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President Ali urges unity, vigilance, and shared responsibility as Guyana marks 59 years of independence

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Guyana, May 27, 2025 – As community members, uniformed men and women across the entire 83,000 square miles of Guyana gathered to celebrate its 59th Independence Anniversary, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali reiterated the call for unity, vigilance and shared responsibility in driving the nation forward.

He made the remarks as he joined hundreds of citizens at the Albion Sport Complex in Region Six for the annual hoisting of the Golden Arrow Head to usher in its independence anniversary.

Flanked by members of the joint services, the president opened his remarks by reflecting on Guyana’s journey from colonial subjugation to sovereign nationhood, stating that independence was not simply a political act, it was a commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy and collective destiny.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “My fellow Guyanese, independence was never just a matter of geography or autonomy. It was a sacred promise, a pledge that the people of Guyana, regardless of race, religion, class, or creed, would together build a future rooted in dignity, equity, and equality of opportunity.                                                                                                                                                                                                               We have walked the road for 59 years, sometimes with a sure footing, sometimes unsteadily, but never, never separately and never hesitantly. Now our path forward is clear. The road to prosperity lies before us,” the president emphasised.

The president called on citizens to reach across religious, ethnic and geographic lines, to forge ahead not as six separate peoples, but as a unified people.

He reminded citizens that while independence brought sovereignty, it also came with the responsibility to uphold democratic principles.

He continued by emphasising that democracy must never be taken for granted, as it forms the foundation for national development and serves as a mirror of the nation’s conscience.

He said, “History has taught us that democracy is not self-sustaining. It is fragile and it demands constant vigilance. There were years when that promise was betrayed, when elections were manipulated, ballots were abused and power was taken, not entrusted.”

As Guyana looks to host the 2025 general and regional elections this year; the head of state made an appeal to every Guyanese to defend the democratic spirit of the nation. He warned the crowd against voices that seek to divide and mislead, calling instead for a campaign grounded in performance, ideas and vision.

“It must be about performance, competition of ideas and vision. It must be about track record, not empty rhetoric. These elections must be marked with love, unity, strength of character, dignity and after the ballot circus and the results are announced, it must be about one government governing for One Guyana,” the president remarked.

He noted that a proclamation to dissolve Parliament will soon be issued in accordance with the Constitution.

President Ali also called on Guyana’s to stand in solidarity and defend the country’s territorial integrity in light of Venezuela’s continued aggressions. Guyana’s boundaries were settled by the 1899 Arbitral Award, stating that Guyana’s territory is a settled fact.

He declared, “We are not aggressors, we are protectors, but let no one mistake our peacefulness for weakness in our sovereignty. If our land is threatened, we shall rise as one nation, one people want destiny.

We shall rise not in fear, but in fear’s loyalty to the land that gave us birth and which we love unconditionally. We shall defend this nation with every beat of our hearts, every muscle in our body, every fiber of our souls. We will never waver, never falter, never surrender.”

According to the president, from every savannah, riverbank, village, and community, the flag of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana flies with proud defiance—defiance against historical injustices, foreign ambitions, and all forces that once questioned the legitimacy of our journey.

The second is to ensure that development is inclusive and reaches every citizen, leaving no one behind, to which the president said Guyana is no longer seeking development; we are achieving it.

He explained, “The coming years will be marked by even harder work as we continue building blocks of transformation. Our infrastructure transformation is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. We are transforming our infrastructure to connect Guyana with our neighbors, to promote trade, to increase the economic space in which we operate, to expand our markets, and to remove the constraints that exist within our country.”

He also promised to serve with dignity, pride and trust, and to continue working with the men and women of the Government and the uniformed services to build a stronger Republic.

“Let us hand our children not just sovereign land, but a strong, just and flourishing nation,” he urged. “May Almighty God bless each of you, and may God bless and protect our beloved Republic,” according to the head of state.

As Guyana celebrates its 59th anniversary of independence, President Ali reminded the nation that the work of building and defending Guyana belongs to every citizen, and the best days are yet to come.

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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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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