Category: CANA News

The road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is now set for the Caribbean’s top footballing nations.

CONCACAF conducted the official draw for the 2025/26 W Qualifiers, placing the region’s teams into groups where they will battle for a coveted spot in the confederation’s premier tournament.

A total of 29 nations, including the region’s strongest Caribbean sides, were drawn into six groups.

The qualifiers will be played in the FIFA international windows of November 2025, February 2026, and April 2026.

The draw produced several intriguing groups for the Caribbean contingent: Group B is headlined by Jamaica, the recent World Cup darlings.

The Reggae Girlz will be heavily favoured to top a group that includes Guyana, Nicaragua, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Group D features a compelling Caribbean showdown between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, ensuring a fierce battle for the top spot. They are joined by Suriname, Belize, and Anguilla.

Group E presents a major opportunity for Panama, but also for Caribbean sides Saint Kitts and Nevis, Curaçao, and Aruba, who will all look to challenge Cuba for a surprise advancement.

Group F pits Trinidad and Tobago, a traditional regional power, against Barbados and Central American opponents El Salvador and Honduras.

Elsewhere, Puerto Rico and Saint Lucia will face a mammoth task in Group A against powerhouse Mexico, while Grenada, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands found themselves in Group C with Costa Rica and Guatemala.

The ultimate prize for these teams is immense as the six group winners will advance to the eight-team 2026 CONCACAF W Championship, where they will join the region’s two automatic qualifiers: the United States and Canada.

This W Championship, to be played in November 2026, is the direct pathway to global glory.

The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the two finalists will also secure a berth at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

In a significant push to elevate their game to world-class standards, the West Indies Women’s cricket team has wrapped up an intensive high-performance training camp at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

The extended camp, a key part of Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) increased investment in the women’s programme, was strategically split into two phases.

This allowed coaches to work closely with a broader pool of talent, from established stars to emerging prospects.

The final group of players concluded their rigorous sessions this week under the guidance of Head Coach Shane Deitz and his support staff.

The comprehensive training block left no stone unturned, with meticulously planned sessions focused on technical skill refinement, tactical game awareness, peak physical conditioning, and mental resilience.

The timing of the camp is critical, as it serves as the foundational preparation for a packed international calendar. The major target on the horizon is the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, preceded by a home series against Sri Lanka and Australia, and a tour to Ireland.

Head Coach Shane Deitz was pleased with the progress made during the five-week developmental period.

‘It’s been great to be able to focus on some fundamental technical work and some strength and conditioning work,’ Deitz said. ‘We have already seen some improvements in a short space of time. The girls are responding very positively to the push from our coaching staff.’

The players will now disperse to compete in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), after which they will regroup for what Deitz describes as ‘an intense few months of training’ to ensure they are ready for the crucial challenges of 2026.

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says more than 7,000 polling stations will be operational across the country’s 63 constituencies for the September 3 general election.

‘We intend to use in excess of a little over 7,250 polling stations to facilitate more than 50,000 personnel, including presiding officers, clerks, supervisors, and one-day police officers, who have been engaged to ensure a smooth voting process on election day,’ said Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown

He told the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) that the EOJ is urging voters to follow the instructions of the presiding officers, remain calm and patient, and respect the secrecy of the ballot.

The process must be conducted fairly and transparently for everyone,’ he said, re-assuring Jamaicans that every measure has been taken to ensure that voting will proceed smoothly and securely, allowing citizens to exercise their democratic right with confidence.

Voters are being reminded that even though the polling stations will open at 7:00 am (local time) and close 10 hours later, those who join the line before the closing time will still be allowed to cast their ballots.

According to the EOJ, 2,077,799 people are eligible to vote in the upcoming general election with political observers saying that 20 swing states could determine the outcome of the elections.

Brown said that voters who do not have a Voter ID card will still be permitted to cast their ballot as long as their names appear on the Voters’ List.

