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JAMAICA: Government on U.S $5.3-Million Coastal Resilience Project

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#Kingston, February 26, 2019 – Jamaica – The Government is embarking on a US$5.3-million project to build the country’s resilience to climate change.

Dubbed the North Eastern Coastal Resilience Building project, it is one of three components under the Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas to Protect Livelihoods and Improve Food Security Programme.  It is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), under the Government of Jamaica/Adaptation Fund Programme (GOJ/AFP).

The project will target the communities of Annotto Bay, St. Mary; and Buff Bay and Orange Bay in Portland. The major problems to be addressed are retreat of the coastline towards major critical, physical assets within these towns; coastal and riverine flooding; and deforestation.

The project will address the issues identified, by implementing shoreline protection and ecosystems restoration (reforestation), drainage system outfall upgrade and capacity building.

Activities in Annotto Bay include the installation of 600 metres of rock revetment;  installation of 300 metres of Wave Attenuation Devices (WAD) or artificial reef; reclamation of 18,000 metres2 of land and construction of a new jetty, agro forestry (30,000 trees); and realignment of the outfall of the Motherford Drain.

For Buff Bay, focus will be placed on the installation of 50 metres of rock revetment, while, in Orange Bay, 200 metres of revetment is to be installed.  

Programme Manager for the GOJ/AFP, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Shelia McDonald-Miller tells JIS News, that the procurement process for the project has begun. She notes that the initiative is slated to get under way in April, with an estimated time for completion of 12 to 15 months.

Mrs. McDonald-Miller says the coastal reclamation aspect of the project is important for preserving critical infrastructure of the towns.

“In most areas, seaside properties that were once significantly removed from the shoreline, are now within 30 metres of the high water mark along the coastline. It is important for coastal protection to be installed… wherever similar situations exist along the coastline,” she informs.

The Programme Manager adds that climatic impacts are exacerbated by a number of other environmental problems, including deforestation and erosion of hillsides, deterioration of water quality, reduction of coral reef coverage and coastal erosion.

“Most of them are low-lying towns and are susceptible to storm surges, whether hurricanes or some kind of extreme weather. We are doing something called WADs, which are really artificial structures. We are going to install them in the north eastern parts of Annotto Bay to provide further protection of the shoreline,” she says.

Additionally, the project will undertake capacity-building exercises with stakeholders.

“We will try to do some capacity building, as well, and training, because we want to look at how we can help the fishermen. We have to retrain them. Reason being, some of the fish stock has been depleted due to climate action,” Mrs. McDonald Miller notes.

The PIOJ Programme Manager says that while these measures will take some time to yield results, they will assist in arresting environmental degradation in these areas.

“If you look at what we are putting in, these are not quick fixes. These are well thought-out and scientifically recommended solutions to the problem of coastal erosion, watersheds being rehabilitated, shorelines being reclaimed, people being trained and capacities of local authorities being built,” she points out.

Under the programme, focus will also be placed on natural resource management, which will be executed in partnership with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

“We want to see how we can help the community to take care of the natural resources that we have, and how to better manage the infrastructure once we put in the shoreline protection. We believe this project and the entire programme will have far-reaching sustainability elements and benefits to the target communities,” she adds.

The overall objective of the programme is to protect livelihoods and food security by improving land and water management for the agricultural sector, strengthening coastal protection, and building institutional and local capacity for Climate Change Adaptation/Disaster Risk Reduction.

The other two components of the programme include enhancing the climate resilience of the agriculture sector by improving water and land management practices; and improving institutional and local level capacity for coastal and agricultural adaptation and awareness for behaviour modification through training and design of replicable technical standards.

Contact: Rochelle Williams

Release: JIS

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Mottley Sworn in After Historic Clean Sweep in Barbados Election

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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.

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Liberty Caribbean Committed to ‘Elevating Region’ at CANTO  

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Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago

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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Adam Stewart named CNW’s Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025

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Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart, has been named Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025 by the regional news publication, Caribbean National Weekly (CNW).

The publication recognised Stewart for his leadership in hospitality, his ongoing investments in regional tourism, his steady crisis response and his philanthropic work throughout what it described as a year filled with both remarkable achievements and significant challenges.

CNW highlighted how 2025 saw industry recognition for Stewart, major announcements of multimillion‑dollar developments across his all‑inclusive luxury resort brands and an invitation to join the prestigious Wall Street Journal CEO Council.

But the publication said his impact extended well beyond business milestones.

“In 2025, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts didn’t just guide his iconic hospitality empire through crisis – he used its scale and influence to help shape Jamaica’s rebound and lay groundwork for future regional growth,” CNW wrote.

The defining moment, it said, came in late October when Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to parts of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure. Stewart responded by leading transparent communication with global travel advisors, partners and team members, and made a landmark pledge, that 100 per cent of Sandals and Beaches employees would remain on payroll and receive Christmas bonuses, even at resorts temporarily closed for extensive restoration and upgrades. The company also committed more than US$3 million in staff recovery aid, providing direct support to families affected by the storm.

CNW further highlighted the work of the Sandals Foundation under Stewart’s guidance, noting record levels of community engagement and targeted disaster‑recovery support in healthcare, livelihoods and the environment.

In response to the honour, Stewart said he was “deeply humbled” to receive the Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year recognition and expressed his gratitude to his teams and partners for their dedication during an extraordinary year.

“This award reflects far more than any one individual. It is a direct result of people showing up every day for their communities and believing business is a force for good. It belongs to the extraordinary teams who carry our shared vision forward – especially the Sandals Foundation, whose work continues to create lasting change across education, health care, disaster relief and environmental stewardship,” Stewart stated.

“To every colleague and partner who helps bring this mission to life – thank you for your commitment, heart and belief.”

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