Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Minister Shaw commends Salada’s $200-Million investment in Coffee Industry
#Kingston, November 20, 2018 – Jamaica – Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, is lauding Salada Foods for injecting $200 million into the coffee industry, noting that the development will provide a secure market for farmers.
The company is purchasing 25,000 boxes of local coffee under a pilot project, with the objective of identifying a long-term business option. A total of $100 million will be paid directly to farmers, and the balance used to process coffee berries to green beans, which is local raw material used by Salada to manufacture instant-coffee products.
Salada’s response is as a result of a fall-off in purchases of Blue Mountain Coffee by traders in Japan, which is the main market for the island’s premium brand. Due to a high inventory of the produce on the Japanese market, the traders have refused to meet the price being demanded by the growers.
Speaking at a joint press briefing on Monday (November 19) at The Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston to outline details of the plan, Minister Shaw said Salada Foods must be commended for the “foresight and vision in taking a potential crisis and turning it into what may end up being a golden opportunity”. He noted that the company is replacing some of its imported coffee with locally grown beans.
Describing the move as “bold and innovative,” Mr. Shaw said it demonstrates the value of market-driven initiatives that will see Salada Foods benefiting from a consistent supply of local green beans to suit their manufacturing needs. He urged the farmers to make good use of this avenue to offload their produce even as “we work together to (see) better days”.
“The company’s intention to provide a guaranteed avenue for our farmers to offload their product goes a long way towards settling the concerns of farmers, who need additional markets to ensure that the hard work they put into cultivating this world-renowned agricultural asset will be sold, ensuring their livelihoods and investments,” Mr. Shaw told the gathering.
He assured investors and farmers in the industry that the Government is committed to working with stakeholders towards “charting a path of even greater success”. He noted that the Economic Growth Council (ECG) and the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), among other groups, are looking at long-term solutions for the sector.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, who attended the press conference, also hailed the move by Salada Foods, noting that it has brought relief to coffee farmers.
Chairman of Salada Foods, Patrick Williams, said the coffee sector is very important to the Jamaican economy, hence his company’s initiative to ensure stability in the sector.
Meanwhile, General Manager at the company, Dianna Blake Bennett, said that all the necessary parameters are in place to ensure the success of the initiative, including the hiring of a consultant with credible experience. She said that come Tuesday (November 20), there will be a rollout of depots in designated communities in the Blue Mountain, and she encouraged farmers to “bring their cherries and we will certainly purchase them”.
Release: JIS
Contact: Garfield L. Angus
Photo Captions:
Header: Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (second left), engages with (from left) Executive Director of the Economic Growth Council, Aubyn Hill; General Manager of Salada Foods, Dianna Blake Bennett; and the company’s Chairman, Patrick Williams, following a joint press briefing on Monday (November 19), at The Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston, to outline details of Salada Foods’ injection of $200 million into the local coffee industry.
Insert: Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, addressing a joint press briefing on Monday (November 19), at The Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston, to outline details of Salada Foods’ injection of $200 million into the local coffee industry for the purchase of 25,000 boxes of beans.
Photos by Mark Bell
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.
