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Ministry of Health appears at Appropriations Committee 

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Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer 

With an allocation of $93.1 million in the draft budget tabled by Washington Misick, TCI Premier, the Ministry of Health and Human Services recently sat before the Appropriations Committee to explain why they needed the money and if they were getting enough.

Representatives included Renessa Williams and Temorah Howell Robinson, Deputy Permanent Secretaries; Nadia Astwood, Chief Medical Officer; Lyndon Brooks Head of Policy and Planning and Milo Forbes, CFO.

According to the budget the money was divvied up as follows:

Policy Planning and Administrative Support – $465.476,327
Dental Department – $1,493,204
Primary Health Care Unit – $3,959,254
Health Promotion and Advocacy – $946,218
Public and Environmental Health – $10,816,190
Mental Health and Substance Abuse – $2,717,185
Special Needs Unit – $2,397,497
National Public Health Laboratory – $938,878
Emergency Medical Service (Ambulance) – $2,491,784
Contract Management Unit – $1,005,185
National Epidemiology and Research Unit – $552,388
Health Emergency Management Unit – $362,538

Executives and heads of department explained to the public the reasoning behind several of the allocations

The Environmental Health Department was a particular focus that money has been allotted to, especially with the prevalence of Dengue in the region. Entomologists are being brought in to research what kind of mosquitoes are in the country and how that could affect residents.

As for the hospitals, a management company has been onboarded to help oversee the contract for the TCI hospitals. Astwood maintained that the government is aggressively recruiting, and the new pay scales that were recently announced should give them some leverage and create interest in the positions.

Increases were recorded in areas like long-term care and HIV treatment and care. HIV allocations increased this budget cycle, from $108,000 to $150,000. Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Human Services speaking with the Committee said the increase was due to an expansion of the programs being undertaken. Representatives indicated 550 individuals are enrolled in the National AIDS Programme which covers both HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

Adolescent health policies are also being developed to make sure that even without the presence of their parents, young people can get care, CMO Astwood maintained that this was a delicate process though, and would need time for theme policy to be created with care.

Some other items budgeted for this year includes:

  • The National Health Insurance Program
  • Cemetery assistants for each island
  • Continuation of work at the Providenciales Landfill
  • Training of street cleaners
  • Mobile Clinic for Blue Hills to serve the Community even as their clinic is upgraded
    Over $600,000 for ambulances as the Ministry is attempting to replace the entire fleet across the country with that allocation, a necessary expenditure, the Ministry says, as the fleet is to be rotated every five years.
  • Software solutions to digitize departments
  • Consultancies including a nutrition coordination consultant and aged care consultant
  • Development of a training program for nurses dealing with the elderly
  • Another incinerator for Providenciales due to heavy demand.
  • Long term care
  • Ante-natal care
  • Waste disposal

Unfortunately, one area that is still struggling is dental clinics, Dr. Janice Barron, chief dental surgeon, explained to the committee that while there was increased staff, there were some programs that had been held back by the cabinet.

A new Strategic Plan created with the help of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), incorporating all departments is what the Ministry of Health is focusing on. It is to be launched in the month of May.

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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Adam Stewart named CNW’s Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025

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Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart, has been named Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025 by the regional news publication, Caribbean National Weekly (CNW).

The publication recognised Stewart for his leadership in hospitality, his ongoing investments in regional tourism, his steady crisis response and his philanthropic work throughout what it described as a year filled with both remarkable achievements and significant challenges.

CNW highlighted how 2025 saw industry recognition for Stewart, major announcements of multimillion‑dollar developments across his all‑inclusive luxury resort brands and an invitation to join the prestigious Wall Street Journal CEO Council.

But the publication said his impact extended well beyond business milestones.

“In 2025, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts didn’t just guide his iconic hospitality empire through crisis – he used its scale and influence to help shape Jamaica’s rebound and lay groundwork for future regional growth,” CNW wrote.

The defining moment, it said, came in late October when Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to parts of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure. Stewart responded by leading transparent communication with global travel advisors, partners and team members, and made a landmark pledge, that 100 per cent of Sandals and Beaches employees would remain on payroll and receive Christmas bonuses, even at resorts temporarily closed for extensive restoration and upgrades. The company also committed more than US$3 million in staff recovery aid, providing direct support to families affected by the storm.

CNW further highlighted the work of the Sandals Foundation under Stewart’s guidance, noting record levels of community engagement and targeted disaster‑recovery support in healthcare, livelihoods and the environment.

In response to the honour, Stewart said he was “deeply humbled” to receive the Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year recognition and expressed his gratitude to his teams and partners for their dedication during an extraordinary year.

“This award reflects far more than any one individual. It is a direct result of people showing up every day for their communities and believing business is a force for good. It belongs to the extraordinary teams who carry our shared vision forward – especially the Sandals Foundation, whose work continues to create lasting change across education, health care, disaster relief and environmental stewardship,” Stewart stated.

“To every colleague and partner who helps bring this mission to life – thank you for your commitment, heart and belief.”

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