Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Government to help improve Coffee Industry
#Kingston, January 17, 2019 – Jamaica – Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government will be taking a multipronged approach to improve the coffee industry. This 
includes market diversification and the increased productivity and production of Blue Mountain, High Mountain and Lowland coffee.
Addressing the launch of the second annual Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on January 15, the Minister said the Government is committed to supporting a vibrant industry, both for export and to supply the domestic market.
The approaches to be taken are expected to work in tandem with the long-term solutions the Government has for placing the industry in a better position.
Among the solutions are the reduction of infringements on the Jamaica Blue Mountain and Jamaica High Mountain coffee trademarks on the international scene, as well as locally, through the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA).
Mr. Shaw also wants to see an increase in the number of Jamaican coffee varieties, such as High Mountain and Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, which can be blended together instead of blending imported coffee with Blue Mountain coffee.
“We have to work with our small farmers to build their productivity per acre, so that it’s not just a question of the price you get, but where the price is lower than expectation it is more than mitigated by one’s output per acre,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged the timeliness and importance of the coffee festival as useful for the continued expansion of the industry.
“I urge the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association to pursue market development and diversification, product expansion and proliferation, as well as brand development and positioning, to take the world’s best coffee, the Blue Mountain Coffee, globally,” he said.
Meanwhile, in her remarks, Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew and wife of the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, said the coffee festival is an “amazing opportunity to celebrate coffee and Jamaica”.
She said for her constituency, the festival is important because it provides an opportunity for farmers to earn 
significant sums of money and to network.
For his part, Acting Director General of JACRA, Gusland McCook, said events such as the coffee festival provide an avenue to create the type of awareness that will attract investors.
Mr. McCook indicated that JACRA will assist with strengthening the capacity of individuals involved in the hospitality trade in areas such as roasting coffee beans, brewing and the development of sensory skills to empower them to recognise and serve “a good cup of coffee”.
To be held from March 1 to 3 in Newcastle, St. Andrew, the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival will feature coffee and coffee-related products, food stalls, tastings and demonstrations.
Release: JIS
Contact: Chad Bryan
Photo Caption: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), enjoys a cup of coffee with (from left): Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew and wife of the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness; and Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, at the launch of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on January 15.
Yhomo Hutchinson photo
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.
