News Americas, ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov. 26, 2025: Nigeria yesterday welcomed an official government delegation from St. Kitts and Nevis, just weeks after the two nations achieved a historic milestone: granting visa-free entry to citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis. The visit was facilitated in partnership with Aquarian Consult, underscoring the role of private sector leadership in advancing Afri-Caribbean Cooperation.

L-R: The Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Ian Hanley, Deputy Prime Minister, The Honourable Samal Mojah Duggins, Minister of Agriculture, The Honourable Lanien Blanchette, Speaker of the National Assembly Of St. Kitts and Nevis on arrival in Nigeria engage in a brief interview.

This groundbreaking agreement makes the Caribbean nation the first outside Africa and ECOWAS to enjoy unrestricted access to Nigeria, signalling a new era of connectivity and cooperation among the Global African people.

Led by Minister of Agriculture, Samal Mojah Duggins, the 20-member senior delegation also includes the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Geoffrey Ian Hanley, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Lanien Blanchette. With high-level government and private sector meetings on the agenda, the visit signals a bold commitment to accelerate diplomatic and economic ties after this landmark policy shift, an example of how Global African communities can unite for shared progress.

The breakthrough was brokered by Nigerian business leader, Aisha Maina, CEO of Aquarian Consult, whose leadership during the Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS ’25) was instrumental in driving this agreement forward.

“This is more than a policy change, it’s a signal to the world that Africa and the Caribbean are ready to collaborate on trade, investment, and cultural exchange,” said Aisha Maina. “Global investors should take note: this is the beginning of a powerful alliance built on the strength of Global African people.”

The delegation’s arrival highlights opportunities in sectors such as agribusiness, technology, and creative industries. Both nations are advancing discussions on food security, cultural exchange, and youth empowerment, with expanded outcomes expected at AACIS ’26 in Abuja next March.

St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Agriculture, Samal Mojah Duggins, said: “This partnership represents a bold step toward a future where Africa and the Caribbean collaborate as equals in trade, culture, and innovation, uniting global African efforts for shared prosperity.”

For global business leaders, this development signals new opportunities in South-South cooperation, leveraging Nigeria’s role as Africa’s economic gateway and St. Kitts and Nevis’ strategic Citizenship by Investment program.

By NAN Staffwriter

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Nov. 18, 2025: New York Attorney General Letitia James is urging the Trump administration to grant Temporary Protected Status, (TPS), to Jamaicans following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck western Jamaica on October 28 and killed at least 45 people.

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, (DHS), James called for an immediate TPS designation to ensure Jamaicans already in the U.S. can safely live and work here while their homeland begins the long recovery.

A man walks with a shovel in hand over rubble on Main Street in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

“Hurricane Melissa has caused unimaginable damage… displacing tens of thousands of people and destroying vital infrastructure,” James said. “Forcing Jamaicans in the United States to return home to a devastated island would be dangerous and cruel. Situations like this are exactly what TPS was intended for.”

Melissa was the most intense storm to ever hit Jamaica, wiping out homes, schools, roads, businesses, and essential services. An estimated 30,000 households have been displaced, and many communities remain without electricity, clean water, or medical care. Early damage estimates exceed US$2 billion.

James noted that the U.S. has a long humanitarian precedent of granting TPS after major natural disasters. Honduras and Nicaragua received TPS after Hurricane Mitch in 1999. Haiti received TPS after the 2010 earthquake, and Nepal after its 2015 quake.

Elected officials representing New York’s Caribbean communities strongly backed the call.

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who recently led 43 members of Congress in a letter to DHS urging TPS for Jamaica, said the devastation demands a swift humanitarian response.

“Stopping the forceful expulsion of Jamaican nationals into dangerous, unsafe conditions… is a moral and diplomatic obligation,” Clarke said. “These are the precise moments for which Congress established TPS.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., the son of a Jamaican immigrant, said the scenes coming out of Jamaica “break my heart.”

