Category: CANA News

The Antigua and Barbuda government will on Tuesday debate a resolution in Parliament setting out the principles that will govern any arrangement for the possible transfer of third-country nationals from the United States to this country.

A government statement Monday said that the resolution is intended to ensure that any conclusive engagement on this matter is conducted ‘within a clear framework established in the national interest, with full regard to Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty, laws, security, absorptive capacity, administrative capability, and financial responsibilities. ‘In a step that reflects the government’s commitment to openness and accountability, Antigua and Barbuda will become the first country to disclose in full both the terms proposed by the United States and the response of the government of Antigua and Barbuda,’ the statement said, adding that ‘these documents make clear that no binding agreement exists and that no arrangement has been concluded, since no final agreement has been signed’.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has already said that his administration believes that matters of such legal, humanitarian, financial and security importance must be handled openly and with respect for Parliament.

‘By bringing the full proposal from the United States, and our response, before the House of Representatives, Antigua and Barbuda is demonstrating transparency and accountability, while maintaining our longstanding friendship and cooperation with the Government and people of the United States,’ he said.

But Opposition Leader, Jamale Pringle, speaking at a town hall meeting of his United Progressive Party (UPP) has warned that Antigua and Barbuda does not have the legal framework or instittional capacity to properly manage third-country deportees.

He has said that the government’s proposed arrangement with Washington could place additional strain on public services.

Pringle said also the government’s White Paper acknowledges significant legal and operational gaps that have yet to be addressed. He said Antigua and Barbuda does not have a stand alone Refugees Act or legislation to deal with stateless or non-removable persons, despite the White Paper outlining the possibility that transferred migrants could fall into those categories.

‘According to the white paper, Antigua and Barbuda lacks a standalone Refugees Act,’ he said, adding ‘there is no legal mechanism to resolve statelessness.’

Pringle said individuals who cannot be returned to either their home country or the United States could become trapped in legal limbo, leaving the country without the necessary laws to determine their status.

He said the government’s White Paper states that Antigua and Barbuda is a small state with limited absorptive capacity and already-stretched public services and that the document itself warns that receiving deportees could negatively affect public order and social cohesion.

‘So already they’re telling us they’re coming, but we’re not in a position to manage them because it can affect public order and social cohesion. If you know all the challenges that this is going to pose, how are you still telling us it’s not a matter of if they’re coming?’

He maintained that Parliament cannot properly debate the proposal without access to the underlying Memorandum of Understanding and related operating documents, arguing that lawmakers are being asked to consider only the government’s interpretation of the agreement rather than the agreement itself.

But in its statement on Monday, the government said it ‘be the only administration, whether in the United States, the Caribbean, or elsewhere, to place this matter before its House of Representatives and Senate in a spirit of full transparency and democratic scrutiny.

‘The Resolution seeks to establish the principles and safeguards within which the Government may continue discussions, while preserving Antigua and Barbuda’s complete sovereign discretion to accept or refuse any proposed individual on a case-by-case basis,’ the statement said, adding that among the central principles set out in the Resolution are that Antigua and Barbuda ‘will not accept any standing, automatic, or open-ended programme’.

It is also indicating that ‘no predetermined number of persons may be transferred without the prior approval of the Government in each individual case, including on their criminal records, and that no transfer may occur unless all necessary legal, operational, financial, and administrative arrangements have first been agreed in writing’.

The Resolution further makes clear that Antigua and Barbuda will require ‘satisfactory arrangements concerning identity, documentation, accommodation, support, legal status, funding, security, and onward or return responsibility before any proposal can be considered.

‘The Government of Antigua and Barbuda values its longstanding friendship and cooperation with the Government and people of the United States. At the same time, it has a constitutional responsibility to protect the interests of the people of Antigua and Barbuda and to ensure that no external proposal places an undue burden on the country’s institutions, resources, or social stability,’ the statement adds.

It said that by placing the full matter before Parliament and the public, ‘the government is ensuring that national policy on an issue of considerable legal, humanitarian, financial, and security importance is approached with candour, responsibility, and respect for democratic oversight’.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their summit in St.Lucia last week said they had discussed the arrangements of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) proposed to individual member states by the US government.

