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When you vote & How you vote to stay safe while Voting

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#TurksandCaicos, February 8, 2021 – The protocols to ensure safe voting environment on general election day were on Friday released and the Turks and Caicos Islands Elections Office informs the guidance had weigh-in by both political parties, at least one independent candidate and the Human Rights Commission. 

Among the changes at polling places in this Covid-19 era, are extended hours for voting.  The voting day begins now at 7am and will end around at 9pm. 

On all islands, the first group of voters will be the vulnerable and other priority electors who are not in quarantine, isolation or positive for COVID. 

Group one must turn out to vote between the hours of 7am and 9am. Group two votes from 9am to 6pm in Providencials and 9am to 4pm on the other islands and ensures there are seven to nine hours available to the majority of the electors; those who are not in quarantine or positive for COVID and who do not fall into the vulnerable category.

The final group is Group Three; these voters are positive for Covid-19 positive, in isolation or in quarantine and these individuals will vote from 4pm to 6pm on all islands outside of Provo. 

On Providenciales, this Group Three will turn out for voting from 6pm to 9pm.   

The protocols are also now revealed.

The Elections Supervisor in the national update explained that all voters are required to pre-screen. 

To residents the rules say:  If you are experiencing symptoms call the HOTLINE and be cognizant that you can vote but only within the period designated for you.   You’re going to wash your hands before you vote.  You’re going to wash your hands after any interaction at the polling site because hand washing stations will be set up… and you’re going to make your selections with a pencil which you will take with you once voting is done. 

Physical distancing of six feet is enforced and so is the wearing of a face covering.  Non-medical grade is actually recommended for non-Covid and non-Covid suspected electors. 

The only time a face covering can be taken off is if the poll workers need identification verification.  The process will be brief, therefore the face covering is to be immediately replaced.

Sanitizer will be on site but voters are encouraged to bring their own supply.  

Poll workers will need to have their PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) already supplied.  The Elections Office listed: masks, face shields, gloves and gowns. 

Training in properly donning these items is recommended. 

Vulnerable voters should return home immediately after voting given the high rate of infection in TCI at the moment in nearly all islands. 

The process for Covid-19 positive individuals and those in some sort of quarantine are understandably more stringent. 

The regulations say this:  First thing, you have to inform the Ministry of Health hotline and there will be instructions for voting; this needs to happen before you venture out.  Once you do, you have to be dressed for the occasion.  Disposable gown, gloves, face shield and a medical mask snuggly covering nose and mouth.    The country is depending on these individuals to be patriotic by being responsible; which means go directly to the voting place; ensure there is only a driver and no one else in the vehicle. 

Recommended is NO air conditioning, turn windows down and allow fresh air to flow through the ride.  The Elector must practice all the protocols including a six feet minimum physical distancing.

For the voters, this time around there will be increased signage.  A recommendation is for the Elections Office to increase the number of polling stations. 

The Governor, His Excellency Nigel Dakin said in a separate report that, he has also asked the Elections Office to create a reserve list of election day workers; in the event of a shortage.

Poll workers have to follow strict protocols and capacity per site is capped at 30 percent.

General election day in the Turks and Caicos Islands is on Friday February 19, 2021.

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Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

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MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

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CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

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Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

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