KINGSTON, JAMAICA – May 13, 2020 – The Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme has received more than 500,000 applications across the available grant types.
Minister of Finance and the Public
Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, made the disclosure while giving an update
in the House of Representatives on May 12.
He said that given the
disproportionately high number of applications for the Compassionate Grant
(over 400,000), processing and payment of these has taken precedence.
Dr. Clarke informed the Lower House
that Compassionate Grant transfers to financial institutions began during the
middle of last week and the funds have been available to applicants since May 7.
He
noted that many persons selected to receive the funds through remittance
companies.
“We
had a total of 401,314 Compassionate Grants, of which 210,267 applications
sought the commercial bank avenue of payment, 162,024 sought to be paid through
remittance agencies, and 29,023 sought to be paid through credit unions/building
societies,” he told the House.
He
said that of the total number of applicants, approximately 378,919 were deemed
eligible and 22,395 or six per cent were determined to be ineligible due to the
fact that they are on a recent payroll.
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So far, approximately $2.65 billion
in Compassionate Grant payments for some 265,000 applicants, or 70 per cent of
those eligible, has been made to the financial institutions selected by applicants.
The remainder are being processed, including for the validation of banking
information.
The Finance and the Public Service
Minister said applicants who have received a text message confirming
eligibility and whose bank accounts have been verified can expect the funds to
be sent directly to their account.
More than 106,000 applicants, who
elected to receive Compassionate Grants by way of their bank accounts, have had
their accounts credited.
“Where the bank account information
submitted is not valid, which may arise, for example, if the name on the
account differs from the name on the application, or if the branch is
incorrect, or if the account is dormant, the applicant receives a text message
advising of such and they are invited to correct the banking information or to
select to receive their grant by remittance. Once the updates are completed,
these transfers will be made after revalidating and batching,” Dr. Clarke said.
“Last Friday, May 8, we had 77,000
applicants in this category. As at May 12, that number was reduced to 44,000 as
applicants corrected their banking information,” he noted.
Dr. Clarke is reminding persons
collecting grants through remittance agencies that they are required to present
a government-issued picture identification (ID) card, Tax Registration Number (TRN)
and Application Reference Number.
“Where
an applicant does not have a government-issued ID but is on the printed Voter’s
List, he/she can contact the Electoral Office of Jamaica, which will open their
offices on May 13,” he indicated.
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He
is appealing for beneficiaries to follow the guidelines of remittance companies
to ensure an orderly procedure for collection.
He
said that beneficiaries have until June 30 to collect the funds from their
chosen financial institution, “so there is no need to rush”.
Dr.
Clarke noted that arrangements have been made for beneficiaries to collect
payments through remittance companies on the grounds of the National Stadium
and inside the National Arena in order to allow for a more orderly and
comfortable process.
“We will be moving to make similar
arrangements at large open spaces in other parishes, starting with St.
Catherine, where we have a large number of applicants,” he said.
In
addition, Dr. Clarke said the Government is exploring mechanisms for third-party
collection of Compassionate Grants for persons over 65 years old.
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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.
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.
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.”