They said they considered common concerns across the region regarding the capacity of small countries to manage the transit of TCNs, stressing however, ‘that every effort would be made to ensure that TCN arrangements do not disrupt the security of countries in the region or divert resources and services from the citizens of respective countries.

‘Heads of Government highlighted the fact that the proposed MOUs were intended to provide for the transit of individuals without criminal antecedents to their home countries rather than settlement in member states and emphasized the need for citizens of the region to understand the distinction.

‘They further agreed that every effort should be made to engage CARICOM citizens on these issues. They also affirmed their commitment to the principles of safe, orderly and regular migration, and to the dignity of migrants.’

The leaders noted that some CARICOM countries had already signed, while others were in discussions with the US government. They also noted that 30 countries globally had already signed TCN MOUs.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has denied allegations that her government is behind an ‘orchestrated attack’ on the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) as the police investigate the funding of the party’s multimillion-dollar headquarters.

‘If the People’s National Movement believes that every dollar used in the construction of Balisier House came from lawful fundraising activities, public appeals, raffles, dinners, cake sales, bakery sales and voluntary donations, then the law provides them with the perfect opportunity to produce the evidence and prove it,’ said Persad-Bissessar.

‘That is precisely what courts exist to do. So I urge them to stop the continued beh-beh behaviour. By all means, dig up every raffle stub, every fundraising ticket and every bakery sale receipt. Produce the records. Produce the accounts. Produce the evidence. The courts will determine the facts,’ she added.

But PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales in a three-page statement described as a ‘political witch hunt’ the move by the police to compel the trustees of Balisier House to explain the funding behind the construction of the PNM headquarters.

The senior project officer, Customs and Trade Policy at the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Bernard Black, is urging the St. Lucia government to transform Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) to an efficient air cargo distribution hub in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) member countries.

The OECS members and territories comprise Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands as well as the French-islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. In a concept note, a copy of which has been obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), Black the project seeks to speed up delivery of air cargo to destinations within the OECS members and territories and the wider Caribbean.

He said the objective of this project is to improve inbound and outbound logistics for air cargo within, into, and from the Caribbean and the ultimate goals is to establish a single regional air cargo hub at the HIA that will receive air cargo from all countries for redistribution to various Caribbean destinations.

He said when the hub is established the main activities will be to seek International Air Transport Association (AITA) endorsement for Hewanorra International Airport as an international air cargo hub as well as establish a private management company to manage the facility’s affairs.

Black said it would also allow for the construction of a special cargo terminal into and from which, aircraft can discharge and load cargo, secure a fleet of aircraft to distribute cargo to OECS and other Caribbean destinations and recruit and train employees to manage the operation.

Black said that under the current situation, trade in the Caribbean is primarily served by shipping carriers that ply north to south routes between Florida in the United States and Guyana.

He said during the 1970s and 1980s inter island trade amongst OECS States was primarily facilitated by schooners that facilitated imports from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, but with the modernisation of seaports in the OECS to containerized cargo, the schooner trade is no longer feasible.

Black said that there are increased volumes of OECS imports generated from online shopping and door-to-door deliver and the economic impact of e-commerce resulting from the combined activities of international courier brands and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) increases each year.

‘Despite Barbados’ high inbound air traffic activity, there is limited space for expansion near its already busy airport. HIA has access to over 100 acres of undeveloped land next to its runway, on which a modern cargo handling terminal can be built.,’ he said, giving reasons why St. Lucia should be chosen for an efficient air cargo distribution hub in the OECS.

He said that the island is located roughly midway the eastern Caribbean chain, ideal for short distance air cargo voyages to OECS countries.

He argues that the OECS could benefit economically from the venture, noting that each year Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago import large volumes of fresh food from extra-regional countries.

‘Over the past five years Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago have had a combined annual food import bill of at least US$700 million. The majority of OECS States are located within a 200-mile radius of Barbados and within a 500 mile radius of Trinidad and Tobago. Given their agriculture based economies, banana export experiences and close proximity, OECS countries can sustain reliable daily supplies of fresh produce to these two targeted countries.’

