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CARPHA Hosts Webinar to Promote Octagonal Front-of-Package Nutritional Warning Labels (FOPWL)

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October 23, 2023 – Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and cancers remain the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and disability in the Caribbean region, with an accompanying significant economic burden.  These are closely associated with unhealthy diets, namely those high in fats (total, saturated and trans), sodium and sugars. Consumption of these harmful ingredients is largely driven by widespread availability, affordability, and marketing of pre-packaged or ultra-processed products.

To promote healthier food environments and food security to tackle obesogenic food environments and NCDs, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) instituted the Six Point Policy Package (6-PPP)[1]. Among the policy options for policy point #1 – Food Labelling, is implementing a regional guideline for standardised, interpretive nutrition labels on all packaged retail grocery foods and beverages, for use in conjunction with nutrition facts panels.

Scientific evidence suggests that octagonal front-of-package nutritional warning labels (FOPWL), indicating if a product is “HIGH IN” fats, sodium and/or sugars, is the best performing system to allow consumers to identify unhealthy food products correctly, quickly, and easily.[2] [3]

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) has developed a revised CARICOM Regional Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods (FDCRS-5) which contains the octagonal FOPWL as defined by the PAHO Nutrient Profile model.  After two rounds of consultations in 2022 and early 2023, CARICOM Member States are once again voting on the adoption of the FDCRS-5 in the region.

On Monday 9 October 2023, CARPHA in partnership with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), hosted a webinar entitled “Promoting Octagonal Warning Labels in CARICOM”.  This was a follow-up to a webinar held on Wednesday 4 October 2023 by HCC, in collaboration with PAHO, CARPHA, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The aim of this webinar was to address any remaining concerns in relation to the revised CARICOM food labelling standard (FDCRS-5) and specifically the octagonal FOPWL.

Attended by national NCDs, Nutrition and Mental Health focal points in the region, the webinar provided a summary of evidence in support of octagonal warning labels (OWL) in the Caribbean; addressed trade issues associated with OWL in the Caribbean; and promoted the Regional Digital Campaign “Octagonal Warning Labels Help Consumers #ActonFacts”.

Presenters included: Dr. Gloria Giraldo – Advisor, Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO; Ms. Maisha Hutton – Executive Director, HCC; Ms. Nicole Foster – Law Lecturer and Head, Law and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus; Dr. Heather Armstrong – Head, Chronic Disease and Injury Department, CARPHA; and Ms. Abigail Caleb – Senior Technical Officer, Food Security and Nutrition, CARPHA.

The “Octagonal Warning Labels Help Consumers #ActonFacts” campaign can be accessed at:https://www.healthycaribbean.org/octagonal-warning-labels-help-consumers-act-on-facts/ .      On the website you can view and sign a petition to show your support for OWL in the Caribbean.

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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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