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President Irfaan Ali Tuesday urged Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to approach the growing presence of United States naval assets in the Caribbean with ‘eyes wide open,’ emphasising the need for mature and open discussions on security matters affecting the region.

The state-owned Department of Public Information (DPI), quoted Ali as saying that while some Caribbean leaders may view the US military buildup positively, Guyana recognises that the situation requires careful examination

President Irfaan Ali

‘The zone of peace is not only about threats to borders. It’s also about threats that we are now seeing,’ he said, noting concerns such as drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the use of international waterways for transhipment.

The United States has ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump’s 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.

Venezuela has since responded to what it termed the threat posed by the United States and has itself marshalled its troops along its borders.

Late last month, President Donald Trump ordered the US military to strike a boat in the Caribbean Sea, off Venezuela, killing 11, allegedly carrying drugs and earlier this month, he told reporters from the Oval Office that he had strong evidence that the latest boat in which three people were killed, was also carrying drugs.

The Trinidad and Tobago government has come out publicly in support of the United States sending naval and military troops to waters near Venezuela as part of Washington’s crackdown on nacro- trafficking.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar in her address to the UNGA last weekend, said while there have been objections to the US military action against drug cartels from some countries, Port of Spain wanted to remind the international community that, ‘unless forceful and aggressive actions are taken, these evil drug cartels will continue their societal destruction because they believe affected nations will always unreservedly subscribe to morals and ethics which they themselves blatantly flout.

‘That is why we willingly supported the international security alliance announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, involving the US and several countries in South America to combat drug-trafficking in the hemisphere,’ she told the UNGA, adding that the notion that the Caribbean is a zone of peace has become a false ideal.

‘The reality is stark, no such peace exists today,’ she added.

President Ali said that Guyana has consistently promoted the region as a zone of peace and has responded to threats with diplomacy and truth rather than hostility.

‘Every single day, the Venezuelan government attacks me personally, attacks this country. They say the worst things about us. But we have never responded in a hostile way. We responded with facts and truth,’ he said, underscoring his country’s commitment to measured and principled diplomacy.

President Ali emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing and collaborative discussions among regional partners to understand the implications of military movements fully.

‘What is needed is a meeting of minds, a meeting to share intelligence and to share information, so a fuller understanding of what is at stake here for all of us,’ he said, adding that through open dialogue, transparency, and regional cooperation, Caribbean countries can collectively safeguard peace and stability while addressing emerging security challenges.

A 16-year-old boy will re-appear in court on December 10 after he had been charged on Monday with the deaths of two men and injury to five other people during a mass shooting in August.

The teenager appeared before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder following the August 9 shooting in New Providence resulting in the deaths of Eden Louis and Markentash Saintil and injuries to Hayden Breus, Trish Louis, Widny Saintil, Karib Rodgers and Gregory Jean-Charles.

Polic said that the victims were outside a home when two gunmen emerged from a vehicle and shot them.

The accused was not required to enter pleas to the charges and was remanded into custody. He will return to court in December for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment.

The Dominica government says public servants including teachers are to receive millions of dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) in backpay following the conclusion of salary negotiations.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the negotiations were concluded last month with the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) and the Dominica Association of Teachers(DAT) for the period 2021-2024 and 2024-2027.

He said that the agreed-upon salary measures have come info effect starting this September and that public officers will receive an eight per cent salary increase, three per cent in 2024/25, two per cent in 2025/26, and three per cent in 2026/27 over the 2024-2027 period. Skerrit said in addition, back pay totaling EC$2,974,064.23 will be disbursed by November 2025.

He said effective this month teachers will receive salary increases on the same schedule, along with new allowances to support their work.

Skerrit said that the government has committed to the payment of a new resource allowance, and they will receive back pay amounting to EC$1,051,589.57, scheduled for disbursement in October 2025.

He said effective July 2025, the Police Welfare Association (PWA) had also agreed to an eight per cent increase over the 2024-27 Triennium.

According to Prime Minister Skerrit, officers across the board are receiving a monthly risk allowance of EC$250 from July 2025 along with financial support to the PWA. He said back pay of EC$465,334 was also paid to the officers in May, 2025.

‘Our public officers and our teachers are the backbone of national development, and we are happy to have reached this agreement with both parties,’ Skerrit told reporters, adding ‘I thank the leadership of the DPSU and the DAT for their constructive engagement throughout this process, and I salute all public officers and teachers for their service to country’.

Meanwhile, trade unions here have launched a trade union congress (DTUC) under the theme ‘Consolidating Trade Union Power through Unity and Solidarity’

The TUC brings together the DPSU, the DAT, the Dominica Amalgamated Workers Union (DAWU) and Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU).

Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Joni T. Musabayana (DBL), said that the launch of the DTUC ‘is no small achievement,’ saying ‘it is the beginning of a new chapter for the workers of Dominica.

‘This step strengthens workers’ representation in the country. It also strengthens your voice in the Caribbean, and in the wider international labour movement.’.

‘Unity is not only about standing together. It is also about being effective. No single union, however strong, can on its own shape the national agenda. A united congress gives you a stronger seat at the table of social dialogue. It allows you to speak with one voice in defence of workers’ rights. It makes it possible to influence policy, to negotiate better conditions, and to stand firm against injustice.’

The DTUC is headed by Steve Michael Joseph of the DPSU.

In a scathing indictment of the current state of West Indies cricket, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and ex-CARICOM cricket committee head Dr Keith Rowley has called for a complete and immediate ‘reset,’ labelling the team’s historic 90-run capitulation to Nepal a ‘disaster’ that demands radical action.

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and ex-CARICOM cricket committee head Dr Keith Rowley,

Taking to social media in the wake of the humiliating defeat, Dr Rowley expressed emotions shared by millions across the Caribbean: fear, anger, and profound sadness.

He stated that the loss, coming so soon after the team’s 27 all-out collapse against Australia in July, is a ‘gut punch’ from which the sport’s governing body cannot simply shrug off.

‘I fear that someone in Cricket West Indies will try to rationalise this and find ‘positives’!’ Rowley wrote, pre-empting the kind of post-match analysis that has often followed such failures.

His solution was blunt and immediate: ‘My God, keep the bowlers and fire ALL the batsmen, at least for now! We want COMMITMENT and guts and grit and, of course, some talent. We must START OVER!’

The former leader placed the blame squarely on the current administrative structure, identifying the controversial ‘one coach, one selector’ experiment as a primary cause of the team’s decline.

‘Clearly, it has failed spectacularly. It must end NOW!’ he declared, demanding a return to an ‘accountable development model which is based on performance, improvement and progress.’

Rowley warned that patience without tangible results is a ‘giant waste of time’ and that the situation is too dire for minor adjustments.

‘No scalpel will suffice here. A comprehensive RESET is called for,’ he asserted, insisting on the establishment of minimum performance standards.

In his most dramatic prescription for recovery, Dr Rowley issued a clarion call to Cricket West Indies to enlist the help of the region’s most revered legends.

‘Assemble a small team of successful individuals and assign them a role and some authority. Call in Lloyd, Lara, Roberts, Holding, and Ambrose to begin with and start a fishing program with a purpose,’ he urged, referencing icons Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and Curtly Ambrose.

‘Given this disaster,’ he concluded, ‘Cricket West Indies needs to CALL IN THE CAVALRY!!!’

The post ended with a stark warning to the administrators, reminding them of their ultimate accountability: ‘You need to talk to Caribbean people; otherwise, they will reject and eject you eventually.’

Nepal reached 122 all out in 19.5 overs against the West Indies in the third T20I of the Unity Cup here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

NEPAL 122 in 19.5 overs (Khushal Bhurtel 39, Sandeep Jora 14; Ramon Simmonds 4-15, Jediah Blades 2-20).

The St. Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission says it will launch the second call for proposals for the regional MSME matching grants programme on Friday, saying the initiative presents a golden opportunity for blue economy entrepreneurs.

The programme is a flagship component of the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project, which seeks to strengthen blue economy value chains, promote sustainable entrepreneurship, and improve livelihoods across the OECS.

The Commission says that by supporting MSMEs in fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management, the programme not only drives economic growth but also contributes to environmental sustainability and food security.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the OECS Commission, ‘UBEC is building a resilient, competitive, and sustainable Blue Economy across the Eastern Caribbean,’ the Commission said.

It said that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management now have the chance to strengthen and expand their businesses with grant funding ranging from US$5,000 to US$25,000. T

The Commission said that the project is already transforming businesses and improving livelihoods in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with MSMEs in the three participating islands already being awarded grants from the previous call for proposals earlier this year.

‘The regional MSME matching grants programme continues to make significant strides in advancing blue economy efforts within the OECS. To date, 28 grants valued at over US$500,000 have been awarded to MSMEs,’ said UBEC’s senior grants advisor, Kyle Garnes.

‘In addition, the programme has begun delivering tailored capacity-building and training services to MSMEs in waste management, fisheries, and tourism. Training has already commenced in St. Lucia, with more than 25 MSMEs actively participating, while rollouts in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are scheduled for the weeks of October 13, and October 20.’

The Commission said that individual MSMEs in the three OECS countries may be may be eligible if they are legally registered and have been in operation for at least two years, with supporting financial or bank statements.

