Category: CANA News

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says SpaceX is expected to become a major sponsor of the Commonwealth Business Forum, while company founder Elon Musk could attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held here.

On Saturday Browne said the government was close to finalising a partnership with the aerospace and technology company.

‘We have a partnership currently that we are about to sign off with SpaceX,’ he said, adding that the company would be one of the major sponsors of the business forum.

The prime minister said Musk had indicated that he was available to participate in the event, although his attendance has not been confirmed.

‘Potentially, Elon Musk has indicated that he is available, that he will participate, so we’re hoping that he’ll make it here,’ Browne said.

Antigua and Barbuda will host CHOGM from November 1-4 , bringing together leaders and ministers from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries, along with representatives from business, civil society and youth organisations. The meeting is held every two years in a different Commonwealth country.

The 2026 gathering is being held under the theme ‘Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth’ and is expected to focus on climate resilience, trade, innovation, equality and sustainable development. The Commonwealth Business Forum is among several forums held alongside CHOGM aimed at expanding participation beyond government leaders and promoting investment and partnerships.

Browne said his government wants the meeting to produce tangible investment, capital, skills and technology rather than simply become another international conference.

He also suggested that SpaceX could provide a Cybertruck equipped with satellite technology for use during the event, including possibly transporting King Charles III, the Head of the Commonwealth, if approval is granted.

Local internet service provider C3 Pure Fibre says it intends to seek permission to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London after the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal ruled that licence fees historically charged by utilities regulator OfReg were lawful.

The Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday overturned an earlier Grand Court decision that had found C3, also known as Infinity Broadband Ltd, was not liable for certain royalty and regulatory fees.

C3 maintains that, until corrective legislation was passed in December 2024 and December 2025, Cayman’s statutory framework did not lawfully permit the charging and collection of the fees from the information and communications technology sector.

OfReg is seeking more than CI$500,000 in fees it says are owed by C3, which is partly owned by managing director Randy Merren.

C3 and other telecommunications companies, including Digicel and Flow, have challenged fees paid to the regulator amid a long-running dispute over the interpretation of the legislation.

C3 argues that the word ‘prescribed’ in the relevant law required licence fees to be established through regulations and published in the official Gazette, rather than imposed through individual licence agreements.

The company said the case was of public importance to Cayman’s ICT sector and had broader implications for regulatory transparency and accountability.

‘We welcome the Court of Appeal’s careful consideration of these important questions, but we respectfully disagree with its conclusion on how licence fees must be established under the ICT Act,’ Merren said.

‘We believe this is a point of real significance, not only for C3 but for the wider ICT sector and the consumers who rely on it, and we intend to ask the Privy Council to consider it.’

C3 began its legal challenge in 2023. The Grand Court later ruled in its favour, finding that the relevant fees had not been lawfully prescribed and opening the way for the company to seek repayment.

OfReg appealed, arguing that the charges were lawful, transparent and properly authorised through the licensing framework.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the regulator, finding that the legislation and published licence terms provided sufficient authority for the fees and noting that they had also been reflected in government budgets for years.

The judges also said C3 had waited too long to challenge the charges.

Americans Kenneth Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden upstaged Olympic champions Oblique Seville and Julien Alfred respectively, to win gold in the 100 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship final here on Saturday.

Competing in the men’s event, Bednarek clocked a season’s best 9.85 seconds to relegate Jamaica’s Seville to second in 9.90 seconds, with the USA’s Ronnie Baker claiming bronze in 9.93 seconds.

Seville got the better start, overhauling early leader Christian Coleman midway through the race, but just as he did Bednarek appeared on his left, the US sprinter’s 200m strength paying dividends over the latter half.

Bednarek was elated after capturing his first global 100m title.

‘It means a lot to me, because we had a really tough field, and to be able to come out on top with a really stacked field, it’s definitely something to take note of.

‘I definitely feel like it’s more of a relief, just because silver, silver, silver over the last few years,’ he said when asked what it felt like to finally win a title,’ Bednarek said after the race.

‘And to be able to get a win over a good event like this, it definitely means a lot because it just proves that I’m capable of doing it and I belong here.’

Just moments earlier, his compatriot Jefferson-Wooden ran a blistering, world leading 10.62 seconds – the seventh fastest of all time – to relegate Saint Lucia’s Alfred to silver in 10.74 seconds, with Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA a close third in 10.76 seconds.

The Jamaican duo of Jonielle Smith and Tina Clayton, finished fourth and fifth respectively, with both timed at 10.94 seconds, while another Jamaican in Lavanya Williams was seventh in 11.07 seconds.

Jefferson-Wooden got off to a strong start but trailed Clayton early, before putting the pedal to the metal in the final 50m, pushing ahead of the field for a comfortable win.

‘This feels amazing. I crossed the line with a smile on my face because only I know all the things I have done to get to this moment,’ Jefferson-Wooden said.

‘When I got into the blocks today, I just told myself that this is my moment. I worked so hard to be where I am today. I didn’t want the moment to be too big. I just had to focus on myself and everything would work out well.’

Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem ‘The Dream’ Richards and Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce copped bronze medals in their respective 400m events.

Richards crossed the finish line in 44.23 seconds to finish behind Rai Benjamin of the USA (44.15) and winner Busang Kebinatshipi, who set a new national record of 43.39 seconds.

The women’s event was expectedly won by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in 49.07 seconds, with Henriette Jager of Norway (49.28) taking home silver ahead of Pryce (49.56).

Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle produced a sub-par performance to finish fifth in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.90 metres.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew Sunday confirmed that he had suffered a stroke late last month but that he is recovering well and that he has since been discharged from a hospital here.

Drew 49, was flown out to Florida for further medical evaluation on September 2, after initially being hospitalised in the neighbouring French island of Martinique. He was first treated for symptoms including nausea, dizziness, and balance issues, and was admitted to the Joseph N. France General Hospital here on August 30. ‘ I want to thank you for your prayers and well wishes. I first of all want to thank God Almighty for having me here. Without Him, I would not be here. And again, to thank all of the medical practitioners …,’ Prime Minister Drew said in an eight minute broadcast to his twin island Federation.

‘After all of the analysis, I suffered a stroke. This stroke was a dissection of one of the arteries in the back of my brain called the vertebral artery, and even though I suffered that stroke, the limitations on my mind and body, those limitations have been well controlled and well managed,’ said Prime Minister Drew, himself a medical practitioner.

‘I can move all my limbs, speak well. My mentation, my coordination, my intelligence have been well and I am now at the stage where I have left the hospital here in Florida, and I’m now doing rehab, both occupational therapy and IOT as well.’

He said his rehabilitation exercises ‘are going extremely well,’ adding ‘so at this point in time, I can say, both mentally and psychologically and also physically, I’m doing much better than my ailment will suggest.

‘And I thank God over and over for his many, many blessings and praise from all those who have been praying for me,’ he said.

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew updating the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean from a rehabilitation center in Florida (CMC Photo)

Prime Minister Drew, who has been leading the government since August 6, 2022, said his administration is a mature and serious one with ‘ multiple contingency plans in place from the worst case scenario to a minor disruption.

‘In this case, I suffered an acute illness and had to leave the country in short order to seek medical care,’ he said, noting that whilst he was in hospital in Basseterre he met with the entire cabinet.

‘I was able to basically explain the plan to them and delegate responsibilities to the whole of cabinet. So everything was in place. Everything has been left in place and all of my responsibilities are delegated to the pertinent ministers.

‘And I want to say, thus far, I’ve been monitoring. They’re doing a very good job and the transition has been extremely smooth. The government has been functioning extremely well,’ he said as he thanked all stakeholders for playing their respective roles.

‘And so I ultimately want to thank my support group, my wife who has been by my side, my son who came to visit me, my mother, my sisters, even people from the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party and even those beyond the politics who have been sending support and reaching out.

‘So, so many people to thanks, and all I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you. But ultimately, the greatest thanks goes to God Almighty, for without him, I would not be here and having suffered what I suffered, and in such short order to be able to speak well, move well,…and getting to have already left the hospital and getting ready to leave the rehab centre…that alone is a great testimony in and by itself.

‘So I want to thank God for all that he is doing, and all that he has done. But I also want to reiterate that my general health has been extremely good. My blood sugar, extremely good, my cholesterol, the control of my blood pressure. So my baseline health status is extremely robust and strong.

‘And that has given me…I will say basis for my quick rebound. Of course, that is in tandem with my spiritual life as well. I take my prayer life seriously, my meditation life seriously, and these things have really helped me through this most difficult time,’ Prime Minister Drew said, adding that he is looking forward to returning home to get back to work.

‘But at this time, what I fundamentally want to say is thank you, and I cannot say it enough,’ he added.

The Barbados Tridents defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets in the 35th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Sunday.

Scores

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS 99 in 18.1 overs (Glenn Phillps 24, Romario Shepherd 22, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 18, Quentin Sampson 12; Johann Layne 3-14, AM Ghazanfar 3-17, George Linde 2-13).

BARBADOS TRIDENTS 100-4 in 14.5 overs (Brandon King 44 not out, Shadrack Descarte 32; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-25).

A lawsuit against the United States government over the alleged deaths of two Trinidadian fishermen in a US military strike in the Caribbean Sea has been put on hold pending proceedings before the local court .

Nearly a year after Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo disappeared while attempting to return home from Venezuela, the Burnley v United States lawsuit is awaiting a local court ruling formally declaring the men dead and allowing their relatives to administer their estates.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) senior staff attorney Steven Watt told the Sunday Express newspaper that, following the filing of an amended complaint in June, the US government asked for the case to be stayed until the Trinidad and Tobago proceedings are completed.

Joseph’s mother, Lenore Burnley, and Samaroo’s sister, Sallycar Korasingh, are being represented by the ACLU and the Centre for Constitutional Rights.

The lawsuit alleges that Joseph and Samaroo were killed in one of 69 lethal US military strikes carried out in the Caribbean and Pacific since September 2025. The strikes have reportedly killed 230 people.

