Category: CANA News

Grenada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Andall says the country’s unemployment rate has hit an historical single digit figure and claims that the people who are not employed or working are those who have made a personal decision to not seek employment or they are not qualified for the vacancies that are available.

‘The unemployment rate in Grenada has hit an historical low of 7.5%,’ Andall said while speaking on the adjournment of the sitting of the Lower House or House of Representatives on Wednesday .

‘And most of the people who are not working they are either unqualified for the available jobs or they simply prefer to not work,’ said Andall as he reminded the House that the only time in Grenada’s history when employment was lower was during the days of slavery or forced labour.

However, a review of the 2025 second quarter labour force survey as published by the Central Statistics Department on its website for the period April to June 2025 shows that the unemployment rate was 10.8%.

The second quarter labour force survey as posted by the Central Statistics Office which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development.

‘Economically inactive’ refers to individuals who are neither employed or unemployed, meaning they are not in the labor force because they are not actively seeking or available for work. Common reasons for economic inactivity include being a student, caring for a family or home, retirement, long-term illness, or not seeking a job because one believes no work is available.

‘Economically active’ refers to the population that is in employment or is unemployed but actively seeking work. This group, also known as the labor force, includes everyone who supplies labor for the production of goods and services during a specific period, from employers and self-employed individuals to employees and those in the armed forces.

In contrast, ‘economically inactive’ people are not in employment and are not looking for work, such as students who are not seeking jobs or retirees.

Despite calls for West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer to be replaced, head coach Daren Sammy has thrown his full support behind the Barbadian, saying he still believes he is the right man for the job.

Reifer’s job has come under intense scrutiny in recent months following a failure by the regional team’s batters to consistently score runs.

It was brought to the fore when the Windies were routed for 27 by Australia in the third and final Test in July, the second lowest total in Test history.

That performance led to Cricket West Indies (CWI) holding an emergency meeting to discuss the future of West Indies cricket.

The 53-year-old Reifer has held a continuous role as an assistant coach for the West Indies since 2023.

Speaking during a virtual press conference hosted by CWI on Thursday, Sammy was asked if he still had confidence in Reifer as the team’s batting coach.

And while the head coach admitted that the team’s batters were not as consistent as they ought to be, he said he still believed in Reifer’s ability to get the job done.

‘I have seen Floyd Reifer work tirelessly every single day at training. The effort he puts, the attention he puts to detail to try to get our guys ready.

‘He has had little days of joy, just like me. His days of joy as a batting coach have been few and far between, but we understand our jobs as coaches. It’s a performance driven job that we rely heavily on player performance and even when player performance comes, it’s not really attributed to the work of the coaches,’ Sammy said.

‘But I see a man that is dedicated, preparing guys every single day.’

Sammy pointed to Reifer’s involvement in the development of batsmen such as Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford, who was named in the 2024 ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year after scoring an impressive 425 runs in nine matches at an average of 106.2.

‘I saw Floyd work with Rutherford endlessly, and Keacy Carty, and started working on areas pertaining to their roles and how they wanted to play.

‘And what I saw from Carty and what I saw from Rutherford during that year 2024, when Rutherford made the ODI Team of the Year, and I never heard not one time the work that Floyd did with those players,’ Sammy maintained.

‘Every single member of my staff takes their job very seriously and puts in the work. We do understand that even though we put in the work, it takes our guys to go out and execute. And when for us we watch games like this tour in New Zealand and see that every single game we’ve been in a position to win and when those last moments in the game where we have to make critical decisions under pressure, we falter.

‘I say all of this to say that I believe in Floyd, I believe in [all my staff] and my players and we will continue to do all that we can so that our players can be glorified when they do well,’ he added.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Coast Guard seized close to J$4 billion worth of cocaine, following a high speed chase in our territorial waters on Wednesday.

In a statement on Thursday, the Coast Guard says it seized 990.71 pounds of the drug, which has an estimated street value of J$3.7 billion.

The coast guard says it was conducting routine patrols south of the island when it intercepted a vessel believed to be transporting illicit narcotics.

A chase then ensued, with the occupants of the suspected drug smuggling vessel tossing multiple packages overboard as they fled.

The Coast Guard retrieved the contraband and handed it over to the narcotics police for processing.

The statement from the JDF does not say whether the occupants of the vessel were arrested.

Nor did it say how many occupants were aboard the suspect vessel.

The JDF describes the seizure as a significant disruption to regional drug-trafficking networks.

It says the seizure underscores the JDF’s commitment to regional security cooperation and the protection of Jamaica’s borders against transnational organised crime.

The drug seizure comes against the backdrop of the US military’s continuous patrol of Caribbean waters and the launching of deadly air strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats.

Presidential Health Advisor, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, is urging Guyanese men to pay closer attention to their health, stating that in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, men now have a shorter life expectancy than women.

Dr. Mahendra Carpen

Addressing a National Symposium on men’s health and wellness on Wednesday, Carpen, who is a cardiologist, said while men’s health and wellness in Guyana have been steadily improving, men still need to pay closer attention to their overall health.

