#TurksandCaicos, February 3, 2021 – People know the times are challenging; plans, no matter how thoroughly constructed are crumbling in the face of the unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic. What residents are hard- pressed to grasp however, is the lack of communication from the Turks and Caicos Ministry of Education.
For the fourth time,
the Ministry has fallen short when it comes to communicating in a timely manner
with the nation about decisions related to school and the return to in person
learning.
These benchmark
moments include the start of the 2020-2021 Academic year; the review of the
start which was promised in time for October 2020; the New Year term in January
and a review of this second term and the way forward, which never came until
Sunday January 31, mere hours before students were expecting to return to their
various campuses.
“As a result of the
rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases, phase 5 of the Roadmap anticipated on
January 4th had to be deferred at least until 29th January when the situation
would be reassessed to determine the feasibility of reopening schools for in
class instruction,” said the Ministry of Education in the selectively released
statement.
Karen Malcolm, Turks
and Caicos Islands Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library
Services was on Monday taking her second jab of the Covid-19 vaccine; following
the shot she said:
“Parents get
vaccinated. We need to get back to normal, some sort of normalcy so we can get
our children back in school.”
No national address on
radio or television. No message of
encouragement for students who are suffering severe emotional distress and
confusion during this unprecedented season.
A missed opportunity to convey warmth, empathy, support and appreciation
to the thousands of residents impacted by the otherwise expected decision.
The mute is maddening,
but the Sunday statement explained:
“During this interim
period, we have experienced further elevations to the rate of infection in the
Turks and Caicos Islands, having realized our largest number of confirmed new
cases this week. Considering the health factors, the Ministry of Education, in
consultation with the Ministry of Health, has arrived at the following
decisions:
Effective 1st
February, all schools will continue with online learning only. This position
will be re-evaluated by 10th February, 2021.
Students of 4th and 5th forms are allowed on campus only for SBAs and
other practical assessments, external examinations and mock examinations. The Ministry will provide a subsequent update
on the implementation of Phase 5 of the Road-map and plans for the final school
term.”
During a press
conference, Edwin Astwood, the Minister of Health clued the nation in to what
was coming. No return to school for any
student unless their external exam requirements or preparation requires them to
be onsite.
The Health Minister
also agreed teachers, who opted to have the vaccine, should get the shots. That option may be off the table for now, as
the first batch of 9,750 doses has now been exhausted.
The littlest learners
have been allowed into schools, whose sites are approved by the Ministry of
Health. Far more kindergartens and
daycare centres are open for service.
At least two schools
had been affected by COVID in the first semester of the academic year, informed
the Ministry of Health. The high school
in South Caicos and an unidentified school in Providenciales were closed for
sanitization when a Covid-positive case(s) was linked to the institutions.
The Ministry described
the term as successful.
“After achieving a
successful transition from phase 1-3 of the Road-map for the Reopening of
schools, the Ministry of Education adopted a modified version of phase 4 which
saw only grades 5 and 6 students return to in class instructions. Meanwhile,
students of forms 5 and 6 continued in class tutelage while all other students
participating virtually in a blended scheme.”
In the past two days,
there has been little testing and no new cases.
By February 10, which is when business hours and curfew regulations
expire, the country will get direction on what is next for schools and the over
4,300 students.
“We appreciate the
level of understanding by teachers and parents as we navigate through these
challenging times,” said the Ministry it its press release.
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.”