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Turks & Caicos Celebrates Universal Children’s Day

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#TurksandCaicos, November 22, 2022 – The Department of Social Development and Welfare, Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Communication, in its continuous mandate to protect and promote the rights of all children, joins the rest of the world in celebrating Universal Children’s Day, also recognized as World Day of Prayer and Action for Children (WDPAC) under the theme “A Better Future for Every Child”, with a focus on the four umbrella principles of the convention on the rights of the child:

  1. Non-Discrimination
  2. Best Interest of the Child
  3. Right to life, survival & development and
  4. Respect for the Views of Children.

November 20, 2022 will globally mark the 32nd anniversary of the most widely sanctioned human rights treaty in history, Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is the first binding agreement, that 194 Country world leaders pledged a commitment to fulfill the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of children and adolescents. As a result of the Convention, children now have a distinct set of rights regardless of race, color, sex, creed or other status.

The Turks and Caicos Islands in its continuous commitment to protecting the rights of children has helped transform the lives of children throughout the islands. A significant number of laws and regulations have been passed to protect, support and improve the status of children and their families.

In support of A Better Future for Every Child, it is important that the movers, shakers and change makers of our nations, set precedence and become cognizant of the opportunities to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s rights. Its then and only then that our people will recognize the grave significances and the inevitability of embracing children’s rights for a better tomorrow.

As we ponder on what a ‘Better Future for Every Child ’looks like in the TCI, let us focus on a world where every child is not only enrolled in school, but there is an inclusive education system at all levels. Let’s focus on a world where every child is safe from harm, a future where mental health matters, where bedside registration is a reality and in progress and not still lingering in the air. A world where there are no stateless children because every child is given an identity. A world where children are empowered to think beyond their limitations and given a fair opportunity to reach their full potentials and enjoy an adequate standard of living. A world free from stigmatization and open to seeing children as children regardless of nationality, socio economic status and bloodline.

Children are our most valuable assets and as such, every child deserves to thrive and survive in our beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands. As we move forward in our continuous fight for children’s rights, let us remember that every child deserves an adult champion, who are agents of change, who are willing to fight in their corner. Let’s us remain mindful as a nation, that children are observing and modelling the adults in their lives and taking the lead from them. Turks and Caicos for a Better Future for Every Child, let us become the change that we want to see.

The Children Are Our Future, Let Us Care for Them Today. Happy Universal Children’s Day!

Activities in commemoration of Universal Children’s Day:

  • Churches will incorporate the theme into their services and prayer groups
  • Social Workers to visit the various schools on island to provide education on the four umbrella principles of the convention on the rights of the child.
  • Various school on island to host a fun day in observance of Universal Children’s Day 2022, where teachers are expected to interchange their roles by dressing ‘kiddie like/ playful/ whimsical, and hosting a free entertaining, hilarious, upbeat, colourful concert with ‘out of this mind performances’ by teachers and staff for their students.
  • The Department of Social Development and Welfare will surprise a few schools across the islands with goodies to enhance the day.

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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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