Black said that with the collapse of its banana industry, OECS countries are experiencing an exodus of persons from profitable farming, resulting in many farm holdings being unproductive with farmers not having the collective bargaining power to negotiate new export market access arrangements.

‘With the renewed prospect of new markets, a cargo hub in the OECS will trigger the resuscitation of farms to produce alternative high value crops and value-added products for regional export.’

Black said that there is an urgent need for a quicker and more predictable distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment in the OECS, noting that there are less than 10 regional suppliers of pharmaceuticals, based in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados, ‘non of which can guarantee same day dispatch and delivery of such goods to any OECS country. A St. Lucia based cargo hub can significantly reduce their clearance times’.

Black believes that a public/private management company is best placed to manage the facility’s affairs during the first five years of operation and that from the sixth year it can operate as a full private entity and listed on the OECS stock exchange to raise equity capital to boost its financial independence.

He is also arguing that the company could lease a fleet of six ATR 72 aircraft for one year to distribute cargo to OECS and other Caribbean destinations as well as acquire an information system to manage the movement of goods through the hub.

Black believes that there are opportunities for the sub-region, noting that the Caribbean’s courier trade is growing at a rapid pace and online sales companies like Amazon are responding to this trend.

‘In anticipation of sales in certain regions and to reduce delivery times, Amazon has set up a regional distribution centre in the Dominican Republic to target the eastern Caribbean. Similarly, a facility can be set up in St. Lucia.

‘The larger Caribbean suppliers in Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Belize can use the warehouse spaces at the cargo hub to store and distribute urgently needed stock in other Caribbean countries.’

He said that St. Lucia’s southern region can be transformed to an industrial support zone, taking advantage of large quantities of available lands, adding ‘there is a need to re-engage the Southern Free Zone that was initially set up for the purpose of manufacturing and easy export.

‘Angel investors that rely on a reliable distribution networks will appreciate the cargo hub as good location to conduct business. Businesses engaged in activities such as specialised machinery, information and technology, auto parts, tyres, security systems, specialized foods and pharmaceuticals can establish themselves in proximity to the cargo hub, rather than have multiple locations in several Caribbean States,’ Black said.

West Indies were dismissed for 138 in 36 overs after being sent in to bat by New Zealand in the second One Day International at Providence Stadium here on Monday.

WEST INDIES 138 in 36 overs (John Campbell 43, Amir Jangoo 24, Ackeem Auguste 18, Keacy Carty 18; Jayden Lennox 5-19, Mitchell Santner 2-21, Michael Bracewell 2-51).

Defending champions Barbados produced yet another spectacular batting performance on their way to recording their second successive win in the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s 50-over Championship here on Monday.

Led by a sensational double century by captain Gadson Bowens, Barbados posted a record-breaking total of 439 for eight on their way to a 258-run win over the Leeward Islands.

There were also victories for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago against Guyana and the Windward Islands respectively.

At Liberta Sports Club: Barbados captain Gadson Bowens scored a memorable double century to propel his side to a mammoth 258-run victory over a hapless Leeward Islands.

Batting at the top of the order, Bowens blasted 209 off just 122 balls, while striking 22 fours and 13 sixes, as Barbados scored an unbelievable 439 for eight in their 20 overs.

It set the record for the highest total in the competition’s history, besting the 392 for nine which they scored against the Windward Islands in Saturday’s opening round.

The Leeward Islands did put up a fight initially, before collapsing to be all out for 181 in 23.5 overs.

But the day undoubtedly belonged to Bowens, whose knock is now the highest individual score in the tournament.

Together with opener Damarko Wiggins, who scored a patient 53 off 95 balls, the two shared an opening stand of 194 in 29 overs that set the tone for what was to come. After Wiggins was dismissed by Rondre Daniel, Bowens added 67 runs with Jordan Graham, who made 20, before he became the third wicket to fall to make the score 317 for three in the 41st over.

What followed after his dismissal was truly remarkable, as Jahidi Hinds blasted an unbeaten 53 off 19 balls with five sixes and two four, R’Jai Gittens slammed 40 from 17 balls, while Kelani Clarke scored a quickfire 31, as Barbados bludgeoned 122 runs from the last 10 overs.

