Montego Bay(JIS) – Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says the city stands to benefit significantly from hosting the 49th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), slated for July 6 to 8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

The meeting will bring together regional leaders to engage in high-level policy discussions on a range of issues, including regional security, climate change and trade.

In an interview with JIS News, Mayor Vernon said Montego Bay’s selection as host city, solidifies its position as a leading Caribbean destination for events of this magnitude.

“It places [Montego Bay] not only as a strategic location, but a viable option across the Caribbean for events of this nature. We are indeed setting ourselves apart as that place to host high-level regional discussions,” he said.

Highlighting the city’s track record, Mayor Vernon noted that Montego Bay has hosted several CARICOM events in the past, including the landmark 2003 meeting where the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development was adopted.

“[It] tells a story. It positions us as a key meeting place for important regional policy discussions,” the Mayor said.                                                                                                                                                                           He added that the upcoming conference is expected to tackle critical matters such as transportation, telecommunications, digitalization of the tourism industry, regional security, climate financing, food and nutrition security, external trade negotiations, and Haiti.

“Montego Bay is positioned to facilitate these discussions within its space, and that is also key for Jamaica as we look to expand in these areas,” Councillor Vernon outlined.

The Mayor also underscored the importance of regional integration.

“We hope that these discussions will deepen the integration process, because we can indeed benefit from regionalism, especially in light of what is happening globally,” he stated.

Referencing his earlier proposal for a regional disaster response hub, Councillor Vernon said the discussions around climate change and public safety could further promote coordinated approaches among CARICOM member states.

He also expressed confidence in the city’s readiness to host the event.

“We are putting all the necessary things in place to ensure that we not only have a safe event, but a great experience for our visitors,” he assured.

Mayor Vernon also took the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who will assume chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1.

The CARICOM conference will be held under the theme ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’.

CONTACT: SERENA GRANT

JIS MONTEGO BAY

Guyana, July 4, 2025 – President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday signed the proclamation to dissolve the Parliament of Guyana, making way for the general and regional elections on September 1, 2025.

“Free and fair elections are the lifeblood of a democratic state.  The upcoming elections represent our country’s commitment to renewing the democratic covenant between its citizens and government,” the President said in a live broadcast on his Facebook page.

In accordance with Article 70 (2) of the Constitution, Proclamation No.1 of 2025 officially dissolved the 12^th Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.  Additionally, the proclamation will also dissolve the Regional Democratic Councils, in accordance with Article 73 (2) of the Constitution.

The President urged all Guyanese to participate fully in the elections process, as is their democratic right, emphasising their critical role in the decision-making process of electing a government that represents their interests.  Eyes will now be on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in the run-up to September 1 as the elections body will oversee the preparation and execution of the voting process.

The president reiterated his support for GECOM, noting, “I remain confident in its ability to hold, free, fair, and credible elections. I urge all Guyanese to support the work of GECOM.”

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION

BEGINS

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 2 July 2025: The 11th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB), concluded Friday 6th June at The Landings Resort & Spa, after rallying attendees under the theme “Recommitting to Fighting Corruption Effectively and Sustainably in the Caribbean.” Over five impactful days, delegates tackled corruption’s entrenched challenges with renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and leadership.

Artificial Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                         An impactful demonstration was provided by His Excellency, Professor Luis Franceschi  Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, on the benefits and drawbacks of the use of Artificial Intelligence. Anti-Corruption Bodies were encouraged to start getting familiar with the technology to better understand how it can be leveraged in the fight against corruption.

Country Updates Reflect Shared Progress and Challenges

Reports from member organisations highlighted major strides in public education, asset declaration, and investigative framework. Yet, countries also reported ongoing constraints, including human resource limitations, political resistance, and inadequate statutory framework.

SWOT & Synergy: Regional Blueprint for Collective Action

Dr. Roger Koranteng of the Commonwealth Secretariat led a comprehensive SWOT analysis session, providing a candid assessment of operational realities. He concluded with strong calls for enhanced synergy among member bodies and for adopting a unified voice in policy advocacy, resource mobilisation, and legal reform. The Ghanaian experience offers a valuable comparative model.

Leadership: Courage, Vision & Transformation Needed

With corruption becoming more normalised globally, presenters—including leaders from the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago—challenged the attending institutions to embrace transformational leadership. Recommendations included institutional resilience training, succession planning, and performance benchmarking.

United Front: Call to the Wider Caribbean and Beyond

The conference recognised the benefits of extending the membership of the Association beyond the original constituents of English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and signified its willingness to accept and encourage membership of Integrity Commissions and anti-corruption bodies of the wider Caribbean countries.  “Corruption knows no language barriers—our fight must be collective,” stated Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph, Chairperson of the CCAICACB.

Digital Transformation: VLEX Software Considered

The conference marked a major step forward with the agreement to further investigate the benefits of the VLEX Legal Database-driven AI system, designed to strengthen legal research, asset recovery, and case management initiatives. The Commonwealth Secretariat, CARICOM IMPACS, and UNODC, received the presentation well, however the rest of the association would communicate their interest to the Turks and Caicos Islands Commission, which was taking the lead in investigating the possibilities.

Key Recommendations Going Forward to consider:

• Region-wide adoption of technology integration
• Legislative reforms to streamline access to declarant information
• Youth-centred anti-corruption education campaigns
• Institutional collaboration and peer reviews across commissions
• To explore extending invitations of membership to CCAICACB to other Caribbean countries
• An introduction to the idea of an International Corruption Court

The conference closed with a stirring call to recommit—not just in words, but in action—to building a future rooted in transparency, justice, and ethical leadership across the Commonwealth Caribbean and beyond.

Media Contact: TCI Integrity Commission Email: info@integritycommission.tc  Website: www.integritycommission.tc

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Header: TCI Integrity Commission Team (left to right)- Jovan Flemming (IT Specialist Security Manager),Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Wendal Swann (Commissioner) and Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer).

1st insert: Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer)

2nd insert: Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson – Chair

3rd insert: (left to right): Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph(Chair CCAICACB) and   Charna Pompier (Director Integrity Commission, St. Maarten).