Category: CANA News

The Jamaica government says dengue cases remain well below the epidemic threshold with only 23 suspected and confirmed cases being recorded in September as compared to the epidemic threshold of 257.

However, Health and wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, said that while the country is not experiencing a dengue outbreak, it had recorded two deaths so far this year.

Health and Welness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, delivering ministerial statement on dengue situation to Parliament on Tuesday.

Tufton said the number of dengue cases has been below the normal epidemic threshold since September last year

‘This is well below the epidemic threshold of 257. At the same time, Jamaica is currently experiencing a notable increase in mosquito populations across multiple species, particularly nuisance mosquitoes, in and around domestic spaces.

‘The recent shift from drought to intense rainfall has created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding,’ The Health and Wellness Minister said, adding that while there is currently no significant rise in the Aedes aegypti mosquito which carries the dengue virus, ‘we do expect an increase in this disease-carrying type by the end of October into November’.

Tufton reminded legislators that dengue is endemic to Jamaica, and all four serotypes have been identified and have caused outbreaks. The recent dengue outbreaks occurred in 2007, 2010, 2012/2013, 2016, 2018-2020 and 2023-2024, with increasing frequency noted over the period.

But he said the data from the National Surveillance Unit indicates that dengue fever activity is low as of the week ending October 11, 2025.

‘Year-to-date, there have been 379 dengue cases for 2025, much fewer when compared to 1,819 for the same period last year. There were also two dengue deaths last year and two this year’.

Tufton said that while the historical dengue season is between September and January, peaking in October, for 2025, the seasonal line has not been exceeded as of October 11.

‘Based on epidemiological surveillance data the 2025/2026 dengue season is either delayed in onset, or the dengue season is a low activity season,’ he added.

The Antigua and Barbuda government has hinted at the possibility of not voting in support of a Net-Zero Shipping Framework (NZF) aimed at reducing reducing emissions in the maritime sector.

The United States has already warned countries, including those in the Caribbean, not to support the NZF being pushed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approved in April 2025 and is set for adoption during the Marine Environmental Protection Committee meeting that is taking place until October 17.

‘Like the United States, we are equally concerned about this transition and we think that there should be a deferral and if there is no deferral, then we clearly will abstain,’ Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the state-owned ABS, saying Antigua and Barbuda favours a deferral in the adoption of the proposal as it will likely affect cost of living for the people of this country.

‘ We will not vote against it because at the end of the day, we are one of the most strident climate advocates as we have been advocating for net-zero, so we do not want to undermine our overall position on this transition to renewables and to achieve net-zero as soon as possible.

‘But this particular initiative could result in significant shipping costs that would result in increasing cost-of-living and it’s from that stand point that we are likely to abstain,’ Prime Minister Browne added.

But he made it clear that his position was not as a result of the threat by Washington and that St. John’s was taking a position as a sovereign state looking after its own self-interest.

‘We certainly cannot support the initiative at this time,’ he said.

In a joint statement issued by the Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the United States warned countries against supporting ‘this European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations.

‘We will fight hard to protect our economic interests by imposing costs on countries if they support the NZF. Our fellow IMO members should be on notice,’ they said.

Washington has said that President Donald Trump has made it clear that the United States will not accept any international environmental agreement that unduly or unfairly burdens the United States or harms the interests of the American people.

It said that this week’s vote on the adoption ‘will be the first time that a UN organization levies a global carbon tax on the world.

‘The Administration unequivocally rejects this proposal before the IMO and will not tolerate any action that increases costs for our citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers, or tourists.

The NZF seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping to align with the 2050 net-zero target. Key components include a Global Fuel Standard (GFS) setting annual GHG intensity reduction targets, a two-tier carbon price mechanism, and a credit trading system funded by penalties to reward zero and near-zero emission fuels and support a just transition.

The NZF presents a new regulatory era in which ships will be required to gradually adopt fuels that are typically three to four times more expensive compared with conventional fossil fuels. Given the long lifespan of ships, shipowners should prepare now for the new net-zero GHG emission regulations to ensure cost-effective compliance, both at the ship and the fleet level.

The Framework will apply to all oceangoing ships over 5,000 gross tonnage (GT). These ships are responsible for over 85 per cent of global shipping emissions and are already covered by reporting requirements for fuel data collection. Ships under 5,000 GT are currently not covered.

IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, said while the IMO Net-Zero Framework ‘is not perfect,’ it ‘provides a balanced basis for our further work ahead of its entry into force in 2027.

‘This process has been inclusive and thorough,’ Dominguez added, urging delegates to approach the talks ‘with diplomacy and respect.

‘Here, we are diplomatic and respectful to one another, we listen to everyone’s opinion, we take steps forward and we are always looking to improve in this ever-changing sector.’

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, October 15, 2025

NASSAU – Prime Minister Phillip Davis has appealed to public sector workers to take into consideration the existing socio-economic conditions in The Bahamas as trade unions plan mass demonstrations across the country on Wednesday in support of their demands for the payment of salary increases to their members.

GEORGETOWN – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary general, Dr. Carla Barnett Wednesday underscored the importance of statistics to regional development saying that the 15-member grouping is at the midpoint of implementing the 12-year Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics.

ROSEAU -The Dominica Bar Association (DBA) says while it acknowledges the efforts to reduce the case backlogs, it has ‘serious concerns’ about the impact of the decision to re-introduce night court sittings in the country.

ST. JOHN’S -The Antigua and Barbuda government has hinted at the possibility of not voting in support of a Net-Zero Shipping Framework (NZF) aimed at reducing reducing emissions in the maritime sector.

PARAMARIBO – Former president, Chandrikapersad Santokhi says he hopes that the detention of his son in the United States in connection with his immigration status ‘will be handled carefully and fairly, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations’.

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Wednesday said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September this year increased by 0.8 per cent.

It said that the main contributor to this increase was the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division which rose by 0.9 per cent.

‘The upward movement in this division was influenced mainly by higher prices for some agricultural produce such as sweet potato, tomato, carrot, and cabbage in the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses,’ STATIN added.

It said that the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division recorded aone per cent increase, reflecting higher electricity rates and rental costs.

Additionally, there was a 5.6 per cent upward movement in the index for the ‘Education’ division due to higher tuition fees for private schools at the primary level for the new school term.

STATIN said that the point-to-point inflation rate for the period September 2024 – September 2025) increased by 2.1per cent.

It said this was influenced mainly by the point-to-point inflation rate for the divisions: ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (4.8 per cent), ‘Restaurant and Accommodation Services’ (4.1 per cent) and ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (0.7 per cent).

STATIN said that the CPI measures changes in the general level of prices for consumer goods and services purchased by private households and that the September 2025 bulletin outlines additional information.

Caribbean-American Democratic Council member, Crystal Hudson, is appealing to the Caribbean community to stand with New York Attorney General Letitia ‘Tish’ James amid President Donald J. Trump-directed indictment of her by the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Hudson, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, said last Thursday, the Trump administration indicted James ‘on baseless charges, a blatant act of political retaliation and an unconstitutional attempt to silence her amid her investigations’ into his wrongdoing.

‘This is not justice,’ said Hudson, representative for the 35th Council District in Brooklyn, New York, in a message to constituents.

‘It’s a dangerous escalation in the ongoing effort to weaponize the justice system against those who dare to hold the powerful accountable.

‘A lifelong public servant, a proud Brooklynite, and a former representative of our own 35th Council District, Attorney General James has spent her career fighting for everyday New Yorkers , holding corporations, polluters, and predatory landlords accountable; protecting tenants, workers, and consumers; and defending reproductive rights, immigrants, and vulnerable communities,’ she added.

She said that James stood up to Trump when others were afraid to ‘exposing the corruption, greed, and abuse of power that have defined his career.

‘She made it clear that no one, not even a former president, is above the law. This indictment is retribution, plain and simple. It is an attempt to punish courage, to discourage public servants from doing their jobs, and to intimidate anyone who dares to speak truth to power.’

Hudson joins other Caribbean-American legislators in New York who have expressed profound outrage over James’s indictment.

The indictment, handed down on October 9, charges James with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution in connection with her purchase of a property in Norfolk, Virginia.

The charges come two weeks after Trump sought the successful indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey.

‘This is a vindictive and unjust prosecution, led by a compromised DOJ (US Department of Justice) and Donald Trump, a convicted felon, because Attorney General Tish (Letitia) James had the courage to expose Trump’s lies and hold him accountable for his fraudulent conduct,’ said New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian-American chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Bichotte Hermelyn also urged Caribbean and other district leaders in Brooklyn to join the fight in supporting James.

