Category: CANA News

New York-based immigration advocates have strongly condemned the Trump administration’s cap on Caribbean and other refugees admitted to the United States.

Last Friday, President Donald Trump published in the Federal Register his refugee admissions goal for the fiscal year 2026 (FY26), confirming early reports that he will admit the fewest number of refugees in the 45-year history of the refugee program.

‘The FY26 Presidential Determination of 7,500 refugees will make the refugee programme accessible primarily to Afrikaners from South Africa, excluding tens of thousands of individuals with approved refugee status and who are vulnerable and at high risk but in limbo since January 2025,’ Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

NYIC is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York and Awawdeh said that the US Refugee Admissions Programme has long been a critical lifesaving programe offering a safe and legal pathway for people who have fled violence and persecution.

‘For over four decades, it has saved hundreds of thousands of lives while simultaneously enriching local communities and economies across the country,’ he said, adding that while while Trump’s war on asylum seekers and refugees is ‘no secret’, his administration ‘reached a new low’ in Friday’s decision.

‘After defying US law by failing to consult with Congress, the Trump administration unequivocally shut the door on our proud, centuries-long tradition of welcoming those fleeing violence and persecution, leaving thousands in limbo and many more in peril,’ Awawdeh said.

He said the administration’s justifications for practically eliminating refugee admissions ‘remains vague, posing a major threat to the cultural and economic vitality of New York.

‘Refugee communities have stabilized neighborhoods and contributed significantly to our economy from Brentwood to Buffalo. We call on the Trump administration to reverse course and uphold our country’s long standing refugee program by prioritizing those most at-risk, including religious minorities, unaccompanied refugee children, families awaiting reunification, and others.’

In his Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2026, Trump wrote that ‘the admissions of up to 7,500 refugees to the United States during Fiscal Year 2026 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.

‘The admissions numbers shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to Executive Order 14204, and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands,’ Trump wrote.

‘Refugee admissions under this determination, which may reach but not exceed the numerical limit described herein, are in all respects subject to the requirements of other Presidential policies and actions, whether issued prior or subsequent to this determination.’

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) says it fully supports the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) after it announced a crackdown on illegal mining and smuggling of gold.

The GGMC had carried out enforcement exercises in the Sand Hills and Toroparu areas during which several illegal miners and raiders were detained, and several illegal shops and operations were dismantled.

In its statement, the GGDMA also commended the Guyana Police (GPF) for its support in the exercise, while urging the GMC to increase its enforcement efforts to stamp out illegal gold mining.

‘The GGDMA calls on the GGMC to expand this exercise to other areas and commence the regularization of landings in the mining areas. It must be noted that illegal gold mining and the operation of illegal shops fuels other associated illegal activities, such as human trafficking, gold smuggling and the sale of illegal drugs. These activities have in the past been tied directly to the gangs in Venezuela including the notorious Sindicato gang.

‘At a time when Guyana is under threat from its aggressive neighbour, the country must take all steps to stop activities linked to the financing activities in Venezuela,’ the GGDMA said.

It said it has always called for an end to illegal mining, reminding miners that all gold must be sold to the Guyana Gold Board or authorized dealers and detailed records be kept for verification.

Meanwhile, police are continuing their investigations into the murder of a 22-year-old man, who was working as a miner at Issano Landing in Middle Mazaruni, Region 7 on Sunday.

The policce said that he has been identified as Samuel Marciano and that he was shot multiple times while attending a social gathering at a shop in the gold mining area of Linden. It is unclear what led to the shooting.

However, the Police said its preliminary inquiries have indicated that Marciano was shot multiple times by two known individuals.

CMC/gt/ir/2025

Two Caribbean nationals have been selected to participate in the United Nations Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent, hosted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva.

The National Community Foundation (NCF) said its Executive Director Vanya Reid-Hinkson and a Jamaican national are among nine fellows selected globally for the 2025 cohort and tat their selection speaks to the Caribbean’s enduring resilience and commitment to advancing equitable development, inclusion, and social justice across the region.

‘This fellowship is both an honour and a responsibility. It provides an opportunity to represent Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean in the global conversation on equality and human development.

‘The lessons from this experience will help strengthen how we, as communities and institutions, respond to the needs of our people with fairness, compassion, and accountability,’ said Reid-Hinkson.

The Fellowship Programme was initiated by the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section in 2011 and was further supported by General Assembly resolution on the Programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

It is an annual, intensive human rights training programme in Geneva for individuals from the diaspora who are actively promoting the rights of people of African descent.

