Category: CANA News

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green, has charged the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Grace Kennedy (GK) Insurance team to have more farmers sign up for coverage under the GK Weather Protection Programme.

He was speaking at the recent handover of a J$2.88 million cheque to 98 RADA farmer beneficiaries under the programme.

GK Weather Protection is a parametric insurance product designed to safeguard the livelihoods of local farmers and fishers from extreme weather events such as excess rainfall, drought and hurricane winds.

The Minister noted that the Government’s investment of $7.5 million in the programme has not yet been utilised, despite being sufficient to fund a basic insurance package for over 1,000 participating farmers.

‘So, I’m challenging the GK team and the RADA team, as we go out to deliver our. recovery assistance, let us also sign-up people as they come to collect seeds and fertiliser and things like that to get back going. Let us sign them up for the insurance programme so that at least we know there is a layer of protection that can help them if any other weather event befalls us,’ he said.

The Minister extended a call for farmers to sign up, noting that weather projections are for an extremely dry season starting between January and February.

‘So, I’m saying to the farmers, that this again is an opportunity for us to take advantage of the facilities that are available to help you help yourselves and the Government is providing support in that regard,’ he said.

Fishers, he noted, also need to take up the insurance offer, pointing out that Hurricane Melissa damaged more than 3,300 fishing vessels, leaving a trail of devastation from parts of the parish of Clarendon through to St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland and into Hanover.

‘I think we have not yet made a strong enough case for the fishers to appreciate that Weather Protect can also provide them with some protection,’ Green contended.

‘So, part of what I want the GK Insurance team to do is to engage the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and to also get to our fishers, to have them appreciate that this policy is an agricultural-based policy covering crops, livestock, and fishers,’ he pointed out.

He argued that if fishers were a part of the insurance programme, they would be reaping the benefits now, to start rebuilding their livelihoods.

Green congratulated GK Insurance for its collaboration with the Ministry in creating the parametric insurance scheme, while imploring them to consistently look at revisions to improve the programme.

Over 40,000 hectares of farmland and approximately 70,000 farmers were impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is warning that Trinidad and Tobago’s joint military drills with the United States could ‘threaten peace’ in the Caribbean.

He made the statement in the aftermath of Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers saying that the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will conduct training exercises with the T and T Defence Force from November 16-21.

‘They say they’re going to do it from Monday to Thursday. Well, the people of Trinidad and Tobago will see if they continue to tolerate the use of their waters and land to seriously threaten the peace of the Caribbean,’ Maduro declared.

Speaking on Saturday, Maduro accused the twin island republic of once again authorising ‘irresponsible military exercises’ in waters off the Venezuelan state of Sucre, claiming the drills project a threatening posture toward Venezuela.

He urged citizens in the eastern states of Bolívar, Monagas, Sucre, Anzoátegui and Nueva Esparta to mobilise in a ‘popular, military and police effort’ to maintain a permanent vigil and take to the streets with the national flag ‘in the face of new threats.’

He also called for a national mobilisation to send a clear message: ‘Out with imperialist ships, out with military threats! Venezuela demands respect. This people has considerable power in the streets, in every city.’

Maduro further repeated his longstanding allegation that the US aims to seize Venezuela’s natural resources. ‘They want to steal our oil. Are we going to let them? They want to steal our gas. Are we going to let them?’

The military drills come at a time of severe diplomatic strain between Port of Spain and Caracas.

Relations have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, with Venezuela declaring Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister persona non grata and suspending all ongoing energy negotiations.

New Zealand defeated West Indies by seven runs in the opening One Day International here at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

NEW ZEALAND 269-7 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 119, Devon Conway 49, Michael Bracewell 35, Zak Foulkes 22 not out, Tom Latham 18, Mitchell Santner 11; Jayden Seales 3-41, Matthew Forde 2-55).

WEST INDIES 262-6 in 50 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 55, Justin Greaves 38 not out, Shai Hope 37, Keacy Carty 32, Alick Athanaze 29, Romario Shepherd 26 not out, Roston Chase 16; Kyle Jamieson 3-52).

The United States is continuing to provide more aid to Jamaica and other Caribbean countries in the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement was made even as United States legislators called on the Trump administration to provide more aid to the affected countries.

