Category: CANA News

Despite a much better showing with both bat and ball, the West Indies were not able to stop a rampant India from coming away with a dominant seven-wicket victory on the fifth morning of the second Test here in Delhi to secure a clean 2-0 series sweep over the regional side.

The hosts needed just 17.2 overs on the final day to chase down their modest target to reach 124-3, with opener KL Rahul guiding them home with an unbeaten and composed 58.

The visitors had some respite, after they claimed the wickets of Sai Suhharsan for 39 and captain Shubman Gill for 13, both falling to skipper Roston Chase.

The win consolidates India’s position at third in the World Test Championship standings, trailing only Australia and Sri Lanka.

The foundation for this comprehensive victory was laid early. A commanding first-innings total, built on the back of magnificent centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal 175 and captain Gill 129 not out, proved insurmountable.

India’s bowlers then swiftly bundled the tourists out for 248, enforcing a follow-on that seemed to signal an early finish.

However, the West Indies, fresh from a 3-0 drubbing by Australia, finally found some fight. A dogged partnership between John Campbell and Shai Hope, both of whom scored defiant centuries, powered them to a more than respecatble 390 all out in their second innings.

Any lingering hope for the tourists was extinguished by a 79-run second wicket partnership between the assured Rahul and the impressive Sai Sudharsan, who added 39 to his first-innings 87.

For the West Indies, it marks a second successive series whitewash. Yet, skipper Roston Chase took a measure of satisfaction from his team’s late defiance.

‘I think this is the kind of fight that I wanted to see from us,’ Chase said. ‘This is a stepping stone, a building block for us to go forward and improve as a test-playing nation.’

The West Indies, currently sixth in the WTC standings, will look to build on that fight when they begin a tour of New Zealand on November 5.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, says his country has absolutely no interest in hosting any form of military assets, and that the situation regarding Grenada is ‘really a sovereign issue’ for the government of that island.

‘If they decide to accommodate the United States, there is nothing we can do. We would have to respect the decision,’ Browne told reporters on a conference call from St. John’s.

Last week, the Grenada government confirmed that the United States had written seeking permission to install radar equipment and associated technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA).

‘The Ministries of National Security, Legal Affairs and Foreign Affairs are carefully assessing the request and reviewing the request in technical consultations, in coordination with the Grenada airports Authority and other relevant agencies,’ the Dickon Mitchell government said, adding that it is carefully reviewing the request in accordance with established national procedures.

Antigua and Barbuda Tuesday called on the Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development (CIDS) to establish financing terms that match vulnerability, clear delivery timelines with partners, and a short quarterly public report to track results.

Addressing the seventh Regular Meeting of the CIDS, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders called for financing terms that match vulnerability, clear delivery timelines with partners, and a short quarterly public report to track results.

Sir Ronald Sanders

‘Sustainable development, for small states, is practical: keeping electricity on after storms; ensuring there are schools for children to attend; rebuilding infrastructure to keep the economy running; and making sure debt payments leave fiscal space to provide medical services, keep people employed, and pay pensions,’ Sir Ronald said, adding ‘we cannot meet these needs with vague promises and slow money’.

The purpose of the CIDS is to promote inter-American dialogue and cooperation in the area of sustainable development, propose the formulation of the policy of the OAS on this issue, and promote the development and execution of the Inter-American Programme for Sustainable Development, as well as orient the coordination and follow-up of the various decisions of the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development.

In his address, Sir Ronald outlined three immediate priorities including financing terms that fit risk.

He said standardize 30-year maturities, five-year grace periods, and automatic payment pauses after disasters in loans to high-vulnerability states. Base access to grants and low-cost loans on vulnerability, not income averages.

He noted the UN General Assembly’s acceptance of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and urged lenders to embed it in their rules.

The Antigua and Barbuda diplomat said there should be partner commitments on the record. He said that by June 30, 2026, each partner should publicly state how much funding they will provide for Caribbean projects, and how much of it will be grants versus low-cost loans.

