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Bridge Concepts for Andros Reflect Resilience, Sustainability and Improved Utility Infrastructure says Works and Utilities Minister

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By KATHRYN CAMPBELLBahamas Information Services
#ANDROS, The Bahamas, April 17, 2023 –  Andros residents viewed new design concepts and voiced their concerns about the two 50-year-old bridges in Fresh Creek and Stafford Creek during a Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Ministry of Works and Utilities.
“The reason why we’re here is not to engage in an academic exercise, but the people of Andros should inform this process. You live here, you own the creeks, you fish on the creeks, and you’re the ones who will have to protect the creeks,” the Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities said, stating that work must be done in these times of challenging climate change to improve resilience and protect life, safety, and property of the people of Andros.
The minister said: “In fact, Andros will be the symbol of what a small island nation state can do in terms of resilience, sustainability; and the infrastructure that we will present to you this afternoon reflects those concepts — we are asking for your wisdom to guide the designers with your contributions, recommendations and observations.”
Minister Sears led a delegation Thursday, April 13, 2023 to the island to present options for the bridges.  Among the delegation: Bacchus Rolle, Parliamentary Secretary; Leon Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary and MP for Mangrove Cay and South Andros; Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary; Basil Longley, chairman, The Bridge Authority; Robert Mouzas, deputy director; David Cox, senior civil engineer; Jumanne Paul, senior engineer; Kevin Sweeting, project lead; and representatives of BRON Ltd.
Also in attendance at the meeting held at Central Andros High School was Beverly Larrimore, administrator for North Andros; and heads of Government departments.
 Said Mr. Sears, “As you will see in the presentation, the bridge represents a road and it is a vital road because in Central Andros we have three critical creeks and if there were no bridge over those creeks, there would be no road and thus separation. Andros is mighty because it is connected — north, central and south — it is what we call the Big Yard. It’s not one piece of Andros; it’s all of Andros. What keeps Andros unified are those roads and over the water — the bridges.”
Mr. Mouzas informed that BRON was engaged in 2020 to undertake a feasibility study of both bridge sites and offer the “best” solution for residents and visitors.  A meeting was held with residents on August 14, 2020 to solicit feedback on the study.
 “We have listened to your requests,” said Mr. Mouzas. “Today, BRON team will be presenting preferred solutions.”
Mr. Sweeting outlined requirements, concerns, options, concepts and solution developments for the bridges.
 He said results of a survey revealed concerns of residents including the need for dual lanes, wider bridges to allow traffic access and increase of height and clearance.
Over 80 percent of concern was for safety.
Concern was also expressed for traffic accessing the Stafford Creek Bridge as it is on a curve.
 Residents expressed a “strong” desire for a higher bridge for Fresh Creek – higher than the 12 feet proposed in the Ministry’s requirements  — to allow vessels with a higher height to get under the bridge to travel to the western area of the creek and possibly spur economic development there.
The survey also indicated several environmental concerns, and that residents have no desire to pay a toll.
He explained that the single lane, 53-year-old bridge in Fresh Creek is in poor condition, allows one lane of traffic at a time and currently designed for a weight of 10 tons which means that nothing heavier than 10 tons should cross the bridge. It has a 9ft. clearance, no sidewalks, utilities are vulnerable to impact and many of them are exposed.
He said the conditions of the bridge in Stafford Creek Bridge are similar to Fresh Creek Bridge with the exception of the alignment of the road to the entrance which has two curves on either side that makes access unsafe for vehicles.
Regarding the concept drawing of the preferred option for Fresh Creek Bridge Mr. Sweeting said, “We designed this option with a 36-ft. clearance from main high water considering sea level rise estimated at 1 metre. It is a reinforced concrete structure, very resilient, it’s meant for this type of environment that is highly corrosive, more than 7 feet between piers, there is little obstruction in the creek. With this option there will be a need for dredging. Because we are now raising the bridge we need to actually lengthen the bridge. We are now increasing the length of Fresh Creek Bridge in order to get a higher height we will have to do some dredging on the southern side of the bridge. We’re looking at about 7 feet of dredging at its maximum depth.”
Mr. Sweeting informed that the option for demolition of the existing bridge and construction of a new replacement 2-lane bridge has been selected for Stafford Creek Bridge.
“Government would have gone ahead with option 3 based on recommendations of locals who said a new bridge was desired. We would have looked at a bridge at a relocated location. Moving it further west allows it now to have a safer alignment approaching the bridge – will allow it to have a wider curve approaching the bridge that is safer than the curve that’s currently there. The existing bridge would remain and we would build a new bridge to the west of it — new bridge with 2 lanes and 2 private sidewalks on each side.”
Mr. Sweeting assured residents that the concepts for both new bridges would allow improved access and provide safety for users.
 “The cost of recommended options is high but does provide additional safety and improved access to vehicles and boats. Even though the cost is high there is a high return value for the long term so the initial high cost can be justified because long term will provide safety and greater access to the bridges.
“We will improve infrastructure along Queen’s Highway. We will look at making improvements to utility infrastructure that crosses the bridge, and the roads that approach the bridge will be improved. They create more opportunities and economic activity west of the bridge as we open them up.”
A question and answer period followed the presentation. Concerns raised by residents included improvements to the creek near to Fresh Creek Bridge, opportunities for transferring knowledge, compensation to persons affected by work on the project and more.

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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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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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