Category: CANA News

Jamaican international Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s second half strike propeled Manchester City to a 2-1 victory over Everton and sent them top of the table in the Women’s Super League (WSL) here on Sunday.

It was their seventh win in a row and carried them to 21 points from their eight games, one more than six-time defending champions Chelsea, who drew with Arsenal on Saturday. Vivianne Miedema gave City the lead at Goodison Park in the 21st minute, but Everton’s Kelly Gago wiped out that advantage when she skillfully flicked Toni Payne’s cross past a dumbfounded Ayaka Yamashita in the 40th minute.

However, Shaw ensured City would grab all three points when she rose above Rion Ishikawa to head home Leila Ouahabi’s delivery in the 55th minute.

It was her fifth goal of the campaign – tied for most in the WSL – and ended a three-game scoring drought.

Everton was unlucky not to have leveled the contest again, but Ornella Vignola’s long-range effort hit the woodwork, while Yamashita made a fine save from Hikaru Kitagawa.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is mourning the passing of former President of the Republic of Suriname, Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan. In a statement, CARICOM said Venetiaan was a distinguished statesman who dedicated a significant portion of his life to public service and was also a strong advocate for Caribbean regional integration.

‘Under his leadership, Suriname took steps towards full membership in CARICOM, motivated by a deep belief in the Community’s ideals and objectives. This vision was realised in 1995 when he deposited Suriname’s Instrument of Accession to CARICOM. Suriname’s ongoing active and committed membership of CARICOM remains a proud and enduring testament to the legacy of President Venetiaan.’

‘The Caribbean Community conveys its deepest condolences to his family, the Government and people of Suriname, and to all who knew and worked with this remarkable leader.’

Venetiaan, died on Wednesday after he had been ailing for some time. He was 89.

He was regarded as one of the most authoritative and influential leaders in Surinamese political history, serving three terms as head of state during the period, 1991-1996, 2000-2005, and 2005-2010.

Under his leadership, the Surinamese dollar was introduced, and efforts were intensified to strengthen the rule of law and governance.

Venetiaan was known for his calm, principled style and his aversion to political theatrics. Integrity and sound administration were the cornerstones of his leadership.

In both his first and second presidencies, restoring democratic norms played a central role and his policies, aimed at ensuring civilian control of the military and building strong institutions, earned broad respect.

After stepping down in 2010, Venetiaan withdrew from active politics but remained a moral compass as honorary chairman of the National Party of Suriname (NPS). Venetiaan is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

The total estimated damage to some local manufacturers following the passage of Hurricane Melissa has been placed at J$250 billion.

In a statement on Friday, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) said based on its initial assessment, only 10 percent of the 600 companies under its membership are located in the most devastated parishes.

The loss is based on the reported impact on sales, infrastructure, and inventory.

According to the Association, courtesy calls were made to members in affected parishes. Forty-one members responded.

Of these respondents: 12 companies reported minor disruptions and are expected to resume full operations once electricity is restored.

Eighteen others experienced partial damage and are awaiting the restoration of critical utilities before resuming normal operations.

The remaining 10 companies were severely impacted, resulting in a complete halt in production.

The hardest-hit sectors include manufactured foods and beverages, wood and furniture production, cosmetics and personal care, and primary agriculture.

JMEA President Kathryn Silvera says 80 percent of manufacturers have since resumed normal operations, particularly in parishes that were not directly affected.

The JMEA also noted that to date, millions of dollars’ worth of goods have been procured from local manufacturers and delivered to the worst-affected parishes.

Jamaica’s Consul General to New York, Alsion Roach Wilson, who served in the post since 2019, has died. ‘I am deeply saddened to announce the passing today of Alsion Wilson, Consul-General of Jamaica at New York, at her home in New York,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith in a statement on Saturday.

The foreign minister praised Wilson’s dedication to the role, in which she was the eleventh person to serve.

‘Consul-General Wilson served Jamaica at the highest level of excellence during her tenure from July 2019 to present. Her accomplishments defy the time during which she served with deep commitment to country, the foreign service and indeed to Jamaicans at home and abroad,’ Johnson Smith said.

Wilson was trained in finance, with a celebrated Wall Street career during which she founded her own financial consulting firm, the Alsion Road Group

Wilson was recently conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander, by the Government of Jamaica.

She is survived by her husband Omar and children Brian and Vanessa.

Jamaica’s Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton, shared a tribute on Instagram, expressing his grief and admiration for Wilson.