He again urged creation of a dedicated fund for Caribbean transport and basic services-ports, runways, inter-island ferries, water systems, and small local power systems.

Sir Ronald said the third priority should be quarterly public accountability.

He said CIDS should publish a short quarterly report tracking: coastal-protection coverage; days to restore water and power after Category-5 events; renewables share, and diesel import spend relative to GDP; inter-island logistics costs; debt service vs. revenue and the concessional share; private capital mobilized per public dollar; independently verified mangrove/reef restoration; and days from disaster declaration to first insurance or support payment.

Ambassador Sanders also called for the creation of a small OAS project-preparation team on coastal defences and water security, as well as a public timeline Internet page listing who is responsible for each commitment and the deadline to be reviews at board meetings of the multilateral banks.

‘Provide resilience financing up front. Make pausing loan repayments at times of disaster a condition of loans’ Sir Ronald concluded.

Two police officers are expected to go on trial for the murder of a 20 year-old man in 2018 after they lost an appeal to have the charge dropped.

Inspector Akeem Wilson and Detective Corporal Donald Wright appeared before Justice Dale Fitzpatrick accused of manslaughter in the death of 20-year-old Deangelo Evans in Mason’s Addition in 2018.

Their trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026, with a pretrial hearing set for May 1, 2026.

Evans was shot and killed on May 27 2018, after officers responded to reports of an armed robbery. Police said he was armed, but eyewitnesses claimed he was not. But in 2023, a Coroner’s Court found that Evans’ death was a homicide by manslaughter.

The police officers had argued that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Cordell Frazier committed an abuse of process by filing a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) after indicating in a letter to the commissioner of police in April 2024 that the prosecution would not move forward. They also claimed that Coroner Kara Turnerquest-Deveaux acted outside her authority when they were summoned before her in September 2024 for the VBI.

But Justice Fitzpatrick found no merit in their arguments, ruling that although the coroner could not compel the men to attend court, they could appear voluntarily, as Wilson did in January.

He said the issuing of a summons was an administrative matter and found no abuse of power in how it was carried out. Justice Fitzpatrick also noted that the DPP had reversed her decision after reviewing the full coroner’s inquest file, which had not been available when the initial decision to discontinue the case was made.

The judge said that the defendants failed to prove that they had relied on the DPP’s earlier representation to their detriment or that proceeding with the case would offend the community’s sense of justice. He said that there was no abuse of process by the DPP.

Prime Minister Phillip Davis is leading the country in bidding farewell to one of the Bahamas’ finest sons of the cloth, after His Grace, The Most Reverend Drexel Wellington Gomez died on Tuesday. He was 88 years-old.

‘We give thanks for his life, a life that began in the quiet corners of the Berry Islands and stretched across the world, anchored always in faith,’ Prime Minister Davis said in a statement.

Archbishop Gomez served as Archbishop of the West Indies from 1996 to 2009 and his influence extended beyond The Bahamas, shaping theological discussions throughout the Caribbean and the global Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Drexel Wellington Gomez

In March this year, there had been calls for prayers for him after he was hospitalised suffering with stomach cancer.

In a statement, the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands said the Diocese shares ‘with immense sorrow that His Grace, the Most Reverend Drexel Wellington Gomez, Archbishop Emeritus of the Province of the West Indies and former Bishop of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, passed away this morning.

‘We give thanks for Archbishop Gomez’s life of devoted service to God, the Church, and the people of this Diocese and beyond. His ministry, as Bishop of Barbados, then as Diocesan Bishop here in The Bahamas, and as Archbishop and Primate, bore witness to a faithful shepherd, a principled teacher, and a stalwart voice for the Gospel.’

The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands said during this time of mourning, it was inviting all clergy, congregations, and faithful friends to join in prayers of thanksgiving.

‘May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.,’ it added.

Prime Minster Davis recalled that the late Archbishop was not born into privilege, but into purpose, adding that it carried him from the classrooms of Western Senior to the hallowed halls of Codrington College in Barbados, and later to St. Chad’s College at Durham University. There, a young Bahamian priest in training absorbed the traditions of the Anglican Church, preparing for a life of service that would span nearly six decades.

