Category: CANA News

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday led a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in taking action to defend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants, including many who have lived, worked, and raised their families in the United States for years.

In an amicus brief filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, James and the coalition urge the court to uphold a lower court’s ruling that found the Trump administration’s termination of TPS unlawful.

‘Haitian and Venezuelan TPS holders contribute immensely to our communities by starting businesses, raising families, and attending our schools,’ said l James.

‘This administration’s cruel attempt to suddenly and unlawfully end their legal status will threaten hundreds of thousands of immigrants who fled violence and oppression to build a better life in this country. I will keep fighting to protect the rights of our immigrant communities,’ she affirmed.

James said despite ongoing humanitarian crises in both Haiti and Venezuela, and warnings from the US State Department concerning the two countries’ safety, the Trump administration attempted to terminate TPS protections for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants shortly after the Biden administration extended them.

‘If allowed to take effect, this sudden termination of legal status would cause chaos and confusion for hundreds of thousands of people across the country – many of whom fled violence, oppression, and poverty to build a life in the United States,’ she said.

‘Without TPS, Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants would lose their work authorization and could face deportation, endangering themselves and their families,’ she added.

l James argued that the United States District Court for the Northern District of California correctly found that the administration’s action was ‘arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to the law.

‘Revoking TPS would cause immense economic, public health, and public safety disruptions in communities across the country,’ the coalition said.

In their brief, Attorney General James and the coalition assert that hundreds of thousands of US citizens who live with a Haitian or Venezuelan TPS holder would be put at risk.

In 2022, they point out that 54,000 US citizen children and 80,000 US citizen adults lived with a Venezuelan TPS holder, and about 87,000 US citizen children and 116,000 US citizen adults lived with a Haitian TPS holder.

‘If the administration successfully revokes TPS, parents would be faced with an impossible choice to either return to their home country and leave their families behind, take their US citizen children with them to a dangerous country they do not know, or stay in the US without legal status and risk fear, uncertainty and deportation at any moment,’ the coalition argues.

The coalition also highlights the significant economic contributions of Haitian and Venezuelan TPS holders.

Nationwide, the coalition says Venezuelan TPS holders contribute over US$11 billion to the economy each year.

The coalition also says that Haitian TPS holders contribute US$4.4 billion annually to the US economy.

While in New York, TPS households earned US$2.3 billion in income, paid US$348.9 million in federal taxes, US$305.5 million in state and local taxes, and contributed US$1.6 billion in spending power in 2023 alone.

‘Revoking TPS for these communities would leave many without work authorization, jeopardizing their ability to provide for their families,’ the coalition says.

‘In addition, the employer-sponsored health care that they and their families rely on would also be at risk, posing significant public health threats,’ the coalition adds.

Joining James in filing Wednesday’s brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Jamaica is celebrating a moment of hope and gratitude following the successful separation of conjoined twins Azaria and Azora Elson, who underwent life-changing surgery in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.

The announcement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, on social media Thursday.

‘Dear Jamaica, in our own difficult times, there are blessings for which we are grateful,’ Johnson Smith wrote.

The Mayor of Kingston, has called for updates to the country’s building code in an effort to strengthen preparedness for disasters.

Mayor Andrew Swaby who was speaking earlier this week during a meeting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), said a review should also be undertaken for critical city facilities.

He stressed he urgency based on the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa that left widespread damage across several parishes two weeks ago.

During the meeting, he noted that the current code allows for structures designed to withstand sustained winds of at least 155 mph.

‘This is a clear single that we must update and enforce the regulation under the Building Act without delay. We also need to take a hard look at where our critical facilities are located. Many of our municipal buildings, infirmaries and fire stations sits in vulnerable areas and must be relocated to higher, more sustainable roads. Additionally, the time has come to establish structured evaluation drills to test how people and traffic move in a crisis, with the coordination of all key agencies,’ he said.

Hurricane Melissa also drenched the island with up to 40 inches of rain causing widespread devastation particularly across the southwestern and northwestern parishes.

Swaby said planners and environmental experts must have a central voice in the rebuilding process, and local authorities must be properly equipped and empowered to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

The Building Act of 2018 provides for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient construction while the Jamaica Small Building Residential Code sets minimum standards for one to two family dwellings, townhouses and small general purpose buildings up to 300 sqm or 3,232 sq ft.