“The Trump administration must immediately extend TPS to Jamaicans as they begin the arduous, painstaking work of rebuilding their lives,” Richards said.

Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Brian Cunningham, and Alicia Hyndman also voiced support, noting the deep ties between Jamaica and New York and the unsafe conditions faced by returning nationals.

New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers said extending TPS is both a humanitarian duty and a reflection of America’s long-standing relationship with Jamaica.

“The devastation left behind by Hurricane Melissa is unimaginable,” she said. “Extending TPS is not only the right thing to do — it is a critical measure that honors our city’s deep ties to Jamaica.”

For now, the decision rests with the Trump administration. The question lingers: Will they act? The administration has so far ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 17 countries, front and center among them: Haiti, whose TPS will expire in February 3, 2026, short of the success of the current lawsuit against the termination. Other nations who have lost, or who risk losing, TPS in 2025, include Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Afghanistan.

ABOUT TPS

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.

The Secretary may designate a country for TPS due to the following temporary conditions in the country:

Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war)

An environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic

Other extraordinary and temporary conditions

During a designated period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries or who are found preliminarily eligible for TPS upon initial review of their cases (prima facie eligible):

Are not removable from the United States

Can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD)

May be granted travel authorization

Once granted TPS, an individual also cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of his or her immigration status in the United States.

TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status. However, registration for TPS does not prevent you from:

Applying for nonimmigrant status

Filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition

Applying for any other immigration benefit or protection for which you may be eligible

By News Americas Staff Writer

News Americas, November 7, 2025: The US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans has now killed at least 70 people, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who confirmed another deadly strike Thursday that destroyed a small vessel and killed three people off the coast of Icacos Point, Trinidad and Tobago.

An infographic titled “Major US military deployments in the Caribbean” created in Ankara, Turkiye on November 7, 2025. (Photo by Murat Usubali/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The latest strike – the 18th since the campaign began in early September – reportedly targeted what the Pentagon described as a “vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization.” Aerial footage shared by Hegseth on X (formerly Twitter) showed the small boat traveling through calm waters before being hit and engulfed in flames.

While Washington insists the strikes are part of a campaign against drug trafficking networks linked to Venezuela, critics and international observers have condemned the actions as extrajudicial killings, noting that no conclusive evidence has been made public showing the destroyed boats were smuggling narcotics or posed any threat to U.S. interests.

Regional Fallout And Civilian Fear

Antonio Silver (L) and Kavash Dan unload their catch after a day of fishing in the Gulf of Paria, an inlet of the Caribbean Sea, on November 06, 2025, in Icacos Point, Trinidad and Tobago. As the United States military has killed numerous people allegedly running drugs in the Caribbean, local fishermen say they are nervous, and some have altered their fishing routes due to not wanting to be mistaken for a drug boat. Icacos Point is approximately 3 miles from the Venezuela shoreline. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Local fishermen in southern Trinidad say that they are now fearful to go to sea, with some altering their routes to avoid being mistaken for suspected “narco boats.” Icacos Point, the southernmost tip of Trinidad, lies just three miles from Venezuela’s coastline, an area known for both fishing and migrant crossings.

“The sea is our livelihood, but now it feels like a war zone,” said one fisherman who asked not to be named. “No one knows who’s next.”

Caribbean Leaders Call For Calm

Amid rising concern, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne this week renewed his call for the Caribbean to remain a “zone of peace.” Speaking at the launch of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, (CHOGM), set for next year, Browne warned that escalating U.S. military operations in regional waters could destabilize the Caribbean.

“If this military buildup results in any form of conflict, the small island states of the OECS will suffer disproportionately,” Browne cautioned, emphasizing the region’s vulnerability and economic dependence.

U.S. Congress Divided Over Strikes

In Washington, Senate Democrats attempted to pass a war powers resolution that would have curbed President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct further strikes without congressional approval – but the measure was blocked by Senate Republicans in a largely party-line vote.

