Category: CANA News

Out of favour West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman, Joshua Da Silva is expected to be at the helm of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for the upcoming CG United Super50 Cup.

Da Silva has been nursing a left-side shoulder strain; however, T and T’s selection panel is confident he will recover to lead their hunt for a 15th regional 50-over title.

Joshua Da Silva is expected to captain the T and T Red Force in the CG United Super50 Cup

On Thursday, T and T Cricket Board (TTCB) media officer, Zaid Mohammed, told Guardian Media Sport that the recommended selections had already been submitted by the selectors to the TTCB executive, which in turn has sent the 14-man list to Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The finalised list is expected to be made public in the coming days.

Da Silva’s inclusion is expected to bolster a Red Force side that will be missing five senior players, including last season’s vice-captain Khary Pierre, fellow left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip and last season’s top run scorer Amir Jangoo, who will all be away on West Indies duty.

The Cayman Islands Blood Bank on Friday. sent a critical donation of 51 units of red cells and 72 units of plasma to the National Blood Transfusion Service in Jamaica.

This is the first of several donations to be made to the neighbouring island as part of Cayman’s relief efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

The donation was made possible by the Health Services Authority (HSA), which runs the bank.

the decision to help was made because of the overwhelming support from the public over the past few days after 65 donors stepped forward to meet an urgent request for blood.

This included 13 new donors and represents what officials said was a remarkable increase compared to the usual daily average of 10 or fewer donations.

‘This extraordinary turnout demonstrates the generosity and solidarity of our community,’ said Dr Lundie Richards the Consultant Haematologist-Oncologist at the HSA and lead for blood bank and transfusion services.

‘As a Jamaican, the support that Cayman has shown has left a profound effect on me. This is truly humanity in one of its greatest forms-the opportunity to give back, give blood, and give Caymankind to our neighbours in need.’

He added that collecting ’65 pints and one platelet unit in just a couple of days, when our typical daily numbers are under ten, speaks volumes about our donors’ compassion and commitment not only to Cayman but to regional health and well-being.’

The blood products, accompanied by Richards, were flown courtesy of Cayman Airways and delivered to Jamaica’s central blood bank for island-wide distribution, while Dr Joseph Marzouca, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul here assisted with coordination, who said he was ‘deeply touched’ by the Cayman donor community’s generosity.

The HSA and Blood Bank emphasise that this donation is not a one-off event, but part of a broader effort to strengthen regional health collaboration and emergency preparedness. With the current influx of donors, the Blood Bank will continue in-house collection for now with plans to resume mobile blood drives in the coming weeks once staffing allows.

Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer at the HSA said it was a lifesaving initiative and the community had stepping ed up in an incredible way.

‘Our donor community shows what can be achieved when healthcare systems and citizens work together. This is humanitarian leadership in action. I would like to encourage donors not to stop here. The donation already on its way can save at least 120 lives, but the need for ready, willing blood donors remains ongoing, both locally and regionally. Blood has a shelf life of 35 days, so consistent donations are necessary,’ she added.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, applauded the donors and everyone involved for turning compassion into action.

‘Our health systems are stronger when we support each other, and today’s achievement is proof. I encourage anyone in good health who meets the standard eligibility criteria to schedule an appointment with the Cayman Islands Blood Bank and donate, not just for our neighbours in Jamaica who need it, but also for our own community, as maintaining our national blood supply is essential,’ she added.

The CI Blood Bank, managed by the HSA, provides a full range of blood-banking and transfusion services, including whole blood, platelets, and apheresis-based collections. It has expanded platelet availability and strengthened its transfusion-medicine capacity.

Akeem Stewart has revealed that despite being among the world’s best Paralympians he does not receive any funding from government.

Stewart said what also added insult to injury, was the fact that he only receives 30 per cent of what able-bodied athletes are gifted by government when they medal at major international meets.

The 33-year-old made the shocking disclosures during an interview on Isports i95.5 FM on Thursday, where he maintained that Paralympians continued to be treated as lesser individuals.

Akeem Stewart

Stewart, who won Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever Paralympic Games gold medal back in 2016, copped a silver medal in the men’s F44 discus at last month’s World Para Athletics Championships in India.

He said despite his performances on the world stage he had not received any funding from Government in recent times.

‘After I came back from Paris, we submitted documents last year September and from then to now I haven’t received funding.

‘I’ve never received any sort of advanced funding nor elite funding. Back in 2020 when they had the Covid-19, that was the only time I received funds to help me through that time, but other than that, no,’ Stewart disclosed.

Furthermore, he said he received significantly less from government for his podium finishes when compared to his able-bodied countrymen.

Back in September, World Championship gold medalist Keshorn Walcott and silver medalist Jereem Richards, were awarded $500 000 and $250 000, respectively, for their performances.

However, Stewart said the bonus for his silver medal performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris last year ‘was not what I expected’.

