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CROWN PRINCE OF NORWAY SAYS SOLAR WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN CLARENDON SHOULD BE REPLICATED

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Kingston, Jamaica – The state-of-the-art solar water harvesting system in Pleasant Valley, Thompson Town, Clarendon, has been hailed by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, as a successful venture that should be replicated.

The system provides potable water for more than 1,500 residents, and was established through a multi-agency partnership.

Leading the effort for the project was the Clarendon Parish Development Committee (PDC) Benevolent Society, with technical support provided by the Clarendon Municipal Corporation and land donated by JAMALCO. The Pleasant Valley Development Committee facilitated coordinating support.

Funding was provided by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), through its Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP).

Crown Prince Haakon, who is a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, toured the facility on Monday (November 18).

“We hope that this is something that can be replicated for others, because it is vital that water sources can be developed for communities that have inadequate supplies,” he said.

Meanwhile, EFJ Programme Manager, Allison Rangolan-McFarlane, said $2.2 million was the organisation’s contribution to the project, which would help build the  capacity of  residents and improve their livelihoods.

The Crown Prince also toured the Rocky Point Fishing Village, where he interacted with Government officials, and community members, especially those involved in the fishing industry.

He also observed measures instituted for safety at sea, and erosion issues in the community caused by climate change.

Describing the beach as “beautiful”, the Crown Prince noted that while fishing is very important for scores of persons across communities, the climate-related effects must continue to receive attention.

He pointed out that most of the resources from his country are “channelled through the UN (United Nations) systems”, with the project to enhance the Rocky Point Fishing Village a beneficiary.

Another is the Norway-funded Blue Resilience programme, which aims to combat fisheries crime and promote sustainable marine practices.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Development in Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, said Jamaica and her country have had a “very strong partnership,” which will continue.

“We are very impressed with the work that we have seen happening here in Jamaica, and the role that Jamaica can play in the region in strengthening countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change [which result in] extreme weather  conditions,” the Minister stated.

 

 

CONTACT: GARFIELD L. ANGUS

RELEASE: JIS

Header: Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck (left), accompanied by (from second left) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway; UNDP Resident Representative, Kishan Khoday, and Executive Director, Legal Aid Council, Dian Watson, observe as Therese Braham, who uses a wheelchair, is lifted into a Mobile Justice Unit. She is aided by Legal Officer, Nyoka Graydon-Johnson. The occasion was a tour of the unit at the Ministry’s Head Office in Kingston on Tuesday (November 19).

1st insert: Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck (centre), greets United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, during his tour of a Mobile Justice Unit at the Ministry’s Head Office in Kingston on Tuesday (November 19). At right is Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Mark Berman.

2nd insert: His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (left), who is a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, and Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Joel Williams, test the Pleasant Valley water harvesting system in Clarendon on Monday (November 18).

 

Photographer: Donald De La Haye

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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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