Matthew Miller was the pick of the Leeward Islands’ bowlers with 4-48.

In their chase, Tanez Francis and Kunal Tilokani both scored speedy half centuries which carried them to 76 for one inside six overs.

After Tilokani was dismissed for 59 off 21 balls, Francis and J’Quan Athanaze maintained the momentum during a 46-run partnership in four overs.

However, once Athanaze was dismissed by Zarrell Harding for 17, the innings went downhill with Hinds running through the middle order with his medium pace.

When Francis was dismissed for 55 off 38 balls, they had slumped to 147 for five, a position they would not recover from.

Hinds finished with 4-39, Justin Parris took 2-3 and Harding 2-60.

At Bethesda Sports Ground: Jamaica got their first win of the competition courtesy of a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat of Guyana.

After electing to bat first, Guyana suffered a spectacular middle order collapse to be bowled out for 225 in 44.4 overs.

Jamaica’s opening pair of Odane Binns, who finished on 104 not out off 109 balls and Tyson Gordon Jr, who was unbeaten on 83 off 115 balls, was seldom bothered on their way to romping to 229 without loss in 37 overs.

Guyana looked well on their way to posting a formidable total when Parmeshwar Ram and Shamar Apple were at the crease during an 82-run partnership that elevated them to 175 for two in the 31st over.

But Jahdae Moore’s five-wicket haul totally changed the complexion of the match, as Guyana lost their last eight wickets for just 50 runs.

Medium pacer Perico Henry started the collapse by having Ram caught for the topscore of 78 from 93 balls, with spinner Geovanni Grey claiming the wicket of Romario Ramdehol for 18, to leave the score 204 for four.

Moore then went to work, dismissing Apple for an even 50 off 72 balls, while also picking up the wickets of Dhanesh Persaud, Joshua Budram, Feaaz Baksh and Jonathan Mentore to end the innings.

He finished with figures of 5-36, while Henry took 2-51.

Binns and Gordon Jr then made light work of their target, carrying their side to victory with 13 overs to spare.

Binns struck nine fours and five sixes, while Gordon Jr hit 10 fours, while Guyana, who are yet to win a match, also contributed to their own downfall by sending down 42 extras.

At Coolidge Cricket Ground: Trinidad and Tobago also registered their second straight win via a three-wicket victory over the winless Windward Islands.

The Windward Islands produced a disappointing batting performance that saw them limited to 183 for nine in their 50 overs after choosing to bat first.

Despite losing some late wickets, T and T were always on track to secure victory, eventually ending on 184 for seven in 38.5 overs.

The Windward Islands owed their eventual total to a fighting half century from Tyler Venner, which rescued them from serious trouble at 73 for six.

Venner scored 62 off 96 balls, and together with the tailenders got their side up to a decent target.

He shared a 46-run stand with Kevin Joseph, who made 17 and also added 41 with number nine batter Kazado Henry, who scored an unbeaten 15, before eventually losing his wicket in the last over.

For T and T, Daniel Holder (3-28), Brendan Boodoo (2-18) and Daron Dhanraj (2-26) were the main destroyers.

Boodoo then returned to score a crucial half century, while also sharing a 57-run stand with Tariq Richards that set them on the way to victory at 101 for two in the 18th over.

Medium pacer Aravinda Bishop tried to derail the chase by snapping up three quick wickets, including that of Richards for 43, that saw T and T slip to 170 for six.

Boodoo also lost his wicket for the topscore of 67 off 81 balls during that period, to give the Windward Islands a faint hope of snatching an unlikely victory.

It was not to be, however, as Christiano Ramanan scored an unbeaten 23 to carry his team over the finish line.

Bishop claimed 3-38 from his 10 overs.

Hard-hitting Guyanese batsman Shimron Hetmyer has been added to the West Indies’ squad for the first three One Day Internationals against New Zealand.

Hetymer was originally excluded from the squad after being granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to fulfil his Major League Cricket commitments.

However, in a release issued by CWI, it said the 29-year will replace injured Barbadian all-rounder Justin Greaves. Greaves, 32, was named Player-of-the-Series in the recently concluded two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which West Indies won 1-0.

