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Turks and Caicos Returns to CHTA Caribbean Marketplace

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San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 12, 2022  – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and Turks and Caicos Tourist Board presented an impressive representation at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s 40th annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace held October 3rd-5th.

 The region’s largest travel forum made a high-energy and heartwarming return to its live format this year, hosted by Discover Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association.

 Karen Whitt, TCHTA Board Director and Marketing Chair for the regional event shared, “It was a beautiful reunion of the travel community. After nearly 3 years of virtual communications, the excitement to engage with travel partners and friends was palpable. As Lead for the event, I was very proud to have such strong participation from Turks and Caicos. There is a beautiful shift happening right now as the region is moving into a mode of growth, so to have our destination here ensuring our brand is front and center is priceless.”

 The TCHTA, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, The Hartling Group properties, Ocean Club Resorts, Tides Grace Bay, interCaribbean Airways, The Somerset, Villa Renaissance, and Seven Stars Resort were all a part of the delegation representing ‘brand TCI’.

 Tanya Duelfer, Managing Director of U.S. Operations for Ocean Club Resorts shared why Ocean Club Resorts is always represented at the annual Marketplace, “Events like this where you can talk with your island and at-large partners is tremendously effective on keeping a pulse on the industry and market trends.” As for the feeling of the entire event she said, “It was good to finally be back, in person. We’ve worked hard over the years to establish Ocean Club Resorts within the TCI resort community and build strong relationships with our market partners. Being together in person…it’s so important for those relationships.”

This year, the Destination Resilience Awards were introduced with Turks and Caicos claiming the number one spot in the Human Resources and Staffing Category won by Grace Bay Car Rentals & Sales. The company nabbed the top stop by demonstrating their ability to maintain their employees throughout closure, support community food basket initiatives, provide personal and professional development opportunities to team members, new developments in the business operation, and their focus on sustainability. TCHTA CEO, Stacy Cox, accepted the award of GBCR’s behalf.

 More than 1100 delegates from 28 countries, representatives from 19 buyer markets, and 350 supplier companies attended this year’s Marketplace resulting in over 14,000 appointments.  The regional forum saw new interest with buyers from Latvia, Poland, Mexico, and India participating for the first time.

 The meeting floor was busy throughout, and the State of the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Address delivered by CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig revealed that the Caribbean has now shifted from recovery to growth mode with affluent travellers driving that momentum. Data shows that the South America market should be a focus for the region, and that sustainable policies must be at the forefront of the region’s growth plan. She also told travel stakeholders that regional and multi-destination travel is another growth opportunity to be explored.

 A key component of the Caribbean Marketplace is the destinations’ opportunity for an up-close and personal experience with the fourth estate. Updates, new brand campaigns, new developments, and features are shared with local, regional, and international journalists.

 The Turks and Caicos press conference was led by CEO of the TCHTA, Stacy Cox, and Acting Director of the Tourist Board, Mary Lightbourne. Starting off the session with a vibrant video presentation produced by TCHTA members Visual Storytelling and SOS Media, Cox and Lightbourne shared industry updates on recent and upcoming resort openings; the $25m investment slated for the cruise sector; plans for the new Providenciales and South Caicos terminals; the destination’s recent awards and sustainability efforts; and the ongoing DMO transition. Feedback from media was outstanding, and interest remains piqued for projects in the pipeline in Turks and Caicos.

 With forty-five appointments in two days, Turks and Caicos is still trending as a top destination among buyers and their clients. The TCHTA CEO shared, “There is nothing quite like these touchpoints with the travel community to gauge interest from buyers. We couldn’t be more pleased with the positive feedback we’ve received. Turks and Caicos is still top of mind for travel.”

Cox was also the recipient of a commemorative plaque in appreciation of her leadership as President of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) from 2017-2020. “Reconnecting with fellow Association Executives from the region was also an invaluable part of the experience. This is always a great opportunity to hear how other destinations are faring, share best practices, and build relationships with incoming executives for continued dialogue and partnership with our brothers and sisters in the region.”

 Marketplace is set apart as the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event and is one that many TCHTA member properties ensure is a part of their annual marketing calendar. Snjezana Andrews, General Manager of The Somerset on Grace Bay, shared her property’s interest in attending, “The event, I feel, could not have been at a more opportune time to re-energize our base, revitalize existing relationships that may have fell off and make new ones; a great “meet and greet” to put faces to names and actually restore the human connection of face-to-face interactions. The buyers were vibrant and ready to link with its industry partners, and based on the overall feel of the event, the sellers showed just as much enthusiasm. I know that I did! … Kudos to CHTA for making this all possible again as we all travel the road back to normalcy!”

 The CHTA has announced that it will likely produce the next Caribbean Marketplace event as soon as Spring 2023, with a host destination to be announced soon.

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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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