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There are New Ways to Lure Travellers says Tourism expert From Jamaica

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 By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

#Jamaica, May 27, 2022 – Sun, sand and sea are no longer enough and Jamaica should know; said to be the Caribbean country with the highest bookings into Summer and with its tourism leaders continuously blazing trails and making bold global statements about its destination.

Carolyn McDonald-Riley Director of the Tourism Linkages Network at Tuesday’s Invest Turks and Caicos Economic Conference stood resolutely at the third installment of the Invest Turks and Caicos Agency Economic Conference and announced, ‘Caribbean countries must shake it up if they want to remain some of the most sought after tourist destinations worldwide.’

McDonald-Riley explained that tourism is being largely pushed by the younger generation who were traveling more, spending more and traveling longer and wanted “new authentic and customized experiences.”

With the advent of social media, newer niche destinations which can offer that are gaining more and more traction.

“Travelers now are more interested in connecting with places and people. They desire more memorable experiences that are intrinsically personal, engage their senses and leave long lasting impressions. The observations imply that Caribbean destinations may now need to revisit the whole notion of competitiveness.”

She explained that destinations that failed to differentiate themselves from others by developing tourism products that allow them to expand their appeal would likely be left behind in the changing market. She insisted that in the Caribbean, “There is an urgent need among us to prioritize strategies that will allow us to achieve greater segmentation and product diversification.”

She explained five strategies that Jamaica had used between 2017 to 2022 in an effort to snag 5 million arrivals, in 5 years, to earn 5 billion dollars. They included identifying new markets, developing new products, developing new partnerships, new investments and embarking on human resource development.

She insisted that it was time for students to not just leave school with academic skills, but experience and certification insisting that building human capital is what is key to a successful tourism industry.

She also stressed that developing passion points, which only our respective people could offer and that interested tourists in one country specifically would expand the appeal of the respective destinations and get locals involved in the tourism value chain.

This explained the veteran tourism advisor would help with the high level of ‘leakage’ in the Caribbean.

Leakage is the revenue lost because of how much of the goods associated with tourism are imported McDonald-Riley explained, noting that the Caribbean has about 80 percent leakage.

“This means that for every dollar spent by foreign tourists 80 is lost to the importation of goods.”

Increasing the consumption of local goods is the way to lower this number and keep more money in the islands. She noted that agriculture and gastronomy were two surefire ways to do so, mentioning kite festivals and regattas as marketable events.

“The ability of the country to provide through local and indigenous processes determines the wealth gain from the industry, it could be the bed that they sleep in, do we manufacture it? The products that they use, the transport, this is an opportunity for us to earn a part of tourism.”

The event was held to a cozy but vested audience at the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort, and deemed a strategical success as it welcomed country leaders including Hon Washington Misick, TCI Premier and Anya Williams, TCI Deputy Governor.

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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Caribbean News

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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