Scoreboard of the third T20I between West Indies and Nepal here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

NEPAL

Kushal Bhurtel c Mayers b Hosein 39

Kushal Malla c +Jangoo b Holder 12

*Rohit Paudel c +Jangoo b Simmonds 17

Gulsan Jha run out 10

Sundeep Jora c Allen b Blades 14

Aarif Sheikh c Holder b Simmonds 6

Mohammad Alam run out 3

Lokesh Bam c +Jangoo b Blades 9

Sompal Kami lbw Simmonds 4

Karan KC b Simmonds 0

Shahab Alam not out 0

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w6) 8

TOTAL (ten wickets; 19.5 overs) 122

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-60, 3-75, 4-84, 5-91, 6-105, 7-109, 8-118, 9-118, 10-122.

Bowling: Mayera 2-0-13-0, Hosein 4-0-26-1, Holder 3-0-19-1, Blades 3.5-0-20-2, Gore 3-0-23-0,

Bidaisee 1-0-5-0, Simmonds 3-0-15-4.

WEST INDIES

+Amir Jangoo not out 74

Ackeem Auguste not out 41

Extras (lb4, wd4) 8

TOTAL 0 wickets; 12.2 overs) 123

Did not bat: Kyle Mayers, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Akeal Hosein, Navin Bidaisee, Jediah Blades, Ramon Simmonds

Bowling: Paudel 2-0-18-0, Karan 2-0-19-0, Kami 2.2-0-17-0, Mohammad Alam 2-0-24-0, Bhurtel 2-0-17-0, Shahab Alam 2-0-24-0

Toss: West Indies won and elected to field.

Result: West Indies won by 10 wickets

Player-of-the-Match: Ramon Simmonds

Player of the series: Kushal Bhurtel

Series Result: Nepal won the 3-match series 2-1

Umpires: Buddhi Pradhan, Vinay Kumar

TV Umpire: Akbar Ali

Reserve Umpire: Durga Subedi

Match Referee: Narayanan Kutty.

Venezuela is seeking closer ties with Suriname and has described as ‘ a new beginning’ discussions held on Monday between Finance and Planning Minister, Adelien Wijnerman and the Venezuelan Ambassador, Ms. Ayezim Y. Flores Rivas,

The Communications Service Suriname (CDS) in a statement following the discussions said that the ‘visit was intended to strengthen the close ties between Suriname and Venezuela’.

It quoted Wijnerman as expressing her appreciation for the initiative and emphasized that Suriname is open to intensive cooperation.

Ambassador Flores Rivas called the meeting ‘a new beginning’ adding that Venezuela, despite the challenges it faces, stands ready to support Suriname in various areas, including education, finance, and the oil and gas sector.

‘During the meeting, various opportunities for cooperation were discussed. For example, the ambassador proposed offering Spanish classes to ministry employees. She also highlighted Venezuela’s investments in education and social projects, which lay the foundation for future joint initiatives,’ the CDS statement stated.

‘Suriname and Venezuela expressed their intention to further expand their cooperation, including through knowledge exchange and training through universities in both countries,’ it said.

Suriname and Venezuela are oil-producing countries.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

HAMILTON – Bermudians were being urged to closely monitor the passage of two hurricanes that could begin affecting the British Overseas Territory later on Tuesday.

BASSETERRE – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) agriculture ministers meet here on Tuesday focusing on a wide range of issues including the status and trends in fisheries and aquaculture production, trade, and employment; initiatives to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and a new grievance redress mechanism for the Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).

WASHINGTON -The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has unveiled a five year strategic plan that sets out a ‘bold agenda’ towards advancing health and well-being across the Americas, including the Caribbean.

KINGSTON – The Bank of Jamaica(BOJ) says the outlook for real economic activity for next two fiscal years is likely to be in line with the last forecast and that preliminary indicators suggest that the economy should expand in the September 2025 quarter, resulting from expansions in electricity and water supply, agriculture and tourism and its allied services.

NASSAU – The Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBB) says preliminary indicators are that the domestic economy grew at a moderated paced up through the month August, relative to the year earlier, as performance indicators continued to trend closer to their expected medium-term potential.

SPORTS:

DUBAI – West Indies seeking to avoid a whitewash at the hands of Nepal, the first-ever associate nation to win a bilateral series in the third T20I of the Unity Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Daniel Bet, Tuesday, called for a region where education is a launchpad for innovation, resilience, and global leadership.

Addressing the 2025 Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education,’ Best recalled the vision of the late St. Lucian Nobel Laureate, Sir Arthur Lewis, Nobel Laureate, that the fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge.

Best told the three-day symposium being held under the theme ‘Stronger Together: Empowering Parents as Partners in Caribbean Education,’ that Sir Arthur was right then, as he is now.

