WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump administration says it is imposing more sanctions on Cuban officials in order to “protect US national security and deprive Cuba’s communist regime and military of access to illicit assets”.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Trinidad and Tobago will not recognise Dr. Carla Barnett as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General after August when her first five-year term ends, even as regional countries maintained that she had been reappointed to the position for another five years.

TORTOLA,  British Virgin Islands – Premier Natalio Wheatley has defended the decision by elected leaders to exclude same-sex marriage from the territory’s next constitution, which is expected to be finalised following negotiations with the United Kingdom. 

NEW YORK, New York – A major Caribbean political club here has honoured New Jersey Democratic Congresswoman, LaMonica McIver, with its “Woman of Courage Award”.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The leader of the main opposition Free National Movement, (FNM) Michael Pintard has conceded defeat in Tuesday’s general election as the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is heading towards a convincing victory.

ATLANTA, Georgia — In a gesture underscoring the deepening partnership between Jamaica and the U.S. state of Georgia, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, has been formally recognised by the Georgia State Senate for his diplomatic leadership and commitment to strengthening international cooperation.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has officially established its first resident embassy in Ireland, a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic, trade, tourism and cultural ties between the two island nations.

HAGUE – Guyana remains optimistic that the International Court of Justice (ICJ)  will rule in its favour in the border dispute with Venezuela after the court Monday ended two rounds of oral pleadings.

TORONTO – The Government of Canada said on Friday that its Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in Toronto, where the leaders emphasised the “strong” ties between Canada and Guyana.

BELMOPAN, Belize – Belize marked the 52nd anniversary of its membership within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with a youth focused panel discussion as part of the annual CARICOM Week activities.

NEW YORK, New York – The Kings County Criminal Bar Association (KCCBA) in Brooklyn, New York has bestowed its “Judge of the Year” award on Caribbean-American Justice Dena Douglas.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua –  Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene says the 15-member regional integration grouping, CARICCOM, is  “now at a cross roads”  and regional leaders will have to do much more “to fashion responses” to the problem facing the region.