The families believe the two men were aboard a fishing vessel struck in the Caribbean Sea on October 14, 2025. US authorities said six people killed in that operation were ‘narcoterrorists’ transporting drugs along a known trafficking route.

Relatives have strongly denied that Joseph or Samaroo was involved in drug trafficking, saying both men had been working on a farm in Venezuela before arranging transportation back to Trinidad.

The lawsuit seeks damages for their relatives, alleging the men were victims of extrajudicial killings and that their deaths amount to wrongful deaths under the US Death on the High Seas Act.

Burnley and Korasingh had been due to appear before the High Court in July seeking declarations that Joseph and Samaroo were legally dead. According to the amended complaint, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Coast Guard were also summoned to provide updates on missing-person investigations.

Watt said a new hearing date has not yet been set.

He also criticised the Trinidad and Tobago government, saying the families had received little support apart from efforts by the protective services to investigate the disappearances.

Watt referred to previous statements by Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers that the government had no evidence the men were killed in a US strike.

He also criticised the government’s broader support for the US military operations, arguing that the strikes amount to unlawful extrajudicial killings without due process.

Watt said that even if people aboard targeted vessels were suspected of drug trafficking, they should be arrested, detained and investigated rather than killed.

He also dismissed suggestions that Joseph and Samaroo may simply be missing or may have remained in Venezuela, describing such claims as disrespectful to their families.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors were dismissed for 99 in 18.1 overs after being sent in by the Barbados Tridents in the 35th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Sunday.

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS 99 in 18.1 overs (Glenn Phillps 24, Romario Shepherd 22, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 18, Quentin Sampson 12; Johann Layne 3-14, AM Ghazanfar 3-17, George Linde 2-13).

The Barbados Tridents Women reached 158-7 in 20 overs after being sent in by the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women in the sixth match of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Sunday.

BARBADOS TRIDENTS WOMEN 158-7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 50, Kiran Navgire 38, Suzie Bates 22 not out, Qiana Joseph 15, Maddy Green 14; Sheneta Grimmond 3-28, Erin Burns 2-19).

London-listed United Oil and Gas Plc has commissioned a study into drilling rig availability and costs as it advances plans for possible exploration on its Walton-Morant licence off southern Jamaica.

The company said NRG Well Management has been appointed to assess rig suitability, indicative day rates, mobilisation requirements, long-lead equipment and procurement schedules for a potential drilling campaign.

United’s newly appointed chief operating officer Donal Meehan said the study was an important step in preparing the licence for a possible future drilling programme.

He said it would provide an up-to-date market assessment of rig availability, commercial conditions and the equipment needed to drill prospects including Colibri and Thunderball.

Colibri lies in about 750 metres of water and is estimated to contain gross unrisked mean prospective resources of 406 million barrels. Thunderball, in about 1,900 metres of water, is estimated at 603 million barrels.

Together, the two prospects account for more than one billion barrels of the approximately seven billion barrels of unrisked mean prospective resources identified across the 22,400-square-kilometre licence area.

United stressed that the study does not amount to a commitment to drill, saying any exploration well would require Jamaican regulatory approval and completed commercial agreements.

The study is expected to be completed within weeks and will also support ongoing discussions to bring a partner into the project.

United holds a 100 per cent interest in Walton-Morant but has repeatedly said it needs a partner before drilling can begin.

Under a farm-out arrangement, United would surrender part of its interest in return for another company helping to fund exploration. The company said in June it was aiming to secure an agreement this year, with several potential partners involved in discussions under confidentiality agreements.

United reported an after-tax loss of US$1.25 million for 2025, down from US$2.4 million the previous year, and ended the year with US$1.7 million in cash.

The rig study follows Meehan’s promotion this week from head of commercial to chief operating officer. He said his immediate priorities include advancing the farm-out process, ensuring operational readiness and moving the Jamaica licence into its next phase.

Chief Executive Officer Brian Larkin said the appointment came at an important stage as the company seeks to conclude the farm-out process.

No wells have been drilled on the Walton-Morant licence and United has made no discovery there.

About 11 exploration wells have been drilled in Jamaica since the 1850s, including two offshore, but none tested the prospects now being marketed by United.

The company’s exploration case was strengthened by a seabed survey completed earlier this year, which detected butane and pentane hydrocarbons in core samples from parts of the licence.

An independent study in 2025 subsequently raised the estimated chance of exploration success at Colibri from one in five to one in three.

The Barbados Tridents defeated the Jamaica Kingsmen by two wickets in the 34th match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval here on Saturday.

Scores

JAMAICA KINGSMEN 150-9 in 20 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 47, Usman Khan 18, Hassan Khan 16, Keacy Carty 15, Kirk McKenzie 11, Andre Russell 10; Jakeem Pollard 3-38, Gudakesh Motie 2-7, Daniel Sams 2-41).

BARBADOS TRIDENTS 151-8 in 20 overs (Shadrack Descarte 56, Brandon King 18, Chris Green 17, Gudakesh Motie 17 not out, Quinton de Kock 14; Hunain Shah 2-25).