Category: CANA News

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says a field hospital is scheduled to arrive within the next 24 hours for deployment to the town of Black River in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth.

The facility will support healthcare delivery in the parish following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which caused significant damage to the Black River Hospital.

Tufton, made the disclosure on Saturday during a press conference held at the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre.

He said that work on the facility is set to begin on Sunday, with the support of international humanitarian organisation Samaritan’s Purse.

‘We’ve done our reconnaissance and identified a site. The team visited on Friday and we are coordinating with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and other agencies of Government to set up that facility,’ he added.

Tufton said the field hospital will have all the necessary resources to provide critical care and operational support to the medical team in St. Elizabeth.

‘It will come fully equipped with an operating theatre and other critical diagnostic equipment and some team members to support the local team, and therefore, we are hoping that during the course of this week that St. Elizabeth, and in particular Black River, will have a functional field hospital,’ he noted.

‘This is while we assess what is happening at the original hospital and hopefully that will bring some level of comfort despite all the other challenges that the area faces,’ the Minister added.

The Ministry is targeting the installation of field hospitals to support facilities in the most severely impacted parishes, with assistance from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).

In addition to the Black River Hospital, the others are Savanna-la-mar in Westmoreland; Falmouth in Trelawny; Noel Holmes in Hanover; and Cornwall Regional in St. James.

Tufton said the Government has already confirmed offers for field hospitals from the Indian, Canadian and Spanish governments.

He added that the Ministry continues to work closely with national and international partners to strengthen health system resilience and ensure continuity of care in areas affected by Hurricane Melissa.

The Government of Guyana and the Immigration Department are offering no explanation for the detention of five British Muslim men who were preparing to leave the country earlier this week.

The group – identified as Syed Miah, Muhammad Khubaib, Naieem Mohammed, Mohammad Rehman, and Usman Farooq – had been in Guyana for several days as part of a Caribbean visit. However, on Monday, while checking in at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to depart, they were held for more than 24 hours.

One of the men posted online about the ordeal, saying they were eventually released and allowed to board their flight, but were never told why they were detained. In an earlier post, he also complained that they were held in poor conditions with no information provided by authorities.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, who serves as Chief Immigration Officer, when asked about the matter a during a recent press conference., said he would provide details at a later time, but three days on, no explanation has been offered.

Other government sources have since suggested that at least one member of the group may have been on the travel watch list of another regional security service, and that this information was shared with Guyana. No further details have been provided.

When contacted, the British High Commission confirmed it has offered consular support to four British nationals in Guyana, noting it stands ready to assist United Kingdom citizens overseas at all times.

Kane Williamson has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals, ruling him out of the upcoming T20I series against West Indies, which begins on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old has featured in 93 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut in October 2011 and retires as New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, with 2,575 runs at an average of 33.44, including 18 fifties and a highest score of 95.

Kane Williamson

While Williamson will not feature in the five-match T20I series against the Windies and is also unlikely to play in the following three-match ODI series, he has made himself available for the three Test series, which begins on December 2.

Widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s best batsmen, it also means Williamson will miss out on next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February.

He last featured in a T20I for the Black Caps in June 2024, against Papua New Guinea.

‘It’s something that I’ve loved being a part of for a long period of time and I’m so grateful for the memories and experiences,’ Williamson said.

‘It’s the right time for myself and the team. It gives the team clarity for the series moving forward and ahead of their next major focus which is the T20 World Cup.

‘There’s so much T20 talent there and the next period will be important to get cricket into these guys and get them ready for the World Cup,’ he added.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive, Scott Weenink said Williamson had earned the right to decide how he finished his ODI and Test careers.

‘We’ve made it clear to Kane he has our full support as he reaches the back end of his illustrious career.

‘We would, of course, love to see him play for as long as possible, but there’s no doubt whenever he does decide to finally call time, he will go down as a legend of New Zealand cricket,’ Weenink said.

Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange, says her Ministry will be leading a series of fundraising concerts on the island and across the world to support Jamaica in the aftermath Hurricane Melissa.

The five concert series dubbed ‘I Love Jamaica’ will feature some of the island’s ‘best Reggae artistes and musicians as well as friends of Jamaica’ with all proceeds going towards the national recovery programme.

‘We have been hit hard by this very powerful hurricane which took lives and in which many of our citizens lost everything. We face a long and challenging road ahead, but we will recover and rebuild stronger with support and by working together,’ said Grange.

