Category: CANA News

Tim David produced a stunning display of power hitting, while West Indians Rovman Powell and Sunil Narine made minor contributions in the UAE Bulls’ emphatic 80-run win over the Aspin Stallions, which helped them claim their first-ever Abu Dhabi T10 League title here on Sunday.

David, who was predictably named Player-of-the-Match, clobbered 12 massive sixes and three fours in his scintillating, unbeaten knock of 98 off just 30 balls, that powered the Bulls to a mammoth 150 for one in their 10 overs, after they were sent in to bat at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Guyanese left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd felt the full weight of David’s bat, as he was hit for five sixes in the last over of the innings that leaked 32 runs.

Powell scored an unbeaten 24 off 20 balls with two fours and a six and shared an unbroken 128-run partnership with David that required just 52 balls.

The Stallions never got into stride and fell well short of their target, finishing on 70 for four.

Narine went wicketless in his two overs which went for 10 runs.

Bulls captain Kieron Pollard along with Romario Shepherd did not feature with bat or ball in the contest.

They forgot to inform the voters in St. Lucia that the code is yellow in the Caribbean, and so on Monday the ‘Mood is Red’ prevailed as the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) won a convincing second consecutive term in office.

Supporters of the SLP had long indicated that they would ensure that the sweep by political parties using the phrase ‘yellow is the colour’ such as in Trinidad and Tobago, and more recently, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, would not be replicated here.

‘First of all I would like to thank the people of St. Lucia for conducting what was a very decent election, an election free from violence and this is testimony of the maturity of our people and the maturity of our democracy.

‘I want to thank the members of the St. Lucia Labour Party, the executive, the cabinet, the men and women in the constituency groups , who worked hard, who worked tirelessly that this victory happened,’ a jubilant Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre told supporters after the preliminary results show that the party is on course to better the 13-2 victory it recorded in the 2021 general election.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Monday confirmed that National Security and Peace Minister, Dr Horace Chang, is ‘recuperating ‘ after undergoing an elective procedure.

In a message posted on X, Prime Minster Holness gave no further details regarding the health status of his deputy prime minister.

Dr. Horace Chang

But a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister said that Chang, 73, had undergone the procedure over the last weekend and that he is expected to make a full recovery.

‘We wish our deputy prime minister a speedy recovery and a quick resumption of duties,’ it said without also providing no further details about the procedure.

Chang is a medical doctor by profession, serving in both the public and private sectors where he made significant contributions in the development of a modern public health system for Jamaicans.

His political career began in 1976 as an active member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Prime Minister Holness will oversee the operations of the Ministry of National Security and Peace in the meantime.

The state-owned oil and gas company, Staatsolie, says it has started seismic research in the shallow offshore area off the coast of Saramacca and Coronie.

It said that the survey is a joint project involving the Chinese Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting (BGP Offshore), and the Norwegian/American company Tomlinson Geophysical Services Inc. (TGS).

‘The seismic survey in the Shallow Offshore area is being conducted in an area of approximately 2,000 km with water depths ranging from twenty to fifty meters. Over the course of two months, high-quality seismic data (information about the geology of the seabed) will be collected to map potential oil and gas deposits.

‘This survey is an important step in further exploiting Suriname’s offshore oil and gas potential, aligning with the Open-Door-Offering that started on November 24, 2025,’ Staatsolie said in a statement.

The Open-Door Offering invites international investors to participate in new exploration and development opportunities in our offshore areas. These initiatives are in line with Staatsolie’s vision to position Suriname as an attractive and competitive destination for international investors.

Staatsolie said that the project is being executed by BGP Offshore and TGS with both companies having extensive experience in seismic research and have previously carried out successful projects in Suriname.

‘The ship BGP Prospector will be used for this research. The boat will tow eight streamers, each six kilometers long, at a depth of nine meters. Streamers are long cables that record the reflection of sound waves from the subsurface beneath the seabed. This limits the ship’s maneuverability, so it is accompanied by support vessels to ensure that fishing boats and commercial ships keep a safe distance. ‘

Staatsolie said that the research is being conducted on the basis of a multi-client agreement allowing the consortium to collect and sell the data to third parties.

