News
UNDP prioritizes technical assistance and finance to avert, minimize and address disaster loss and damage in Jamaica and The Bahamas
[13 June 2025] – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi Country Office in Jamaica is ready to partner with Jamaica and The Bahamas on securing scaled up disaster resilience and recovery financing, including provision of technical assistance on loss and damage, Resident Representative, Dr Kishan Khoday disclosed this week.
He was addressing UNDP’s Hurricane-Ready and Resilient Forum on Loss and Damage for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, at UNDP’s Multi-Country Office in Kingston on Tuesday – 10 days into Hurricane Season 2025.
Considering the increasing frequency and intensity of climate induced disasters and the scale of impact, Dr Khoday said he is declaring the Multi Country Office in Jamaica ‘open for business’ on capacity development for averting and minimizing loss and damage and for addressing loss and damage following disaster events.
UNDP recently became a member of the global UNFCCC Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, focused on providing technical assistance
to vulnerable countries to avert, minimize and address loss and damage from climate induced disasters. This is coupled with the new global Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which is expected to commence provision of funding in 2025 to vulnerable developing countries, and for which UNDP stands ready to partner with Jamaica and The Bahamas as needs arise.
Underscoring the region’s need for disaster recovery and loss and damage financing, Dr Khoday said loss and damage in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) averaged 2.5 percent of GDP – higher than for the Pacific SIDS, Africa and Latin America, from 1980-2020, according to some estimates. He said GDP impact could increase from five percent in 2025, to 20 percent by 2100, and is likely to severely impact climate vulnerable sectors like tourism and agriculture, both central to livelihoods across the Caribbean.
Dr Khoday said UNDP prioritizes the disproportionate risks an accelerating climate emergency holds for vulnerable communities, including the risks faced by MSMEs, and those led by women and persons with disabilities who require special consideration and attention. He said MSMEs which make up 97% of all enterprises in Jamaica, and 98 percent in The Bahamas, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate induced disasters due to their informality, limited resources, and inadequate access to financing, insurance and disaster preparedness tools. He said they also play a key role in generation and provision of goods and services at the community level and are the base of community livelihoods. Cumulatively, disaster impacts on MSMEs play a major role in overall national economic loss and damage following a disaster, while constraining the ability of communities to recover livelihoods and income, he explained.
“MSMEs are too significant to national economic wellbeing and local services and livelihoods to fail or to sustain lengthy closures after a disaster. We must redouble efforts to avert and minimize loss and damage to MSMEs and related community livelihoods and secure their role in early recovery”, the UNDP Resident Representative stated.
He said to move from dialogue to action, UNDP and UN agency partners will launch a new Caribbean regional programme on disaster risk reduction in 2025 to help communities avert and minimize the impact of disasters and access scaled up finance for recovery. “Through the support of the EU, UNDP will provide grant assistance of US$500,000 in Jamaica for example aimed at enhancing systems and capacities for financing resilience recovery goals and for expanding the use of digital solutions”, he explained.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Marsha Henry Martin acknowledged the
importance of understanding the individual realities of MSMEs, including their unique characteristics, locations and vulnerabilities, ensuring no one is left behind. She called on her team for a review of relevant policies to ensure the inclusion of MSMEs. She said if there is insufficient consideration of small businesses, “we must step back a bit and ensure that MSMEs are sufficiently covered, and if there are other areas that we can examine to ensure that we meet the people where they are”.
Director-General (Acting), Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Richard Thompson called for MSMEs to make every effort to prepare Business Continuity plans to ensure their operations can continue in the event of a disaster.
He explained that business continuity, which includes planning business recovery in case of impact, allows for the minimization of downtime and the ability to restore normal function in the shortest possible time. As an example, he called on MSME to store vital records off-site to avoid delays in restarting operations.
The forum is the third installation of UNDP’s Resilient Series, a vehicle for knowledge exchange on Disaster Risk Reduction, Resilience and Recovery, centred on best practices, lessons and challenges within territories served by the Multi Country Office – Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Header: Roundtable of MSME and experts at UNDP’s Hurricane-Ready and Resilient Forum on Loss and Damage for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. Panelists at head of table are (Left) Richard Thompson, Director-General (Actg) Office for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and (right) Marina Young, Principal Director, Technical Services, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) with moderator, Gillian Scott, UNDP Communications Analyst (centre).
1st insert: Dr Kishan Khoday UNDP Resident Representative, Multi Country Office in Jamaica addressing UNDP’s Hurricane-Ready and Resilient Forum on Loss and Damage for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
2nd insert: Marsha Henry Martin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development addressing UNDP’s Hurricane-Ready and Resilient Forum on Loss and Damage for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
News
The Turks and Caicos Islands Set Positive Start to 2026 with Increase in January Stayover Arrivals
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (February 25th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands began 2026 on a positive note, with stayover arrivals in January surpassing the same period in 2025.
