Category: CANA News

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has agreed to extend the examination timetable for Jamaica. Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon made the announcement in the Senate on Friday.

In responding to questions, following a statement on the impact and response to Hurricane Melissa., Morris Dixon also informed that no final decision has been taken on the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

‘In terms of PEP, we are looking at extending the dates for PEP. We have not made a final decision on PEP.but we are going to have to extend the dates there.

‘In terms of CXC, they have already agreed to extend the timetable for exams for Jamaica. So, we will have a longer period, so our exams will be later than the other territories, so that’s already in train.’

She also said an announcement will soon be made regarding lower CXC fees.

‘We have been negotiating lower fees for our students, by next week, you will hear more on what the final amount is,’ she said.

Meanwhile Morris Dixon said that in recognising the critical threat to students preparing for external examinations, the Ministry has adopted targeted strategies.

She said discussions are advanced with the Caribbean Examinations Council to determine necessary relief, including adjustments to deadlines and requirements for School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and practical examinations.

‘We are looking at how we can change the deadlines for those and there is a lot of flexibility built in. We are also looking at flexibility in syllabus coverage and also cost implications; also, provision of options for students to reduce the number of exams they sit based on their situation,’ she said.

As it relates to the National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQ-J), the Minister informed that the November sitting has been postponed.

She noted that examinations are tentatively rescheduled for February 2026, with a further option in June 2026, to allow students and institutions adequate time to prepare.

Turning to City and Guilds, she said the entity has proposed a two-cohort examination model with sittings in June and November 2026, offering increased flexibility for schools in the most severely impacted regions.

‘We are working with our primary external partners to ease the burden on our children as best as possible,’ Morris Dixon said

More than 600 educational institutions sustained damage during the passage of the Category five hurricane, which made landfall on October 28.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has stressed that global partnerships will be essential to the recovery of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), from external shocks, such as Hurricane Melissa, which devastated Jamaica.

He made the statement at the G20 summit under way in South Africa.

The summit brings together leaders from the world’s largest economies to address pressing global challenges and foster economic cooperation.

Holness delivered remarks during session one of the high level dialogue on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, held under the theme ‘Leaving no one Behind: Building our Economies, the Role of Trade, Financing for Development and the Debt Burden.’

The Prime Minister noted that Jamaica’s economy was transformed after decades of instability, but hurricane Melissa will negatively affect the island’s debt trajectory.

He called on the G20 to advance a more equitable, rules-based global trading framework that enhances predictability for small economies.

Meanwhile, President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa expressed condolences to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean community following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Approximately 88 people were killed by the storm in the Caribbean.

Reports suggest that Haiti recorded 43 casualties, and Jamaica recorded at least 45 deaths.

The Government of Guyana is preparing to take its strongest enforcement action yet against gold smuggling and illegal mining, with President Dr Irfaan Ali announcing on Saturday that mining operations producing low or no declarations will soon receive cease orders, and operators who damage riverbanks will be suspended and stripped of their mining blocks.

Speaking with the publication Guyana News Room, Ali said the new measures form part of a specialised, integrated operations unit that will be launched with international support to directly confront illegal mining, gold smuggling, and environmental violations.

‘These practices are unacceptable,’ the President stressed. ‘They harm communities, destroy the environment and rob the country of legitimate revenue.’

The enhanced crackdown will focus simultaneously on enforcement and systemic reform, creating a more transparent, accountable and sustainable mining environment.

According to the President, the Government’s position is clear: any operator with suspiciously low declarations, no declarations, or who engages in environmentally destructive practices will be stopped immediately.

In addition, mining blocks owned by those operators will be returned to the State, and their operations will not be allowed to continue.

Despite the tougher enforcement stance, the President reaffirmed that the Government remains committed to the thousands of small and medium-scale miners who operate responsibly.

Future support to these miners-whether technical, financial or logistical-will be directly tied to the declarations they make to the Guyana Gold Board, ensuring that the system rewards honesty and transparency.

The coming crackdown builds on a broader, multi-agency approach already in motion over the past year. Authorities have been tightening loopholes in the gold-export system, strengthening penalties for smuggling, and improving intelligence-gathering methods.