‘As long as you are on the voters’ list, you will be allowed to vote, but the process will involve you filling out some forms and taking an oath,’ said Brown, adding that taking an oath involves swearing that you are the correct registered elector

The Director of Elections said that while voting is facilitated without a voter ID card, electors who are without their renewed ID card are being encouraged to collect them from the EOJ’s various constituency office.

‘If you are not yet in the possession of your new voter ID card, we suggest that you do so quickly before September 3,’ Brown said.

Recently, the EOJ reported that approximately 120,000 voter ID cards were in its offices waiting to be collected by electors.

Since gaining universal adult suffrage in 1944, Jamaica has held 18 general elections with both the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) winning on nine occasions each.

Both parties are claiming that the ‘momentum’ is with them as they enter the final days of the campaign.

A New York-based Black group has strongly condemned raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency on Caribbean immigrants and other communities of color.

The Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW) has also called for an emergency summit to organize a response.

Chairman of IBW’s Police Justice and Accountability Task Force, Ronald Hampton, said that US President Donald Trump’s Border Czar has declared that ‘physical appearance’ is enough for ICE to detain and question Caribbean and other immigrants, ‘indicating that they don’t need probable cause.

‘Can you imagine a group of so-called law enforcement agencies like ICE rounding up people because they ‘look’ like they are from another country’? asked Hampton, a retired veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington and a former executive director of the National Black Police Association.

‘This is wrong and makes a mockery of the Constitution’s 4th Amendment,’ he told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC, adding ‘it’s nothing short of racial profiling.

‘As a result of this alarming policy, we are witnessing horrific scenes of ICE agents terrifying and assaulting immigrants in Los Angeles and other cities across the country using gestapo-like tactics.

‘These actions and behavior by ICE are dangerous and set an example that, if successful, will be unleashed on African American communities and our sisters and brothers in other communities of colour.

‘Trump is acting like a ‘king’, who is determined to use the Project 2025 blueprint to become an all-powerful autocrat,’ said Hampton, referring to a Conservative political initiative, also known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, published in April 2023 by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, to reshape the US Government and consolidate executive power in favor of right-wing policies.

‘Nothing makes this more evident than his (Trump) Executive Order seizing control of the DC (District of Columbia) Police and sending in the National Guard to patrol the streets of the storied, original ‘Chocolate City.”

Hampton warned that Washington and ‘Chocolate Cities’ across America are in danger.

‘Black people and people of color are in danger; the Constitution and the rule of law are in danger; democracy is in danger,’ Hampton said.

‘Fortunately, there are socially conscious members of traditional law enforcement agencies and criminal justice advocates who are ready and willing to challenge Trump’s MAGA-inspired expansive violations of civil liberties, civil rights and human rights.’

Accordingly, he said IBW’s Police Justice and Accountability Task Force has issued a call for an emergency summit, ‘a joint gathering to develop a unified strategy to defend our families, neighborhoods and communities against the white supremacist strategies and tactics threatening our human rights.’

The founder and executive of the New York-based People’s Police Academy, Dr. Divine Pryor, and a member of the Task Force said this administration and its ICE storm troopers will soon be coming to more African American communities in its attempt to ‘Make America Great Again.’

‘We must be organized to put ICE on ice now,’ he urged, adding that September 13 has been designated as the tentative date for the emergency summit in Washington.

Earlier this week, New York Attorney General Letitia James took action to stop the illegal treatment of Caribbean and other immigrants arrested in New York, including those arrested after attending immigration court proceedings and routine check-in appointments at the ICE New York field office.

The Guyana government Friday said it views with ‘grave concern the threat to peace and security in the region’ posed by transnational organised crime and narco- terrorism.

In a statement, Georgetown said that these activities often involving criminal networks such as the Cartel de los Soles of Venezuela, designated as a terrorist organisation by some countries in the region.

‘Such criminal networks have the capacity to overwhelm state institutions, undermine democracy, pervert the rule of law and threaten human dignity and development.’

Earlier this week, the United States ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser are also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

The Guyana government said it wanted to underscore ‘the necessity for strengthened cooperation and concerted efforts at the national, regional, hemispheric and global levels to effectively combat this menace’.

