Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Prime Minister calls for more Jamaicans to get involved in Agriculture
#Montego Bay, January 17, 2019 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has heightened the call for more Jamaicans “from all walks of life” to venture into agriculture, emphasising that the sector is an important contributor to the growth of the Jamaican economy.
“We should never limit agriculture, because the moment that we limit agriculture to being merely a manual and domestic endeavour, then we limit ourselves and the potential for growth. Make no mistake, agriculture is big business, and it should run the gamut,” the Prime Minister said.
He was speaking at the official launch of the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project, held at the Lititz Primary School in St. Elizabeth, on January 16.
“We must dispense with the historical and social issues that have limited our perception and our understanding of agriculture. As I stand here, I want to tell you… I want to go into farming. I believe it is one of the most rewarding and noble endeavours, and we want more Jamaicans from all walks of life, whether you wear a bush jacket or fancy shirt or jacket and tie, to get involved. All of us must put our hands in the soil and turn it and create some value,” Mr. Holness said.
The project, which represents one of the largest investments in irrigation infrastructure in Jamaica, will impact the livelihoods of over 700 farmers on 718 hectares of land, through the provision of irrigation water and improved access to local and global agricultural markets.
Mr. Holness said that the Government, through “vertical integration”, will seek to spur growth in the agricultural sector, through infrastructural improvements and increasing investment in the sector.
“For agriculture to grow, you must look at what is called vertical integration. You must create not just production opportunities of the crop but you have to create the processing facilities and infrastructure. On top of that, you have to create the markets for the distribution, and then you have to parallel with that, the financial systems to support it,” he argued.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the British government for funding the Essex Valley Development project, stating that any investment in agriculture will propel the country to economic independence.
“Let me say thanks to the British government for its consideration and funding this project through the United
Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF). This is the kind of support that is going to move the needle,” Mr. Holness said.
The Essex Valley development is being funded through a grant of £35.5 million from the UKCIF, which is administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
In addition to improving irrigation systems, the project entails other components to boost agriculture in Essex Valley. These include training for farmers and other stakeholders in food-safety standards and climate-smart agriculture practices; design and construction of a photovoltaic plant to power the irrigation system and related administrative buildings; financing for a climate vulnerability assessment study to enhance the sustainability of the systems developed under the project; development of guidelines to support the participation of men, women, youth and persons with disabilities; and an operational plan to enhance the viability and sustainability of the facilities and services.
Ground was also broken for the development of six irrigation wells that will supply water for the project.
Release: JIS
Contact: Nickieta Sterling
Photo Caption:
Header: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left); and Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (third left), unveil a sign at the well site for the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project in Lititz, St. Elizabeth, following the launch of the project on Wednesday, January 16. Sharing the moment (from left) are Head of the United Kingdom Department for International Development in the Caribbean, Stefan Kossoff; British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Asif Ahmad; Member of Parliament for South Manchester, Michael Stewart; President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr. William Smith; and Member of Parliament for South East St. Elizabeth, Franklyn Witter.
Insert: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at the controls of a well drilling machine during breaking of ground for the well site for the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project in Lititz, St. Elizabeth, on Wednesday, January 16.
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.