‘For able bodied athletes, a win at the Olympic Games is TT$1 million, $500 000 and either $100 000 or $200 000.

‘I received $150 000 and that clearly indicates that I am considered 30 per cent of an average human being and that sucks,’ Stewart said.

He said while athletes competing at the World Championships got TT$250 000 for a silver medal, he was set to receive $75 000 for his silver medal performance at the World Para Athletic Championships.

Stewart said he believed Paralympians were being unfairly treated because of their physical challenges.

‘I think they look down on us because number one, we don’t look like a normal person.

‘People watch you and judge you based on your physical appearance and also they watch the level of competition as an easy competition, but I could tell you that most persons cannot come to Paralympics and compete and walk away with a medal that easy,’ Stewart contended.

PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), the operator of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), has announced that it is waiving all landing and parking fees for non-commercial relief flights bringing cargo and medical personnel into the airport.

The waiver period began earlier this week and will remain in effect for the duration of relief and recovery operations.

Relief supplies eligible for the fee waiver include food items, drinking water, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, shelter materials, hygiene products, fuel for emergency operations, and other items designated by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and relevant government agencies.

‘We are in crisis and there is an urgent need to get critical aid and supplies to our fellow Jamaicans,’ said Sitara English-Byfield, Chief Executive Officer of PACKAL.

NMIA is fully operational having started accepting relief flights on Wednesday and commercial fights on Thursday.

English-Byfield noted that the airport is capable of handling the additional volume of flights and passengers and highlighted that the various airport partners have adjusted their resources to have adequate staffing.

She, however, implored persons to check with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules and to have a confirmed booking before travelling to the airport.

‘We understand the anxiety and as the airlines confirm their flights, we are helping to alert passengers by sharing the updates on our social media platforms. We want to reduce the congestion in the check-in hall which will help to speed up processing times. All the airlines have various channels through which passengers may adjust their reservations and get direct support and so, we are encouraging passengers to use those channels where possible,’ English-Byfield said.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, says environmental health teams are working closely with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and other agencies to access remote communities following reports of dead animals and deceased persons being marooned in communities after Hurricane Melissa.

‘Having secured some communication, having cleared some of the roadways, and now having the mobility to go into communities, we can now target particular areas while we work with the authorities [and] the other agencies to secure other areas,’ said Tufton who was responding to questions posed by journalists on Saturday.

He said access to some areas has been limited due to damage to roads thus delaying reporting and assistance.

He added that the team would be on the lookout for dead animals a the disposal of those carcasses.

He said that once access and notification have been provided, the JDF provides the necessary air support to reach affected areas.

We also have arrangements with different entities to pick up and to drop off and so on, and I did, I did witness at least three or so, um, when I was at Sav [Savanna-la-Mar]. There are also persons who are injured. You know, one man who broke his leg and was at home for like three days because he couldn’t get access, and he came in while I was there. But the environmental health team, numbering 600 in an ideal scenario, would be out there,’ he said.

The health minister noted that he does not yet have official numbers on the death toll, but explained that updates will come from the Minister of Information, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, once police reports are compiled.

The death toll from Category Five Hurricane Melissa is now at 19.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has made three changes to its 15-member squad set to compete in the 20th Bolivarian Games in Peru from November 22 to December 7.

Top-order batsman Shatrughan Rambaran, along with left-arm spinner Ricky Jaipaul and fast bowler Justin Mannick, have been removed from the original squad following impressive performances during the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team’s trials.

Vikash Mohan will lead Trinidad’s team at the 20th Bolivarian Games in Peru

The trio are expected to be named in the Red Force squad which will take part in the CG United Super50 Cup this month.

As a result, left-handed spinner Damion Joachim, wicketkeeper/batsman Leonardo Julien, and all-rounder Teshawn Castro have been added to the Bolivarian Games squad as replacements.

Former senior Red Force opener Vikash Mohan will captain the team to Peru, with Andrew Rambaran to serve as his deputy.

Apart from Mohan, other players with experience at the first-class or List A level are Julien, Kamil Pooran, and Shaaron Lewis. The squad also includes burgeoning opener Kyle Ramdoo, who struck 101 batting during the Red Force team’s most recent trial match on Tuesday.

T and T is one of four Caribbean teams invited to participate in the Games, along with Barbados, Jamaica, and Anguilla, marking a historic entry for cricket into the South American sporting event

The Bolivarian Games is a multi-sport event held in honour of Simón Bolívar and organised by the Bolivarian Sports Organisation. The event is traditionally open to athletes from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

The first three of eight helicopters being provided by the United States as part of humanitarian aid to communities impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa arrived here on Friday.

They will be put into service across the country to assist with the distribution of relief supplies.

The helicopters, loaded with relief supplies, were welcomed by Minister of Transport, Daryl Vaz, at the Caribbean Military Academy School of Aviation.

‘I want to thank the Government of the United States of America and, of course, the US Embassy here in Jamaica for the coordination. I want to thank all the personnel who have come,’ he said.

