing their second win of the DP World ILT20 season.

Andre Russell

The match was defined by two contrasting batting masterclasses.

First, a sublime, career-best 99 from the Capitals’ wicket-keeper batsman Shayan Jahangir rescued his side from a precarious 4-2 and propelled them to a formidable 196-5.

In reply, Russell’s unbeaten 33-ball 53 launched a thrilling late chase, but the Knight Riders, shackled by regular wickets, ultimately fell short at 187-8.

Batting first, the Capitals were rocked early by some enterprising bowling from Captain Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar, who picked up the opening wickets with just four runs on the board in the third over.

The recovery was masterminded by a stellar 115-run partnership between Jahangir and Jordan Cox, who weighed in with 29 off 30.

Jahangir, playing with serene authority, anchored the innings and then accelerated, smashing 10 fours and five sixes.

He agonisingly missed a historic century by one run, bowled by Russell in the final over, but his 99 stands as the highest individual score by an associate player in the tournament’s history.

Rovman Powell chipped in with a valuable 38 not out off 24 balls to provide a brutal finishing flourish. Holder ended with 2 for 22, and Russell 2 for 32.

Chasing 197, the Knight Riders’ innings never found stable momentum. Despite a brisk start from Phil Salt with 33 off 29, they lost Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, and Liam Livingstone in quick succession.

The left-arm spin of Waqar Salamkheil 3-33 proved pivotal, removing Salt and Brandon McMullen to stunt the middle order.

At 122-6 in the 16th over, the game seemed done and dusted. However, Russell, alongside Holder, 22 off 9, ignited a stunning fightback.

Their 46-run stand in 20 balls, which included a brutal 18-run over off Mustafizur Rahman, swung the momentum violently.

With 26 needed from the final over, Russell launched a six off the first ball from Muhammad Jawadullah, but the young pacer held his nerve, conceding only singles thereafter to seal a hard-fought win for the Capitals.