‘He carried himself with quiet authority, never loud, never seeking the spotlight, yet his presence commanded attention. When he spoke, you listened. Not because he demanded it, but because truth and conviction lived in his words,’ Davis said.

‘For me, and for many Bahamians, Archbishop Gomez was a steady hand and a moral compass. He reminded us that leadership is service, that faith must be lived, and that a man’s greatness is measured by his humility.’

‘To the Anglican family, and to his loved ones, I offer the sympathy of my wife Ann, my family, and the people of The Bahamas. We give thanks for his life, a life that began in the quiet corners of the Berry Islands and stretched across the world, anchored always in faith.’

The leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), Michael Pintard, had said when the Archbishop was first hospitalised throughout his life, Archbishop Gomez had been a unifying voice within the Anglican Community,’ and a devoted servant of God whose impact reaches far beyond the Church.’

Long Island parliamentary representative, Adrian Gibson, in a post on social media on Tuesday, described Archbishop Gomez ‘a guiding light across the Caribbean, a voice of conviction and unity, and a shepherd to many.

‘From his consecration as Bishop of Barbados, to his leadership as Bishop of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and later as Archbishop and Primate of the Church in the Province of the West Indies, he guided the Anglican Church through defining moments in its history.’

In one of the closest finishes, Team Jamaica successfully defended their crown, capturing the overall title at the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) Four-Ball Championship in a nail-biting finish at the picturesque Cinnamon Hill Golf Course here on Sunday.

The host nation clinched the coveted Ambrose Gouthro Trophy for the sixth consecutive year, but it was far from a simple stroll along the fairways.

In a dramatic conclusion, Jamaica amassed 91 total points, edging out a fierce challenge from Trinidad and Tobago by a single, heart-stopping point.

Bermuda finished in third place with 79 points, cementing Jamaica’s dominance in the regional golfing landscape.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, the formidable Jamaican pair of Owen Samuda and Dr Mark Newnham etched their names deeper into the tournament’s history books.

They retained the Francis Steele and Perkins Senior Men’s Trophy for an impressive third year in a row, proving their partnership is a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking after their victory, Dr Newnham shed light on the unique chemistry that fuels their success. ‘The special thing about this partnership is that Owen and I don’t spend a lot of time playing golf together. Owen is in the States most of the year,’ Newnham explained. ‘But there’s a chemistry, there’s a synergy, there’s a belief, and trust in each other that makes us play our best golf together.’

The path to their three-peat, however, was not without its early pressures. The duo admitted to feeling the weight of expectation competing on home turf.

‘We wanted to defend the trophy at home, so I think we put ourselves under a little too much pressure. The first day, we only shot one under, but then once we got a little relaxed, we realised that we were only two strokes off the lead. And we shot a blistering seven under on the second day. The third day was almost an anticlimax. We kind of cruised till the end.’

While the senior men’s team secured the only individual Jamaican victory, the squad showcased remarkable depth with several strong second-place finishes.

The female pair of Jodi Munn Barrow and Lisa Gardner secured a runner-up position in the highly competitive ladies 25-plus category, which was won by Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica also finished second in the ladies 45-plus category, behind eventual winners Bermuda, as well as in the mid-amateur and super senior men’s categories.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, says his country has absolutely no interest in hosting any form of military assets, and that the situation regarding Grenada is ‘really a sovereign issue’ for the government of that island.

‘If they decide to accommodate the United States, there is nothing we can do. We would have to respect the decision,’ Browne told reporters on a conference call from St. John’s.

Last week, the Grenada government confirmed that the United States had written seeking permission to install radar equipment and associated technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA).

‘The Ministries of National Security, Legal Affairs and Foreign Affairs are carefully assessing the request and reviewing the request in technical consultations, in coordination with the Grenada airports Authority and other relevant agencies,’ the Dickon Mitchell government said, adding that it is carefully reviewing the request in accordance with established national procedures.

‘Any decisions 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,’ the government said, adding it continue to keep the public informed as developments unfold.

