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Live Rifles after Training with Bermuda Regiment; more strides for TCI Regiment Members

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#TurksandCaicos, February 6, 2023 – Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment are getting their first taste of firing their newly acquired rifles live, thanks to a visit by Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment – set up in 2020 – is currently joined for almost three weeks by a Short-Term Training Team from the RBR.

Marines are receiving support on the firing range as the two British Overseas Territory units build on opportunities to work together.

Warrant Officer Class One Pete Ramm, the RBR’s Sergeant Major Instructor, travelled to the TCI with Colour Sergeant Shanté Arnold and Colour Sergeant Curtis Grant.

CSgt Grant said training included use of a Colt M5 rifle, which marines fired live for the first time.

He added: “It’s great to see the progression starting from novice shooters; they’ve progressed well in the time.

“I’m pretty happy about my part in that and I’m sure the rest of the team is as well.”

The training sees marines advance through shooting exercises in readiness for their Annual Personal Weapons Test, which now means they can carry the firearms on patrols.

Some of the TCI Regiment troops have now been qualified by the RBR team to take on roles in range safety and coaching.

CSgt Grant noted how the training in TCI resembled instruction for newly enlisted members of the RBR.

He said: “When we take our recruits on the range for the first time to fire live, it’s the same thing – they have the theoretical part of it and then apply the practical part.”

Lance Corporal Tim Browning said the weapons practice, which also included use of a Glock 19 handgun, made TCI Regiment troops the “envy” of their friends.

He said: “We’re very grateful having the Royal Bermuda Regiment guys here because if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to go on the ranges.”

The 42-year-old, who was among a group of marines that visited Bermuda for training last year, added: “The TCI Regiment is very much in its infancy, so everybody is still learning a lot.

“There is a world of difference between the TCI Regiment and the RBR, so the guys have brought training that is second to none, it couldn’t be any better.”

The Royal Bermuda Regiment has worked with partner nations for decades and the latest collaboration comes after a meeting of defence unit leaders in 2022.

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Beasley, the RBR’s Commanding Officer, said: “Last year in London, the Commanding Officers of the British Overseas Territories met for the first time to discuss opportunities for enhancing collective support.

“After consultation with our Governors, this is one of the initiatives which has been implemented, along with training courses we delivered last year in the US and Bermuda.”

Lt Col Beasley said: “As island nations we share many similarities, particularly with TCI.

“Our regiments are based primarily on reservists who are drawn from the communities we serve.

“Quite often, as is the case in many local industries, we will receive training at overseas establishments and then amend policies and procedures to fit the local environment.

“Although it is for their Commanding Officer to decide what is best for his unit, we can share with them our training practices that have been shaped and refined by years of experience.”

By training together, sharing methods and exchanging personnel, overseas territories can work more cohesively when called upon to support each other.

Lieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant Commanding Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment was very delighted that the TCI Regiment has accomplished this significant mild stone, which is very important aspect of fully operationalizing the Regiment. Lt. Colonel Grant commented:

“Training is the cornerstone of excellence and professionalism. The best militaries around the world are very good at what they do because they invest heavily in training. We have invested over Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) in training during the current fiscal period.

Its not only about the amount of monies we have invested but finding intuitions and organizations that can deliver the highest standard of training. The Royal Bermuda Regiment is certainly one of those organisations.

We are enormously grateful to the Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, and the Government and people of Bermuda for supporting the development of the TCI Regiment. The Training Team are excellent ambassadors for Bermuda. They bring an enormous wealth of knowledge, which we are very privileged to benefit from.

Finally, thanks to our Marines for dedicating their time and demonstrating an unselfish commitment to serve the citizens and residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Caribbean News

Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

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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.

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Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

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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.

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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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