Sen. Tim Kaine, (D-Va.), backed by Adam Schiff, (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul, (R-Ky.), led the push, arguing that the administration’s actions amount to undeclared warfare. Only a few Republicans – including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R-Alaska) – broke ranks to support the measure.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed select lawmakers earlier this week, defending the campaign as part of a broader effort to “combat terrorism and narcotics linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel.”

Trump, in a recent television interview, acknowledged authorizing CIA operations in the region and claimed Venezuela had “emptied their prisons into the United States.”

“We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela,” Trump said. “So, we’re going to stop them by land and by sea.”

International Condemnation Mounts

The United Nations has called on Washington to immediately halt the strikes. UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the killings “find no justification in international law,” urging restraint and independent investigations.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the U.S. of attempting regime change under the guise of counter-narcotics operations. Maduro, who faces U.S. drug trafficking indictments and a $50 million bounty, denied that Venezuela cultivates or exports narcotics, saying his country is being “used as a route against its will.”

An Escalating Military Footprint

The Trump administration has reportedly deployed six Navy ships in the Caribbean, F-35 stealth jets to Puerto Rico, and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to regional waters. U.S. bombers have also conducted several “shows of force” near Venezuela’s coast since mid-October.

With regional unease mounting and questions over legality growing louder, observers warn that Washington’s campaign risks militarizing the Caribbean – a region long regarded as a “zone of peace” and trade, not conflict.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Nov. 3, 2025: With 28 confirmed dead and thousands left without food, water, shelter, or electricity following Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact, Jamaicans at home and abroad are rallying to help. Roads have crumbled into muddy trails, schools and churches lie in ruins, and communication remains limited across several parishes. Yet, amid the devastation, the Jamaican global diaspora is stepping up – mobilizing funds, supplies, and relief networks to reach those in desperate need. Here are some of the most trusted organizations to support Hurricane Melissa victims.

Residents help move food supplies at a community center before distribution to the Whitehouse community in Westmoreland, Jamaica, one of the areas most severely affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, on November 2, 2025. (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

American Friends Of Jamaica (AFJ) & Golden Krust

The American Friends of Jamaica, (AFJ) has teamed up with Golden Krust to raise over US$250,000 for disaster relief. Golden Krust has already contributed $10,000 and is encouraging customers at its restaurants nationwide to donate $1, $3, or $5 at checkout. All proceeds will go directly to AFJ-led relief projects in Jamaica. In addition to financial donations, Golden Krust locations are collecting non-perishable foods and essential goods to be shipped to affected communities.
To support, visit the AFJ Golden Krust fundraiser.

Residents wait in line to receive food supplies in the Whitehouse community of Westmoreland, Jamaica, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa, on November 2, 2025. Planes and helicopters carrying humanitarian aid headed to Jamaica on October 31, three days after Melissa slammed into the island nation and killed at least 19 people.
Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon told a briefing that authorities had “quite credible” reports of possibly five additional deaths but had not yet been able to confirm. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

Food For The Poor & The Sean Paul Foundation

Grammy-winning artist Sean Paul has partnered with Food For The Poor through his foundation to mobilize global giving. “Hurricane Melissa has caused serious damage,” he shared. “Families are displaced and homes destroyed. I’m matching every dollar raised – up to $50,000 – to double our impact.” Fans can donate directly through Food For The Poor Jamaica.

Clive Tomlinson, 55, sits under a tree with his two-year-old daughter Sarah amid rubble in Westmoreland, Jamaica, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, on November 2, 2025. Planes and helicopters carrying humanitarian aid headed to Jamaica on October 31, three days after Melissa slammed into the island nation and killed at least 19 people.
Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon told a briefing that authorities had “quite credible” reports of possibly five additional deaths but had not yet been able to confirm. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

World Central Kitchen (WCK)

Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen is on the ground feeding families through 30+ restaurant partners across Jamaica. Two major field kitchens — including one in Montego Bay supported by the Sandals Foundation – are cooking tens of thousands of meals daily. WCK’s team is also operating in Negril, bringing hot meals to displaced families and emergency workers.
Donate at wck.org/relief/melissa-25.