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that ‘Trump has been blatant about his goals to weaponize the federal government against the people brave enough to stand up to him.

‘Now, he’s invented a reason to come after the highest-ranking Black woman in the state, where he was convicted of 34 felonies and civil fraud,’ said Williams, who succeeded James as New York City Public Advocate.

Brooklyn Democratic District Leader Anthony Beckford, the son of Jamaican immigrants, is also ‘calling out Trump’s unlawful indictment of Attorney General Tish James.

‘Now more than ever, we see a clear example of what tyranny looks like,’ Beckford, district leader for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, told CMC.

‘Our government and agencies are being weaponized for revenge. President Trump is using the Justice Department as his war machine against his political opponents – all because she prosecuted for fraud, exposing him for the criminal that he is. ‘

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, described as a ‘sham’ James’s indictment.

‘Let me be clear: this accusation, like the man who ordered it, is a sham,’ Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, told CMC.

‘The American people know it. The US Attorney whom Donald Trump forced to resign for refusing to carry out this case knows it. Even the president’s hand-picked attorney leading this case knows it.’

The New York Attorney General said her office had conducted a two-year investigation into the Trump Organisation ‘based on the facts and evidence – not politics.’

She said that ‘judges have upheld the trial court’s finding that Donald Trump, his company, and his two sons are liable for fraud.

‘I am a proud woman of faith, and I know that faith and fear cannot share the same space,’ James said, adding ‘and so, today, I am not fearful; I am fearless, and as my faith teaches me, no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

Lindsey Halligan, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said that, if convicted, James faces penalties including up to 30 years in prison per count, up to one million dollars fine on each count, and forfeiture.

Former president, Chandrikapersad Santokhi says he hopes that the detention of his son in the United States in connection with his immigration status ‘will be handled carefully and fairly, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations’.

Santokhi, who was head of state of this Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, issued a statement amid reports that his son, Richano Santokhi, had been detained by United States officials in connection with his residency status.

President Donald Trump Executive Order, titled ‘Securing Our Borders’, calls for all immigrants who are undocumented, and thus in violation of federal immigration law, to be subject to criminal charges and to be deported from the United States.

But observers say the policy violates human rights due to the inhumane detention conditions, denial of due process, discriminatory policing, and exploitation of immigrant workers.

In addition, critics point to concerns like arbitrary deportations conflicting with both US and international human rights standards.

Santokhi said that his son’s residency application was already being processed by the competent authorities and that he was receiving legal representation from a lawyer.

‘As a father, I trust that this matter will be handled carefully and fairly, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,’ Santokhi said, adding that he regrets some people would seek to exploit his son’s personal situation for political or publicity purposes.

‘It is unfortunate that there are people who are abusing this issue to inflict political and publicity damage,’ Santokhi said, even as he asked for respect for his family’s privacy.

‘In the interest of the privacy and protection of my family, I will confine myself to this explanation,’ he said urging the media to exercise restraint in addressing the matter.

West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has hailed his troops for their courageous performance against India in the second Test, despite losing the match and the subsequent Test series.

The regional side pushed the match into the fifth and final day, before the home side eventually wrapped up victory on Tuesday by seven wickets to take the two-match Test series 2-0.

Following a poor performance by the batsmen in the first innings that resulted in them being asked to follow-on, opener John Campbell scored his maiden Test century, while Shai Hope ended an eight-year drought for a Test century, to see the West Indies get up to 390 in their second innings.

And even though it was the Windies’ sixth defeat in seven Test matches since the start of the year, Chase said he was encouraged by the fighting spirit which the team showed following their embarrassing defeat by an innings and 140 runs in the opening Test inside three days.

Roston Chase

‘I think this is the kind of fight that I wanted to see from us from matches before, so I think this is a steppingstone, a building block for us to move forward and improve as a Test playing nation.

‘This is the performance that I think will give us the confidence and boost us in terms of that belief that we can do it against proper Test playing nations,’ Chase said during a post-match press conference on Tuesday.

‘So yeah, I just want to see the guys continue in this vein and don’t let us go back to those ways. Even if it is for us to lose, we have to lose in a good way, in a positive way, where we can have a lot of positives coming out of the game.’

However, Chase admitted that there were still several areas which the West Indies needed to improve, especially in the batting department.

‘Well, I think where we can improve mainly is our batting, I think that’s what let us down for the last two series.

