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15,000 new cases of HIV infections in the Caribbean, a 22% jump and PAHO explains why

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Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

 

December 2, 2024 – In the context of World AIDS Day (December 1), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched the “Better with PrEP” campaign, with the goal of expanding access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. The campaign, which places human rights at the center of the HIV response, seeks to reduce stigma and promote HIV prevention in populations at higher risk of acquiring it.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress and challenges of the HIV response. In Latin America, the number of AIDS-related deaths decreased by 28% between 2010 and 2023, while in the Caribbean the reduction has been 57%. However, new HIV infections have shown different trends during this period: in Latin America, new cases increased by 9%, reaching approximately 120,000 infections in 2023, while in the Caribbean, infections decreased by 22%, totaling 15,000 cases.

“The increase in new HIV infections since 2010 in Latin America, especially in key populations such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, and sex workers, shows us that we cannot let our guard down,” according to Director of PAHO, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, emphasising the urgent need to implement more accessible and effective prevention strategies.

The “Better with PrEP” campaign seeks to increase awareness of PrEP, a highly effective medication for preventing HIV when taken consistently. While this preventive intervention is proving to be crucial for controlling HIV in the region, its adoption remains limited.

At the end of 2024, 24 of 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean had adopted PrEP as a public health policy, and while more than 160,000 people benefit from its use, efforts continue to reach the goal of 2.3 million in the region.

“Today, we call on all countries in the region to transform the reality of HIV with inclusive and expanded PrEP policies. The elimination of HIV is possible, but only if we act with courage and commitment,” added Dr. Barbosa.

In an effort to reach populations at higher risk, PAHO has strengthened its collaboration with Grindr, the social network aimed at the LGBTQI+ community. This alliance will permit the dissemination of key information about PrEP and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through the application, which has millions of users in Latin America and the Caribbean.

PrEP, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2015, is a preventive option for people who do not live with HIV but are at significant risk of contracting it. By taking a daily pill, the risk of contracting HIV during unprotected exposure can be reduced by more than 90%.

World AIDS Day is a reminder that much remains to be done to end HIV in the region. PAHO reiterates its commitment to universal access to health and to the implementation of combined prevention, which includes PrEP, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), condoms, and testing.

Caribbean News

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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