‘Sir Arthur recognised that education is the deciding factor between a Caribbean that lingers on the margins of the global economy and a Caribbean that leads, as innovators, creators, and builders of prosperity,’ Best told delegates attending the symposium that has brought together key regional stakeholders to underscore the vital role of parents and guardians in the education system.

The symposium is organised by the CDB in collaboration with the Barbados Ministry of Education Transformation and other partners, and Best said that over the last four decades, global gross domestic product per capita has nearly doubled, and the share of humanity living in extreme poverty has decreased from 44 per cent in 1981 to just nine per cent in 2022.

He said research shows that education accounted for half of global economic growth since 1980, and two-thirds of income gains among the world’s poorest people.

‘The takeaway is unmistakable; education is the most powerful driver of inclusive growth known to humanity,’ best said, adding that for generations, Caribbean parents and grandparents sacrificed, stretched scarce resources, walked miles, and leaned on their communities to ensure their children could enter a classroom.

‘Many of us here today are direct beneficiaries of their determination. Our region’s progress rests squarely on their belief in the power of learning. Now, it is our turn to honor their sacrifices by transforming our systems to meet the challenges of our time. Because, colleagues, the reality is sobering’.

The CDB president said that fewer than one in five adults in the Caribbean hold a university degree with girls dominating tertiary education even as this success is not matched in leadership roles or pay equity.

He said boys were exiting the education pipeline too early, with lasting effects on their well -being and society.

Best said that this year, 44 per cent of the candidates who sat the Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) passed five or more subjects, including Mathematics and English, ‘still very much below what we can consider satisfactory.

‘While we continue to produce brilliant minds, too many migrate in search of opportunity, with some countries losing more than 70 per cent of their university graduates. My friends, weak outcomes block the dreams of families and constrain our region’s growth. They erode social cohesion and deepen cycles of inequality.’

Best said he was envisioning a transformed Caribbean region where education is a launchpad for innovation, resilience, and global leadership.

‘A Caribbean where lifelong learning is guaranteed through skills certificates and reskilling pathways. young innovators harness AI and robotics to design platforms that transform the way the world learns, heals, trades, and connects, universities and TVET institutions fuel breakthroughs in renewable energy, climate resilience, and digital entrepreneurship.

‘Our hubs of trade are models of sustainability, and our scientists lead in marine biotechnology and clean energy. Tourism is redefined as sustainable, agriculture is transformed by agro-tech, and our blue economy becomes the Silicon Valley of the Seas, (and) most importantly, where our brightest young people no longer feel they must leave the Caribbean to succeed.’

He said that this is transformation needed urgently and it begins with how investments are made in education development today.

Best also urged parents and first teachers to instill values and build resilience in the transformation, noting that ‘education is a journey that begins long before the first school bell.

‘Parents are the first teachers, the ones who instill values, build resilience, and sustain learning at home. Every child’s success story is a testament to the unseen labor of a mother or guardian, the faith of a father, and the resilience of grandparents who held onto the promise of education against all odds.

‘Policymakers can craft a vision and strategy, but it is parents who bring these principles to life, making them an indispensable part of the education system. One cannot succeed without the other.

‘In our region, it has always taken a village to succeed. It will take the whole Caribbean village, including parents, teachers, communities, policymakers, and the diaspora, to raise this generation into prosperity. That is why parents must have a seat at the table of transformation.’

Best said that through stronger Parent-Teacher Associations, regional alliances, and community networks, ‘we are embedding parents’ voices alongside policymakers in decisions that will shape Caribbean education for decades to come.

‘At this critical juncture, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the entire education ecosystem by vigorously advancing the participation of parents. Over the next few days, I invite us to rethink how we engage, empower, parents as partners with formal roles, clear access points, and enshrined rights in shaping the future of education.’

He said to guide the conversations, he is proposing what he termed ‘The Big Four Agenda for Parents’ which focuses on parents as partners, protecting every child’s right to learn, preparing children for the future, and passing on a legacy of opportunity.

The CDB president said that the region’s premier financial institution ‘will be right there alongside you, our policymakers, parents, students, educators, and partners.

‘Under our Rebirth Vision, we are designing a new education policy and strategy that will bolster the education ecosystem and further strengthen parent-teacher partnerships, building on our track record to ensure the basics, so that by Grade 3, every Caribbean child can read, count, think critically, and navigate the digital world with confidence, cultivate future skills for renewable energy, resilient construction, agro-tech, health tech, the creative economy, and the digital frontier.’

He said the project will also allow for linking education to jobs and lifelong learning through micro-credentials, modular qualifications, and demand-driven competency-based skills.