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Jamaica Pays Tribute to Veterans on Remembrance Day

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#Kingston, Jamaica, November 14, 2022 – The sacrifices of veterans of World Wars I and II were recognised on Friday (November 11) at a National Memorial Service to mark Remembrance Day 2022.

Held at National Heroes Park in Kingston, the commemoration included a parade by uniformed groups and sentries, and the laying of floral tributes in memory of those who died in the wars while serving the country.

The ceremony began with meditation led by officiating Minister, Chairman of the Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston, His Grace the Most Rev. Kenneth Richards, followed by the observance of a two-minute silence at precisely 11:00 a.m.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, is the exact time when the fighting ceased in 1918 during World War I and has universally become associated with the remembrance of those who died in the war.

The National Memorial Service featured the customary laying of wreaths by the nation’s leaders, led by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen.

He was followed by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Robert Morgan, representing Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; Member of Parliament for Kingston East and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell, representing Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding; Justice Lorna Shelly-Williams, representing Chief Justice, Hon. Bryan Sykes and representatives of the Chief of Defence Staff,  Commissioner of Police, and the Mayor of Kingston.

Also laying floral tributes were Dean of the Consular Corps, Commissioner of Corrections, Deputy Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, President of the Royal Air Forces Association Jamaica (580) Branch, Chairman of the Jamaica Legion, and representatives of St. John Ambulance Brigade and the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force.

An official inspection of the ex-service members and the contingent of the Jamaica Legion and the Royal Air Forces Association Jamaica (580) Branch was also carried out by the Governor General.

Retired Warrant Officer, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Collin Petgrave, who spoke to JIS News about the significance of the event, said: “To come and remember those persons who gave their lives for their nation is really an honour. What they did for us is the reason why we turn out and remember them on this occasion.”

Former JDF Captain, Clifton Conroy Lumsden, pointed out that “If the men and women from Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean did not go to the United Kingdom (UK) under very difficult circumstances, on boats across the Atlantic to assist with staving off the attacks from the Germans, then today, we would either be speaking German or wouldn’t be standing here”.

“And for that sacrifice, that those men and women made for us in those World Wars, we are eternally indebted,” he added.

Remembrance Day is an opportunity to recognise soldiers who fought bravely alongside servicemen from other countries during the two most noted global conflicts of all time – World War I (1914 to 1918) and World War II (1939 to 1945).

 

Contact: Mickella Anderson

Release: JIS

 

Dave Reid photos

Photo Captions: 

Header: Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (right), inspects ex-service members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), during the National Memorial Service to mark Remembrance Day, held on Friday (November 11), at the National Heroes Park in Kingston.

1st insert: Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (left), makes his way to lay a wreath in honour of those who died in the World Wars while serving the country. Occasion was the National Memorial Service to mark Remembrance Day, at the National Heroes Park in Kingston on Friday (November 11).

2nd insert: Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, representing Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, participates in the wreath-laying during the National Memorial Service to mark Remembrance Day, at National Heroes Park in Kingston on Friday (November.11).

3rd insert: Wife of the Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Lady Allen (centre), is being pinned with a poppy by army veteran, Peter Williams (right), while Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, looks on. Occasion was the National Memorial Service to mark Remembrance Day, held at National Heroes Park in Kingston on Friday (November 11).

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Mottley Sworn in After Historic Clean Sweep in Barbados Election

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Barbados, February 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon officially sworn in for a third consecutive term, hours after delivering one of the most emphatic election victories in Caribbean political history — another complete capture of all 30 seats in Barbados’ House of Assembly.

The ceremony, conducted by President His Excellency Lt. Col. The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marked the formal start of a new administration following the February 11, 2026 general election, which returned the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to power with a renewed and overwhelming mandate.

In a statement after taking the oath, Mottley said she accepted the responsibility “with humility and resolve,” thanking the people of Barbados for placing their trust in her leadership once again and urging national unity as her government begins its new term. Attorney Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn in as Attorney General.

The result is historic not only for its scale but for its consistency. This is the third straight general election in which the BLP has won every constituency, reinforcing Mottley’s dominance in national politics and extending an unmatched era of one-party control in the modern democratic period.

Voting day unfolded under the watch of a CARICOM Election Observation Mission, led by Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes and supported by senior electoral officials from Belize and Jamaica. The team engaged key institutions ahead of the poll and monitored the process across the island.

Regional leaders were swift in their congratulations.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali described the outcome as “emphatic and historic,” saying the clean sweep reflected how deeply Mottley’s leadership has connected with Barbadians and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two countries.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also hailed the victory, noting that her re-election provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within CARICOM and advance shared regional priorities.

