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International Women’s Day

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“DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 9, 2023 – Throughout the world, women’s rights continue to make significant advances and the Turks and Caicos Islands is no exception.

In 1910 Clara Zetkin recommended March 8th, as a date for celebrating the achievements of working women at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, and women have been celebrated every March 8th since then.

This year marks the 28th Anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which the United Nations (UN) considers to be a progressive road map for gender equality.

The UN observance of IWD recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education and curtailing the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, women have undoubtedly made their mark in leadership, politics, administration, the justice system as well as in the medical field. Today, women continue to penetrate different industries and are now making their mark in innovation and technology, an area which was once male dominated.

The Turks and Caicos Islands celebrates the women in innovation and technology who are creating a path for young girls and other women and are successfully demonstrating that women can do it all.

In light of this year’s theme the Commission draws your attention to our very own women in innovation and technology.

Giselle James-Wright, is employed with Digicel as Switch Engineer/Mobile Operations Manager. She currently works on the Mobile Switching Centre and other cellular mobile platforms, as well as provide administrative support to the operations of the Mobile Operations and Maintenance/Radio Access Network Team.

Carmaine Ariza, is employed with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government as an Application Support Specialist. Ms. Ariza has over a decade of experience in information technology. She specializes in administrative product training and is responsible for assisting and educating users on using progressive systems and applications as well as troubleshooting application problems.

Kebba Thomas, has worked in information technology for over two decades and is the only female in the IT Department at Fortis TCI. Mrs. Thomas is employed as the Senior IT Officer and has been in the post for over nine years. One of her main responsibilities is to provide support for the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) environment that helps to manage and monitor the equipment that generate, transmit and distribute energy.

Yolande Robinson, Yolande Robinson is a trained Kindergarten and Elementary School teacher and the owner of Learn and Lead Education Centre. She uses technology to deepen the learner’s experience. She has worked in the field of education for over 20 years and knows that for all learners to excel there needs to be multiple approaches. Technology is a tool that Yolande uses as a bridge to facilitate learners from where they are to where they need to be. At Learn and Lead, educational resources are used to aid in intervention with children. In training and coaching, Yolande uses multimedia experiences to facilitate a deeper connection to the material being learned. Her gift to educate, inspire and empower individuals has been heard over the airwaves on positive parenting and teaching techniques, and on podcast episodes that have challenged us all to shift perspective.

When asked about the importance of technology, Yolande states, “I don’t know what I would do without it! Technology makes my work come alive. It helps me move from the vision that I have to the products and experiences I provide.”

Cathrice James-Williams, is the Director of Information Technology at the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission and has over two decades in the field of IT. Mrs. James-Williams is a certified Cyber Risk Specialist and owns and operates her own business, Techprise Learning Solutions, where she helps companies automate their processes and provide cyber awareness training. Cathrice, won the Woman in Technology and Engineering Award in 2020 for her outstanding achievements in technology and engineering.

Barbara Ambrister, is a well-seasoned Information Technology Specialist with more than three decades of service in the industry under her belt. Her extensive work in IT began in the Bahamas where she was the Director of Information Technology at the College of The Bahamas. Here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, she was the IT Manager for the National Health Insurance Board where she was responsible for the implementation, system development and design. She was also the Vice President for Information Technology at IBG Bank where her responsibilities included but not limited to oversight of physical infrastructure, installed and managed all facets of banking software and system security. She is currently the Chair for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, a Pastor and Author. Mrs. Ambrister is also the owner or Innovative Consultancy Services.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission recognises that significant progress has been made in terms of gender equality throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands but that there is more work to be done to achieve an equal and enabled society.  Today we to encourage women in leadership to empower each other and to provide a seat at the table where barriers to all industries are non-existent for women and girls.

Happy International Women’s Day!!!!

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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