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.

Last month, 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 four 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.

During the United Nations Security Council meeting last Friday, Venezuela with support from China and Russia condemned the actions of the United States.

Prime Minister Browne said that the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ‘will have locus to speak and to state their opposition if they are being pressured’.

He said he isn’t aware of any request before the OECS or CARICOM, adding ‘maybe there could be an intent but no such formal request.

‘Antigua and Barbuda has absolutely no interest in hosting any military assets of any country. We are friends of all and enemies of none. We are quite happy we don’t have any military bases or assets of any foreign power,’ Prime Minister Browne added.

On Monday, the US Embassy in Barbados announced that the Commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, is to visit Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada from Tuesday, where he will meet with leaders in both countries, the US Embassy here has announced.

It said that Holsey will hold talks with Prime Minister Browne and his Grenadian counterpart, Mitchell and that his visit is his first to both countries since assuming command of SOUTHCOM last November ‘and is an opportunity to further strengthen security cooperation with key partners in the Caribbean’.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that Antigua and Barbuda’s non-resident Ambassador to China, Brian Stuart-Young, is stepping down after 11 years as he bade farewell t0 outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yanli at a ceremony here on Monday night.

‘I have been in politics for some 26 years and I have had to interact with Chinese ambassadors.and I must say that Ambassador Zhang is one of the most effective and one of the most professional ambassadors that has served Antigua and Barbuda from China,’ Prime Minister Browne said.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne and outgoing Chinese diplomat, Zhang Yanli.

He said the fact that the government was hosting the special reception speaks volume to the tremendous work that the Chinese diplomat had been able to accomplish during her tenure.

‘It’s not very often that we hold these functions for a departing ambassador,’ he said, recalling that the ambassador arrived here during the COVID-19 pandemic and immediately sprang into action to secure vaccines and other assistance from China for Antigua and Barbuda. During her tenure she arranged funding support for SIDS4 and the OAS General Assembly as well as her signature project, the Booby Alley Housing Development.

Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene, said it is with a touch of sadness that he was saying farewell to ‘a true friend of Antigua and Barbuda’

‘For the past four years, Ambassador Zhang has not just been the head of the Chinese Mission, she has been a dedicated architect of a stronger partnership between our two nations. Reflecting on her tenure, one thing is without doubt: she has profoundly strengthened the bonds of friendship and cooperation,’ he said.

In response, Ambassador Zhang admitted that leaving Antigua and Barbuda was a particularly hard thing to do.

‘At this bittersweet moment, what fills me most is how valuable we both regard the good relationship between our two countries and people. We have always been joining our efforts to stand on the right side of history,’ she stated.

She said that China appreciates Antigua and Barbuda’s long-standing commitment to the one-China principle adding that ‘China firmly supports Antigua and Barbuda in pursuing development paths suited to its national conditions, safeguarding its sovereignty and independence’.

Meanwhile, Stuart-Young has described his service as ‘a privilege to serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda as an adopted son’.

He first visited China in 1983 as part of then prime minister V.C. Bird’s inaugural delegation and was later appointed by Browne in 2014.

‘When I presented my credentials to President Xi, it was part of a reconnection for me as I was part of the original delegation that accompanied then Prime Minister V.C Bird when he made his inaugural trip to China back in 1983.

‘I have watched and have been part of events in the early days with Prime Minister Bird and when the Gaston Browne Administration came in in 2014, the prime minister invited me to serve as non-resident ambassador. I have worked with four Chinese ambassadors over this period,’ he said.

Stuart-Young said he has been part of all the major negotiations between Antigua and Barbuda and China over the past 11 years from the modernization of the seaport, the community centres, the Booby Alley Housing project and many other developments.

‘I think my proudest moment was when the prime minister came to China in January, 2024, as I was pleased to open an embassy in Beijing for Antigua and Barbuda,’ he added.

Jamaica has reaffirmed its commitment to ratifying the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol of the Cartagena Convention, saying it requires one final step, which is the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act.

