Caribbean News
World Health Day Message
#TrinidadandTobago, April 8, 2018 – Port of Spain – “Health is a human right and a critical resource for living. There is general recognition that health and access to health services are essential to individual, community and national development. On this occasion of World Health Day 2018 the theme is Universal Health Coverage; which WHO summarises as what do you need to get, be and stay healthy.
In addition to access to quality health services, safe medicines and treatments, people also need a safe and healthy environment to be and stay healthy, safe water and food, and systems to monitor health threats, protect health and prevent disease at community, national and regional level.
CARPHA has acted on that recognition through our provision public health services to Member States. For example, for over 20 years our laboratories and networks constantly monitor and test to support the PAHO/WHO priority disease elimination programs for polio, measles, rubella, and to give members early warning of new threats such as Zika. This service is a regional public good.
Through its regional public goods (RGPs) CARPHA makes its major contribution to the Caribbean Cooperation Health initiative of the CARICOM governments. The Agency provides important support to Member States as these countries, while very diverse, face similar health problems and inefficiencies due to limited economies of scale. All face NCDs and climate change as major threats and also opportunities.
These RPGs include reference laboratory services and the highest level of bio-containment in the English speaking Caribbean, health monitoring, research, training and capacity building; health security initiatives in areas of biosafety and biosecurity, testing and response; and public education.
In 2018, CARPHA will host the 63rd Annual Caribbean Health Research Conference, which allows young and experienced health researchers to share knowledge and information to improve preventive and treatment services. This knowledge sharing platform is a long standing regional public good.
We have joined forces with regional and international partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS as part of the PANCAP. Although the Region has made progress in combatting HIV, it remains the second most affected in the world. CARPHA provides support to national HIV/AIDS programmes and identified activities that focus on reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS on key populations (KP) by identifying and addressing the barriers that KPs living with HIV must overcome to obtain adequate health care.
Across the Region, stigma and discrimination also contribute to reducing access to individuals to their rights or essential public health and preventive services, including when persons delay seeking medical care because of fear. This needs to be addressed at individual, organisational and at societal levels if the goals of public health and universal access are to be met for HIV and other conditions.
The non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and increasing childhood obesity are major threats to Caribbean countries. CARPHA works with Member States and partners to develop common treatment guidelines and to monitor that patients with these conditions are receiving the appropriate diagnostic and treatment services. Child obesity is a special concern and CARPHA has led the development of a 6-Point Policy Package (6-PPP) for healthier food environments, in partnership with other regional institutions and international partners.
Our response to environmental resource management targets the quality of the environment, and the quality of life and livelihoods of communities. The Agency has committed to promoting water security and preserving the Region’s water resources, given climate change and hotter, drier weather. Through our Environmental Health Department in Saint Lucia, we work with Member States to develop water safety plans including water quality monitoring to reduce risks to human health as a result of contaminated water supplies.
The Caribbean’s social, economic and health sectors continue to be impacted by mosquito borne diseases. We have not let up on our support to Member States who depend heavily on us to confirm suspected cases of the diseases. Outbreaks of zika, chikungunya and the continued circulation of dengue have highlighted the need for an integrated approach to the prevention and control of these vector borne diseases. Our partnerships with international agencies such as PAHO/WHO, CDC and the European Union has allowed us to enhance capacity in countries to detect and prevent the outbreak of mosquito-spread illnesses.
Tourism is the economic mainstay of the region and Tourism based illnesses can have major negative health and economic impact in the tourism dependent Caribbean economies. Through its Tourism and Health programme (THP), CARPHA promotes and strengthens integrated health and environmental monitoring to reduce foodborne disease incidence and improve food safety. THP is a partnership approach a partnership with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism industry to strengthen Member States’ capacity in order monitor and respond to health, safety and environmental threats. This investment allows fewer, less costly outbreaks and other negative public health events occurring in tourism and thereby a healthier, safer, more reputable Caribbean for both visitors and locals.
Network initiatives such as the Regional Health Communication Network acts as a changemaker. The network provides information that addresses common health concerns and empowers communities to act. This sharing is a regional public good that makes the best available to all and reduces ‘re-inventing the wheel’. The Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CARIPHLN) which aims to strengthen laboratory services in surveillance, research, prevention and control of important public health problemsis a long-standing network.