Staatsolie said it owns the data, can use it for its own exploration activities, and receives a share of the proceeds from its sale. This model provides access to high-quality data without bearing the full costs.

‘The project is being carried out in accordance with the National Environmental Authority’s (NMA) guidelines. The MMMP, which was approved by the NMA, guarantees that the research will be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.

‘From August to October of this year, stakeholders, including Coronie and Saramacca residents and fishermen, were informed and consulted for the composition of the MMMP, and their feedback was incorporated into the final plan,’ Staatsolie added.

UNAIDS Monday reaffirmed its commitment working with governments, civil society and people living with and most affected by HIV in the Caribbean region to help in building a resilient, people-centred HIV response that protects progress, strengthens community leadership, and ensures no one is left behind, even in the face of disruption.

In a message marking World AIDS Day, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, said it stands with governments, people living with and most affected by HIV, civil society and development partners to reaffirm ‘our shared commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat in the region by 2030.’.

World AIDS Day is being observed under the theme ‘Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,’ and UNAIDS said that it reflects the region’s progress and the urgent challenges threatening to reverse hard-won gains.

It said the climate crisis, high debt burdens, and slow economic growth are tightening fiscal space and constraining investments in health, education, and social protection.

‘The Caribbean’s vulnerability is compounded by high dependence on external financing, which accounts for 66 per cent of HIV resources in 2024. As global health aid declines by an estimated 30-40 per cent, the region must guard against shrinking community services, widening inequalities, and emerging HIV prevention and treatment gaps.’

UNAIDS said furthermore, climate shocks, including Hurricane Melissa’s recent devastation across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, have disrupted care, displaced families, and deepened vulnerabilities for people living with HIV.

It said many people are now rebuilding their lives while trying to stay connected to HIV treatment, prevention, and basic support services.

‘These obstacles exacerbate the challenges in a region where despite increasing numbers of people living with HIV on treatment, nearly 30 per cent of them (90,000 people) are not in care and likely to present with advanced HIV disease and among those in care, many fall out of care and are not virally suppressed.

‘Yet despite these pressures, the region continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and innovation. In close partnership with local communities, countries are sustaining hard-won gains and advancing the shared goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat. ‘

UNAIDS said that the Caribbean’s resilience is proven, but resilience alone cannot counter shrinking resources and mounting shocks from social, economic, environmental and health inequalities.

‘We must strengthen health systems, scale community-led solutions, and guarantee uninterrupted access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. Ending AIDS by 2030 demands urgency, unity, and renewed commitment.’

UNAIDS said that as countries confront widening inequalities, service disruptions, and declining external financing, global solidarity becomes indispensable.

‘No nation can close the remaining gaps in prevention, treatment, and protection of rights on its own. UNAIDS calls on the international community to stand with countries most affected by the epidemic, closing funding shortfalls, dismantling legal and social barriers, and fully resourcing community leadership at every level. This is essential for a sustainable and resilient HIV response. ‘

It said it is also urging Caribbean leaders to advance on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 to end AIDS and embrace the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 to be endorsed and presented to member states this month by deepening regional partnerships, strengthening health systems, safeguarding service continuity, and addressing stigma and discrimination.

‘This includes expanding people-centered and rights-based access to prevention and treatment, and investing domestic resources in sustainable, community-led responses capable of withstanding future shocks,’ UNAIDS add

The Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) Coordinating Unit (PCU), Dr Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Monday promised an ‘AIDS-free Caribbean for generations to come’ even as she acknowledged that the path towards ending AIDS by 2030 ‘was never meant to be easy’.

In a message marking World AIDS Day, Emanuelson said that the the recent financial challenges present one of the most significant tests the region has faced in decades.