The statement said Guyana reaffirms its support for a collaborative and integrated approach to tackle transnational organised crime.

‘We are committed to working with our bilateral partners to find meaningful solutions and will support regional and global initiatives aimed at dismantling criminal networks to safeguard our shared security.

‘By confronting transnational organised crime and narco- terrorism with unity, we reaffirm our dedication to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the region remains a Zone of Peace,’ Georgetown said.

Earlier this week, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) at an extraordinary summit voiced support for Venezuela.

The virtual meeting, hosted from Caracas, brought together heads of state and representatives from Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Lucia. Honduras participated as a guest.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the deployment of US naval and air assets under the command of Southern Command represented ‘a strategic move’ beyond counter-narcotics, warning it could destabilize regional peace.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the alliance as ‘an alliance of warriors for peace’ and thanked ALBA members for their solidarity.

The summit declaration rejected what it called ‘false pretexts’ for foreign intervention and reaffirmed support for Venezuela’s sovereignty. The statement also urged the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to convene an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers in response to the situation.

The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has not issued any statement regarding the presence of the US warships in the region, but former Trinidad and Tobago prime minister Stuart Young is quoted in the NEWSDAY newspaper in his country as saying that ‘the recent developments being reported by international media should be of concern to all citizens and I dare say to the region.

‘CARICOM and our region is a recognised zone of peace and it is critical that this be maintained,’ said Young, adding that Trinidad and Tobago has ‘consistently respected and upheld the principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and for good reason.

‘I trust that our allies will also respect and uphold these principles,’ he added.

The leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) in Trinidad and Tobago, David Abdulah has condemned the US military build-up.

‘We totally reject the so-called pretext for this unprecedented assembly of naval and other military assets and personnel as being one to ‘deal with narco-trafficking,’ he said, noting the US Coast Guard, with Caribbean and European countries, have already long enacted interdiction of narco-traffickers in the Caribbean, with a major drug seizure as recently as June.

‘US Navy destroyers, a guided missile cruiser, helicopter carriers, amphibious vessels and other assets, US marines, nuclear submarines are all offensive, to attack another country or target,’ Abdulah added.

The United States government has advised its citizens ‘not to travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the serious risks of unlawful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair policing practices, violent crime, and civil unrest.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Patrits defeated the Barbados Royals by 12 runs in the eighth match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here at Warner Park on Thursday.

SCORES:

PATRIOTS 174-8 in 20 overs (Kyle Mayers 42, Jason Holder 38; Ramon Simmonds 3-26).

ROYALS 162 in 18.2 overs (Kadeem Allyene 42, Brandon King 22; Jason Holder 4-14).

Barbados were crowned champions of the CWI Rising Stars Under 17 2-Day Championship on Thursday, sealing the title with a dominant 10-wicket victory over the Windward Islands at Queen’s Park Oval in the final round.

The title was built on the back of a phenomenal bowling display by Justin Parris, whose match figures of 9 for 46 dismantled the Windwards and underscored Barbados’s superiority throughout the competition.

After skittling the Windwards for a paltry 91 in their first innings, thanks to Parris’s 5-15, Barbados posted a commanding 195 for 9 declared.

Despite a fight from Aravinda Bishop, who took 6-47 for the Windwards, the Bajan total proved more than enough.

Forced to follow on, the Windwards could only muster 131 in their second innings, with Parris again the chief destroyer, claiming 4-31.

Barbados needed just 6 overs to knock off the required 29 runs without losing a wicket, emphatically securing the championship.

The final round of matches saw a clean sweep of victories across the board. At the National Cricket Centre, hosts Trinidad and Tobago finally broke their duck, securing a convincing 10-wicket win over Jamaica.

The victory was set up by a magnificent 7-37 from Ra’ed Ali Khan in Jamaica’s first innings, which restricted them to 142. A solid batting response, led by Saleem Khan’s 68, gave T and T a crucial first-innings lead.

Roberto Badree then sealed the deal with 4-16 in the second innings, leaving T and T a simple target of 34, which they chased down effortlessly.

