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Amanda & Friends Amazing Journey: FootSteps4Good 2022 raises over 50k in 13 days

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By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, November 4, 2022 – Another amazing staging of Footsteps4Good has come to a close, this year the 200-mile journey had a newcomer on the team as three more hikers attempted to circumnavigate the Turks and Caicos.

The thirteen day event started on Friday October 21 at the Children’s Park in Providenciales before it took off on a 16 mile walk before landing on Parrot Cay.  The trekkers signed up for the monumental escapade were:  Amanda Dakin, wife of TCI Governor Nigel Dakin; John Galleymore, a retired military man and explorer and Sharon Weil Hornstein.

Day 2 on Saturday October 22 was a journey from Parrot Cay, a luxury resort island and onto Conch Bar, which is in Middle Caicos.  It was a whopping 23 mile stretch, which was done mostly on foot.

Day 3  on Sunday October 23rd, there would be more hiking for the trio.  A 15 mile walk from the Conch Bar to Dickish Cay was charted as sketchy weather rolled in.

Day 4 on Monday October 24th the team bid farewell to Dickish Cay and waved hello to Breezy Point on East Caicos, that we were informed was a 14 mile journey.  As they covered the half marathon distance, there was rain, but according to Mrs. Dakin, this was welcomed.

“We walked through the rain but it was only for two hours – a good shower to get off the salt and sweat- well some of it!”

Day 5, Tuesday October 25th we lost contact for a bit but soon learned there was yet again success after an 18 mile hike from Breezy Point to South Caicos.  The three happily abandoned ‘roughing it’ to spend a relaxing night at the award-winning Sail Rock Resort in South Caicos.

John Galleymore paused his journey here, making way for the all-female rowing team composed of Mandy, Sharon and supporters Kana and Morgan to join the journey, which has taken on new form since it was introduced by Jill Beckingham, wife of former governor Peter Beckingham who also walked each island with throngs of supporters in an effort to raise funds for TCI charities.

Mrs. Beckingham’s mission was historic and admirable but did not include covering the oceans linking the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The circumnavigation, powered solely by human steam in walks and rowing, is an idea which is successfully now done its second year having brought all home safe and racking up thousands of dollars for worthy causes.

About some of the most challenging times, Dakin told us “The walking was tough, East Caicos is no joke… lots of sand, wading through water, mosquitos like you wouldn’t believe.”  She seemed to take a spill on those rocks ending up with a bloody nose but was not deterred by the injury.

Day 6 on Wednesday October 26th was the first water crossing, a 25-mile row from South Caicos to Grand Turk. Dakin detailed the experience, “The water… I have never seen it so flat! So we made record timing across from South Caicos to Grand Turk in 5 hours 45 minutes.”

The Day 7 journey on Thursday October 27 from Grand Turk to Salt Cay was a 12-mile route which the team knocked out in an hour and a half before a full rest day on Day 8 (Friday October 28).

Then on Day 9, which was Saturday October 29th the team went 10 miles from Salt to Sand Cay.   Following that, on Day 10, Sunday October 30th we learned of a 25 mile journey from Sand Cay to Ambergris before the longest sea crossing of them all.

That came up on Day 11, Monday October 31st and it meant a 40-mile journey from Ambergris to French Cay.

Day 12, which was Tuesday November 1st was no walk in the park, it also involved another 150 mile row, this time French Cay to West Caicos which meant an incredible 35 hours was pass before that grand finale.  Day 13, which was Wednesday November 2nd. The ladies marched along with Providenciales locals when they arrived in Sapodilla Bay before making it to the Bight, right back where they started to wrap up an amazing expedition.

Mandy Dakin told us it was decidedly worth all the blisters from rowing and walking so much.

“A little bit of pain goes a long way, all of these people that we’re raising money for are in vulnerable states, they have a difficult time and they deserve our respect and support. And if a little pain is what it takes then that’s what we’ll do.”

A decidedly happy husband, also clearly proud of his wife and the team which pulled off the phenomenal jaunt, Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor posted about the nights in comfort and those spent outdoors under the stars and how the effort broke the mold, in terms of funds raised.

“But what the whole collective achieved was a sizeable donation to a multitude of different charities that the donor nominates. It’s not too late to add a small amount and if you do @footsteps4goodtci breaks the $50k barrier.”

You can still make a donation when you download the Isle Help app and give to Foosteps4Good and the charity of your choice.

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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Caribbean News

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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