It encourages reinforced concrete designs capable of withstanding hurricanes for winds and earthquakes measuring up to 6.5 on the Richter scale.

The West Indies’ T20 International series against New Zealand ended in a dispiriting whimper on Thursday, as the hosts saved their most inept performance for the decisive fifth match, slumping to an eight-wicket defeat that handed the series to the Black Caps on a platter.

The loss laid bare the recurring flaws that have plagued the Caribbean side throughout the contest, with a top-order collapse proving terminal.

In the aftermath, Captain Shai Hope pinpointed his team’s chronic inability to adapt as the primary cause of their downfall.

‘The power play has been our Achilles heel for this series,’ Hope stated. ‘Unfortunately, as batters, we did not assess and adapt as quickly as we should have, or wanted to.’

The skipper acknowledged the valiant efforts of the lower-order batsmen, who have repeatedly been left with a mountain to climb.

‘Credit still must be given to the guys in the lower half for putting their hands up. We may have given them a bit too much work to do in the back end, but, where the batting is concerned, it’s certainly an area that we need to improve quickly, going into this ODI series as well.’

Hope emphasised that the solution isn’t about reckless aggression, but smarter, more assertive batting to disrupt the bowlers. ‘We just need to be a little bit more precise with our stroke play,’ he explained. ‘It’s important not to allow good bowlers to settle. Something that we need to fix and fix pretty quickly.’

He elaborated on the need to apply counter-pressure, a skill his team has lacked. ‘A lot of times, we find ourselves in tough situations, 2, 3, 4 down sometimes in the power play when guys are hitting the straps. So we have to find ways to stop them from getting into rhythm, not necessarily forcing the issue, but not making it easy for them to settle.’

Amid the criticism of the batting unit, Hope was effusive in his praise for one standout performer, all-rounder Romario Shepherd.

Hailing the player’s work ethic and growing consistency, Hope painted a picture of a player coming into his own.

‘Sheppy, he’s always been a hard worker, someone who’s very detailed in his preparation. ‘He does a lot of research, and it’s great to see that his success is coming more consistently.’

The captain highlighted Shepherd’s crucial impact with the ball, particularly in the team’s solitary series victory. ‘He’s been really good with the ball, coming and picking up some very crucial wickets at some crucial stages in the back end. In the first game that we won, he defended that last over as well.’

As the team now turns its attention to the upcoming ODI series, the captain’s message is clear: the learning period is over, and the fixes must be immediate.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has appointed new Ministerial Leads for the 30th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, reinforcing its unified stance on climate justice and resilience.

These Leads will spearhead negotiations in Belém, Brazil, backed by a robust regional coordination strategy coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

In a statement on Thursday, the secretariat said as COP30 ramps up, CARICOM has reaffirmed its commitment to climate leadership by designating new Ministerial Leads to represent the region’s interests on the global stage.

‘These appointments come amid the severe impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica and Haiti and intensifying climate threats to Caribbean small island and low-lying coastal states, which face disproportionate impacts despite minimal contributions to global emissions’

The Ministerial Leads will work in close alignment with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), which will host the CARICOM Pavilion in Belém, Brazil.

This space will serve as a hub for regional coordination meetings, showcasing Caribbean innovation in climate resilience, while amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities most affected by climate change.

‘This coordinated approach reflects CARICOM’s strategic vision for COP30, grounded in the recently adopted CARICOM Declaration on the Tenth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement.’

This declaration underscores the legal and scientific imperative to limit global warming to 1.5°C and calls for urgent international support to meet adaptation and mitigation goals. Through the CARICOM Pavilion and a series of side events, the Ministerial Leads will engage global stakeholders, advocate for climate finance, and highlight the region’s progress and challenges. This unified front signals CARICOM’s resolve to shape global climate policy with Caribbean realities at its core.

The Leads are:

Loss and Damage | – Dr. the Hon. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Barbados ; Climate Finance | Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Belize

Global Stocktake | Hon. Kerryne James, Minister of Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy, Grenada

Adaptation | Hon. Cozier Frederick, Minister of the Environment, Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment, Dominica

Adaptation | Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water and the Environment, Jamaica

Just Transition | Sen. the Hon. Dr Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, St Kitts and Nevis

The CARICOM Climate Change Envoy, Dr James Fletcher; Assistant Secretary-General (ag) Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, Dr Wendell Samuel; and Amrikha Singh, Programme Manager for Sustainable Development, CARICOM Secretariat will be supporting the efforts in Belem.