The scale of the win again leaves Barbados without a parliamentary opposition, a reality that has become a defining feature of the political landscape since 2018. Supporters argue the repeated mandate reflects public confidence in Mottley’s stewardship of economic reform, climate diplomacy, the transition to a republic, and Barbados’ expanding global influence.

Now, newly sworn in and backed by another unanimous parliamentary majority, Mottley begins a third term with both extraordinary political capital and equally high expectations at home and across the region.

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Liberty Caribbean Committed to ‘Elevating Region’ at CANTO  

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Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago

Liberty Caribbean is Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM

 

Port of Spain, TRININDAD & TOBAGO (February 1, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow. Liberty Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional connectivity into measurable economic and social outcomes as Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and its 42nd Annual General Meeting.

CANTO is the leading regional body that brings together telecommunications operators, ICT providers, regulators, governments, and industry partners to support the development of the Caribbean’s digital and communications landscape.

Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago delivered the sponsor’s address on behalf of Liberty Caribbean.

“The work of laying fibre and lighting towers is done; connectivity is now our foundation,” she said.

“The real task before us is to translate that foundation into innovation, productivity and prosperity for our people. Intelligent connectivity, such as networks designed for 5G, AI and IoT, will be the platform for smarter public services, more resilient systems and scaled opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.”

Martin-Sulgan emphasised that infrastructure alone will not deliver sustainable progress.

“Digital progress must become digital prosperity. That means creating career pathways for young people, helping local businesses scale and ensuring citizens across our communities can fully participate in the digital economy. A connected Caribbean should also be a confident, creative and globally competitive Caribbean,” she said.

Liberty Caribbean is represented by a senior delegation at CANTO Connect to support the conference objectives of aligning policy, investment and execution across the region under this year’s theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.

Liberty Caribbean’s delegation includes Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer; Desron Bynoe, VP and General Manager, Flow Barbados; Susanna O’Sullivan, VP and General Manager, North Caribbean; Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director, Head of Communications; Dominic Boon, VP, People; Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B; Bradley Ramcharan, Director, B2B, Trinidad & Tobago; Yolande Headley, Country Manager, Dutch East Caribbean; and Jade Reymond, Country Manager, Flow Anguilla.

Martin-Sulgan thanked CANTO’s local secretariat for convening the forum and urged delegates to convert conversation into action.

“If we align policy, capital and capability, the Caribbean can move from connectivity to competitiveness. Liberty Caribbean will continue to invest in resilient networks, nurture homegrown talent and partner to deliver measurable social and economic value across our markets,” she said.

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Adam Stewart named CNW’s Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025

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Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart, has been named Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025 by the regional news publication, Caribbean National Weekly (CNW).

The publication recognised Stewart for his leadership in hospitality, his ongoing investments in regional tourism, his steady crisis response and his philanthropic work throughout what it described as a year filled with both remarkable achievements and significant challenges.

CNW highlighted how 2025 saw industry recognition for Stewart, major announcements of multimillion‑dollar developments across his all‑inclusive luxury resort brands and an invitation to join the prestigious Wall Street Journal CEO Council.

But the publication said his impact extended well beyond business milestones.

“In 2025, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts didn’t just guide his iconic hospitality empire through crisis – he used its scale and influence to help shape Jamaica’s rebound and lay groundwork for future regional growth,” CNW wrote.

The defining moment, it said, came in late October when Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to parts of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure. Stewart responded by leading transparent communication with global travel advisors, partners and team members, and made a landmark pledge, that 100 per cent of Sandals and Beaches employees would remain on payroll and receive Christmas bonuses, even at resorts temporarily closed for extensive restoration and upgrades. The company also committed more than US$3 million in staff recovery aid, providing direct support to families affected by the storm.

CNW further highlighted the work of the Sandals Foundation under Stewart’s guidance, noting record levels of community engagement and targeted disaster‑recovery support in healthcare, livelihoods and the environment.

In response to the honour, Stewart said he was “deeply humbled” to receive the Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year recognition and expressed his gratitude to his teams and partners for their dedication during an extraordinary year.

“This award reflects far more than any one individual. It is a direct result of people showing up every day for their communities and believing business is a force for good. It belongs to the extraordinary teams who carry our shared vision forward – especially the Sandals Foundation, whose work continues to create lasting change across education, health care, disaster relief and environmental stewardship,” Stewart stated.

“To every colleague and partner who helps bring this mission to life – thank you for your commitment, heart and belief.”

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