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Minister Sweeting Touts Numerous International Linkages Following FAO Conference

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#Ecuador, April 7, 2022 –  Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting said that his Ministry will be working along with several Caribbean countries to improve food security in The Bahamas.

His comments came after he led a delegation to the 37th Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference (LARC) of the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) held in Quito, Ecuador from March 28- April 1.

“I am very excited to say that the UNFAO conference was very successful.  We were able to create not just linkages with other Caribbean countries, but also friendships. So, countries such as Jamaica, that has been really innovative in creating Agribusiness throughout their country, will work with The Bahamas to create a futuristic Agribusiness center. Farmers are business-oriented persons and this Agribusiness Department – that has been stated in our blueprint for change – will really help the farmers to be business-oriented and connected to wholesalers and put extension officers on the ground. We are excited to work with Jamaica in that respect,” Minister Sweeting said.

“We are also excited to work along with countries such as Guyana, which are very involved in the Agricultural sector. Guyana is also expected to hold a conference in the next two years and is looking to work with countries such as ours to involve livestock production. We are looking to work with Barbados that has been intricate in the black belly sheep industry. So, we are working along with them to reduce our country imports – 25 percent by 2025 – and we are excited about this.”

Over 586 people attended the conference that included ministers, the private sector, academia, civil society and officials of the United Nations.

Minister Sweeting said that the Caribbean countries are working as a unit to promote the blue and green economies.

“We’ve done well to ensure that the Caribbean countries are represented at this conference. We were very involved in making sure the blue and green economies were integrated in the final document for the conference. We wanted to make sure that it was innovative, transformative and how climate smart agriculture will be a part of us as a country. Our Agriculture sector only contributes 0.7 percent of our GDP, and we are looking to enhance that. But in order to do that, we must be innovative, involve young people and women and we must not forget the farmers who created the foundation for us as a country and will also work along with us to do that,” he said.

The LARC conference focused on several issues including building sustainable agri-food systems to ensure healthy diets, the prosperous and inclusive involvement of rural societies and the use of innovation and digitalization.

Bahamas Ambassador to the FAO Winston Pinnock also lauded the conference and stressed that The Bahamas’ participation was beneficial.

“I think we have a lot to take back as wins. We came here with no Caribbean country having a seat at the table in FAO in Rome and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve on the council on the governing body of FAO. It is a privilege, and we will be on that until 2024. So, we can expect to get a lot more than we have gotten from the FAO as I will be active in that role, and we are hoping to get a lot more global funding,” he said.

“Minister Sweeting has been very aggressive in leading the charge in transforming Agriculture and we believe we can reduce our import bill as much as we possible.”

 

Release: Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources

Caribbean News

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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