‘This is not quite an emergency, but it’s an alert that that we have to pay attention to right now and if we don’t we will get caught up with everything else and we neglect something very important. Men, not just around the world, but in the Caribbean we have a 3-4 year shorter lifespan than women. We live in the same place, we have the same food, we are in the same environment, but men have shorter life expectancy,’ he said.

He told the forum that men are more than twice as likely than women to have premature death, meaning dying before the expected time. Among the causes, he highlighted cardiovascular disease, liver disease, lung cancer and accidents as the main causes of death for men in Guyana.

The suicide rate in the country is also higher among men.

So, if we are truly looking at equality, we have to address these issues as well. There are certain barriers that men face. Culturally in the Caribbean, we don’t go to the Caribbean until we are sick, and that’s something that need to change immediately,’ Carpen stated.

Meanwhile, Minister of Human Service and Social Security, Dr. Vindya Persaud highlighted the need for healthier relationships, strong mentorship for boys, and more supportive spaces for men.

She also highlighted key initiatives such as men’s groups in eight Regions, expanded Brave Centers, the Brotherhood of Safe Spaces, and a new Bridging the Gap Policy to strengthen families and prevent violence.

‘I am firm believer of not labeling men as bad people, we have to move away from that narrative. There are men who contribute positively and we need to have a balance where boys can see those men as their role models,’ the Minister stated.

The forum was designed to serve as a starting point for sustained national dialogue, to encourage informed policy development, deepen community engagement and expand support systems for men and their families.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy strongly believes that the presence of veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach in next month’s Test series against New Zealand will make them competitive and significantly bolster their chances of upsetting the hosts.

Roach’s inclusion in the 15-member squad for the three-match Test series was widely expected, with the regional team faced with a slew of injuries to fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Ramon Simmonds and Jediah Blades.

His selection was imminent once he was chosen to take part in a two-week High-Performance preparation camp earlier this month hosted by Cricket West Indies (CWI), and he is expected to lead the bowling attack with Jayden Seales.

The 37-year-old Barbadian’s career seemed to be at an end after he was left out of the West Indies squad for the three-match home Test series against Australia back in July and then for the two-match Test series against India in October.

He last featured for the Windies in their drawn Test series against Pakistan in January. However, speaking during a virtual press conference hosted by CWI on Thursday, Sammy said Roach’s quality and experience would give West Indies a chance against the fifth ranked Kiwis.

Of the 284 Test wickets taken by Roach, which makes him the fifth-highest wicket taker for the West Indies in that format, 36 have come against New Zealand.

He has only taken more Test wickets against England (61) and Bangladesh (53).

‘Kemar has done really well against New Zealand. I’m really excited because when you miss out on two of your leading guys over the last year and you could rely on somebody of the experience of Kemar, in conditions that will be favourable to him with his experience, it gives you the hope that we can compete, we can be effective and we can push through for victories and I can’t wait.

‘I expect to see a motivated Kemar Roach, but more importantly, a disciplined Kemar Roach, because it will take a lot of discipline from not only Kemar, but from our batters, from our bowlers, it will take a lot of discipline to stick to the plans and the processes that we have to implement in order to be successful here in New Zealand,’ Sammy said.

With Alzarri and Shamar expected to return to action in early next year, Sammy said it did not mean Roach would be sidelined again.

In fact, he explained that once Roach performed well in New Zealand, it would give selectors a major headache with Test series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh looming in 2026.

‘I really wish he comes here and puts on a show and then afterwards he comes and says, ‘Coach I should have been here’. I would love that actually.

‘It would give me a great place to be.If we have a performing [Johann] Layne, a performing Anderson [Phillip] and a performing Kemar and then we have the services of Alzarri and Shamar back in the squad then it puts West Indies fast bowling back in a great position to select from,’ Sammy said.

Veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach has expectedly been named in a West Indies 15-member squad to face New Zealand in a three-match Test series beginning next month.

The 37-year-old’s selection does not come as a surprise having been invited by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to take part in a two-week High-Performance preparation camp earlier this month.

Roach, the fifth-highest wicket taker for the West Indies in Tests (285), along with Jayden Seales, will lead the Windies’ pace attack missing the likes of speedsters Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, who have been sidelined for the rest of the year with injuries.

Meanwhile, Shields, who was also part of the camp, is in line to make his debut in a squad depleted of pacers.

Kemar Roach

The 29-year-old Jamaican fast bowler has played 16 first class matches and taken 34 wickets.

Middle-order batsman Kavem Hodge has also been recalled to the side. Hodge, who last featured in a Test match for the Windies against Pakistan in early January, has played 11 Tests and scored 556 runs at an average of 25.27.

Those traveling from the Caribbean joined the rest of the squad in New Zealand on November 20, giving them considerable time to become acclimatised and take part in a two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln, Christchurch ahead of the Test series.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said all efforts had been made to ensure the squad was one of the best-prepared groups for an away tour to New Zealand.