The first ‘I Love Jamaica’ concert is scheduled to take place on November 14.

The Ministry is also finalising arrangements for other concerts to take place in London, New York, Toronto and South Florida.

‘As we have done so many times before, we turn to our music, our Reggae music, which has proven to be a healing balm and elixir at times of trouble and distress for not only Jamaicans, but for the world.’

The concert series is part of a wider programme being led by the Ministry to build morale, lift the national spirit, and encourage volunteerism for the long recovery.

‘With our culture, entertainment, sports and religious communities, we will be reaching out to those most affected by the hurricane and mobilising volunteers to participate in the recovery programme.

Grange said her ministry will continue to work closely with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and other government and private-sector entities to establish a registration process and mobilise volunteers.

‘There is much to do, but many hands make light work. Each of us can do something to help and so we encourage everyone to do what they can. Every little act will make a difference,’ she said.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder is the new captain of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the upcoming 2025-26 edition of the International League T20 (ILT20).

Following a standout season with the team, the 33-year-old Barbadian replaces fellow West Indian Sunil Narine, who led the side in the previous seasons.

Holder joined the franchise earlier this year for the ILT20 2025 season and quickly made his mark with impressive all-round performances.

Despite the team finishing at the bottom of the points table, Holder stood out, claiming 17 wickets and scoring 126 runs at a blistering strike rate of 180.

Holder, a former West Indies captain, will lead a star-studded squad, featuring marquee players such as Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford and Narine.

His leadership, combined with his vast T20 experience across multiple leagues worldwide, is expected to bring renewed balance and energy to the side.

The Knight Riders failed to shine under Narine’s leadership, managing only three wins, while suffering seven defeats in their 10 matches during the 2025 season, which left them rooted at the bottom of the table in the six-team tournament.

The team also struggled in the 2023 and 2024 editions, finishing in the cellar position in both campaigns.

The Knight Riders will bowl off their ILT20 2025-26 season against Sharjah Warriorz in Sharjah on December 3.

All-rounders Matthew Forde and Shamar Springer have been added to the West Indies’ T20I squad as they seek to strengthen their bowling attack for their upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting Wednesday.

The two Barbadians are the only new additions to the 15-member squad which trounced Bangladesh 3-0 in their just concluded T20I series on Friday.

Forde, who suffered a shoulder injury in the summer, has been recalled after successfully completing the rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols process.

Matthew Forde has been added to the West Indies’ T20I squad to face New Zealand

Meanwhile, Springer has also been included to bolster a seam bowling unit which has suffered several injuries, most recently to Ramon Simmons and Jediah Blades, who have both been ruled out for this series.

Fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph are also unavailable.

In an interesting development, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has been dropped from the side, following a recent dip in form which has been attributed primarily to a technical issue with his action.

With conditions in New Zealand not expected to be as conducive to spin bowling, a decision has been taken for Motie to work with specialists, through collaboration with the Royals Sports Group – owners of the Paarl Royals franchise South Africa, prior to his participation in December’s SA20 to address the issue and rebuild confidence ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

CWI also disclosed that clinical psychologist, Krisnan Hurdle has been hired as a mental skills and performance coach starting with the New Zealand tour

Director of Cricket at CWI, Miles Bascombe said Hurdle’s appointment was a strategic move to align with global practices while enhancing output in the international arena.

‘The addition of a mental skills and performance coach reflects our commitment to developing the complete cricketer. At the elite level, success is as much about mindset and composure as it is about technical ability.

‘Strengthening this area ensures that our players are provided with the necessary non-technical support geared towards equipping them to manage pressure and maintain focus,’ Bascombe said.

TEAM

WEST INDIES T20I SQUAD vs IRELAND: Shai Hope (captain), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Brandon King, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.

The United States on Saturday continued its military strikes in the Caribbean, killing three suspected drug smugglers in the latest lethal strike.

Peter Hegseth

‘Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Caribbean,’ said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in making the announcement on X, formerly Twitter.

‘This vessel-like EVERY OTHER-was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,’ he added.

‘Narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home,’ continued Hegseth, stating that the US military ‘will treat them EXACTLY how we treated Al-Qaeda.’

The US Department of War said that at least 64 drug smugglers have been killed in 15 military attacks on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since the beginning of September.