‘We are hoping that by tomorrow the balance will be here, if not, the latest this weekend, and of course, these three will be put to work tomorrow morning (Saturday). in conjunction with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). They will be taking supplies for widespread distribution to all affected communities in Western Jamaica.’

Vaz reassured Jamaicans that the Government is at work to get much-needed assistance to persons in severely affected parishes.

‘We are here. We understand the frustration. We understand the anxiety and the suffering from the catastrophic category-five hurricane. We definitely are doing everything in our power to respond as quickly as possible. We pray for you and God bless Jamaica, Vaz said.

In an interview with JIS News, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Kingston, Scott Renner, informed that the helicopters will remain in the island to distribute supplies.

‘They’ll be used to help the shipments that come in to be moved around the country to the areas in need because these big helicopters can go where they need to go,’ he added.

With a challenging T20I series looming against New Zealand, Roston Chase believes the West Indies will be successful once they can properly execute their bowling and batting plans.

The Windies will be going into that five-match T20I series – which starts next Wednesday – on a high after defeating Bangladesh by five wickets in the final T20I on Friday to sweep the series 3-0.

It was just their second bilateral T20I series win in their last nine outings.

Speaking in a post-match press conference on Friday, Chase, who captained the side with Shai Hope being rested, admitted that in recent times the West Indies had struggled to put together complete performances.

Roston Chase

He said the way they played in the final T20I against Bangladesh would have to become the norm if the sixth ranked Windies were to best the Kiwis, who are ranked two spots higher.

‘I think in the bowling department, the way how we strategise and sit down and plan and then the bowlers came and stuck to the plans we set and executed, I think that should be the way forward for the bowling unit.

‘In the batting, I just think that T20s may be fast paced but you still need partnerships. I still think that whoever is at the crease, once two guys get in they have to take it as deep as possible, because I find for the last couple of seasons we’ve been starting well and not finishing well, or not starting well and finishing well, so it’s just for us to combine the two and transition from the start into the back half of the innings,’ Chase said.

‘I think that’s an area we really need to focus and dial in on, but obviously in New Zealand will be different conditions, so the guys just have to adapt and adjust as fast as possible.’

Chase, who scored an even half century and was named Player-of-the-Match in the final T20I, said he was especially pleased to finally win a series in Bangladesh.

He said while there was a log of negative chatter after the West Indies lost the preceding ODI series, the team was able to focus and regroup.

‘I’m taking a lot of satisfaction from this series, it feels really great.

‘As I said before, I’ve never come Bangladesh and won any series, whether it be T20I, ODI or Test, so it feels really good that we can finally achieve a series win,’ Chase said.

‘.I know people may criticise and have a lot to say, but we just try to block that out and concentrate at the cricket at hand and try to come up with the best plans and go out there and execute them.

‘Everyone will want to say stuff, but that’s not for us to take on,’ he maintained.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, has praised Antigua and Barbuda’s role on the regional and international stage as the country marks its 44th anniversary of political independence on Saturday.

In a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the Secretary-General cited Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of the 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in June, and its preparations to host the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, as examples of that leadership.

Following the devastation left behind by Hurricane Melissa’s passing, chief executive officer of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), Owen Hill has said it will be some time before the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) restarts.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 cyclone, battered the island on Tuesday, leaving behind what is expected to be billions of dollars in damage.

Hill said the PFJL and its stakeholders were still assessing the full extent of the damage, especially to clubs located in the worst-affected areas.

Action in the JPL has been suspended following the passage of Hurricane Melissa

He revealed that teams based in the south and west of the island, particularly Treasure Beach and Montego Bay United, suffered significant infrastructural setbacks due to the storm.

As a result, he said no timeline could be given regarding the restart of the JPL.

‘It is too early to have a definite plan to restart, because that will require a collective stakeholder-engagement process, which will take a couple of days. We had an emergency meeting this morning [Thursday] just to gather ourselves and to get information from other people, to get pictures coming out of the different communities from the clubs. It is devastating.

‘What I can tell you so far is based on the preliminary discussions that we have been having with the clubs, it is going to be a tough road ahead based on just where they are in their current state,’ Hill disclosed.

‘When you look at Treasure Beach and when you look at Montego Bay United, those teams on the southern end and western end, those teams would have had some significant challenges with their infrastructure, and right now, we are concerned about the mental well-being of the players.’

Despite the long road ahead to recovery, Hill said he was relieved there had been no major injuries or loss of life within the football fraternity.

‘Luckily for us, we had no major injuries when it comes on to life, but livelihood and property is definitely part of the rebuilding, so when it comes to a restart date, I can’t give you that, but one thing I can tell you for sure is that the teams are trying to pick up the pieces,’ he said.

Nine games into the JPL, Montego Bay United were leading the league with 22 points, followed by Portmore United on 18, and Racing United on 15. Defending champions, Cavalier are currently fourth on 13 points.