KINGSTON, Jamaica – Government will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s seven Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) as it moves towards transitioning them into “zones of peace and opportunity,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang has said.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas government is urging citizens to avoid “all non-essential” travel to Cuba saying the country continues to experience challenges affecting electricity supply, fuel availability, transportation, and access to basic goods and services.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – Former Turks and Caicos Islands premier Michael Misick has been sentenced to an effective prison term of four years and 26 days after being convicted on bribery charges in a landmark corruption case that has spanned more than a decade.

ROSEAU, Dominica – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Friday praised his outgoing Minister for Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Miriam Blanchard, who announced her resignation from his cabinet due to medical reasons.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica and Ghana have agreed on a series of measures covering health, defence, trade, air services, culture, sports and education following the third session of the Jamaica-Ghana Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, the first such meeting between the two countries in 21 years.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Jamaica government says it will name the Western Child and Adolescent Hospital in St. James on the island’s northwestern coast, in honour of former prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, in recognition of her role in initiating the landmark healthcare project.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana will nominate Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as its candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, with President Irfaan Ali describing her as “fit and proper” to lead the global organisation.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana says it is confident the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the country’s border with Venezuela after the completion of all submissions in the historic case, leaving only the court’s final judgement outstanding.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – France has reiterated its support for Guyana in the ongoing border dispute with Venezuela saying also that Paris is “particularly attached to its partnership with Guyana in light of the many regional challenges we share on the Guyana Shield”.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados President Jeffrey Bostic has been awarded the Inter-American Defence Grand Medal by the Inter-American Defence College (IADC) in recognition of his contributions to hemispheric security cooperation and defence leadership.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Friday said that Trinidad and Tobago will use its seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on advancing women, peace and the security agenda.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The leader of the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), Pennelope Beckles, Tuesday called on the government to “immediately” cause legislative amendments to be made to improve the powers and investigatory procedures of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).