A government-established task force, comprising the Attorney-General, the Minister of Finance, the GRA Commissioner-General, the FIU, the Central Bank Governor and the Guyana Gold Board, has been reviewing the system and closing gaps that historically enabled smuggling rings to thrive.

Recent intelligence-led operations have already disrupted several illegal networks, with multiple foreign nationals arrested and charged in major stings.

According to officials, these efforts have also helped identify new smuggling tactics and weaknesses in declaration patterns, prompting the President’s latest directive.

A new partnership agreement has been signed between interCaribbean Airways and Virgin Atlantic, a move that will enable travellers to easily navigate the Caribbean.

The arrangement uses Barbados and Antigua as key connection hubs between interCaribbean’s regional routes and Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul services to London and other international destinations.

The development comes amid persistent travel challenges in the Eastern Caribbean, where limited flight schedules, high fares, and the collapse or downsizing of several regional carriers have made inter-island movement difficult.

According to the CEO of interCaribbean Airways Trevor Sadler, the new partnership is meant to ease some of those burdens.

‘This agreement with Virgin Atlantic represents another milestone in our mission to enhance Caribbean connectivity,’ Sadler said. ‘By partnering with a world-leading airline, we create additional options for Caribbean travellers to reach international destinations while also welcoming Virgin Atlantic customers to experience the beauty and diversity of the Caribbean across our network.’

Virgin Atlantic passengers flying into Barbados or Antigua will now be able to transfer directly onto interCaribbean flights to destinations including the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Kitts Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia and others, without the need for separate bookings or re-checking luggage.

This change is expected to improve reliability during the region’s busy tourism months.

The agreement is also expected to benefit Caribbean diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, offering more straightforward connections home during peak periods such as Christmas, summer breaks, and major cultural festivals.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) late Friday issued a security Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) cautioning civil aircraft operators about potential dangers in Venezuelan airspace.

The FAA says the NOTAM is the result of increased Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in Venezuelan airspace and military drills beginning in September.

On Saturday, a number of airlines were still flying to and from Venezuela.

But US operators must now provide 72 hours prior notice to the FAA before flying through Venezuela.

As part of an order issued in 2019, US airlines are already prohibited from flying to/from Venezuela.

The FAA NOTAM covers the MAIQUETIA (SVZM) flight information region.

Flight information regions are how air traffic control authority is divided around the world.

They are not national boundaries.

Venezuela manages the MAIQUETIA FIR, which includes all of Venezuelan land and extends into the Caribbean Sea approximately 350 miles at its furthest point.

West Indies were dismissed for 161 after electing to bat against New Zealand in the third and final One Day International here at Seddon Park on Friday.

WEST INDIES 161 in 36.2 overs (Roston Chase 38, John Campbell 26, Khary Pierre 22 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 19, Ackeem Auguste 17, Shai Hope 16, Shamar Springer 12; Matt Henry 4-43, Jacob Duffy 2-27,

Two of Saint Lucia’s top boxers, John Didier and Kyle Marcel will take part in next month’s International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai.

The lucrative tournament, which will be held from December 2 to 13 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, offers a US$8.32 million prize pool that will see winners of their respective divisions take home $30, 000 and fifth-place finishers $10, 000. Didier and Marcel will be hoping to emulate their performances at the recently completed Open International Boxing Tournament in Guadeloupe in October, where the former copped gold, and the latter claimed silver.

The Saint Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA) said their participation ‘marks a significant achievement for Saint Lucia, positioning the nation on one of the most prestigious stages in world boxing.’

According to the SLBA, this opportunity was made possible through the island’s longstanding loyalty to the IBA, and the island’s active role in advancing boxing across the Caribbean and within the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC).

The IBA, led by Russia’s Russian Kremlev, was stripped of recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 2023, citing corruption and lack of financial transparency.

Saint Lucia, however, has remained a stalwart member of the IBA, whilst countries like Barbados and Grenada have switched to the rival World Boxing, ensuring an Olympic pathway for their athletes.

Leg spinner Yannic Cariah snared a rare hat-trick to bowl Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to their first victory of this year’s CG United Super50 Cup, courtesy of a 75-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions in second round action here on Friday.