The US Department of State said the Trump administration has also announced nearly US$12.6 million in additional disaster assistance on November 10, bringing the total US assistance in the wake of Hurricane Melissa to nearly US$37 million.

In addition, the State Department said the US has deployed a DART, comprised of State Department disaster response experts, to The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica on October 29; the deployment of the Fairfax County and Los Angeles County Fire Departments’ USAR teams to Jamaica to support search and rescue operations and debris clearing efforts; and 530,000 pounds of relief commodities, including food, safe drinking water, and shelter supplies, airlifted by the US Southern Command’s Joint Task Force-Bravo to hard-hit communities in western Jamaica.

The Department said the administration has delivered 12,000 tarps,12,000 shelter kits, and hygiene supplies for 12,000 families to Jamaica from a State Department warehouse in Miami, Florida; distributed nearly 3,000 plastic sheeting and shelter kits -prepositioned by the US in Haiti- via the International Organization for Migration for Haitians displaced by the storm; distributed food commodities by the UN World Food Program to 12,700 people in Haiti; supported the Bahamas Red Cross Society to provide shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene support; and provided funding for Caritas in Cuba ‘to ensure Cuban people affected by Hurricane Melissa receive assistance without the interference of the Cuban regime.

‘The United States continues to stand by the people of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and The Bahamas as they recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa,’ the department said.

‘The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to helping our neighbors recover from this disaster and will continue to explore additional ways to provide meaningful assistance during this critical time,’ it added.

Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke said she and New York Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks have led 56 of their colleagues in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Trump administration to continue immediate humanitarian and recovery assistance to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, chairs the Congressional Black Caucus.

Meeks represents the 5th Congressional District in Queens, New York.

‘We write to express our deep concern and solidarity with the people of Jamaica following the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa,’ the letter says. ‘We welcome the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team and respectfully urge the Department of State to continue immediate humanitarian and recovery assistance to support Jamaica’s response to this unprecedented disaster.

West Indies Under-19s defeated England Under-19s by four wickets in the opening Youth One Day International here at the National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Scores

ENGLAND U19s 242 in 46.2 overs (Joe Moores 59, Caleb Falconer 44, Jack Nelson 31, Ralphie Albert 23, Issac Mohammed 22, Ben Dawkins 19, Farhan Ahmed 16; Shaquan Belle 2-26, Jakeem Pollard 2-27, Zachary Carter 2-50, Kunal Tilokani 2-58).

WEST INDIES U19s 246-6 in 49.2 overs (Joshua Dorne 90, Jonathan van Lange 52, Kunal Tilokani 20, Shaquan Belle 19 not out, Tyriek Bryan 18, Zachary Carter 10; Jack Nelson 3-50, Farhan Ahmed 2-41).

The government of Haiti has announced a US$44 million donation from Qatar to support security and socioeconomic recovery.

Representing Haiti, Transitional Presidential Council President Laurent Saint-Cyr confirmed the pledge.

‘I met with the director general of the Qatar Fund for Development, who confirmed a $44 million donation in support of Haiti, including $10 million directly from Qatar [Qatari government],’ Saint-Cyr said during a press briefing held last week -summarizing the result of his trip to the Qatari capital.

We discussed areas such as health, as well as infrastructure projects, including housing for police officers and internally displaced people.’

The announcement comes as Haiti continues to face a worsening humanitarian crisis after Hurricane Melissa, which killed more than 40 people and displaced over 1.3 million nationwide. Many remain without adequate shelter in gang-controlled areas, complicating the delivery of aid.

Of the total pledge, $10 million will come directly from the Qatari government’s budget, managed by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), to support bilateral projects between both governments.

The remaining $34 million will be channeled through United Nations agencies, rather than transferred to the Haitian government. Qatari authorities have not yet officially confirmed the exact figures shared by Saint-Cyr.

According to the CPT president, discussions with QFFD Director General Fahad bin Hamad Al Sulaiti focused on housing construction for police officers and displaced families, improving healthcare, and supporting young entrepreneurs.

