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Caicos Express Airways Celebrates 10 Years

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Hard work – determination – teamwork – consistent and reliable services – the secret to ten years for Caicos Express Airways.

 

#TurksandCaicos, December 31, 2021 – Caicos Express Airways is owned by two long-time friends and pilots: Captain Friedise Registre-CEO and Accountable Manager, and Richardson Arthur-Managing Director and Training Pilot. Both are equal owners; Captain Friedise started the company and was later joined by Captain Arthur.

The company started as a charter carrier in 2007 and In 2011, the company started scheduled flights between the islands. Ten years later, the company added International flights and continues to grow in destinations, airplanes, and passenger count.

Some of the countries Caicos Express Airways flew to are Cap Haitian Haiti, Port Au Prince Haiti, Santo Domingo Dominican Rep, Santiago Dominican Rep, and throughout Turks and Caicos. It has also operated charter flights to Jamaica, Cayman, Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean.

The first plane that the company had was the Piper Aztec PA23; it has now retired. The company currently has three C402C and two Beechcraft 1900C. It is looking to add two aircraft in 2022.

Operations Manager Stephane Menelas commented on the 10-year achievement. He said, “We are very proud and happy. It’s been a challenging and a lot of hard work to make it to this milestone.”

Menelas added that one of the biggest challenges has been coping with each country’s constant changes and regulations. Every country has different aviation laws, jurisdictions, and immigration requirements to protect its countries and people. However, Caicos Airways, a small company, struggled to adjust in this regard.

He also said the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the company. He said that there were no scheduled flights during the initial stage of the pandemic, and the staff was reduced. Pre-pandemic, there were 65 staff members. The company is still undergoing the impact of the pandemic, but Menelas said they have managed to recover partially. Now, the staff is heading back to its previous numbers; the company now has at least 60 people on its staff.

“It’s like watching a child grow,” said Menelas, as he reflected on the milestone and the challenges the company had to overcome. He said passion keeps them going and that the team has a love affair with aviation and airplanes.

“We love what we do, and we want to keep providing great service to our customers,” he added. Menelas said the customers are also the reasons behind the ten-year milestone. He thanked them for their commitment, love, and support to Caicos Airways.

The company does not only focus on issues within the company. Menelas mentioned the company’s goals regarding the Turks and Caicos Islands. He said, “we believe in the future of this country.”

He said another goal for the company is to expand, and by doing so, there will be a need to hire and train workers, specifically young people. This is to build the country and carry on the love of aviation and the legacy of Caicos Airways.

“We are a very generous company, and we donate a lot to charitable organisations even though you will not see us publicising that. A few that we are proud of are those that are helping the children in need,” Menelas added.

He said there is one project where hot meals are provided to primary school students in need in neighbouring islands. The company also sponsored an organisation that provide school supplies to children and have transported over 12 thousand pounds of relief supplies to Haiti during their earthquake disasters.

“We almost never say NO to providing help either in cash or transporting of supplies and goods to those in need,” he said. Menelas added that Caicos Express Airways is not closed off to possibilities.

Though the company has celebrated its tenth year, one that the staff is proud of, there was no grand event or celebration. Menelas said this was to ensure the staff stays safe. He said that while the pandemic persists, the company yearns for the understanding of customers and travel relief from the authorities.

He said the company is looking forward to “more life and more strength.”

 

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Caribbean Surrounded by Water, But Still Critically Insecure — Experts Call for Urgent Action

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

July 19, 2025 – Despite being surrounded by oceans and known for lush, rain-fed landscapes, the Caribbean is among the most water-insecure regions in the world — a paradox that experts say cannot be ignored.

At a recent regional workshop hosted by the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C), water and climate professionals from across Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) issued a sobering call to action: our islands may be full of water, but our people are increasingly without it.

“Water security is not just a development issue—it’s the foundation of our resilience, health, economy, and environment,” said Professor Paulette Bynoe, Chair of GWP-C. “Caribbean SIDS face rising climate threats, aging infrastructure, and chronic underinvestment. The time to act is now.”

The region loses up to 60% of treated water before it reaches taps due to leaky systems and outdated infrastructure. Meanwhile, many households across the Caribbean still lack consistent access to clean, piped water, despite frequent rainfall.

The workshop, supported by the UN Environment Programme, focused on implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) — a holistic and participatory approach to managing water systems. According to Dr. Roxanne Graham-Victor, Regional Coordinator for GWP-C, the gathering provided a “space to bring your country’s story and real-world solutions to the table.”

UNEP Caribbean chief Vincent Sweeney praised the forum as a launchpad for peer learning and concrete planning. Facilitator Chris Corbin urged countries to shift from endless planning to “inclusive, realistic, short-term actions” — supported by longer-term strategies that attract funding.

The event ended with participating countries pledging to strengthen cooperation, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, and roll out mini action plans tailored to their national challenges.

The takeaway: in the Caribbean, water isn’t scarce — but security is. And the time to fix it is now.

