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Minister and Government’s Plan for TCI Tourism is a Pipe Dream:

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#TurksandCaicos, February 7, 2023 – The Hon. Minister for Tourism is intentionally misleading TC Islanders about her Government’s plans for Our Country’s leading industry, Tourism, and about the treatment of the Tourist Board’s staff.  The only thing the staff of the Tourist Board has received so far from the organization, along with their separation letters, is complete demoralization. How does the minister expect the staff to feel and perform over the next four months? Why not give the staff their monetary package now so they can invest it or use it to prepare themselves for their transition into their own business or new employment? That is thoughtful and the humane thing to do at this time, Madam Minister.
The Hon. Minister’s assertion that the new DMO, which will be a Public Private Partnership (PPP), is the answer and not the further marginalization of our people, is a Pipe Dream.  At best the assertion is theoretical and not based in TCI reality.
We have had a number of PPPs here in the TCI and no one can point to a single case where our people haven’t been screwed by them – so much so, that our country cannot enter into a PPP arrangement without the expressed communicated approval of the British Government (HMG). This position taken by the British with respect to PPPs in the TCI, I suspect, was not taken because PPPs are bad things (they have their place and purpose). However, in Our Country’s case, this is a requirement perhaps, because we have been taken to the cleaners every time we have entered into PPP agreements with the Private sector. Has TCIG secured the blessing of HMG for this proposed PPP and did it sign off on the funding mechanism for the PPP? Is this not using public funds to promote in part private interest?
 Hon. minister as soon as possible let us see the proposed make up and structure of the proposed DMO/ PPP. Show us how our people will maintain control or retain the final say in how Tourism develops in Our Beautiful Country.
 No country dissolves a successful public agency, especially one with an acceptable track record, to privatize it.  Such action is viewed with cynicism and is quite often associated with political cronyism.
Hon. minister it is true that some destinations in the region have restructured the way tourism is marketed and managed in their country. However, I am not aware of a single country in the Caribbean, or in the world for that matter, which has seen the growth that TCI has realized on the small budget the Board has had to work with, then demolish the said organization like you and your government are proposing.
I am all for working closely with the Private Sector when there are areas of common interest and mutual benefit. But we must remember that the  vast majority of the private sector is all about Bottom Line and beholden only to its shareholders, even at the expense of our people and the destruction of our environment.
Hon. Minister, I am sure that you are aware that there is very little left in the Turks and Caicos Islands which is Ours, or that we control. Almost all of our prime land, for tourism development, is out of our hands; our economy is largely owned and driven by others. Everyday we are becoming more irrelevant in our own country. Please remember or be aware that he who owns the land, owns the country. He who owns the economy controls the country. And he who owns the land and controls the economy at the same time, is king. We are lacking in all of these areas and one day it will manifest itself undeniably so. Be warned.
Regards,
Ralph L. Higgs

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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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