The goal is to provide participants with a deeper understanding of international human rights law, strengthen their skills in advocacy, and give them hands-on experience with UN human rights mechanisms. The programme covers return airfare, living expenses, and basic health insurance for the duration of the training.

Fellows will participate in an intensive three-week programme at the United Nations Office in Geneva, engaging with experts, international organisations, and permanent missions, while developing practical projects that address the specific needs of their countries.

As part of her fellowship, Reid-Hinkson will focus on strengthening national mechanisms for human rights education, community empowerment, and policy accountability – areas that align closely with Saint Lucia’s development goals and ongoing efforts to promote inclusion, social protection, and citizen participation.

The NCF said it views this fellowship as a valuable opportunity to deepen partnerships with government agencies, civil society organisations, and the private sector, reaffirming its mission to uphold dignity, equity, and inclusion as pillars of sustainable national development.

The wait is nearly over for racing enthusiasts across Jamaica, as live horse racing is officially set to resume at Caymanas Park on November 15.

With the facilities set to be some 60 per cent ready, the organisers of racing in Jamaica, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), said they will be ready to open the Park and have live racing off and running again, despite challenges with full electrical power.

The announcement has sent a wave of anticipation through the sporting community, signalling a triumphant return to normalcy for the beloved industry.

After a prolonged hiatus, the historic track is preparing for a month of packed action.

The November calendar is stacked with high-profile events. The action kicks off with the United Racehorse Trainers’ Association of Jamaica race day on November 15.

The excitement escalates immediately with the prestigious Jamaica Cup slated for November 16. This marquee event is sure to draw the country’s top contenders, setting the stage for a thrilling early showdown.

The following weekend continues the momentum with two key trophy races. The Racehorse Aftercare Trophy on November 22 highlights the industry’s commitment to animal welfare, while the Alsafra Trophy on November 23 promises another day of competitive racing.

Finally, the month will draw to a close on November 29 with the Jockeys’ Agent Race day.

Dominica is observing its 47th anniversary of political independence from Britain on Monday with the traditional National Day Observance Ceremony taking place at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium in the evening.

‘Today, we celebrate forty-seven years of independence- forty-seven years of resilience, progress and pride in who we are as a people,’ Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said in a post on his Facebook page.

‘May our love for country continue to guide every step we take toward a stronger, more prosperous and united Dominica,’ he said, ahead of his Independence Day address that will be delivered at the National Day Observance Ceremony.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett, in extending congratulations to Dominica, said the theme for the occasion, ’47 Years of Progress and Purpose’, aptly captures the consistent and focused efforts the nation has made towards achieving its development objectives and in promoting sustainable development.

The death toll from Hurricane Melissa rose to 32 on Monday even as the authorities reported progress in restoring electricity and water to areas affected by the passage of the category 5 storm last Tuesday.

Information Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon told a news conference that there are eight other unconfirmed deaths which are being investigated by the security forces.

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, speaking at news conference on Monday (CMC Photo)

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie said that 186 shelters remain open across 12 parishes accomodating2,500 people.

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange Monday announced the launch of a national registry of volunteers on the support Jamaica portal, which she said will provide a safe and simple way for you to get involved.

‘Through this registry you will be able to tell us when you are available to help, what your skills are as well as what type of assistance you would like to give,’ she told the daily media briefing, adding that plans are also going forward for the various shows in London and the United States featuring several international acts in December.

‘We will get over this, we will build better,’ she added.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has issued a statement indicating that a message circulating online about the offering of a Hurricane Melissa grant is false, indicating that such a message had been put out in 2024 for Hurricane Beryl, and has no relation to the current situation.

The ministry said that the government remains firmly committed to assisting all Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa, and has started the process of conducting household damage assessments.

It said that an official announcement on financial assistance to affected persons will be made in due course and that in the meantime, the Ministry, along with local and international partners, continues the urgent distribution of relief supplies.

The chief executive officer of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Hugh Grant, told the news briefing that 77 per cent of customers had been re-connected, adding that the overseas line workers are due in the country by the end of the week.

‘We are also bringing in additional equipment because our local resources in terms of bucket trucks and pole digger trucks are exhausted.so that when the workers come in they will have the equipment required,’ he said, adding ‘ I stand committed to letting you know we will get through this’.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Mathew Samuda, told reporters that while there had also been much progress in restoring water supplies there were still problems including mechanical issues, external power outages and infrastructure damage.