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Five Years to Go, But World Is Falling Behind on Global Development Goals

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

July 19, 2025 – The world is officially off track in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with just five years left until the 2030 deadline. That’s the sobering message from the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as they launched the SDG Report 2025 on July 14.

“Only 35 percent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress. Nearly half are moving too slowly, and 18 percent are going in reverse,” Guterres stated. “We are in a global development emergency.”

The report outlines real, measurable wins: more than 110 million additional children are in school since 2015. New HIV infections are down 40 percent since 2010. Electricity access now reaches 92 percent of the global population, and 45 countries have achieved universal electricity. Internet use has soared by 70 percent in a decade, now reaching 68 percent of the world’s people. Child marriage is declining, and more girls are staying in school. Globally, renewable energy capacity is growing, especially in developing nations.

“These gains show that investments in development and inclusion yield results,” Guterres added.

But the challenges dwarf the progress.

Over 800 million people remain trapped in extreme poverty. Billions lack access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Women continue to spend 2.5 times more hours than men doing unpaid care and domestic work. Climate change is accelerating, with 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record—1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. Meanwhile, debt burdens are worsening: in 2023, low- and middle-income countries paid $1.4 trillion in debt servicing—draining resources needed for development.

The Secretary-General pointed to one core issue: financing. The global SDG financing gap for developing nations now stands at $4 trillion annually. Worse still, Haiti is the least-funded of all humanitarian responses globally—an example of how international priorities are dangerously imbalanced.

“There is something fundamentally wrong in the structure of the global economic and financial system,” Guterres said. “We need reforms. Debt relief. Tripling development bank lending. Fairer trade and access to capital.”

The SDG report proposes a shift toward six “transformational pathways” in food systems, energy, digital access, education, jobs, and climate. These, it argues, will accelerate progress across all other goals—if funded properly and backed by political will.

Guterres urged global leaders to use upcoming moments, including the World Social Summit (November 4–6 in Doha, Qatar), the High-Level Political Forum, and the Food Systems Stocktake, to commit to urgent action.

“The Sustainable Development Goals are still within reach,” he concluded. “But only if we act—with urgency, unity, and unwavering resolve.”

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Haiti: Four Months from Elections, But Starving, Terrorized, and Teetering on Collapse

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

July 19, 2025 – Haiti is just four months away from general elections scheduled for November 15, yet the nation is paralyzed by hunger, violence, and despair. The country is facing a humanitarian disaster on nearly every front, while hopes for democratic renewal hang in the balance.

“We are on the brink of famine.” — CARICOM Communiqué, July 2025

According to the United Nations, over 5.7 million Haitians — nearly half the population — are starving. Children go days without food. Women and girls suffer horrific violence. Families are displaced. And an overwhelmed police force has all but collapsed.

Starvation and Desperation

Humanitarian agencies report families surviving on a single meal a day or none at all. In key farming regions like Kenscoff and Artibonite — once the breadbaskets of Haiti — food production has halted due to gang activity and conflict. The UN and CARICOM have both warned that parts of Haiti are “bordering on famine.”

While the UN World Food Programme has reached over 1.1 million people since January, aid workers say they’ve only been able to support 38% of those targeted for food assistance — due to underfunding, insecurity, and gang blockades.

Lawlessness and Fear

Gang violence has claimed over 5,000 lives in the past year alone. Women and girls are facing systematic abuse, from mass rapes to kidnappings. Children are being recruited into armed groups, and the elderly and disabled have been left with no protection.

UN reports show that nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince is controlled by armed groups. Less than a quarter of hospitals remain fully operational. The national police force has lost thousands of officers since 2021, and morale is at its lowest point in years.

Is the Security Mission Working?                                                                                                                                                                The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, led by Kenya, was launched with global approval and promises of reinforcements. But nearly a year into the effort, only 991 personnel are deployed — less than 40% of what was pledged. Equipment and funding are dangerously low. Two bases have been established, yet gangs still rule the capital.                                                                                                                                                        CARICOM, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Transitional Presidential Council continue to push for stability, but international response remains sluggish. Haiti’s 2025 humanitarian appeal is the least-funded in the world, with just 2% of the needed $425 million received.

Can Elections Even Happen?

Despite plans for elections in November and a new presidential transition by February 7, 2026, many Haitians are doubtful. With millions displaced, security in shambles, and widespread hunger, the feasibility of a free and fair vote is under serious question.

“We just need more money to do our work,” said a UN spokesperson this week. “The world cannot look away.”

At a Glance: Haiti in Crisis

  • 5.7M+ people starving
  • 5,000+ killed by gangs since 2024
  • 991 MSS troops deployed (of 2,500 planned)
  • 90% of Port-au-Prince under gang control
  • Less than 25% of hospitals fully functional
  • 2% of humanitarian food appeal funded

Sources:

UN Press Briefing, July 16, 2025
CARICOM Communiqué, July 8, 2025
Reuters, Associated Press, UN OCHA, Amnesty International

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