West Indies saved their worst performance for last to hand their T20I series to New Zealand on a platter, as they slumped to an eight-wicket defeat in the fifth and final match here on Thursday.

For the fourth time in the series the Windies’ top order failed to fire to see them eventually dismissed for 140 in 18.4 overs after they were sent in to bat at University Oval.

The home side then made light work of the target, with Devon Conway scoring an unbeaten 47 off 42 balls, while fellow opener Tim Robinson smashed 45 from 24 balls, as they cruised to 141 for two 1n 15.4 overs.

It brought an anticlimactic end to a series that was marked by three thrilling finishes and a rained-out contest, and gave New Zealand an emphatic 3-1 series win.

Despite the West Indies’ batting struggles throughout the series, head coach Daren Sammy opted to shorten the batting lineup by replacing opener Amir Jangoo with pacer Jayden Seales. It meant that skipper Shai Hope was promoted to open with Alick Athanaze, and he started off positively by guiding Jacob Duffy’s first ball of the match over third man for six and the last ball over cover for four.

New Zealand struck in the next over when Kyle Jamieson leapt to haul in a return catch to dismiss Athanaze for just one with 12 runs on the board.

Ackeem Auguste got off the mark in fine style by pulling Jamieson for four through midwicket and followed it up by driving him to the cover point boundary two balls later.

But Duffy transformed the complexion of the match by snaring three times in his second over.

First, he had Shai Hope caught by wicketkeeper Conway after his attempted heave over cow corner ballooned into the air, and two balls later he bowled Auguste with an inswinger that cannoned into leg stump.

Duffy then picked up the wicket of the out-of-sorts Sherfane Rutherford, caught behind for a duck, as West Indies slumped to 21 for four in the third over.

Rovman Powell smashed a six and a four before another attempted big hit sailed into the hands of Mark Chapman on the cover boundary to leave his side in further trouble at 48 for five.

Roston Chase, who topscored with 38, and Jason Holder tried to repair the damage during a 42-run stand for the fifth wicket, until the former edged Jimmy Neesham behind to the keeper.

The Windies then lost the wickets of Holder for 20 and Matthew Forde for a duck, for the addition of just four runs, to see them crumble to 94 for eight.

It took the efforts of Romario Shepherd who made 36 off 22 balls, to get the visitors up to their eventual total, before they were bowled out with eight balls remaining in their innings.

Duffy, who was named Player-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series, ended with 4-35, while Neesham took 2-31.

New Zealand then wasted little time in reaching their target with Robinson and Conway blasting 69 runs off the first seven overs.

Shepherd got the breakthrough for the Windies by bowling Robinson, but Conway and Ravin Ravindra added a further 37 runs in quick time to take them past the 100 mark.

Shamar Springer had Ravindra caught for 21, but Mark Chapman scored an unbeaten 21 to take New Zealand comfortably over the line with 26 balls to spare.

Scoreboard of the fifth and final T20I between New Zealand and West Indies here on Thursday at University Oval.

WEST INDIES

*+Shai Hope c +Conway b Duffy 11

Alick Athanaze c and b Jamieson 1

Ackeem Auguste b Duffy 8

Roston Chase c +Conway b Neesham 38

Sherfane Rutherford c +Conway b Duffy 0

Rovman Powell c Chapman b Bracewell 11

Jason Holder c Neesham b Sodhi 20

Romario Shepherd c Neesham b Duffy 36

Matthew Forde c Neesham b Santner 0

Shamar Springer not out 9

Jayden Seales c Mitchell b Neesham 0

Extras (lb2, w4) 6

TOTAL (all out; 18.4 overs) 140

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-20, 3-21, 4-21, 5-48, 6-90, 7-92, 8-94, 9-137, 10-140.

Bowling: Duffy 4-0-35-4, Jamieson 2-0-13-1, Neesham 3.4-0-31-2, Bracewell 2-0-14-1, Sodhi 4-0-29-1, Santner 3-0-16-1.

NEW ZEALAND

Tim Robinson b Shepherd 45

+Devon Conway not out 47

Rachin Ravindra c Rutherford b Springer 21

Mark Chapman not out 21

Extras (lb3, nb1, w3) 7

TOTAL (two wickets; 15.4 overs) 141

Did not bat: Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy.

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-106.

Bowling: Forde 3-0-17-0, Seales 3-0-41-0, Holder 2-0-23-0, Chase 3-0-28-0, Shepherd 2.4-0-21-1, Springer 2-0-8-1.

Toss: New Zealand elected to field.

Result: New Zealand won by eight wickets to win the five-match series 3-1.

Player-of-the-Match: Jacob Duffy.

Player-of-the-Series: Jacob Duffy.

Umpires: Shaun Haig, Wayne Knights.

TV Umpire: Chris Brown.

Reserve Umpire: Kim Cotton.

Match Referee: Phil Whitticase.

The Senate has referred the motion regarding the highly controversial safe third country agreement to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee after legislators Tuesday debated the matter.

If the motion is successful, Belize will start taking in asylum seekers from Central America and the Caribbean who have been turned away by the United States.

Opposition legislators are against the accord saying it is surrendering Belize’s sovereignty and is challenging the John Briceño government to take the matter to the population even as the government maintains that the agreement is about championing human rights. ‘The Briceno administration, in our view Madam President, is compromising Belize’s dignity and independence in exchange for, let me put it the way my friend the Senator put it over there, for a diplomatic favour or diplomatic friendliness,’ said former deputy prime minister and opposition leader, Patrick Faber.

‘ We Madam President ask that we abandon this agreement or at very least, that the government comes clean, telling us the details. Let’s get the details. Go out and do whatever consultations you need to do with the citizenry of this country and then you bring this back because as you said, it cannot be enacted until the Senate passes it.

‘What is the rush? What is the rush,’ he added.

But government legislator, Hector Guerra, disagreed with the views of the opposition saying ‘as much as you hear that the heavens are falling down, that we are ceding our sovereignty as a country, in fact this agreement is an exercise of our sovereignty.

‘It reserves our right to accept, to reject, to even terminate the agreement at any time -suspend at anytime, if we believe that we do not at a particular point in time have the capacity to deal with these individuals.

‘And so I’d really just like to end by saying that this agreement, contrary to what the Opposition and Senator Faber wants the Belizean people to believe is not about Belize becoming a dumping ground. It’s not about Belize ceding sovereignty. It’s about control, compassion, a recognition of human rights,’ Guerra said.

Legislators representing the social partners also addressed the issue.

‘Nobody will gaslight me into thinking that supporting or withholding my support for this agreement is saying whether or not I want to uphold the rule of law,’ said Glenfield Dennison, who is representing the labour sector.

‘Nobody will gaslight me or bring any invalid argument to me that whether or not I support this agreement or don’t support this agreement is a reflection of my position on human rights. Nobody will make me believe that this is a simple arms length transaction between two friends because inherent in a request by a friend to do something is the ability to say no thank you,’ he added.

Business Senator, Kevin Herrera, said ‘when we are pressured to become a logistical backwater for their immigration challenges even though we have a comparable challenge or a larger challenge that clearly shows the old assumption that our security and social welfare are secondary.

‘We are not merely a convenient holding cell for the U.S. asylum system. We are a sovereign nation that needs to look after the best interest of its citizens first. It is for this reason madam president that I believe issues as weighty as this one should’ve perhaps been put to a referendum. Let the people decide,’ he said.

Last month, the government said it intends to make public the agreement it signed with the United States to act as a ‘safe third country’ for migrants as they seek asylum in the North American country.

Prime Minister said the two-year deal, which still needs approval from the Belize parliament, will mean that migrants deported from the US could apply for asylum here instead of returning to their home countries.

The US State Department called the agreement ‘an important milestone in ending illegal immigration’ and ‘shutting down abuse’ of the US asylum system.

The agreement applies to Central American and Caribbean nationals, except Guatemalans, and human rights groups in the US and abroad have strongly criticised such deals, saying migrants face the risk of being sent to countries where they could be harmed.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Francis Fonseca, said the document has already been shared with the clerk and Senators, insisting ‘it’s not a secret document’.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have called on counries, including those in the Caribbean, to strengthen surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, outbreak response, and vaccination campaigns amid concerns that the Region of the Americas has lost its verification as free from endemic measles transmission.

PAHO said that the decision follows the conclusion of the PAHO Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission, which met in Mexico City earlier this month to review the epidemiological situation across the region.