During meetings with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Saint-Cyr said both countries also discussed security cooperation, emphasizing the urgent need to restore peace in Haiti. He said Qatari authorities expressed support for deploying the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the new security unit succeeding the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).

Saint-Cyr stressed that the Qatar commitment represents more than just a pledge.

‘They are simply waiting for the finalization of the official documents for the Anti-Gang Force before confirming the amount and specific areas of involvement,’ he said.

He added that Qatar intends to coordinate closely with the United States to explore additional contributions.

‘I know we responded to this invitation in a difficult context,’ Saint-Cyr said. ‘But what’s important is that we need resources, and many international partners are willing to help us find them.’

During his address at the Second World Summit for Social Development, held earlier this month, Saint-Cyr urged the global community to mobilize in support of Haiti’s security and humanitarian response.

He also called for concrete assistance to the GSF and reaffirmed the CPT’s commitment to organizing free and transparent elections before its mandate ends on Feb. 7, 2026.

‘Making the Gang Suppression Force operational as quickly as possible-while learning from the experience of the Multinational Security Support Mission-is an imperative of international solidarity,’ Saint-Cyr said.

‘The social development that the Haitian people, and people everywhere, deserve requires peace, stability, and security,’he said.

Scoreboard of the opening One Day International between West Indies and New Zealand here at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

NEW ZEALAND

Devon Conway c +Hope b Greaves 49

Rachin Ravindra c +Hope b Forde 4

Will Young c +Hope b Forde 0

Daryl Mitchell c Rutherford b Seales 119

+Tom Latham c +Hope b Seales 18

Michael Bracewell c Springer b Chase 35

*Mitchell Santner c Forde b Seales 11

Zak Foulkes not out 22

Kyle Jamieson not out 1

Extras (nb1, w9) 10

TOTAL (seven wickets; 50 overs) 269

Did not bat: Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-24, 3-91, 4-123, 5-192, 6-220, 7-263.

Bowling: Forde 10-1-55-2, Seales 9-1-41-3, Shepherd 4-0-23-0, Greaves 8-0-54-1, Springer 9-0-59-0, Chase 10-0-37-1.

WEST INDIES

John Campbell c +Latham b Jamieson 4

Alick Athanaze c Young b Santner 29

Keacy Carty c Young b Jamieson 32

*+Shai Hope c Ravindra b Foulkes 37

Sherfane Rutherford c Conway b Jamieson 55

Roston Chase c Foulkes b Henry 16

Justin Greaves not out 38

Romario Shepherd not out 26

Extras (b4, lb7, w14) 25

TOTAL (six wickets; 50 overs) 262

Did not bat: Matthew Forde, Shamar Springer, Jayden Seales.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-70, 3-87, 4-138, 5-169, 6-209.

Bowling: Jamieson 10-1-52-3, Henry 10-1-46-1, Foulkes 8-0-30-1, Duffy 9-2-48-0, Santner 10-1-46-1, Bracewell 3-0-29-0.

Toss: West Indies elected to field.

Result: New Zealand won by seven runs to lead the three-match series 1-0.

Player-of-the-Match: Daryl Mitchell.

Umpires: Chris Brown, Allahuddien Paleker.

TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmesena.

Reserve Umpire: Wayne Knights.

Match Referee: Phil Whitticase.

Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke says along with New York Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks she has led 56 of their colleagues in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Trump administration to continue immediate humanitarian and recovery assistance to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, chairs the Congressional Black Caucus.

Meeks represents the 5th Congressional District in Queens, New York.

‘We write to express our deep concern and solidarity with the people of Jamaica following the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa,’ the letter says. ‘We welcome the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team and respectfully urge the Department of State to continue immediate humanitarian and recovery assistance to support Jamaica’s response to this unprecedented disaster.

The Congressional leaders noted that Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on October 27, as a Category 5 storm, with sustained winds near 185 mph (295 km/h) – ‘one of the strongest hurricanes ever to ever hit Jamaica in its history.’

The storm brought up to 40 inches (100 cm) of rain in some areas and a storm surge reaching 9 to 13 feet (2.7 – 4 m) along portions of the southern coast.

The US legislators said entire communities in parishes such as St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, and Clarendon were submerged, with widespread flooding, landslides, and wind destruction reported.