A man looks on among trees stripped of many branches by Hurricane Melissa in Westmoreland, Jamaica, on November 2, 2025. Planes and helicopters carrying humanitarian aid headed to Jamaica on October 31, three days after Melissa slammed into the island nation and killed at least 19 people.
Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon told a briefing that authorities had “quite credible” reports of possibly five additional deaths but had not yet been able to confirm. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) & St. Thomas University

The Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is coordinating large-scale relief shipments to Jamaica with help from AFJ, the Caribbean Bar Association, and St. Thomas University (STU) in Miami. STU students are volunteering at GEM’s Doral warehouse, assembling relief kits, while the university hosts donation drives across campus. Learn more or volunteer at globalempowermentmission.org.

Samaritan’s Purse

The Boone-based Christian nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse has deployed teams to Jamaica with over 38,000 pounds of aid, including an emergency field hospital bound for Black River, where the local hospital was destroyed. The 30-bed facility includes a surgical unit, ICU, and maternity ward to care for mothers and newborns. Support their mission at samaritanspurse.org.

Bob and Rita Marley Foundation Relief Fund

The Bob and Rita Marley Foundation Relief Fund on GoFundMe has surpassed $42,000. Partnering with UFC Champion Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling, the foundation aims to deliver emergency supplies, roofing kits, and rebuilding assistance to families. Donate at gofundme.com/f/the-bob-and-rita-marley-foundation-relief-fund.

AFUWI & JahJah Foundation

The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) and JahJah Foundation are raising funds to support affected students and faculty. Donations can be made at afuwi.org or via Zelle at americanfdnuwi@gmail.com.

Team Jamaica Bickle

Known for supporting Jamaican athletes, Team Jamaica Bickle is raising emergency funds to replace destroyed training equipment and provide nutrition and supplies to athletes whose homes and facilities were damaged.
Contribute at givelively.org/donate/team-jamaica-bickle-inc.

Hands International

Hands International, a volunteer medical mission, will deploy to Jamaica on November 9, 2025, to deliver medicine and healthcare supplies. The organization is seeking urgent donations to fund its work. Support their effort at gofundme.com/f/hands-international-jamaica-relief.

In South Florida

Confirmed Drop-Off Locations in South Florida:
City of Miramar:

Fire Station 19 – 6700 Miramar Parkway

Fire Station 70 – 9001 Miramar Parkway

Fire Station 84 – 14801 SW 27th Street

Fire Station 100 – 2800 SW 184th Avenue

Fire Station 107 – 11811 Miramar Parkway

Miramar Police Headquarters – 11765 City Hall Promenade

City of Lauderhill:

City Hall – 5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Veterans Park – 7600 NW 50th St.

John Mullins Park – 2000 NW 55th Ave.

Westwind Park – 4550 NW 82nd Ave.

Lauderhill Historical Museum – 1080 NW 47th Ave.

Joy’s Roti Delight – 1205 NW 40th Ave. (Daily, 9 AM–9 PM)

Jamaican Women of Florida, (JWOF), are also collecting supplies at Island SPACE Museum, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation, Thursday–Sunday, 11 AM–7 PM.

Central Florida And Beyond

In Kissimmee, Vice Mayor Angela Eady and the Alianza Center are organizing an emergency donation drive and community meeting to coordinate relief for Jamaica.

SUPPORT FOR THE ANIMALS

The Animal House Jamaica

Founded in the 1990’s because of serious concerns about the plight of animals on
the north coast of Jamaica, THE ANIMAL HOUSE JAMAICA has been helping stray, injured, abandoned, and feral (wild) animals and their owners for more than six years. They provide food, shelter, medical care (including spay and neuter), and adoptive services to both animals and owners in need.

Address: P.O. Box 775, Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica WI
Email: info@theanimalhousejamaica.org
Follow them on Facebook here.
DONATE HERE via PayPal

Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA)
In operation for more than 100 years, JSPCA promotes humane treatment of animals through education, medical care, advocacy, and rehoming.