‘I think we have a good bowling attack despite the fact that we had a few injuries, but I think once we can put good first innings totals on the board, we will be able to fight for some wins in the Test Championship,’ Chase said.

The skipper explained that losses to Australia and India, who are ranked among the best Test teams in the world, was the ideal preparation ahead of looming Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2026.

‘We had a chat and this first year in the cycle we always knew it was going to be tough with opposition like Australia and India and then we go to New Zealand.

‘But I think that if we learn from what we’ve done in those series and take into the next series where we have guys like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who we are closer to in the rankings, I think we can be more competitive against those once we learn from these games,’ Chase said.

The Commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, Wednesday ended a two-day visit to Grenada and Antigua aimed at strengthening the longstanding security cooperation Washington shares with both countries.

‘Today’s stop in Grenada and yesterday’s visit to Antigua and Barbuda strengthened the longstanding security cooperation we share with both nations, partnerships which are vital to efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations and illicit traffickers who threaten the Caribbean and our homeland,’ according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Barbados.

The Embassy said that he wrapped up his visit to the Caribbean ‘after meeting with Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught to discuss bilateral efforts to address security threats in Grenada and the region’.

The Embassy said while in Antigua Holsey met with Antigua and Barbuda Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Telbert Benjamin, ‘to discuss strengthening cooperation and efforts to address shared challenges that affect this region, including transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking, and border security.

‘Our efforts to strengthen partnerships in the Caribbean are vital to combat transnational criminal organizations and illicit traffickers who threaten the region and our homeland,’ it added.

It said that in his discussions with Prime Minister Gaston Browne, they discussed ‘Caribbean security and the deepening of both nations’ bilateral defense partnership.

‘This partnership is integral to the region’s collective efforts to advance Caribbean security and stability. Our efforts to strengthen partnerships in the Caribbean are vital to combat transnational criminal organizations and illicit traffickers who threaten the region and our homeland,’ it added.

Holsey’s visit to Grenada comes against the disclosure by the Dickon Mitchell government that the United States had written seeking permission to install radar equipment and associated technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA).

The government said that ‘any decisions on that matter will be made only after all technical and legal assessments are completed.

‘We wish to assure our citizens that any decision taken will be guided by Grenada’s sovereignty, public safety, and national interest, including the protection of our tourism industry, the traveling public, and the country’s economic well-being,’ it added.

But former Senate president and trade unionist, Chester Humphrey and former foreign affairs minister, Peter David, have publicly come out against such a request, with Humphrey saying he is prepaed to lead a peaceful protest march.

Humphrey said that the move by Washington is a precursor to launching a military strike against the Nicolás Maduro government in the Venezuela.

David, an independent legislator, said in a statement that while Grenada values its longstanding partnerships with both the United States and Venezuela, any actions taken must be rooted in diplomacy, mutual respect, and regional cooperation.

West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct in the second Test against India.

Seales was found guilty of a Level 1 breach on Friday’s opening day of the second Test, during the 29th over of India’s first innings, when he fielded the ball on his follow-through and threw it at batter Yashaswi Jaiswal, hitting him on the pads.

Jayden Seales

On-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Alex Wharf and fourth umpire K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan levelled the charge.

The bowler, however, contested the charge, claiming that he threw the ball while attempting a run out.

The match referee, referring to replay clips showing the incident from different angles, concluded that the throw was unnecessary and inappropriate, hitting the batter on the pads when he was within the crease.

Seales was found guilty of breaching Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.’

In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Seales’ disciplinary record, taking his total demerit points to two in a 24-month period.

The previous demerit point for Seales dates back to a Test match against Bangladesh in December 2024.

Police have detained one of their colleagues after a businessman was shot and killed on Tuesday night.

The police said that the incident occurred in Nickerie on the north-west coast of the country and that initial reports indicate the conflict arose from a housing dispute.

They said that the police officer claimed the business owner, who owned four houses on Zeedijk, had sold one of the properties to him. But that had been denied by the businessman, whose name has not yet been made public.

The dispute escalated when workers were connecting a water line to one of the houses. The officer, who had observed the work on camera footage, drove to the scene in a patrol vehicle. A heated argument ensued, eventually escalating into violence.

The officer drew his service weapon and fired several shots at the business owner, who was rushed to Mungra Medical Center by family members and workers, where he died of his injuries shortly after arrival.

The officer has been placed in custody.