‘the situation as it stands now, we had 631 systems disrupted with 132 currently active giving you the grand total of 763,’ he said, noting however that the system brought back into operations are the largest systems.

He said 65 per cent of customers have been restored ‘because the systems brought back into activity are indeed our largest systems,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader, Mark Golding says the government should develop an evacuation plan for persons without shelter, outline a clear command structure for relief aid, and ensure it is being led by disaster professionals and not politicians.

Golding told a news conference that the Andrew Holness government should extend the waiver on general consumption tax and import duties on items being shipped to Jamaica, saying that the period for which the measure is in place, November 28, is too short.

‘The relief must get to those who need it, prioritising those who need it most, regardless of political colour or demographic group. They are all Jamaicans, and they should be treated equally at this time without discrimination and tribal politics,’ said Golding.

‘That should be led by professionals in disaster management, not by politicians who do not know the ins and outs of a disaster of this magnitude. And we should not be shy of seeking international support and help from persons who are experienced in this regard,’ he added.

Dixon said that Prime Minister Holness will later this week announce the composition of a committee that will oversee the funds and relief supplies received by Jamaica as a result of the storm.

Veteran Barbadian umpire Gregory Brathwaite has officially retired from the international stage, bringing down the curtain on a celebrated career that spanned more than a decade.

The 55-year-old confirmed his decision last month, notifying both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) of his retirement, which became effective on September 30th.

Brathwaite’s career was marked by several significant milestones. He stood on the field in eight Test matches and served as the television umpire in a further six.

A crowning moment of his time in the sport was his role as an on-field official in the thrilling ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017, where England clinched a dramatic victory over India.

In a reflection on his decision, Brathwaite revealed that the choice was a carefully considered one, made after consulting with his family.

‘I just thought that the time has come for me to seriously sit and have a look at where I am based on my age, and whether or not the time has come to allow somebody younger to have an opportunity to excel beyond where I have been.’

He expressed profound satisfaction with his accomplishments, especially given that his journey into umpiring was entirely unplanned.

‘I’m very happy with what I was able to achieve, having started a journey that I didn’t plan. Umpiring was never on my radar,’ Brathwaite explained. ‘And to have reached the level of crossing all formats on the field, ODIs, T20S, Test match cricket, I think that in itself is a really great achievement for someone who didn’t set out to umpire initially.’

Brathwaite’s retirement marks the departure of a respected figure from the elite panel, an official who rose from an unexpected beginning to preside over the sport’s biggest stages.

United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres has spoken by to Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasising afterwards that ‘international support is crucial’ as the country deals with the effects of the category 5 storm which brought rain, storm surges and catastrophic flooding and killed nearly 30 people.

‘He calls for the mobilisation of massive resources to deal with the loss and damage from the hurricane,’ said the Deputy UN spokesperson, following Guterres talks with Prime Minister Holness on Sunday.

Un Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister Andrew Holness (File Photo)

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated four million US dollars million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) so agencies and their partners can rapidly scale up humanitarian operations in Jamaica.

Six days after the most powerful storm in the island’s history made landfall in the west, many residents are still waiting for aid to arrive, according to local news reports, with many roads still inaccessible and communities without power and running water.

The top UN official on the island, Dennis Zulu, told UN News that around 13 UN agencies are working as quickly as possible alongside authorities to clear roads and make essential repairs.

‘My team here remains committed.to ensure that Jamaica gets back on its feet,’ he said.

The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, said more than 700,000 children across the Caribbean had been impacted by the hurricane, which also made landfall in Cuba and caused chaos across western Haiti.

UNICEF is supporting the Jamaican government to reach more than 284,000 children to address urgent nutrition needs, access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene including mental health support.

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, said that several primary care facilities will play a critical supporting role in the ongoing post-hurricane recovery efforts across the public health system.

He said these facilities will focus on providing triage and outpatient services to help ease the burden on hospitals in the five most severely affected parishes.

‘In the coming days, we will complete that process so that Jamaicans who need check-ups for diabetes, arthritis, and other chronic illnesses, can receive attention at a site close enough to the hospital,’ he added.

Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Daryl Vaz, in collaboration with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), has received additional support from the United States government to bolster ongoing relief operations.

