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THREE MORE MONTHS, TCIs Cabinet extends Covid-19 Vaxx Mandate

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By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

 

#TurksandCaicos, December 20, 2022 – Even as the United Kingdom and the rest of the Caribbean move away from vaccine mandates the Turks and Caicos is still clinging to a rule which bars unvaccinated travellers from entering the islands, including those coming in on cruise ships. On Monday, December 19, the TCI Cabinet approved an extension to the Covid-19 vaccine mandate which should have expired on December 31st, enforcing it three extra months. It now expires on March 31 2023.

On Monday, Magnetic Media had reached out to Shaun Malcolm, current Minister of Health for an update on the mandate and whether it would be allowed to expire to no avail. Upon learning that the mandate had been extended, our news organization reached out again and again, there was no reply to the query.

As it stands now, the Turks and Caicos, heavily reliant upon travel and tourism is the only British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean holding on to the COVID vaccine mandate as a travel entry requirement according to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. It is in fact the only Caribbean country listed by the CHTA as still requiring that travellers be fully vaccinated for the coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health has always maintained that it is ‘following the science’ when it comes to decisions on the coronavirus.  It has also been strongly intimated, and in some decisions stated by officials that the TCI is following the United Kingdom’s lead in the national response to the pandemic.

This latest decision elicits, however, a new string of questions from residents who are asking for a “reveal” of the evidence guiding the move to continue the mandate.  Many feel the rule has run its course and overstayed its welcome.

Stacy Cox, CEO of the Turks and Caicos indirectly confirmed that the vaccine mandate sets TCI apart as a competing tourism destination, expressing earlier this month that bookings for the Christmas season could not be readily calculated “due to us being one of the only islands in the Caribbean that still has a vaccinated guest-only policy for entry while our competitors have dropped all requirements, advertising aggressively and are fully open for business.”

The mandate has also brokered ill-will between the country and unvaccinated homeowners who have not been able to see their luxury investments in over a year.  Some of them have reached out to Magnetic Media, frustrated over the decision to treat them as visitors for whom the inoculation is mandatory.

No indication was given that they were considered at Cabinet and former Health Minister Jamell Robinson told us previously that schemes he had created to facilitate them had been rebuffed.

A Carnival Cruise Line blogger has added insight to the fall out about the prolonged vaccine mandate.  Writing that among the top concerns about destination Grand Turk is the non-existent access unvaccinated cruisers have to the island.

But Government’s reluctance to alter the steady progress since the early days of the pandemic and the onslaught of Omicron could be attributed to the record setting tourism arrivals, boom in real estate sales and TCIs ability to freeze COVID deaths to 36 along with very low numbers of new cases – 17 as of December 13.  Those in favour of the mandate say it is a rule which has not hurt tourism and may be helping to protect a fragile public health system.

Despite, there is new uncertainty about the fate and expectation of expatriate workers, all of whom were required to take the vaccine in order to have their work permits renewed or granted.

There was no indication, in the Cabinet report, whether the law mandating work permit holders to be fully vaccinated would be drawn back or upheld.

Permanent Secretary of Health has promised a statement in the coming days.

Caribbean News

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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