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Trade more with DR, drive costs down; Trade Show on Tuesday

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Deandrea Hamilton

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Turks and Caicos, March 22, 2025 – Long before Trump’s tariff talks were making headlines, there was a cadre of Turks and Caicos businesspeople hatching a plan to broaden the shipping lane between the TCI and the Dominican Republic; this coming Tuesday that consortium opens a showcase to expose the potential.

“The opportunities there are endless and we’re doing trade with them as it is, so because of the proximity to the Turks and Caicos Islands it takes half the time to get your products here.  The cost of importing products here is very high, because of the freight, so we’re basically saying look at the DR as an alternative,” said Cesar Campbell, president of the TC-DR Trade Alliance.

There will be 25 vendors at the Trade Show on Tuesday March 25, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Shore Club and it’s free to the business community.  One only need to RSVP attendance at olympia@olympiadmc.com.

The Turks and Caicos is already trading goods surpassing the $100 million dollar mark with the Dominican Republic; one of the leading markets for sourcing goods particularly in building materials.

The TCI-DR Trade Alliance wants to see the government get involved and establish a firmer link to the wide range of supplies that are closer and more cost effective; it is destined to drive down the cost of living and tame stubborn inflation rates.

“We are doing business but we’re not doing it in a formal way. What we would like to see is more trade between us and the DR, more formally where government is having trade relations and that will come in at some point.”

The Trade Show offers the opportunity to meet top suppliers who are ready, we are informed to introduce local companies to the availabilities in construction, renewable energy, agriculture, gaming, health, food and prefabricated materials.

Recently, Bahamian grocery store chain Super Value and Quality Supermarkets announced a government supported trade relationship which has brought lower cost eggs to the New Providence market.  The price of the kitchen staple is half what residents were paying before, and it comes packaged in Super Value branded cartons.

Zhavargo Jolly, the TCI Minister of Agriculture, this weekend announced, the Turks and Caicos is also exploring new possibilities in shopping for eggs in the Dominican Republic, to bring lower prices to the local market.

“The DR is a big exporter of food products, especially where produce is concerned, and poultry and I have no doubt they can meet the demand.  There is a market there for us and I have no doubt that they can meet supply demands here,” added Mr. Campbell.

The product options are so diverse that at the Trade Show, there will be an exhibitor showing off its line of hotel supplies including linens.

Admittedly, there is a sizable trade deficit between the Turks and Caicos and all its trade partners, but there is some hope that the deepening of this regional relationship could spawn a new marketplace for Turks and Caicos producers as well.

“I think that is something down the road.  If we can do more business with the DR and be better off economically… then why not!”

For now, the Turks and Caicos is chiefly a consumer market and the TC-DR Trade Alliance, which began planning the trade show over a year ago, is in discussions with the Trade Commission and Invest Turks and Caicos agency about potentially defining the government’s role.

Campbell sees it as a win-win.

“It would expand our supply chain.  I also think that because the DR produces a lot of their goods within their country, we will find competitive prices when compared to other markets, like the USA, which is our principal market right now.”

The Turks and Caicos Dominican Republic Trade Alliance is also working closely with Pro Dominicana, that country’s investment arm and the Chambers of Commerce in the DomRep.

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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