Half centuries by Jason Mohammed and Cephas Cooper were the mainstay of T and T’s total of 256 for eight off their 50 overs after being sent in to bat by the Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Cariah then took centre stage, claiming the wickets of Abhijai Mansingh, Jeavor Royal and Marquino Mindley with successive deliveries, as the Scorpions were bowled out for just 181 in 39.4 overs.

The visitors were put on the backfoot early on in their chase, thanks to a three-wicket haul by off-spinner Jyd Goolie.

Goolie dismissed Kirk McKenzie for 39, had Romaine Morris caught and bowled for 16 and also picked up the wicket of Javelle Glenn cheaply for two, to see the Scorpions slip to 79 for four.

Led by captain Brad Barnes’ knock of 40, the Scorpions recovered to 166 for six before Cariah weaved his magic.

He first had Mansingh caught at cover by Goolie for 18 with the first ball of the 38th over and followed that up by bowling Jeavor Royal with a beautiful googly that breached his defense and trapping Mindley plumb in front with a similar delivery.

Cariah finished with 4-24 while Goolie took 3-15.

Earlier, Mohammed scored 87 from 103 balls with five sixes and two fours and Cooper made 72 off 78 balls with 11 boundaries, to spearhead the home side’s batting.

The pair added 62 runs following the early losses of Kjorn Ottley and captain Joshua Da Silva to carry T and T to 106 for two.

And when Cooper was stumped off the bowling of Barnes, Mohammed shared a 65-run partnership with Goolie, who made 14, to ensure T and T got up to a competitive total.

For the Scorpions, Mindley took 3-39, Barnes 3-43 and Khari Campbell 2-69.

Scoreboard of the third and final One Day International between New Zealand and West Indies here on Friday.

WEST INDIES

John Campbell c Bracewell b Jamieson 26

Ackeem Auguste c Ravindra b Henry 17

Keacy Carty b Henry 0

*Shai Hope c +Latham b Foulkes 16

Sherfane Rutherford c Chapman b Duffy 19

Roston Chase c Bracewell b Henry 38

Justin Greaves c and b Santner 1

Matthew Forde lbw b Santner 0

Shamar Springer c +Latham b Duffy 12

Khary Pierre not out 22

Jayden Seales c Santner b Henry 0

Extras (lb6, w4) 10

TOTAL (all out; 36.2 overs) 161

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-31, 3-55, 4-77, 5-91, 6-95, 7-95, 8-124, 9-143, 10-161.

Bowling: Henry 9.2-0-43-4, Jamieson 9-1-44-1, Foulkes 4-0-13-1, Duffy 7-0-27-2, Santner 6-0-27-2, Bracewell 1-0-1-1.

NEW ZEALAND

Devon Conway c Carty b Seales 11

Rachin Ravindra b Forde 14

Will Young c Pierre b Forde 3

Mark Chapman c Pierre b Seales 64

+Tom Latham c Forde b Chase 10

Michael Bracewell not out 40

*Mitchell Santner c Chase b Springer 9

Zak Foulkes not out 2

Extras (lb2, w7) 9

TOTAL (six wickets; 30.3 overs) 162

Did not bat: Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-27, 3-32, 4-70, 5-145, 6-156.

Bowling: Forde 9-1-46-2, Seales 8-1-35-2, Springer 4-0-16-1, Greaves 5-0-33-0, Chase 4.3-0-30-1.

Toss: West Indies elected to bat.

Result: New Zealand won by four wickets to win the three-match series 3-0.

Player-of-the-Match: Matt Henry.

Player-of-the-Series: Kyle Jamieson.

Umpires: Allahuddien Paleker, Chris Brown.

TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmesena.

Reserve Umpire: Wayne Knights.

Match Referee: Phil Whitticase.

New Zealand defeated West Indies by four wickets in the third and final One Day International here on Friday.

Scores

WEST INDIES 161 in 36.2 overs (Roston Chase 38, John Campbell 26, Khary Pierre 22 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 19, Ackeem Auguste 17, Shai Hope 16, Shamar Springer 12; Matt Henry 4-43, Jacob Duffy 2-27, Mitchell Santner 2-27).

NEW ZEALAND 162-6 in 30.3 overs (Mark Chapman 64, Michael Bracewell 40 not out, Rachin Ravindra 14, Devon Conway 11, Tom Latham 10; Jayden Seales 2-35, Matthew Forde 2-46).