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59 Disable Orphans embraced by Jamaica; the hard road out of Haiti

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

 

#Jamaica, March 26, 2024 – Fifty-nine disabled Haitian orphans and 13 of their caregivers arrived in Portland Jamaica by boat after 36 hours on the water, on Thursday March 21st, fleeing from the quickly collapsing gang-run, Haiti.

The Haitian refugees are from the HaitiChildren Charity in Haiti, which has fallen victim to gangs.  While they are in Jamaica, they will be housed at Mustard Seed Communities, an internationally renowned Catholic charity in Kingston.

Efforts to bring the children to Jamaica were being made for months but despite authorization by the Jamaican Government and from Mustard Seed, they were awaiting permission from the Haitian Government to leave Haiti.

Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, head of Haiti’s Child Welfare Agency, pushed back at the effort saying that transferring an orphanage from one country to another, was “inconceivable and legally inadmissible.”

Reluctance was also fueled by Haiti’s history of children being taken from the country during  crises and never seen or heard from again.

Nine children died during the wait for approval from the Haitian Government; it has been 14-months of hellish conditions due to the gang activity also blamed for intercepting aid and food for vulnerable people in Haiti.

Susie Krabacher is the Co-founder of the HaitiChildren Charity and in speaking to the Miami Herald shared much of the harrowing predicament.

Paul Marie, one of the children who was supposed to be in Jamaica with the others, died on Christmas night at an understaffed and ill-equipped hospital, after being taken to three different health facilities, none of which were equipped to take care of him.

After all that, thanks to the now former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, they were able to legally make the trip to Jamaica, as he signed the required agreement before he stepped down on March 12, says Krabacher.

Considering that, the issue wasn’t coming to Jamaica, it was leaving Haiti, as pointed out by Krabacher, Co-founder of HaitiChildren, in reports on RJR News.

She says just last week, they tried to transport the kids to Jamaica by plane, but the pilot was barred from taking off from Haiti, hence the reason they came by boat.

After they left the orphanage, the bus carrying the children and their caregivers was stopped by armed men according to Krabacher, who was already in Jamaica monitoring the situation by phone.  After hours on the phone with staff, they managed to get the bus free and they were finally on their way.

Krabacher reports that the children showed tremendous courage and strength despite the delays and being stopped when so close to being on their way to better care.

“They are all smiles.  They all kept talking over one another into the phone, ‘Mom, tell daddy we are not afraid!  Mom, we are so happy. ‘Thank you, mom and daddy.  You kept your promise!  Will you be there, mom?” she told the Herald.

Krabacher, who is from the US, informed that they were trying to get the children to America but their efforts were shut down by the Haitian government for reasons not mentioned, if known.

This huge accomplishment comes after Jamaica’s Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith and Prime Minister Andrew Holness were consulted in June 2023 about taking the children in when Haitian political and civil society leaders met Kingston, Jamaica, for negotiations with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Reports say Johnson-Smith was  in communication with Mustard Seed’s founder, Priest Gregory Ramkissoon, their conversations centered on how the government could grant temporary legal status to the children and their caregivers, and their care at Mustard Seed.

Johnson-Smith describes the mission as one of mercy, and it’s indeed so as not only is Mustard Seed willing to take the refugees in, they are also willing to take care of them at no cost, according to David Silvera, Mustard Seed’s head of business development, as reported by the Herald.

The children and caregivers were welcomed by officials  from the Portland Health Department, police and Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard. They were processed and given food.

The orphanage is located in the town of Arcahaie and was targeted by gangs. Gangs not only stole their food, but also threatened to kill the children. And staff members have been kidnapped.

Caribbean News

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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Caribbean News

Mottley Sworn in After Historic Clean Sweep in Barbados Election

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Barbados, February 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon officially sworn in for a third consecutive term, hours after delivering one of the most emphatic election victories in Caribbean political history — another complete capture of all 30 seats in Barbados’ House of Assembly.

The ceremony, conducted by President His Excellency Lt. Col. The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marked the formal start of a new administration following the February 11, 2026 general election, which returned the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to power with a renewed and overwhelming mandate.

In a statement after taking the oath, Mottley said she accepted the responsibility “with humility and resolve,” thanking the people of Barbados for placing their trust in her leadership once again and urging national unity as her government begins its new term. Attorney Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn in as Attorney General.

The result is historic not only for its scale but for its consistency. This is the third straight general election in which the BLP has won every constituency, reinforcing Mottley’s dominance in national politics and extending an unmatched era of one-party control in the modern democratic period.

Voting day unfolded under the watch of a CARICOM Election Observation Mission, led by Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes and supported by senior electoral officials from Belize and Jamaica. The team engaged key institutions ahead of the poll and monitored the process across the island.

Regional leaders were swift in their congratulations.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali described the outcome as “emphatic and historic,” saying the clean sweep reflected how deeply Mottley’s leadership has connected with Barbadians and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two countries.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also hailed the victory, noting that her re-election provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within CARICOM and advance shared regional priorities.

The scale of the win again leaves Barbados without a parliamentary opposition, a reality that has become a defining feature of the political landscape since 2018. Supporters argue the repeated mandate reflects public confidence in Mottley’s stewardship of economic reform, climate diplomacy, the transition to a republic, and Barbados’ expanding global influence.

Now, newly sworn in and backed by another unanimous parliamentary majority, Mottley begins a third term with both extraordinary political capital and equally high expectations at home and across the region.

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Liberty Caribbean Committed to ‘Elevating Region’ at CANTO  

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Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago

Liberty Caribbean is Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM

 

Port of Spain, TRININDAD & TOBAGO (February 1, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow. Liberty Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional connectivity into measurable economic and social outcomes as Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and its 42nd Annual General Meeting.

CANTO is the leading regional body that brings together telecommunications operators, ICT providers, regulators, governments, and industry partners to support the development of the Caribbean’s digital and communications landscape.

Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago delivered the sponsor’s address on behalf of Liberty Caribbean.

“The work of laying fibre and lighting towers is done; connectivity is now our foundation,” she said.

“The real task before us is to translate that foundation into innovation, productivity and prosperity for our people. Intelligent connectivity, such as networks designed for 5G, AI and IoT, will be the platform for smarter public services, more resilient systems and scaled opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.”

Martin-Sulgan emphasised that infrastructure alone will not deliver sustainable progress.

“Digital progress must become digital prosperity. That means creating career pathways for young people, helping local businesses scale and ensuring citizens across our communities can fully participate in the digital economy. A connected Caribbean should also be a confident, creative and globally competitive Caribbean,” she said.

Liberty Caribbean is represented by a senior delegation at CANTO Connect to support the conference objectives of aligning policy, investment and execution across the region under this year’s theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.

Liberty Caribbean’s delegation includes Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer; Desron Bynoe, VP and General Manager, Flow Barbados; Susanna O’Sullivan, VP and General Manager, North Caribbean; Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director, Head of Communications; Dominic Boon, VP, People; Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B; Bradley Ramcharan, Director, B2B, Trinidad & Tobago; Yolande Headley, Country Manager, Dutch East Caribbean; and Jade Reymond, Country Manager, Flow Anguilla.

Martin-Sulgan thanked CANTO’s local secretariat for convening the forum and urged delegates to convert conversation into action.

“If we align policy, capital and capability, the Caribbean can move from connectivity to competitiveness. Liberty Caribbean will continue to invest in resilient networks, nurture homegrown talent and partner to deliver measurable social and economic value across our markets,” she said.

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