Three Black Hawk helicopters arrived at the JDF’s Air Wing, Norman Manley Base on Sunday and the aircraft will assist with supply distribution, search and rescue missions, and medical evacuations in areas most affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Washington has already indicated that it will donate an initial amount of US$11 million towards immediate assistance in communities affected by the hurricane, saying the initial funds will cover emergency food supplies for around 40,000 civilians, the installation of six water treatment systems, and mobile medical services, among other relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica government says it will host a series of international fundraising concerts to support national hurricane relief efforts.

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Olivia Grange, said that the initiative dubbed ‘Jamaica Love,’ will feature some of the country’s most celebrated reggae artistes and musicians, alongside friends of Jamaica from across the world, with all proceeds going towards the national recovery programme.

The first concert is set for Friday, November 14, at the National Stadium.

Relatives of two men believed to have been killed when United States military bombed their fishing vessel in international waters last month, have formally made a report to the police here.

Police said that a relative of Chad Joseph, 26, filed the missing person’s report on November 1, in which the relative said that Joseph was last seen and heard from on the morning of April 25, when he said he was going fishing but never returned.

Chad Joseph (right) and Rishi Samaroo (File Photo)

But the police said that while giving her statement, the relative became agitated and appeared to be messaging on her phone. She later told the investigating officer she wanted to consult her attorney before continuing and declined to sign the partial statement.

Later attorney Keron Ramkhalawhan contacted police, advising that his client would not provide further statements.

A second report was made by Rishi Samaroo’s relatives on November 2.

Late last month, the Trinidad and Tobago government reiterated that it had no concrete evidence that two of its nationals were killed when the United States military bombed a small vessel in international waters near the coast of Venezuela as part of its war on the illegal drugs trade in the region.

Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister, Sean Sobers, speaking at a news conference here, referred to the nationals as ‘missing’ telling reporters ‘as far as we know these persons may very well be missing, we don’t know them to be dead.

We don’t know that they were actual persons on any boats that may have been destroyed by the US,’ he said, adding ‘the relatives conducted funerals, I think one of them did, my heart goes out to them.and we wish them all the best.

‘What we did say is that in lieu of any evidence that these persons have actually died that the best course of action would be to go to the police and file a missing person report,’ he added.

Homeland Security Minister, Roger Alexander, a former senior police officer, had soon after the ‘incident, also cast doubt on the ‘innocence’ of the two men, Richie Samaroo and Chad ‘Charpo’ Joseph, not being involved in criminal activities.

In october, President Donald Trump ramped up US military presence in the Caribbean Sea ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his 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 have also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

The United States military has carried out deadly air strikes in Caribbean waters over the past few weeks against what Washington alleges are Caracas-backed drug traffickers. The Venezuelan government denies the charge, accusing the administration of being a threat to the peace and security of the whole region.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has said that she is ‘happy that the US naval deployment is having success in their mission,’ and that ‘the pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the US military should kill them all violently’.

Fresh off a historic medal-sweeping performance, Team Saint Lucia is charging into the 2025 Senior OECS Regional Table Tennis Championships with a potent mix of veteran savvy and prodigious young talent, determined to prove their regional dominance is here to stay.

The championship, set for November 6-10, will see the island nation defend its titles after an unforgettable clean sweep at the 2024 games in Dominica, where Saint Lucia captured all seven available championship crowns.

Leading the charge on the men’s side is 16-year-old phenom Manie Eleuthere. Already Saint Lucia’s top-ranked Under-19 player and the current national number three, Eleuthere brings a winning pedigree as the reigning LQ Regional Classic Champion in Junior Singles, Teams, and Doubles.

He will be joined by the highly-touted Leshon Francis, a standout talent ranked among the top 16 players in the entire Pan American region.

Francis, the national Under-15 titleholder, further cemented his reputation with a bronze medal at the Caribbean Youth Championships.

Adding crucial experience to the men’s lineup is the seasoned Dawitt Nurse, a multiple Caribbean medalist who clinched an OECS Senior Men’s Singles bronze last year.

Rounding out the roster is the rising star Khamari Harris, who has already claimed two Caribbean bronze medals in the Under-15 and Under-19 divisions and now steps up to challenge the region’s senior elite.

The women’s team will be spearheaded by the formidable Shatal Charles, who announced her arrival on the international stage by ranking among the top 16 Under-15 players at the Junior Pan American Championships.

Charles enters the tournament as the defending champion in a staggering four categories: Team, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Singles.