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Blast off!! First Caribbean Mother-Daughter pairing to space

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

 

 

#AntiquaandBarbuda, August 11, 2023 – The mother and daughter duo from Antigua who after winning tickets through a Virgin Galactic and Omaze sweepstake, went to space on Thursday August 10th, 2023.

They made the trip on Virgin Galactic’s second commercial spaceflight called ‘Galactic 02,’ on the Galactic’s VSS Unity aircraft, and they took off at around 11 am Eastern Standard Time from Virgin Galactic’s launch site in New Mexico.

People from around the world were able to tune in to the launch which was streamed on Virgin’s Website.

Also, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority had two public watch parties in both Antigua and Barbuda as the country’s first astronauts travelled to space.

The mother is Keisha Schahaff, 46 years old and a health and wellness coach in Antigua, and her daughter, Anastatia Mayers, 18 years old and currently a second-year undergraduate studying philosophy and physics at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

After a successful trip, they are now the first mother-daughter duo to travel to space together, Mayers being the second-youngest person to ever fly out of orbit.

In preparation for the trip, which was around  90 minutes long, they both received hands-on training in New Mexico this past weekend.

Additionally, former British Olympian Jon Goodwin, 80 years old, also joined Schahaff and Mayers, making him the second person ever to fly to space with Parkinson’s Disease.

Hundreds of people came to the watch party at the Antigua Recreation Grounds to see them blast off, which started at 10 am and the support was amazing.

Latrishka Thomas, News Reporter with the Antigua Observer Newspaper gave some insight into what it was like among the crowd.

She expressed that the sense of comradery and patriotism was high and that the waving of the Antiguan flag frequented the event, showing off its beautiful colors.

“The Antigua flag is full of vibrant colors, we just saw a sea of just colors filling the fields, hundreds of individuals just supporting the entire event,” she highlighted.

Thomas further spoke of the excitement which exuded from the people, referencing one person who arrived at 6:30 am, nearly 4 hours before the watch party started.

Additionally, she added that some people said they would never do what Schahaff and Mayers did, but wanted to show up to support and witness the historic event which is expected to “go down in the books for Antigua and Barbuda,” as expressed by Thomas.

The dignitaries who were present at the event were also evidently excited for the occasion, Thomas later stated.

Many dignitaries were present including, Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Rodney Williams, Governor General, members of the opposition, other MPs and  Sir Richard Branson, as well as Jamaican-American Christopher Huie who earlier this year became the 19th Black astronaut.

The Prime Minister, Thomas said, gave a speech as well as Branson, and they exchanged  gifts, as the Prime Minister gave Branson a wooden carving of a boat with Antigua and Barbuda written on it and he, in return, received a model of the spaceship that took the women to space.

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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