Phone: +1 876-929-0320
Headquarters: 10 Winchester Road, Kingston
DONATE VIA THEIR WEBSITE

Animal Welfare Advocacy Group (AWAG)
An umbrella group that unites NGOs, government partners, and individuals to improve animal welfare laws and education. Find their website here.

Save the STRAYS: Jamaica
A community-based Facebook group that rescues and rehomes stray animals while also offering owner support and conservation advocacy. Find their Facebook here.

Montego Bay Animal Haven (MBAH)
Founded in 2009, MBAH runs a sanctuary for abandoned pets, spay/neuter programs, and public education initiatives.

Phone: +1 876-260-3527
Website: montegobayanimalhaven.com

Kitties of Kingston
Volunteer-based group caring for sick, homeless, and abandoned cats. Find their Facebook here.

OnlyPaws Cat Rescue
Provides food and support for community cats in Kingston. Active on Instagram.

Kingston Community Animal Welfare (KCAW)
Offers food, veterinary care, and spay/neuter services for stray dogs and cats. Updates are shared through their Facebook page. Learn more here.

Negril Pup Rescue
Dedicated to saving neglected and abused street dogs in the Negril area.

Phone: +1 876-218-5561
Website: negrilpuprescue.com

News Americas, NEW ORLEANS, LA, Oct. 31, 2025: Bayou Bacchanal 2025, New Orleans’ original Caribbean Carnival, will transform its annual celebration into a powerful act of solidarity this weekend – dedicating its festivities to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts across the Caribbean.

St. John’s Anglican Church in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica is among the churches destroyed by Hurricane Melissa. (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

The festival’s producer, Friends of Culture, Inc., announced that 10% of ticket sales from Saturday night’s Caribbean fête will be donated directly to the Jamaica Red Cross Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund, which is working to deliver emergency supplies to communities hardest hit by the Category 5 storm.

Organizers are also urging festivalgoers, sponsors, and supporters across the Caribbean diaspora to make direct donations to the Jamaica Red Cross via jamaicaredcross.org/donate.

“Our roots across the Caribbean remind us that no matter where the storm hits, we all feel it,” said Marilyn LaForce, Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Culture. “Bayou Bacchanal has always celebrated the strength and joy of Caribbean people — now we’re turning that celebration into compassion and action.”

The festivities kick off at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, with a vibrant Caribbean party at Congratulations Event Hall, 1900 Lafayette St., Gretna, Louisiana. Tickets are available both online and at the door.

On Sunday, November 2, the celebrations move to Armstrong Park for the Bayou Bacchanal Parade & Festival, a free, family-friendly event featuring a special moment of reflection and solidarity for Hurricane Melissa victims.

“As we dance, drum, and celebrate, we do so in unity — for the people who need us most right now,” said James C. Carter, Jr., Port of New Orleans Commissioner, President-Elect of the National Bar Association, and Grand Marshal of this year’s parade.

Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) praised the initiative, noting, “Bayou Bacchanal has always been more than a festival — it’s a bridge between the Caribbean and New Orleans, connecting cultures through compassion and community.”

The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday from the Hilton Riverside Hotel and winds through Canal Street, Claiborne Avenue, and Orleans Avenue before culminating at Congo Square, the birthplace of New Orleans’ Afro-Caribbean culture.

From noon to 6:30 p.m., the Congo Square Carnival will feature live performances from St. Lucian soca star Messiah and Pan Vibrations Steelband, alongside Caribbean cuisine, colorful costumes, and local vendors.

Festival Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 1: Ticketed Caribbean Party – Congratulations Event Hall, Gretna, LA (10% of ticket sales donated to Jamaica Red Cross)

Sunday, Nov. 2: Bayou Bacchanal Parade & Festival – Armstrong Park, 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (Free Admission)

How to Help

Donate directly to the Jamaica Red Cross Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund:
https://www.jamaicaredcross.org/donate/

For event details, visit www.friendsofculture.org.