Preliminary figures indicate that 56,830 stayover visitors arrived in January 2026, representing a two percent increase year-on-year. The steady growth continues the positive momentum experienced at the close of 2025.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, attributed the encouraging performance to new collaboration with tour operator partners as well as increased airlift from key source markets.
“We anticipated a strong January performance following the growth recorded in November and December. The winter season has traditionally been a robust period for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and this year that strength has been further supported by enhanced collaboration with partners and expanded airlift from Canada and the United States We are cautiously optimistic about maintaining this upward trajectory in the weeks and months ahead.
Cruise Sector
In cruise, preliminary figures show 122,935 cruise passenger arrivals in January, reflecting a 15 percent decrease compared to January 2025.
The decline is attributed to a reduction in cruise calls during the month. A total of 33 vessels called on Grand Turk in January, seven fewer than during the corresponding period last year.
Marketing Shows
As part of its ongoing efforts to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier luxury destination, Experience Turks and Caicos has been actively participating in the Travel & Adventure Shows across several major cities in the United States.
The destination has already been showcased in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago, with Fort Lauderdale and Denver scheduled in the coming weeks.
Public Relations Manager Laura Dowrich represented the Turks and Caicos Islands alongside the destination’s U.S. marketing agency, ABA Global.
Beaches Turks & Caicos – Stone Creek Travels
“One of the most encouraging takeaways from these shows is that the Turks and Caicos Islands is indeed on travellers’ radar. We met many visitors who shared fond memories of their time here, others who already have trips booked and were seeking recommendations on activities and dining, and many more who aspire to visit. It was a pleasure highlighting our multi-island destination and sharing the many experiences that make the Turks and Caicos Islands truly special,” said Ms. Dowrich.
Awards & Recognition
Building on a stellar year of accolades in 2025, the Turks and Caicos Islands has begun 2026 with additional international recognition.
The destination earned a Gold Badge in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, placing #5 in Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean and #5 in Best Beaches in the World. In the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Grand Turk was ranked #10 among the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit.
About Experience Turks and Caicos
Middle Caicos Dragon Cay Resort
Experience Turks and Caicos is the official destination marketing and management organisation (DMMO) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The organisation is committed to positioning the destination as a premier, sustainable luxury tourism hub. By leveraging smart tools, data-driven strategies, and stakeholder collaboration, Experience Turks and Caicos focuses on enhancing the visitor experience and fostering long-term industry success.
About the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of two island groups in the Lucayan Archipelago—the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands. Home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, including the award-winning Grace Bay Beach, the destination is renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, luxury accommodations, and rich cultural heritage. Each island and cay offer a unique experience:
- Providenciales boasts world-class resorts, fine dining, and high-end tourism offerings.
- Grand Turk serves as the vibrant hub for cruise tourism and historical exploration.
- The sister islands provide a gateway to nature, adventure, and authentic local culture.
Recognised as the world’s best-kept secret, the Turks and Caicos Islands offer effortless luxury, with seamless connectivity via direct flights from major cities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Photo Captions:
Grand Turk – slow travel with us
North Caicos – Correy Forbes
South Caicos Sail Rock
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 25 February 2026: Staff of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) participated in a one‑day Professional Staff Development Workshop on Thursday, 19th February 2026. The session was facilitated by former DDME Director (2011–2021) and current Permanent Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux.
The in-house workshop was organised by the DDME Training Unit, to focus on the National Disaster Management Framework, strengthening staff understanding of their roles and responsibilities within disaster management. The session also aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and reinforce inter‑agency coordination.
Drawing on her extensive experience in disaster management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as several deployments to CDEMA member states including Haiti, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, Dr. Clerveaux provided practical insights that reinforced key concepts and clarified operational expectations. Staff members actively participated in discussions and shared recommendations to improve sub‑committee performance and overall departmental efficiency.
To support learning retention, the workshop incorporated pre‑ and post‑assessments, enabling participants to evaluate their understanding and track improvements.
Acting Director of DDME, Mr. Kevaun Lucas stated: “Investing in the continued development of our team is essential to strengthening national resilience. This and future planned workshops will help to reinforce our commitment to building a highly skilled, well‑coordinated workforce capable of leading and supporting disaster management efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am proud of the team’s engagement and encouraged by the meaningful contributions they made throughout the session.”
This Professional Staff Development Workshop forms part of DDME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing internal capacity, strengthening operational coordination and improving overall departmental synergy as the agency continues to advance national preparedness and response capabilities.
Photo Captions:
Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
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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News6 days agoDDME Staff Strengthen Disaster Management Capacity Through Professional Development Workshop
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Caribbean News7 days agoLiberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
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News6 days agoThe Turks and Caicos Islands Set Positive Start to 2026 with Increase in January Stayover Arrivals