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Truss out of the top spot

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Dana Malcom

Staff Writer

 

#UnitedKingdom, October 20, 2022 – Call for UK General Election as Tories Liz Truss resigns as Prime Minister.

“I have spoken to his majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning.”

Another resigning PM for the UK and already the Labour Party is calling for a general election and rejecting another attempt of the Tories to elevate one of their own to take over as UK Prime Minister. 

At 1:30 Thursday afternoon, those words hailed the end of the shortest Prime Ministerial term in UK History as Liz Truss resigned as PM and leader of the Conservative party; she was elected only 45 days ago. 

Truss had taken charge of a fractured party and many of its members voted against her.  Media reports on repeated failures of her economic plans, the sacking of her finance minister, and an ugly public resignation of one of her top ministers, Truss now headlines as the sixth UK Prime Minister in a row to tender their resignation prematurely. 

This means a party election will be called once more, but this one will be different.  This time instead of stretching over a month, the election will take place in a week and only the MPs will have a say.  

In August, when Truss’s predecessor Boris Johnson left the seat in disgrace after a party revolt, Truss and several other candidates went up against each other, lobbying their fellow MPs for votes in a round system.  The final two were Liz Truss and the overwhelming favorite of the conservative party Rishi Sunak.  The decision was then put to the public, where Truss got just over 2000 more votes.

Only 45 days later, and with a 10 percent approval rating from the public, according to polling firm YouGov, she exited 10 Downing Street to say this.

“I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability, families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills— I was elected by the Conservative party to change this.  We delivered on energy bills and on cutting National Insurance, and we set out a vision of a low tax high growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.”

Unfortunately as she herself admitted, Truss could not make it happen. 

“I recognize, given the situation, that I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party,” explained Truss. 

Within five weeks of her tenure, she had already been apologizing for ‘mistakes’ in her mini budget filled with tax cuts that created major economic turbulence, sending the pound to shocking lows against the dollar.  At the same time inflation in the UK barreled to 40 year highs once again. 

Then came the replacement of the finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng, who had been by the PMs side and implemented her tax plans with a new candidate Jeremy Hunt, who shredded the plans Truss had been defending for weeks.  Hunt reversed tax cuts left and right and pulled back the two year energy bill cap to six months rather than the twenty-four Truss had promised 

Even as her fellow Tories urged her to give up the spot, her resignation creates a major problem for the party.  With what will be three leaders in a single term, they may have to put a major vote to the people. 

Labor leader Keir Starmer has already called for a general election.  The Conservative party won this term with the greatest margin in decades, whether they can repeat that in a general election is up in the air. 

Liz Truss will remain UK prime minister until her replacement is elected.

Caribbean News

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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Multi-Agency Enforcement Action Conducted in Five Cays

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.

The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.

The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.

The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.

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Health

What to Look for with Self-Checks at Home

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February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.

“Sometimes Ilook at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like therewould be a red flashing light that tells you that there’s something wrong with acar and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the samething. It gives you warning signs tolook intothat symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.

Dr. Hanicak saidself-checks are going to be a little different for everyone. 

However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such asunexplained weight loss,blood in your urine, bumps and bruisesthat won’t heal,and changes in bowel habits. 

For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could bea signof something more serious. 

He also suggestsdoing regular skin checksanddocumentingany molesor spotsthat start to look different. 

“Realize that you are your own person.There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you.You’ve got your own set ofideas, your own family history and your own genetics.Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing thatwe would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak. 

Dr. Hanicaknotes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with. 

Press Release: Cleveland Clinic

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