Preliminary assessments indicate that over 490,000 households – about 72 percent of Jamaica’s electrical grid – lost power during the storm; at least 28 people have lost their lives, with dozens more injured or missing as recovery teams work to reach isolated areas; major roads, bridges, and communication networks remain impassable in several parishes; and hospitals and schools across the island sustained significant structural damage.

The legislators also said initial estimates suggest billions of dollars in infrastructure and economic losses, particularly in tourism and agriculture, ‘two pillars of Jamaica’s economy.’

‘These statistics underscore the scale of devastation and the urgent need for international assistance,’ they write, urging the Trump administration to ensure that US humanitarian assistance response to Jamaica includes emergency food, clean water, temporary shelter, medical supplies, and power-generation equipment to sustain relief operations.

The lawmakers also urged the administration to coordinate closely with the Government of Jamaica and regional partners – including the

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other international organizations – ‘to ensure efficient delivery of aid and equitable distribution to the hardest-hit communities.’

In addition, they urged the Trump administration to support the rapid restoration of essential services, such as electricity, clean water, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure, to enable emergency response and recovery; and launch a US-Jamaica recovery and resilience initiative focused on rebuilding climate resilient infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening disaster-preparedness capacity for future storms.

The US legislators recommended that the administration ‘utilize flexible humanitarian and reconstruction funding mechanisms within the Department (of State) to expedite aid delivery and sustain long-term recovery programs without delay; and work with regional and international financial institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and IMF to leverage the necessary capital to invest in short- and long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.

‘Hurricane Melissa represents one of the gravest natural disasters in Jamaica’s modern history,’ the letter says. ‘Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, this storm threatens to destabilize key sectors of Jamaica’s economy and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities across the Caribbean.

‘The United States, as Jamaica’s close neighbor and ally, is uniquely positioned to lead in providing both emergency relief and strategic support for rebuilding a stronger, more resilient Jamaica,’ it adds. ‘Assisting Jamaica at this critical juncture aligns with America’s humanitarian values and our shared interest in a stable, prosperous, and climate-resilient Caribbean region.’

West Indies won the toss and elected to field against New Zealand in the opening One Day International here at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

SQUADS

WEST INDIES: Shai Hope (captain), John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Matthew Forde, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer, Jayden Seales.

NEW ZEALAND: Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Michael Bracewell, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

Umpires: Chris Brown, Allahuddien Paleker.

TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmesena.

Reserve Umpire: Wayne Knights.

Match Referee: Phil Whitticase.

The Barbados Light and Power Company (Light and Power) has answered the urgent call for assistance from the Jamaica Power Service Company (JPS) following the widespread outages caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Through the CARILEC Disaster Assistance Program (CDAP), Light and Power deployed a highly skilled, five-member crew to support restoration efforts and help return light back to affected communities in Jamaica.

The team, comprising Distribution Supervisor Eddie Cummings and linemen Omar Bowen, Mustafa Haqq, Patrice Vache, and Kurt Vidal, departed Barbados earlier this week.

Their mission over the next three weeks is to support local crews on the ground in restoring electricity safely and reliably to affected communities in St James, one of the hardest-hit parishes.

At a send-off event, Light and Power’s Managing Director Roger Blackman and Vice President of Operations Johann Greaves commended the volunteers for their commitment and emphasised safety and adherence to training in what are expected to be challenging conditions.

‘On behalf of Light and Power and CARILEC – because I am also a director on that board – I want to extend appreciation to all of you for volunteering to assist our brothers and sisters in a neighbouring Caribbean island,’ he said. ‘Please be safe, and I am confident that you will do what is required from a safety perspective because it can get challenging in environments of this nature.’

‘I am confident that you will go to Jamaica and make the company and the country proud. Remember your training, and all the safety procedures that you go through normally – not only for yourselves, but for all the other people that you will be working around,’ he added.

The involvement of Light and Power underscores the importance of regional cooperation during natural disasters.

By pooling resources and expertise, members of CARILEC, the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, the association of electric energy providers and stakeholders operating in the Caribbean and other parts of the Americas, aim to restore power swiftly and safely, rebuild stronger infrastructure, and provide critical aid when it is needed most.