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Four Candidates Selected for 2023 GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme

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#Kingson, July 17, 2023 – Four young people from the Diaspora will receive educational, professional and cultural exposure to strengthen ties with their local heritage under the 2023 GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme.

They are Logan Wright and Bianca Byfield from the United States of America (USA), Samaya Miller from Canada, and Ras.I. Martin from the United Kingdom (UK).

The candidates are second generation Jamaicans who have never lived in the country.

They were chosen from 176 applicants and will be engaged in one-month internships at a GraceKennedy subsidiary, relevant to their areas of study.

The internships will deepen the candidates’ awareness of and connection with their Jamaican roots and can potentially help in defining their future career paths and involvements in the Diaspora.

The candidates were announced during the launch for this year’s renewal of the programme at GraceKennedy’s headquarters in downtown Kingston on Friday (July 14).

In his remarks, Mr. Martin, who is a senior student studying politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University in the UK, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to “connect his heritage to his home.”

“I can’t explain how grateful I am to come here for the first time and to see both the highs of Jamaica and the areas of growth,” he said.

“For me, representation is a massive part of my life… what I do and what I wish to do. Getting the opportunity to come here and understand my history was very crucial for me,” Mr. Martin further pointed out.

Ms. Miller, who graduated from the University of British Columbia in Canada where she studied international relations, said she is excited for the opportunity to live and work in Jamaica.

“I grew up in a place where I was the only black person and Jamaican. So it really does mean a lot to actually be here in the community with other Jamaicans and connect with my heritage,” she said.

Meanwhile, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, commended GraceKennedy for its active role in connecting with Jamaican youth in the Diaspora through the Birthright initiative.

“The programme aligns with the Government of Jamaica’s vision for deeper engagement of our Diaspora youth, a position firmly reflected in the National Diaspora Policy. It represents the commitment to cultural connectivity and linkages vital to the harnessing of Jamaica’s strongest asset – its people – for generations to come,” he said.

Mr. Terrelonge urged the interns to engage with the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council which is tasked with keeping young people engaged in opportunities beneficial to nation building.

For his part, Chief Financial Officer of the GraceKennedy Group, Andrew Messado, said, to date, over 50 youth have participated in the programme.

“They are all outstanding leaders in their fields and most remain deeply connected to Jamaica, giving back in a number of ways like supporting a bursary for a Grace and Staff beneficiary or donating to the GK Campus Connect Food Bank, which aims to reduce hunger facing university students,” he indicated.

 

Contact: Chanel Spence

Release: JIS

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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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