‘My friend, there are no words to truly express the pain of your passing,’ Tufton wrote. ‘You were full of life, hope and purpose, always giving your best in everything you did. Even in your final days, through all the pain, you spoke with courage and optimism about the future.’

‘You showed what true public service looks like, with your dedication, professionalism and compassion. Beyond that, you were a loyal friend whose support and encouragement meant so much to me. I mourn your loss deeply, but I also celebrate the life you lived and the example you set. Your memory will always stay with me.’

Born in the central parish of St. Catherine, Alison Wilson migrated to the United States and attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and later the American Business Institute, where she laid the foundation for a successful career in finance.

Before entering diplomatic service, she held senior positions at leading firms, including Vice President and Associate Director at Bear Stearns, Director of Finance at Greylock Capital Management, and President and CEO of The Alsion Roach Group, LLC. She also founded Cyberlock Solutions, a cybersecurity company.

She was appointed Jamaica’s Consul General to New York in 2019 by Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, bringing with her an extensive background in international finance.

Based at the Consulate General in Manhattan, she oversaw Jamaica’s interests in Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and 33 U.S. states, serving one of the largest and most active Jamaican diasporas in the world.

During her tenure, Wilson focused on strengthening ties between Jamaica and its overseas nationals, promoting trade and investment opportunities, and modernizing consular services. She also chaired the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Consular Corps in New York, where she worked to enhance regional collaboration and diaspora engagement among Caribbean nations.

The highly anticipated Horizon Vitality Series between Jamaica and England is in danger of being cancelled as the Caribbean island continues to pick up the pieces left behind by Hurricane Melissa.

According to reports by The Gleaner, Netball Jamaica and the England Netball Association have been locked in high-level discussions regarding the possible cancellation of the four-match series due to the extensive damage sustained during the hurricane. The series was set to feature two home games for Jamaica at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on December 6 and 7, followed by two away fixtures at the Copper Box Arena in London, England, on December 13 and 14.

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls were already facing selection challenges heading into the series, as several of their top players made themselves unavailable for personal and professional reasons.

It is understood that captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, along with Romelda Aiken-George, Shimona Nelson-Jok, and Latanya Wilson, have all withdrawn from the squad, while Shamera Sterling-Humphrey recently gave birth and Jodi-Ann Ward is recovering from surgery.

Their unavailability would have left the Sunshine Girls severely short-handed for the series, which was expected to serve as preparation for next year’s Netball World Cup qualifiers.

The Sunshine Girls won last year’s inaugural Horizon Vitality Series 2-1.

Prime Minister, Dr.Andrew Holness, says the official platform to mobilise support for Jamaica’s relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Category Five Hurricane Melissa will be modified. Speaking in Parliament this week,he said modification will enable donors to better interface with the platform and donate to a specific institution or institutions.

The supportjamaica.gov.jm online platform also aims to channel relief and coordinate recovery efforts.

Holness made the remarks while responding to a question posed in the House of Representatives recently regarding the supportjamaica.gov.jm platform and ‘whether there can be designation of the donation’.

‘My understanding is that there is a way to do it, but we’re going to modify the platform to ensure that it is more seamless, that you can visibly see how to designate to an institution,’ he said.

‘There is already a process for schools, for example under the National Education Trust (NET), and so I say publicly, if Jamaicans overseas want to donate directly to their school, they can do so through the National Education Trust, similar process, they have an online process.’

The Prime Minister pointed out that everything donated through the supportjamaica.gov.jm platform goes to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

‘The intention is not to take away the donations from private entities. . What we’re saying is if you want to get the benefit of the waived duty, then you should send it. and once it’s recorded as a donation, ODPEM records it, then you benefit from the waiver and if you give funds, as we have said now, we will be able to direct it, we’re going to make it specific on the platform so that you can direct it,’ he said.

He further explained that although it comes through ODPEM, persons or entities are able to distribute the items.

‘But once you bring your stuff in, even if you put it under the name ODPEM, it’s yours, so you can take it and do whatever you want with it, but it’s important that the nation has a full account of everything that came in; that’s all that ODPEM is doing – full account,’ Holness said.

‘So, you can consign it to ODPEM saying that you want to go and do your own distribution, which by the way that’s what they’re doing. That’s what the entities that come in with their stuff, they don’t just come in and put it in their own warehouses and go; they come in, it’s assigned to ODPEM, we note it and then they go and do what they want to do with it, but we must know. we’re talking large things, container loads of stuff,’ he added.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Saturday, November 8, 2025.