‘Shimron Hetmyer has been named as a replacement for Justin Greaves in the West Indies ODI squad for the second and third matches of the series against New Zealand in Guyana.

‘Greaves was ruled out of Saturday’s opening ODI with a back injury and will return to Barbados on Monday to continue rehabilitation. He will be reassessed by the medical team ahead of the final two ODIs and the upcoming Test series against Pakistan,’ the release stated.

CWI revealed that the squad for the final two matches to be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados would be released later this week.

The West Indies hold a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after winning the first ODI by seven wickets.

West Indies Women captain Hayley Matthews scored a second consecutive century, while Stafanie Taylor chipped in with one of her own to lead their side to a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the second One Day International here on Sunday.

Matthews, who was named Player-of-the-Match, scored an even 100 off 94 balls, while Taylor hit an unbeaten 100 off 105 balls, as the Windies Women easily overhauled Ireland Women’s total of 241 for seven, finishing on 242 for four in 38.5 overs.

With the win, the visitors secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of the final match on Wednesday.

It was another impressive display with the bat by the Windies, following their record-breaking run chase in the opening match.

They didn’t get the start they would have liked, though, with Matthews’ partner Realeanna Grimmond falling for a duck in the first over of the innings, caught behind off the bowling of Orla Prendergast.

But Matthews and Taylor made amends during a 158-run partnership, scoring at over six runs an over in the process. The skipper was first to her 50, bringing it up in emphatic fashion by hitting the 56th ball she faced from Aimee Maguire for a huge six.

So dominant was Matthews during the stand, that by the time she reached her 13th ODI century off 94 balls by driving Louise Little through the offside for a single, Taylor was only 47.

Matthews was dismissed immediately after reaching the milestone by Little after smashing 14 fours and two sixes to make the score 159 for two at the end of the 26th over.

Ireland accounted for the cheap wickets of Deandra Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow for nine runs apiece, to see them slip to 199 for four, but the Windies required just 43 runs from 94 balls at that stage.

Taylor found a worthy ally in Shemaine Campbelle, with the two sharing an unbroken partnership of 43 runs to see the Windies to victory with 67 balls to spare.

Taylor ensured she reached her 10th ODI century by hitting Alana Dalzell for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries to even the scores, before a no-ball by the same bowler ended the contest.

Earlier, Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell scored half centuries, but Ireland were setback by a lower order collapse that stymied their progress.

They recovered after Dottin claimed the wickets of openers Sarah Forbes and captain Gaby Lewis, while Matthews snared the key wicket of Prendergast to leave them 74 for three.

However, Hunter and Stokell resuscitated the inning during a stand of 106 runs for the fourth wicket that carried them to 180 for three after 40 overs.

But once Stokell was dismissed by Afy Fletcher after scoring 57 off 76 balls, and Hunter fell to Matthews for the topscore of 67 off 87 balls to make the score 188 for five, Ireland’s innings lost all momentum.

Dottin was the West Indies’ best bowler with 2-15, while Matthews took 2-34.

The Barbados Police Service is set to undergo a major restructuring aimed at increasing the number of frontline officers, modernising operations and strengthening community policing. Speaking at a ceremonial parade marking the appointment of Sonia Boyce as Barbados’ first female Commissioner of Police, Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice, Michael Lashley said civilian employees will take over several administrative functions, allowing more sworn officers to be reassigned to frontline duties.

He said a specialist consultant has also been engaged to address internal capacity gaps and modernise the service’s case management systems.

Lashley noted that the policing environment has changed significantly, with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and well-equipped. He added that the service is embarking on a digital transformation initiative designed to enhance investigative capabilities and support intelligence-led policing.

Addressing concerns over rising gun violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms, he said the government continues to implement crime prevention strategies supported by legislation targeting gangs and illegal weapons

Michael Lashley

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He also noted that the policing environment has changed significantly, with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and well-equipped. Based on this, he said the service is embarking on a digital transformation initiative designed to enhance investigative capabilities and support intelligence-led policing.