Meanwhile, at Inshan Ali Park, the Leeward Islands eased to an eight-wicket win over Guyana. Jathan Edward was the star with the ball, taking 4-34 in Guyana’s first innings and 3-29 in the second to keep the opposition’s totals low.

A composed, unbeaten 64 from Tanez Francis in the run chase guided the Leewards home comfortably.

With the two-day format concluded, attention now turns to the 50-Over Cup, which commences on August 24 and runs through to September 1.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and elected to bat against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the ninth match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here at North Sound on Friday.

TEAMS:

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons XI: Jewel Andrew (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Karima Gore, Bevon Jacobs, Shakib Al Hasan, Imad Wasim (capt), Fabian Allen, Shamar Springer, Obed McCoy, Jayden Seales, Usama Mir

Guyana Amazon Warriors XI: Ben McDermott, Kevlon Anderson, Shai Hope (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Romario Shepherd, Dwaine Pretorius, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Imran Tahir (capt)

Umpires: Chris Wright, Zahid Bassarath

TV Umpire: Carl Tuckett

Reserve Umpire: Leslie Reifer

Match Referee: Denavon Hayles

The Suriname government says persons who have been affected by land allocations in Reeberg, which is situated nearby to the village Koewarsan, will have their land allocation reinstated.

Land Policy and Forest Management Minister, Stanley Soeropawiro, told a meeting of affected residents that land will be reallocated, rolling back a decision by then former government.

Soeropawiro said that the decision also aligns with President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons’ vision, which prioritises transparency and good governance.

‘This decision does justice to the affected citizens.,’ he said, with some affected residents saying ‘after a long time, we can finally sleep soundly again’.

During a meeting with Soeropawiro on Tuesday, President Geerlings-Simons made it clear that there is no room for arbitrariness, saying ‘if it turns out that allocations have been made outside the correct procedures, they will be revoked’.

In Parliament, two legislators, Bronto Somohardjo and Ebu Jones, described the decision as ‘a victory for transparency and good governance,’ saying representatives have a duty to defend citizens’ rights and correct abuses.

The issue gained momentum this week after residents of Reeberg held a protest demonstration informing reporters of the wrongful land allocation.

During an exploratory working visit, members of the parliamentary committees, said they discovered that previously allocated land had been reallocated and that this was not a case of error, but rather bad faith.

‘Suriname’s land belongs to the people. This is the time to correct mistakes and establish a fair land system,’ Somohardjo said, adding the situation is therefore inevitable.

For his part, Jones said when land is deliberately allocated twice ‘it is not a mistake but an act against the interests of the people.’

The committees’ findings will soon be discussed in the National Assembly.

A brilliant all-round performance from captain Jason Holder propelled the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to a tense 12-run victory over the Barbados Royals in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League thriller here at Warner Park on Thursday.

In a match that ebbed and flowed, the Royals, chasing a target of 175, seemed well-placed at 92-3 at the halfway mark.

However, their innings unravelled in the face of a devastating bowling spell, led by their opposing skipper.

Holder was the undeniable architect of the win, first blasting a crucial 38 runs from just 21 balls to help the Patriots post a competitive 174-8.

He then turned the game with the ball, producing a scintillating spell of 4-14 that included two separate bursts of two wickets in two balls.

His clinical execution effectively broke the Royals’ chase, culminating in him trapping Jomel Warrican lbw in the 19th over to seal the result.

The Patriots’ innings was built on a solid foundation from Kyle Mayers, who top-scored with 42.

For the Royals, left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds was the standout bowler, claiming impressive figures of 3-26 from his four overs.

This victory, their second of the tournament, lifts the Patriots into second place on the table. More significantly, it marks a dramatic turnaround in their bowling fortunes.

After historically struggling to bowl teams out, a 50-inning drought without taking all ten wickets, Holder’s side has now achieved the feat twice in this year’s competition alone.

For the Royals, captained by Rovman Powell, who won the toss and elected to field, it is a second consecutive defeat as they continue their search for a first win in the 2025 CPL campaign.