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CDB’s Youth Fire Forum talks Climate Change & Mental Health

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By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 15, 2022 – Young people across the Caribbean had the chance to make their voices heard in the Caribbean Development Banks Youth for Innovation and Resilience or Youth FIRE Forum on Tuesday, June 7th, on Facebook as part of the annual general meeting proceedings.

The forum was split into two sessions, session one ‘Climate Change and Health’ was moderated by Dr. Keron Niles and focused on how the reality of climate change affects health in youth, specifically mental health. It is not often that mental health is associated with climate change but Niles put it succinctly by saying,

“Can you imagine being afraid of the rain? Because you’re afraid it’s going to be another hurricane that could ruin your life?”

Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Turks and Caicos, agreed, referencing the severe effects of hurricane Irma in the Turks and Caicos, she explained that extreme weather can negatively affect youth mentally. Malcolm-Gibbs called on regional governments to be proactive in their efforts.

“There must be stronger efforts for integrated support with various stakeholders, psychological first aid training and resiliency planning need to be at the forefront of intervention.” she maintained.

Onika Stellingburg-Benn Regional Coordinator of the Caribbean of the Royal Commonwealth Society, concurred with Malcolm-Gibbs noting that:

“Our health ministries should collaborate with other ministries to ensure that health implications are included in the design of any climate change intervention.”

Quacy Grant of the Guyana Youth Council stressed that the link between environment and man was impossible to untangle and the health of one affected the other.

“Usually when we think about health and healthcare and when we think about the person that is ill, we limit that person to a disease… we forget that that person has a bio, socio, psycho component. We cannot take a person out of the environmental context in which they live, and we can’t take from the environment those organisms that live in it…the health of the environment will affect organisms…we have to remember that climate change has an effect on our health”

He explained that during interventions, for example, moving people to shelters the mental toll must be considered as well.

Panelist Jamilia Sealy who is a part of the Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurship Network quoted a recent survey that proved that the knowledge surrounding climate change and its effect on health was limited and its effects were often mistakenly ignored.

“In the last weekend, the CYN in Barbados did a survey on climate justice…and from what I’ve seen only 21.5 percent of the 300 respondents noted that they thought health was an impact of climate change…I believe that maybe they’re not as aware of the impacts and might not include mental health as an issue.”

Sealy stressed that it was something we all had to work on. Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, or 5Cs, explained that climate change was ‘cross cutting’ the Caribbean, affecting every single area of our lives in ways we might never have thought about. He explained the Caribbean is dealing with multiple blows like pandemics and the worsening climate situation all at once and we need to be prepared.

“It’s stressing our health systems and our ability to cope, on [both] the mental health side and the physical side. So, this conversation is absolutely vital,” he said.

Young expressed that while some steps were being taken it was not yet enough.

“Unfortunately, as a region we do not undertake the type of research that will allow us to understand the effects of climate change on our youth’s mental health”

Young said a study was done on climate change and mental wellbeing on 10 000 young people in over 10 countries and found that:

“Across the countries, 59 percent of those interviewed were extremely worried about climate change, 84% of those were moderately worried and more than 50% reported emotions of sadness, anxiety, powerlessness, helplessness, and guilt.”

So how do we combat all of this?

Referencing the emerging issues Young said understanding them was key to creating programs within our health system that could combat them more efficiently.

Grant added that one way to get ahead of the issue was to carry out more operational research rather than academic research to find out what interventions will work best to ensure we have evidence-based tools to combat the effect of climate change on health.

For the everyday tools that youth can put into practice Sealy said, being aware of how climate change affects us and taking care of ourselves mentally and physically to reduce those impacts was important. Things as small as: cooling down on a hot day and wearing lighter clothes to make ourselves more comfortable were important.

Additionally, Sealy said educating ourselves about climate change from reputable sources and understanding the global reality was paramount. Grant insisted that this climate change education must include active change.

“We should not educate the populace on climate change and health just for them to be aware, but we want some behaviour change. I think it starts in the home,” he said.

Stronger government response to disasters equals quicker recovery, getting back to normalcy quicker and thus possibly reduced trauma on youth, Young had several suggestions on how regional governments could make this happen, they included:

  • Having access to real-time data integrated across all disaster response services
  • Ensuring that disaster response is prepared for new climate emergencies
  • Upgrading the quality of hurricane shelters.
  • Upgrading critical infrastructure needed for post-hurricane recovery including health and water.

All the panellists encouraged more comprehensive efforts to bolster hurricane and climate change readiness which they say is to the benefit of youth.

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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