In congratulating Boyce on her appointment he described it as a historic milestone that would serve as an inspiration to future generations and pledged the ministry’s full support for her leadership while expressing confidence in her experience and knowledge of policing.

Lashley also paid tribute to outgoing Commissioner Richard Boyce and former Deputy Commissioners Irwin Boyce and Ian Branch for their service to the force.

Scoreboard of the second One Day International between West Indies Women and Ireland Women at Bready Cricket Club here on Sunday.

IRELAND WOMEN

Sarah Forbes c +Campbelle b Dottin 17

*Gaby Lewis c +Campbelle b Dottin 24

+Amy Hunter c Fletcher b Matthews 67

Orla Prendergast c Hector b Matthews 9

Rebecca Stokell c Taylor b Fletcher 57

Leah Paul c Claxton b Ramharack 32

Louise Little c Matthews n Alleyne 7

Alana Dalzell not out 17

Georgina Dempsey not out 3

Extras (lb1, nb1, w6) 8

TOTAL (seven wickets; 50 overs) 241

Did not bat: Aimee Maguire, Cara Murray.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-44, 3-74, 4-180, 5-188, 6-206, 7-226.

Bowling: Glasgow 8-2-30-0, Hector 4-0-19-0, Dottin 5-0-15-2, Alleyne 5-0-22-1, Matthews 10-1-34-2, Fletcher 9-0-67-1, Ramharack 9-0-53-1.

WEST INDIES WOMEN

*Hayley Matthews c Murray b Little 100

Realeanna Grimmond c +Hunter b Prendergast 0

Stafanie Taylor not out 100

Deandra Dottin c Murray b Maguire 9

Jannillea Glasgow c Dempsey b Maguire 9

+Shemaine Campbelle not out 10

Extras (nb2, w12) 14

TOTAL (four wickets; 38.5 overs) 242

Did not bat: Jahzara Claxton, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Shawnisha Hector, Karishma Ramharack.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-159, 3-189, 4-199.

Bowling: Prendergast 7-0-39-1, Dalzell 6.5-0-62-0, Dempsey 7-1-27-0, Maguire 8-0-52-2, Murray 5-0-45-0, Little 5-0-17-1.

Toss: West Indies elected to field.

Result: West Indies Women won by six wickets to lead the three-match series 2-0.

Player-of-the-Match: Hayley Matthews.

Umpires: Claire Polosak, Gareth Morrison.

TV Umpire: Roly Black.

Reserve Umpire: Jareth McCready.

Match Referee: Phillip Thompson.

Jamaica’s population grew by a negligible 600 people in 2025 to 2,764,200, as outward migration continued, with the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom remaining the leading destinations for Jamaicans granted permanent residence or citizenship.

This is according to the 2025 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, a publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

Migration to the United States increased by 7.3 per cent in 2025, with 18,347 Jamaicans entering its borders.

Accoridng to the survey, based on the figures, the US remained the primary destination for Jamaican migrants followed by Canada (2 980) and the UK (2 396).

‘A total of 2,980 migrants were granted permanent resident status in Canada in 2025, a 19.8 per cent decrease relative to 2024,’ the survey said.

It [noted that similar to previous years, the majority, 74.7 per cent (2 225) of Jamaicans was in the working age population (15-64 years). The 30-34 age group had the largest proportion of admissions of permanent residents, accounting for 13.1 per cent of emigrants.

Jamaicans from the 0-4, 55-59 and 60-64 age groups comprised a smaller proportion of emigrants (2.3 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively).

The PIOJ said the largest proportion of permanent emigrants from Jamaica with a known occupation fell within the ‘professionals, senior officials and technicians’ category at 7.0 per cent, followed by ‘service sorkers and shop and market sales workers’ at 2.3 per cent.

The occupation of 85.8 per cent of permanent emigrants was classified as ‘unknown/other’. ‘In contrast, emigrants who obtained temporary work visas were predominantly employed in ‘elementary occupations’, accounting for 79.6 per cent,’ said the PIOJ.

In 2025, a total of 2 396 Jamaicans were granted British citizenship by naturalisation or registration, representing a 16.7 per cent decline compared with 2024.