Access to safe, quality drugs is a human right which CARPHA as the regional public health organisation is committed to facilitating. Through the establishment of the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS), CARPHA is now able to help countries perform functions such as reviewing, approving and monitoring medicines, in a timely manner, allowing patients faster access to quality drugs. The system also helps to reduce cost of medicines to consumers and the health system, thereby improving accessibility and affordability.
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for our Caribbean people is essential to development. As World Health Day is observed on Saturday, CARPHA urges governments to make appropriate investment in public health programmes to promote health and prevent disease, ensure safe and healthy environments, monitor and respond to threats in a timely manner to create and sustain healthy communities for all. This would help reduce the burden of disease and disability in Caribbean populations and give attention to related health-inducing measures in areas such as nutrition, sanitation and education.”
Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
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
Barbados, February 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon officially sworn in for a third consecutive term, hours after delivering one of the most emphatic election victories in Caribbean political history — another complete capture of all 30 seats in Barbados’ House of Assembly.
The ceremony, conducted by President His Excellency Lt. Col. The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marked the formal start of a new
administration following the February 11, 2026 general election, which returned the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to power with a renewed and overwhelming mandate.
In a statement after taking the oath, Mottley said she accepted the responsibility “with humility and resolve,” thanking the people of Barbados for placing their trust in her leadership once again and urging national unity as her government begins its new term. Attorney Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn in as Attorney General.
The result is historic not only for its scale but for its consistency. This is the third straight general election in which the BLP has won every constituency, reinforcing Mottley’s dominance in national politics and extending an unmatched era of one-party control in the modern democratic period.
Voting day unfolded under the watch of a CARICOM Election Observation Mission, led by Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes and supported by senior electoral officials from Belize and Jamaica. The team engaged key institutions ahead of the poll and monitored the process across the island.
Regional leaders were swift in their congratulations.
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali described the outcome as “emphatic and historic,” saying the clean sweep reflected how deeply Mottley’s
leadership has connected with Barbadians and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two countries.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also hailed the victory, noting that her re-election provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within CARICOM and advance shared regional priorities.
The scale of the win again leaves Barbados without a parliamentary opposition, a reality that has become a defining feature of the political landscape since 2018. Supporters argue the repeated mandate reflects public confidence in Mottley’s stewardship of economic reform, climate diplomacy, the transition to a republic, and Barbados’ expanding global influence.
Now, newly sworn in and backed by another unanimous parliamentary majority, Mottley begins a third term with both extraordinary political capital and equally high expectations at home and across the region.
Liberty Caribbean is Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM
Port of Spain, TRININDAD & TOBAGO (February 1, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow. Liberty Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional connectivity into measurable economic and social outcomes as Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and its 42nd Annual General Meeting.
CANTO is the leading regional body that brings together telecommunications operators, ICT providers, regulators, governments, and industry partners to support the development of the Caribbean’s digital and communications landscape.
Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago delivered the sponsor’s address on behalf of Liberty Caribbean.
“The work of laying fibre and lighting towers is done; connectivity is now our foundation,” she said.
“The real task before us is to translate that foundation into innovation, productivity and prosperity for our people. Intelligent connectivity,
such as networks designed for 5G, AI and IoT, will be the platform for smarter public services, more resilient systems and scaled opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.”
Martin-Sulgan emphasised that infrastructure alone will not deliver sustainable progress.
“Digital progress must become digital prosperity. That means creating career pathways for young people, helping local businesses scale and ensuring citizens across our communities can fully participate in the digital economy. A connected Caribbean should also be a confident, creative and globally competitive Caribbean,” she said.
Liberty Caribbean is represented by a senior delegation at CANTO Connect to support the conference objectives of aligning policy, investment and execution across the region under this year’s theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.
Liberty Caribbean’s delegation includes Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer; Desron Bynoe, VP and General Manager, Flow Barbados; Susanna O’Sullivan, VP and General Manager, North Caribbean; Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director, Head of Communications; Dominic Boon, VP, People; Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B; Bradley Ramcharan, Director, B2B, Trinidad & Tobago; Yolande Headley, Country Manager, Dutch East Caribbean; and Jade Reymond, Country Manager, Flow Anguilla.
Martin-Sulgan thanked CANTO’s local secretariat for convening the forum and urged delegates to convert conversation into action.
“If we align policy, capital and capability, the Caribbean can move from connectivity to competitiveness. Liberty Caribbean will continue to invest in resilient networks, nurture homegrown talent and partner to deliver measurable social and economic value across our markets,” she said.
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