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Administration Continues to Lobby to Stem Inflow of Illegal Guns – PM

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#KINGSTON, February 7 (JIS) – The Administration continues to lobby the United States to provide greater assistance in stemming the flow of illegal guns into the island, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

Addressing a security seminar at the AC Marriott Hotel in St. Andrew on February 7, Mr. Holness said this would bolster the measures the Government has implemented to secure the country’s points of entry and bring the crime problem under control.

“We recognise that there are still many gaps. One of them is the ability of the State to control the inflow of illegal guns into Jamaica. It is a problem for us to control our borders,” he said.

The Prime Minister informed that massive investments have been made in boosting the capabilities of the security forces to increase surveillance and detect illicit items at ports of entry. This includes investments in offshore patrol vessels and maritime patrol aircraft and boosting scanning capabilities at ports.

“But as an island, you know that we have several informal points of entry, and it’s going to be difficult to control all of them, but we are increasing our surveillance, including making significant investment in a state-of-the-art coastal radar system. We are doing what is necessary, but we could do with some help from our friends from the United States, because what we are seeing is a change in the profile of weapons coming into Jamaica,” Mr. Holness said.

“Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, Jamaica would be getting what we would describe as post-war weapons out of Latin America, post-war conflict weapons out of Nicaragua and El Salvador and other places. Now what we are seeing are AR15 and Glock platforms, which are mostly coming out of North America. This is not America’s problem, let me be clear, this is Jamaica’s problem. Jamaica must take responsibility and not leave our national security up to our partners; we must take responsibility for it. The truth is, it is not Americans, meaning persons without Jamaican connections, that are sending guns here; it is our relatives, our family members,” he noted.

Mr. Holness shared that he has asked the American Government to look seriously into this matter.

“When I visited, I spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris a couple of years ago. I went back two years ago, myself and the Commissioner. We met with representatives of the Department of Justice and I went back last year again, We have been constantly lobbying< and our partners have been very accommodating to us,” he said.

“I must say that our partners have been giving us a listening ear, and I know you know our American partners have so many other challenges that they have to deal with. Little Jamaica’s problem, you know, we really should be dealing with that, but because of where our capacity is versus the magnitude of the problem, we need the support,” the Prime Minister added.

Coordinator for the Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions and Associate Deputy Attorney General, United States Department of Justice, Michael Ben’Ary, said the guns that are being illegally trafficked from the United States is a shared problem.

“We are committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with you in investigating, prosecuting, charging and taking these networks out of Commission. It is a problem that we view as our own problem as well as a problem here with our very close partners in Jamaica,” he noted.

He said firearms tracing is the United States being able to identify, disrupt and dismantle firearms trafficking networks in the United States that are responsible for sending the firearms that are causing so much destruction and pain and suffering in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Mr. Ben’Ary added that firearms tracing information can be used to further investigate and bring charges.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security,  Hon. Dr.  Horace Chang, said a collaborative approach is needed to address the issue of transnational organised crime.

The seminar was held under the theme ‘Organised Violence and the Threat to Peace in Jamaica and the Region’. It brought together high-level government officials, law-enforcement experts and other key stakeholders to discuss and engage on pressing security challenges, including international security developments and best practices; spread awareness about concerns regarding the strategic environment in national decision-making processes, and implementation of national policies and decisions.

It also aimed to support collaborative efforts among institutions to promote policies to confront traditional and emerging threats and understanding the needs of law enforcement and security in the context of the Constitution of Jamaica, among other things.

 

Contact: Chris Patterson

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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