GEORGETOWN- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is mourning the passing of former President of the Republic of Suriname, Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan.

KINGSTON – The total estimated damage to some local manufacturers following the passage of Hurricane Melissa has been placed at J$250 billion.

GEORGETOWN – The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has grounded a plane and suspended a pilot for landing a plane in a non-designated landing area.

WASHINGTON – The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) , Albert Ramdin, is urging member states to ‘act with urgency’ to finalize and implement a comprehensive plan aimed at restoring stability and driving development in Haiti.

SPORTS

KINGSTON – The highly anticipated Horizon Vitality Series between Jamaica and England is in danger of being cancelled as the Caribbean island continues to pick up the pieces left behind by Hurricane Melissa.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has grounded a plane and suspended a pilot for landing a plane in a non-designated landing area.

The GCAA said the incident, involving an Air Services Limited Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, registered as 8R-THR, occurred on Thursday.

On Friday, the authority said the actions would remain in force until the ‘outcome’ of the probe.

‘The GCAA is dedicated to ensuring thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety,’ the authority said.

An aviation industry source said while the pilot is experienced, it seemed that he was not properly briefed about the area.

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) says a Venezuelan and two Guyanese have been arrested in connection with the seizure of almost 24 kilogrammes of cocaine in East Bank Essequibo.

In a statement on Saturday, CANU, said those arrested are a Venezuelan man, a Guyanese man and a Guyanese woman, CANU said. The seizure occurred on Friday at a residence, based on information received CANU agents said they received.

A subsequent search of the residence led to the discovery of several parcels containing a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.

The substance was tested positive for cocaine and weighed 23.958 kilogrammes.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it has activated its emergency coordination and response mechanisms and is working closely with Caribbean health authorities to address the extensive health impacts caused by Hurricane Melissa. PAHO said more than 13 tons of medical supplies have been deployed, alongside specialised experts from its Regional Response Teams, to help restore critical health services and prevent disease outbreaks.

Jamaica, the hardest hit, reported severe damage to five major hospitals and widespread destruction across health facilities in the western and southern regions. In response to the destruction of Black River Hospital, PAHO, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), has facilitated the deployment of a Type 2 Emergency Medical Team (EMT) from Samaritan’s Purse to establish a temporary hospital.

A second Type 2 EMT from the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) is also now operating a temporary field hospital next to the Public Hospital in the town of Falmouth in the northern parish of Trelawny.

PAHO said additional specialists in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and health services have been mobilized, along with structural engineers to conduct post-disaster assessments at Cornwall Regional Hospital and other key facilities.

The organisation is leading the health cluster in coordination with MOHW and assessing shelters for environmental health, surveillance, vector control, water and sanitation interventions.

PAHO noted that amid the widespread destruction, the Santa Cruz Health Centre in the southwest remains fully intact – crediting its retrofitting to smart hospital gold standards under PAHO’s Smart Hospitals initiative.

Despite ongoing efforts, PAHO said urgent needs remain and has launched a US$14.2 million donor appeal for Jamaica to support continued emergency medical deployments, rehabilitate damaged facilities and prevent outbreaks.

In Haiti, PAHO is working with partners to assess conditions of internally displaced persons, disseminate cholera prevention messaging, and utilize prepositioned emergency kits that were in place for more than 11,000 people ahead of the hurricane season. On November 6, an additional 5.5-ton shipment from PAHO’s Strategic Reserve in Panama arrived with emergency kits, PPE, mosquito nets and medical supplies.

In Grand’Anse, displaced families urgently need tents and hygiene kits, while children require targeted psychosocial support. PAHO said field epidemiologists are being supported to conduct early warning surveillance and ensure samples reach the National Public Health Laboratory.

In Cuba, PAHO is preparing a second shipment of emergency supplies, including electric generators, fumigation equipment and mosquito nets, to address anticipated increases in mosquito populations and power shortages in health facilities.

PAHO stressed that while the initial donor appeal focuses on Jamaica, urgent needs persist across affected Caribbean countries.

The organisation is urging partners and donors to continue supporting disease surveillance, mental health services and preventive measures to reduce risks from waterborne, foodborne, and vector-borne illnesses among displaced populations.

PAHO said it remains committed to working with governments and humanitarian partners to ensure affected communities receive critical care and support, adding that sustained donor engagement is essential to recovery and future resilience.