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Gov’t committed to Food Safety

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#Jamaica, September 9, 2017 – Kingston – Chief Technical Director in the Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Dermon Spence, says the Government is committed to ensuring that Jamaicans have access to safe foods.

He said focus is being placed on strengthening policy, institutional and regulatory frameworks and providing technical support for food producers in meeting global safety standards through the implementation and maintenance of food-safety quality-management systems.

Mr. Spence noted that the management programmes, which include the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), are germane to ensuring food security and boosting trade.   He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Chile Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Cooperation Project at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on September 6.

The technical cooperation initiative is geared towards the strengthening of the National Codex structure in countries such as Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Suriname.    It is focused on the establishment of a sound National Codex Committee that will assist countries to improve participation as well as their ability to discuss topics of interest for the subregion at the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

The international standard-setting body, with more than 180 members, is responsible for a collection of globally adopted standards, guidelines, codes of practice and other recommendations relating to food production and food safety, known as Codex Alimentarius.

dermon spenceThe CAC was formed within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the health and safety of consumers and ensure fairness in the food trade.

Mr. Spence, who represented Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the function, noted that Jamaica has benefited tremendously from the project funded by the Governments of Chile and the United States.   He highlighted, among other things, the production of an approved National Codex Procedural Manual and a Codex Strategic Plan.

The manual sets out the basic rules of procedure, the process for elaboration of Codex standards and related texts, and basic definitions and guidelines for the operation of Codex committees.   It is particularly useful for national delegations participating in Codex meetings and for international organisations attending as observers.   The strategic plan incorporates a list of programme areas and planned activities with a clearly defined timetable.

Executive Secretary of the Chilean Food Safety and Quality Agency (ACHIPIA), Dr. Michel Leporati, said that throughout the world, an increasing number of consumers and governments are becoming aware of food quality and safety issues.

“Consumers are now demanding that their governments take action to ensure that foods are of acceptable quality and that the risks of food-borne diseases are minimised,” he noted.

Mr. Leporati said it is important to ensure that the food needs of countries are taken into consideration in the approval of food-related standards.  He pledged that Chile, as the Coordinator of the Codex Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean (CCLAC), will be working with countries to address food-safety challenges.

Release: JIS

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Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

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MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

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CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

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Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

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