It said the Commission determined that endemic measles transmission has been reestablished in Canada, where the virus has circulated for at least 12 months. As a result, the Americas, which was the first region in the world to eliminate measles twice, has now lost its measles-free status. All other countries continue to maintain their measles elimination status.

‘This loss represents a setback, but it is also reversible,’ said PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.

‘Until measles is eliminated worldwide, our region will continue to face the risk of reintroduction and spread of the virus among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. However, as we have demonstrated before, with political commitment, regional cooperation, and sustained vaccination, the region can once again interrupt transmission and reclaim this collective achievement,’ he added.

PAHO said that as of November 7, this year, 12,596 confirmed measles cases have been reported across 10 countries, approximately 95 per cent of the region’s cases in Canada, Mexico and the United States, a 30-fold increase compared to 2024.

It said 28 deaths have been recorded, 23 in Mexico, three in the United States, and two in Canada.

PAHO said active outbreaks are ongoing in Canada, Mexico, the United States, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Belize, mostly triggered by imported cases.

‘Transmission has primarily affected under-vaccinated communities, with 89 per cent of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Children under one year of age are the most affected, followed by those aged one to four year,’ PAHO said.

It said Canada’s measles outbreak began in October 2024 in the province of New Brunswick and has since spread nationwide, with more than 5,000 confirmed cases reported nationwide. Although declining, transmission persists in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

Measles is highly contagious. A single infected person can transmit it to up to 18 others. Severe complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and death. Outbreaks also disrupt daily life and place additional pressure on health systems.

PAHO said vaccination remains the most effective means of protection and that over the past 25 years, the measles vaccine has prevented more than six million deaths across the Americas, and an estimated 15 million deaths over the last 50 years.

It said nevertheless, in 2024, regional coverage for the second dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR2) averaged 7 per cent, well below the 95 per cent needed to prevent outbreaks.

In addition, only 31 per cent of countries reached 95 per cent or more coverage for the first dose, and just 20 per cent achieved that level for the second dose.

PAHO said it is continuing to provide technical support to countries to strengthen surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, outbreak response, and vaccination campaigns. Experts have been deployed to several countries and the organization is monitoring risks in Belize, Brazil and Paraguay.

‘Every case we prevent, every outbreak we stop saves lives, protects families, and makes communities healthier,’ said Dr. Barbosa.

‘Today, rather than lamenting the loss of a regional status, we call on all countries to redouble their efforts to strengthen vaccination rates, surveillance, and timely response to suspected cases-reaching every corner of the Americas. As a region, we have eliminated measles twice. We can do it a third time.’

PAHP said it is strongly encouraging countries to continue strengthening surveillance, immunization and outbreak rapid response activities for every suspect case, expand and consolidate electronic immunization registries across all countries, following PAHO’s established guidelines.

It is also urging countries to maintain sustainable laboratory surveillance by allocating sufficient financial and human resources, adding that for suspected cases with clinical and epidemiological risk factors and a negative measles IgM result, with specimens collected within 0-3 days after rash onset, perform PCR testing to confirm or rule out infection.

PAHO reiterated that the Americas have previously faced setbacks, including temporary loss of measles elimination status in Venezuela (2018) and Brazil (2019).

‘The region regained elimination status in 2024 through coordinated regional action.To regain measles elimination status, a country must demonstrate interruption of endemic transmission for at least 12 consecutive months, supported by comprehensive vaccination, surveillance, and outbreak-response data,’ it said.

Dr. Barbosa said that cooperation, solidarity, and science are stronger than any virus ‘because when we work together, we protect the health and lives of all people in the Americas’.

Antigua and Barbuda has signed an agreement with China for the the provision of 1,500 solar-powered street lights and 200 residential photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) units.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the ongoing 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) taking place here. The director of the Department of Environment, Ambassador Diann Black-Layne, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China.

A government statement said that this initiative represents a major step in advancing the country’s renewable energy transition and aligns with Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and build climate resilience.

It said that the installation of solar street lights will improve public safety and visibility in communities, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and lower electricity costs for local authorities.

Additionally, the inclusion of residential PV and ESS systems will allow households to generate and store clean energy, promoting energy independence and ensuring greater stability during power disruptions caused by extreme weather events.

Ambassador Black-Layne said that the partnership underscores the growing spirit of international cooperation in addressing the global climate crisis and demonstrates China’s continued support for small island developing states (SIDS) in achieving their sustainable development and energy transition goals.