‘New Zealand has traditionally been one of the toughest places for any touring side, which is why strong emphasis has been placed on targeted preparation.

‘The recent high-performance camp here in Antigua was designed to replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions we expect to face, particularly the pace-friendly surfaces,’ Bascombe said.

‘That level of intentional preparation, combined with the advantage of several squad members already in New Zealand for the white-ball portion of the tour gaining valuable time to acclimate, means this group goes into this series as well-prepared as any West Indies squad to tour there in recent years.’

The series forms part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship and will be the West Indies’ final fixture for 2025.

West Indies Test Squad to New Zealand: Roston Chase (captain), Jomel Warrican, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Ojay Shields.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, delivered the Throne Speech on Thursday, outlining the government’s achievements over the past 25 years and setting new priorities for economic growth, healthcare, education and infrastructure as the nation enters the second quarter of the 21st century.

The speech highlighted the country’s economic expansion since 2000, with GDP rising from US$802 million to more than US$2 billion in 2025, despite repeated climate shocks, the global financial crisis and the pandemic.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes defeated the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by two wickets in the opening round of the CG United Super50 Cup here on Wednesday.

Scores

LEEWARD ISLANDS 324 in 47.3 overs (Kofi James 103, Mikyle Louis 59, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 56, Jewel Andrew 31, Jahmar Hamilton 23, Karima Gore 15, Ishmael Peters 11; Shadrack Descarte 3-43, Darron Nedd 3-53, Kenneth Dember 3-56).

WINDWARD ISLANDS 325-8 in 43.5 overs (Darron Nedd 94, Dillon Douglas 61, Stephan Pascal 40, Teddy Bishop 32, Sunil Ambris 25, McKenny Clarke 22 not out, Keon Gaston 17; Oshane Thomas 3-62, Karima Gore 2-41).

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Caribbean immigration advocates here, have welcomed a United States federal judge’s dismissal of a Trump administration lawsuit challenging New York’s Protect Our Courts Act.

‘Everyone deserves to seek justice without fear. This ruling ensures that anyone can use New York’s state courts without being targeted by federal authorities,’ James told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Wednesday.

‘My office will continue fighting to defend the dignity and rights of immigrant communities throughout New York,’ she added.

On Tuesday, Judge Mae Avila D’Agostino in the Northern District of New York dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against New York State over limits on federal immigration enforcement at state and local courts.

In 2020, New York State enacted the Protect Our Courts Act and two executive orders that prohibited US federal immigration agents from making arrests at courthouses without having a judicial warrant.

The lawsuit challenging this was filed by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

In 2020, James secured a landmark ruling preventing the first Trump administration from conducting civil immigration arrests in and around New York courthouses.

Later that year, New York codified those protections by enacting the Protect Our Courts Act.

In June 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) sought to strike down the law, but, on Tuesday, the US District Court for the Northern District of New York dismissed the lawsuit, holding that nothing in federal immigration law preempts New York’s authority to safeguard access to its courts.

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), said this ruling does not affect immigration arrests at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan or other federal courthouses.

NYIC is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York.

‘Every New Yorker deserves to participate in our justice system without fear that, just by showing up to court, they will be abducted and separated from their families,’ Awawdeh told CMC.

‘When ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agency arrests people who show up for their court cases, it disincentivizes people from following the legal processes set forth in our country,’ he added. ‘Courthouses must be a place of justice, not a trap used to terrorize and disappear immigrant New Yorkers.

‘Judge D’Agostino’s ruling is an important step towards maintaining the integrity of local and state courts in New York,’ Awawdeh continued. ‘New York must further its commitment to the safety of all New Yorkers by passing the New York For All Act, and the federal government must stop its unlawful detentions of New Yorkers at federal immigration courts throughout the state.’

The Derek Walcott Library at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Regional Register for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The announcement was made during the programme’s annual regional meeting held recently in Lima and Cusco, Peru.

Out of 71 nominations from 15 countries, 29 were approved, including the submission for the Derek Walcott Library.

The Memory of the World Programme safeguards documentary heritage that is at risk of being forgotten, damaged, or lost. The inscription recognises the cultural, historical and literary value of Sir Derek Alton Walcott’s personal collection, which offers a rare, intimate look into the mind and influences of the Nobel Laureate.

The Derek Walcott Library brings together Sir Derek’s original bookshelves: works he authored, titles gifted by peers and collaborators, and a broad range of materials that reflect his engagement with Caribbean literature, art, theatre, history and world cultures.

The collection, donated to the College in 2020 by Sigrid Nama, stands as a preserved record of Walcott’s creative world and the wider literary conversations that shaped him.

The Saint Lucia National Commission for UNESCO also acknowledged Kathy Birch-McDiarmed, Head Librarian of the Hunter J. Francois Library, who now serves as Vice President of the Memory of the World Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Her continued work supports the protection and promotion of documentary heritage across the region.

The Commission says the inscription reinforces the importance of preserving the Derek Walcott Library and the literary memory it holds for the Caribbean and beyond.