Dr Wendy Telgt Emanuelson

‘These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent a potential threat to the medicines that keep our Caribbean brothers and sisters healthy, the prevention programmes that protect our youth, and the hope that has been steadily building across our territories.’

She said that as the region observes World AIDS Day, it is being called to embrace the powerful theme of ‘Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.’

‘This call resonates deeply across our Caribbean region, not as a mere slogan, but as a testament to the resilience that has always defined our people. We stand at a pivotal moment, facing the strong crosswinds of global funding cuts that threaten to slow our progress. But hear this clearly: our resolve has not been shaken; it has been steeled.’

Emanuelson said that Caribbean people are no strangers to overcoming storms, saying ‘we have learned to build stronger, stand firmer, and innovate smarter when faced with adversity.

‘The dream of an AIDS-free Caribbean, a Caribbean where no mother passes HIV to her child, where no life is cut short by AIDS, and where stigma and discrimination are relics of the past, is a dream we will not abandon.

‘Our commitment to achieving the 95-95-95 targets is unwavering. Why? Because we have seen the transformative power of treatment. We have witnessed communities rally together. We already have countries in our Region that have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV.’

She said that this progress, hard-won by the dedication of governments, healthcare workers, civil society, and people living with HIV, is a foundation ‘we will not allow to crumble but will continue to build on.

‘In this new reality, we are not merely surviving; we are transforming. We are forging a more efficient, more integrated, and more sustainable response. We are empowering our communities to lead, streamlining our supply chains, and ensuring that every single resource we have is used to its maximum impact. We are proving that our spirit and our collective will are our most valuable assets.

‘To our partners who stand with us, your solidarity is more crucial than ever. To the health care workers on the frontlines, your dedication is our inspiration. To the advocates and community leaders, your voice is our conscience. And to every person living with and affected by HIV in the Caribbean, we see you, we stand with you, and we reaffirm our promise: you are not alone.

‘Let me be clear: We will not go back. We will not surrender the gains for which we have fought so hard. We will navigate this challenge with determination, innovate with purpose, and unite with a common vision.

‘The journey may now be steeper, but our destination remains the same. Together, we will overcome this disruption, transform our response, and realise an AIDS-free Caribbean for generations to come,’ she added.

Prime Minister Phillip Davis is in the United Kingdom attending a high-level briefing hosted by the Sustainable Markets Initiative on Monday.

Prime Minister Phillip Davis

The Office of the Prime Minister said that Davis had been invited to the one day event by Britain’s King Charles III and that it will focus on private capital mobilisation to support global energy transition efforts, climate action, and innovative financing arrangements, including debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate mechanisms.

‘The engagement will bring together global financial leaders, multilateral development banks, and senior representatives from private finance institutions to discuss concrete actions that can accelerate investment flows into climate-resilient and sustainable development,’ the statement said.

It added that Prime Minister David will return here on Tuesday.

Jamaica has secured a comprehensive package of up to US$6.7 billion over a three year period to strengthen the country’s recovery and reconstruction efforts following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October.

In a statement on Monday, the World Bank said Monday that at the request of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank Group (WBG) have jointly assembled a comprehensive package for the island.

It said that this coordinated effort reflects a unified commitment to help Jamaica pursue a fiscally responsible, long-term recovery through a combination of emergency preparedness financing, sovereign financing, grant support and private sector investments.

Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica on October 28, leaving 45 people dead and damage estimated at nine billion US dollars.

The announcement by the banks come as Prime Minister Holness is due to hold meet with representatives from the international financial institutions to discuss implementation plans.

According to the World Bank, Jamaica’s robust disaster risk financing framework enabled a rapid flow of funds to meet urgent response needs.

It said that this framework facilitated an immediate inflow of critical liquidity to supplement the government’s own contingency resources, for a total of US$662 million, with US$37 million from the government of Jamaica’s Contingency Fund and National Natural Disaster Reserve Fund, US$91 million from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), US$150 million from the WBG Catastrophe Bond, US$300 million available from the IDB’s Contingent Credit Facility (CCF). and US$42 million, scalable to US$84 million available upon request under the World Bank Group’s Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option.

