Connect with us

Caribbean News

Earl of Wessex returning to TCI, Official Royal trip with his wife Countess Sophie this Month

Published

on

By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, February 11, 2023 – In mere days, members of the Royal Family will arrive in The Turks and Caicos islands for the first time since the turn of the millennium.

Magnetic Media learned of arrival of the prestigious guests via a police bulletin in circulation early Friday; it has since been confirmed by Governor Nigel Dakin.  The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will land in The Turks and Caicos on February 22nd for a two- day visit.

The Earl is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and brother to King Charles III.  Like the Queen in 1966 before them, Grand Turk will be their first stop, where they will meet the residents and elected representatives at a reception hosted by Governor Nigel Dakin at Waterloo.

“Here, as well as Government leaders, they will be introduced to some of our remarkable people; everyday heroes who go above and beyond the call of duty in the course of their daily lives,” Dakin said.

After that Providenciales will host the Royals where they will be briefed on the country’s border security, crime and immigration issues first hand as well as meet the people and witness  ‘our extraordinary natural habitat including mangroves, unique Iguanas and the third largest Barrier Reef in the world’; witness the competitiveness of our school children; meet our sporting heroes and those working to mentor and empower our young,’ the Governor explained.

Royal Visits are a major undertaking for any country; Turks and Caicos has played host at least seven times ‘officially’ over the years, stretching as far back as the early 1900s as chronicled by the Turks and Caicos National Museum.

There was a 1928 visit by Prince George; the first Royal to travel to Turks and Caicos in an ‘unofficial’ stop aboard the HMS Durban on what was a humanitarian mission.  In 1960, the first official Royal visit was by the Princess Royal, Princess Mary which happened in March that year on the island of Grand Turk.

In 1966, the most legendary Royal Visit to the TCI included the Queen and her husband and gave life to the now iconic South Caicos Regatta as the Royal Yacht Britannia sailed with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip aboard, greeted in the country’s ‘fishing capital’ by an island sloop flotilla.  A regatta was held, awards were bestowed to Islanders and tours in Grand Turk with particular emphasis on the military prowess and role of TCI in the Space Race made the Royal moment particularly distinct.

By 1973, the then Prince Charles would officially drop in, playing two cricket matches.  Turks and Caicos players soundly beat the UK marines, but the Prince would go down as having made 12 runs in a losing effort against South Caicos.  Twenty years on, in 1993 Prince Philip, his father and the Duke of Edinburgh  would repeat in a visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands seeing artifacts of the Molasses Reef Wreck.

History records that the late Duke is the Royal with the most visits to the archipelago.  Prince Philip came again in 1977, passing through at the Grand Turk airport and on the 10th October 1980 when he returned as a co-pilot of an RAF Viscount aircraft, which refuelled at Grand Turk airport during its flight from Venezuela to Nassau.

Prince Andrew visited Turks and Caicos in 2000, and was the last Royal to officially make a stop in the territory.   It was a three-day stay in March, where he dropped in at Clement Howell High, the Conch Farm, Cheshire Hall Plantation, Beaches Resort and enjoyed a display by the children of Grand Turk.

It is interesting to note that for Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, this will not be his first time in the Turks and Caicos.  It is on record that he enjoyed the world-famous beauty of the islands some 22 years, visiting unofficially in 2001 and staying at the award-winning Parrot Cay.

Now, here in a Royal and Official capacity it is expected that a modern day Turks and Caicos will roll out a range of amazing cultural and scenic opportunities for the pair, giving the world a very public and unique look at the breath-taking wonders and natural beauties of the islands and islanders.

The Office of the Premier will prepare for several invited guests “representing different aspects of the islands’ commercial and civic life” who “will meet the Royals along with Premier Washington Misick and first lady Delthia Misick in a lunch he will host.”

The Governor expressed that he has very specific ambitions for the upcoming Royal visit.

“Our hope is that their Royal Highnesses leave these Islands both better informed but also intrigued by the natural beauty, vibrant society, the challenges and ambitious opportunities, these Islands represent.”

Caribbean News

Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING