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Round One of TCREA Real Estate Mentorship Program Ends

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#TurksandCaicos, December 2, 2022 – Round one of the Turks and Caicos Real Estate Association’s Mentorship Program came to a close this past weekend with an afternoon of powerful presentations and a fitting celebration.

On Saturday, November 26th, the inaugural class returned to where it all began – the TCREA Head Office – this time flanked by family, faculty, and media. Smartly dressed as Junior Realtors, the mentees delivered final presentations to the program’s mentors and guests.

Showing a perfect range of variety, the teens displayed their mock Realtor biographies and a sales pitch on a pre-selected real estate listing. There was a show of presentations on vacant land, single homes, and condos, all placed on the big screen for viewing while the teens made use of their newly adopted real estate jargon and shared their listings’ best attributes with the room.

“Watching these bright minds deliver their presentations was a proud moment,” shared program mentor Nina Siegenthaler of Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s. “There was genuine excitement, and they showed just how much they have learned and retained over these past few months. She continued, “It has been a fulfilling experience sharing the industry with them, and I’m delighted that one or more of them may now consider real estate as an option for their future career.”

Launched by TCREA Ambassador Trevor Musgrove, the mentorship program aims to allow high-school and first-year college students to explore real estate through live mentorship sessions with premier industry experts in Turks and Caicos.

Participation was open to all islands, and the inaugural class was comprised of ten enthusiastic students from Providenciales and North Caicos: Dashawn Brooks and Alyssa Callum of Clement Howell High; Olique Stubbs, Lewis Walkin, Jr. of Raymond Gardiner High; Aniyah Bovie of Precious Treasures; Shamya Missick of Maranatha Academy; Pavla Lalakova and Andino Parker of British West Indies Collegiate; Abnise Noel, Antoine Gedeon of Louise Garland Thomas High.

Along with Siegenthaler, the teens had monthly access to Blair MacPherson of REMAX; Manfred Smith of Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s; Vernica Delancy and Dedra Gray of Keller Williams; and Sean O’Neill, Musgrove’s partner The Agency Turks & Caicos.

Asked how he felt about the program’s start, Musgrove said, “Overall, I could not have asked for a better outcome.  The excitement from both the mentors and the mentees has been amazing to see. We started this initiative to give something of ourselves and our industry to these young men and women, but they have also enriched us.” Reflecting on the program’s journey, the Director had one small point of dissatisfaction, “My only wish is that we had seen applications from students in the other islands well. The Ministry of Education has shown us how serious they are in extending the support needed. Because of it, the students from North Caicos had the transportation and chaperone necessary to facilitate their participation. We would love to see students from all the islands take advantage of the access so that we can share this opportunity with them all.”

The program has exposed the teens to the technical and practical sides of the profession. Terminology, securing a listing, marketing, selling a listing, professional etiquette, and following a strict code of ethics have all been shared with them. The program’s highlight was the open house exercise, which gave the mentees an opportunity for a real-time showing of a luxury oceanfront villa in Long Bay to a group of mock buyers, including the Minister of Education, Honourable Rachel Taylor.

“To watch this program materialize and grow has been an exceptional experience. These are the opportunities our school leavers need to know are out there, and I applaud Mr. Musgrove and his committee for doing their part in exposing our young men and women to this flourishing industry that is available to them right here in our islands,” said Honourable Taylor. She added, “I had the pleasure of visiting several sessions and was an inch away from buying a villa from the very bright and persuasive Andino Parker at the open house. The energy and excitement from the students were all the testament necessary to confirm that this was a much-needed, fresh opportunity that many will be delighted to take advantage of.”

The Ministry of Education has previously shared that the program aligns perfectly with the new Youth Policy, which incorporates 7 Pillars. Pillar 1 focuses on Enhancing Youth Economic Participation and Economic Empowerment. Both the association and the Ministry hope that this mentorship opportunity will result in more Turks and Caicos islanders becoming interested in joining this thriving sector, aiding in its sustainability, and opening other doors to local entrepreneurship.

TCREA Ambassador Musgrove expressed his gratitude to the real estate association for sanctioning the program and his colleagues for dedicating their time to mentoring the participants, “I can’t thank everyone enough for the support this program has received. I am grateful to the TCREA Board of Directors for giving the program the green light and to Honourable Rachel Taylor and her team for their support and presence throughout the program. I must extend special thanks to my colleagues for sharing their time and knowledge and to SOS Media for the public relations and social media support. Most of all, I am humbled by the community’s feedback and encouragement. I am ready to return to work for round two of the program.”

Certificates of participation and appreciation were presented to Mentees and Mentors by Musgrove, who also shared his thanks to the Media for their support throughout the life of the program. Saturday’s close-out ended with a celebratory lunch sponsored and hosted by Big Al’s Island Grill in The Salt Mills, Grace Bay.

Another ten spots will be available for the program’s 2nd round, which begins in January 2023. Interested parents and students are encouraged to look out for the invitation for applicants in December 2022 and to follow the TCREA Mentorship Program’s Facebook page for information and updates.

 

Release: TCREA

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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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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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