On Friday, several US Democratic senators requested an ‘urgent briefing’ by Trump administration officials on the military strikes in the Caribbean, urging them to ‘provide all legal opinions related to these strikes and a list of the groups or other entities the president has deemed targetable.

‘To date, the administration has failed to provide the full Senate with the basic information necessary to carry out its oversight responsibilities, including the identities of the groups against which the president has authorized the use of military force-even as reports increase that the administration is planning additional strikes inside Venezuela,’ said the legislators in their letter addressed to Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

The letter was signed by, among others, Senate Minority Leader Charles ‘Chuck’ Schumer, Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Warner, Chris Coons, Patty Murray and Brian Schatz.

Meanwhile , Caribbean Caucus Co-Chairs in the US House of Representatives, Caribbean-American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and Congresswoman Maxine Wate, have condemned, ‘in the strongest possible terms, the Trump administration’s unilateral and unlawful military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.’

Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Waters, considered a friend of the Caribbean, represents the 43rd Congressional District in California.

‘These strikes, and the president’s policy of ‘kill first, ask questions never,’ that undergirds them, are an affront to both,’ said Clarke and Waters in a joint statement on Friday.

‘Every American knows how dire the drug and opioid crisis is. Every American recognizes how deeply action is needed to defeat it. However, when the Trump administration continues to reassign federal agents away from their work on this crisis and toward a sickening anti-immigrant American crusade, and when it has repeatedly cut congressionally approved funding for proven drug prevention and treatment programs, the depths of Donald Trump’s disinterest in truly solving the issue at hand becomes abundantly clear, As does the true purpose of these attacks, which is seemingly only to demonstrate the Trump administration’s power for violence to our allies and adversaries alike,’ they added. ‘Enough is enough.

‘Before more innocent lives are taken beyond those which likely already have been, before more maimed remains of those Donald Trump extrajudicially bombed wash upon the shores of our Caribbean neighbors, and before more of America’s friends are alienated in the name of intimidating our rivals, these strikes must end,’ Clarke and Waters demanded. ‘And the American people must receive answers to the many questions they have had since the strikes began.’

The United Nations UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also strongly condemned airstrikes carried out by the United States against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Volker Trk said in a statement that the strikes ‘violate international human rights law’, demanding that they be stopped immediately.

Trk said that more than 60 people have reportedly been killed in the continuing series of attacks since early September ‘in circumstances that find no justification in international law.’

He urged the Trump administration to halt its ‘unacceptable’ operations and take measures to prevent the ‘extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them.’

The Co-Chairs of the Caribbean Caucus in the United States House of Representatives have strongly condemned what they describe as illegal and unilateral US military air strikes ordered by the Trump administration against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Caribbean-American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters issued the joint statement on Friday.

They accused the administration of adopting a ‘kill first, ask questions never’ approach and said the actions undermine US commitments to international law, damage relations with Caribbean partners, and risk civilian casualties.

‘Enough is enough,’ they said, calling for the strikes to end immediately and for transparency on the operations.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, also denounced the airstrikes, warning they contravene international human rights law. He said more than 60 people have reportedly been killed since early September and urged Washington to halt what he called ‘unacceptable’ operations and prevent ‘extrajudicial killings.’

While the administration has defended the operations as counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts, Trk rejected that justification, saying drug enforcement is a law enforcement function governed by strict limits on lethal force. He called for independent investigations into the reported attacks.

International rights watchdog Amnesty International this week separately described the strikes as ‘murder’ and called on the US Congress to intervene and stop the operations. Amnesty noted US officials have publicly confirmed 13 strikes to date – eight in the Caribbean and five in the Pacific – and argued the United States is not engaged in any armed conflict in the region that would legally justify such military force.

Amnesty officials said the administration has not provided evidence the individuals targeted posed imminent threats to life, nor shown that the vessels could not have been intercepted and boarded.

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.

‘We laud Antigua and Barbuda’s exemplary leadership on the regional and hemispheric stage.We look forward to your continued contribution to expand the regional services economy and unlock new opportunities for all Caribbean citizens…’

She also extended best wishes for peace, stability and continued progress as the country celebrates under the theme: ‘Solid – Stable – Soaring.’

Meanwhile, the crown prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Princeon Saturday, sent a cable of congratulations to Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda Rodney Williams .

The Crown Prince wished the governor-general continued good health and happiness, and the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda further progress and prosperity.

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.