‘I would have seen what I hope to be the last version before it goes to Parliament within the coming weeks as a parliamentary schedule takes shape now that Jamaica would have gone through its most recent elections,’ Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda, told the opening ceremony for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Eighteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP18) for the Cartagena Convention.

Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda

Samuda told the meeting that ends on Thursday that Jamaica is not ratifying the SPAW Protocol from a perspective of symbolism, but because the country acknowledges the principles and the benefits of the Cartagena Convention.

‘We acknowledge that the SPAW Protocol brings to life greater protection for our oceans,’ he said, noting that as they deliberate in the coming days, it is easy to feel frustrated with the pace at which things are happening.

‘We’ve all seen the impact of ocean acidification; we’ve all seen dying corals; we’ve all seen deteriorating water quality; we’ve all seen the impact of warming seas and in some cases rising sea levels as we’re experiencing,’ he said.

However, Samuda said there is hope, as he has seen the impact of the multilateral process on dealing with the issue of fishing subsidies at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the third United Nations Ocean Conference as well as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the plastics treaty.

‘There can be creeping frustration, there can be a sense that this is an academic exercise, but I ask you in your deliberations and in your discussions and your bilaterals and your individual meetings, that we redouble our efforts to strengthen the efforts of the Convention Secretariat, to ensure that we strengthen the intention to protect our seas,’ he said.

Samuda said that the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) goal of protecting 30 per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 in 1983 was very far-fetched.

‘It means the multilateral process, though slow, does achieve what you want over time,’ he said.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Eighteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP18) for the Cartagena Convention brings together governments and partners from the wider Caribbean region to discuss and implement solutions for protecting marine biodiversity, reducing pollution, and strengthening regional cooperation.

Discussions will include new recommendations on Sargassum management, waste water, and pollution control under the LBS Protocol, as well as advancing work on the SPAW Protocol concerning marine mammals and wetlands.

President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons says she is unaware of a request filed by attorney Irvin Kanhai, seeking clemency for four people convicted in the highly publicised so-called December 8th trial.

The four men, along with the late Suriname president Desi Bouters, had been sentenced to prison over the execution of 15 political opponents in 1982.

President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons speaking Monday night during the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) commemoration meeting marking what would have been Bouterse’s 80th birthday.

Bouterse was found guilty of planning and ordering the extrajudicial execution of the 15 political prisoners and was sentenced to 20 years in jail. However, he went into hiding and died in December 2024.

Kanhai said he has made the request on behalf of Ernst Gefferie, Stephanus Dendoe, and Benny Brondenstein, who are serving their sentences in Santo Boma, and Iwan Dijksteel, who is still at large. They were each sentenced to 15 years in prison in December 2023.

‘Some time ago, I filed a request for clemency for the four people who, in my opinion, were wrongly convicted and are our comrades,’ Kanhai said Monday night during the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) commemoration meeting marking what would have been Bouterse’s 80th birthday.

‘We have not heard anything yet, but we remain determined,’ he told the ceremony, telling Bouterse’s widow, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring and her family ‘for me, I wish to close this chapter and end the grieving process together with you’.

Regarding Dijksteel, Kanhai said ‘someone may avoid conviction, but once a conviction is obtained, a pardon can be requested.’ maintaining that given the way the trial proceeded, the four convicts are certainly eligible for a pardon.

But asked by reporters about the request, President Greelings-Simons said she has not yet seen the request.

‘Should I make a decision about this now? I haven’t seen it,’ she said.

In his address, Kanhai also addressed the relationship between Suriname and the Netherlands, caling for openness about information from the 1980s.

‘We also want a good relationship with the Netherlands. But when two friends have a disagreement, and one friend can’t say ‘I’m sorry, because I hurt you,’ that friendship can never be repaired. We hope the Netherlands will do that.’

NNP vice-chair, Ramon Abraham, and a former close colleague of Bouterse, recalled that the party has always considered the December 8 trial a political process.

He said that the 2025 elections were intended to ‘liberate the comrades’ and reiterated that the NDP maintains that position.