The statement said that under the recovery needs and institutional support, with damages estimated at US$8.8 billion, recovery will require significant resources and long-term investments.

‘Comprehensive recovery planning is already underway, focusing on critical priorities and reinforcing Jamaica’s resilience. CAF, CDB, IDB Group, IMF and WBG are working closely with the Government of Jamaica and other partners to support this process.’

It said to that end, a new financial support package of up to US$3.6 billion could be made available to finance the government’s recovery and reconstruction programme over the next three years, comprising up toone billion US dollars from CAF for priority areas identified by the government.

In addition, the CDB will provide up to US$200 million in financing in priority areas also identified by the government, including resilient national and community infrastructure, and small business support, while the IDB will provide up to one billion US dollars in sovereign financing in priority areas where its technical expertise and long-standing engagement can have sustained impact.

Jamaica has requested from the IMF, access under the large natural disaster window of the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) which could amount to a loan of up to US$415 million, while the World Bank is providing up to one billion US dollars in sovereign financing, including budget support, partial risk guarantees and investment projects in critical sectors.

‘To ensure Jamaica’s recovery is effective, resilient, and informed by global best practices, the five institutions are also providing technical assistance and policy advisory services, funded by grants, that draw on global experience and best practices in disaster response. So far, US$12 million in grants has already been mobilized from the IDB, the WBG and CAF, with more to come,’ the statement noted.

It said that engaging private capital will be essential not only to scale up recovery efforts, but also to preserve fiscal space.

The IDB Group’s and World Bank Group’s regional platforms are designed to blend public and private solutions from the outset.

‘Together, IDB Invest and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are actively working to attract and mobilize an initial estimate of US$2.4 billion in private investment to support Jamaica’s recovery and reconstruction-split equally between the IDB Group and the World Bank Group.’

The World Bank Group, CAF, CDB, IDB Group, and IMF remain committed to ensuring that Jamaica’s recovery is grounded in a comprehensive and collaborative approach that leverages both international partnership and private sector engagement.

The statement said that by combining robust financial instruments, technical guidance, and a shared commitment to building forward better, Jamaica is well-positioned not only to restore what was lost but also to strengthen its resilience to future disasters.

It said continued partnership and innovation will remain central as Jamaica charts a stronger, more resilient future for all its citizens.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, arrived here at the state of a three-day state visit that officials here signal efforts to improve the socio-economic and political relationship with the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

The King, who personally landed the Dutch government plane safely at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, is being accompanied by his wife, Queen Máxima and a broadly composed Dutch business delegation representing 15 companies and institutions involved in businesses from hydraulic engineering and infrastructure to health technology, logistics, agriculture, and innovation.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife, Queen Máxima arrive in Suriname at the start of a three-day state visit.

‘Well, good evening. I am very happy that it has finally happened,’ said Willem-Alexander on his arrival.

The state visit begins Monday with a reception at the Presidential Palace by President Jennifer Greeling-Simons, followed by a bi-lateral meeting between the two heads of state.

A statement here said that the 15 participating companies ‘represent the most important pillars of the Dutch economy, with clear starting points for cooperation with Suriname’.

During his three day visit, the Dutch King is expected to confront the issue of reparation for the slave trade.

He has in the past has apologised for his country’s historical involvement in slavery and his royal family’s role, but neither he nor the government have directly offered financial reparations to descendants.

Numerous Surinamese and Dutch-Afro-Surinamese organizations have consistently demanded reparations from the Netherlands for its historical role in slavery. These groups argue that the official apologies offered by the Dutch government are insufficient without tangible financial and social compensation.

New Zealand reached 17 for one at lunch against the West Indies on the opening day of the first Test here at Hagley Oval on Monday.

NEW ZEALAND 17-1 in 10.3 overs (Kane Williamson 13 not out; Kemar Roach 1-4).