Posts Tagged ‘Caribbean News’

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Now Operating in Dominican Republic

Enterprise Plus and Emerald Club Loyalty Programs Offered Across Popular Caribbean Destinations

ST. LOUIS, July 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – As part of its ongoing expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean, the world’s largest car rental company has opened four new Enterprise Rent-A-Car locations at the Dominican Republic’s largest airports:

Enterprise Holdings Inc. owns the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand, as well as National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car. The National brand has been operating in the Dominican Republic since 1974.

From L to R: Analie Prieto, general manager of Enterprise franchisee Motor Plan; José Muñiz, Enterprise sales manager; and Michelle Geara, Enterprise marketing manager. (PRNewsfoto/Enterprise Holdings Inc.)

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand made its debut in the Caribbean in 2014 through franchisees in Guadeloupe and Martinique. It expanded into Latin America in 2015, and announced the opening of 22 new locations throughout Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Uruguay in 2016.

Enterprise Holdings ranks near the top of the global travel industry in terms of revenue, ahead of many airlines and most cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and online travel agencies. Today, the Enterprise, National and Alamo brands operate in more than 90 countries, including 31 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The Dominican Republic is an important piece of our planned growth in the region,” said Peter A. Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise Holdings. “And this expansion allows travelers even more access to our world-renowned customer service and convenient rental process.”

Loyalty Program Expansion

Customers traveling to the Dominican Republic – one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean – also can enjoy more perks and rewards with the expansion of two loyalty programs: Enterprise Plus through the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand, and the award-winning Emerald Club, through the National Car Rental brand.

“Our brands are continuing to grow internationally, largely due to the continued loyalty of customers,” said Smith. “Increasing the availability of Enterprise Plus and Emerald Club with our new locations in the Dominican Republic is a natural way to thank our customers for their business and further our mission to serve them no matter where they decide to travel.”

This expansion follows both loyalty programs’ introduction in Colombia, Honduras, Jamaica, Peru and Suriname in 2017. The same year, Enterprise Plus was also introduced in Turks & Caicos, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay.

Emerald Club

Through the Emerald Club, members earn vehicle upgrades according to membership level. All Emerald Club members are guaranteed a midsize or above vehicle at the reserved midsize rate. Emerald Club members at the Executive level and above are guaranteed a full-size or larger vehicle at the reserved midsize rate. Members can also choose to earn either free rental days or frequent-traveler miles or points with one of National’s airline or hotel partners.

In addition, Emerald Club members renting in Latin America and the Caribbean can take advantage of Emerald Club Priority Service, which expedites the rental process by offering a dedicated line at the service counter exclusively for Emerald Club members.  Membership is complimentary for all National customers, and individual travelers can easily enroll themselves in the program by clicking the Emerald Club “Join Now” link at www.nationalcar.com.

Enterprise Plus

With every qualifying rental, Enterprise Plus members earn points they can redeem anytime for free rental days in any available vehicle at thousands of participating Enterprise locations worldwide. Points don’t expire as long as the member has one qualifying Enterprise rental in a three-year period. Free rental day awards apply to time and mileage (base rate) only and do not cover taxes, surcharges and concession fees.

Once enrolled, Enterprise Plus members simply use their membership number to book a reservation online at www.enterprise.com, via the Enterprise mobile app or over the phone to receive all member benefits.  As Enterprise Plus members rent more frequently, they can quickly rise to Silver, Gold or Platinum status to gain access to even more reward options until the end of the next program year. Each status level has its own unique set of benefits, such as bonus points and vehicle upgrades. Membership in Enterprise Plus is free, and the loyalty program is open to anyone at least 21 years old.

Enterprise Holdings Corporate Brands Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Enterprise Holdings) (PRNewsfoto/Enterprise Holdings)

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SOURCE CONSULTING & TAMARIND INTERNATIONAL MERGE PROCUREMENT & FREIGHT FORWARDING OPERATIONS

New partnership designed to grow consolidated shipping & procurement services throughout the Caribbean Islands

CaribPR Wire, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Fri. July 13, 2018: Source Consulting, LLC, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and Tamarind International, Inc. of Hobe Sound, Florida announced today a joint venture in which both companies will consolidate all business operations effective July 13, 2018, and operate under Source Caribbean Logistics, LLC. Tamarind International will discontinue business operations effective August 1, 2018.

Chris Findlay, CEO of Source Logistics, LLC.

Source Logistics, LLC.

I am proud to welcome Larry Rogers, President of Tamarind International, Inc. to our executive team. Larry’s decades of hands-on logistical experience and unmatched client dedication dovetails perfectly within our long-term growth strategy as the Caribbean continues to rebound from Hurricane Irma and Maria. Larry is well-known, well-liked, and a true professional in the shipping business,” says Chris Findlay, CEO of Source Logistics, LLC.

Tamarind Consolidated, Inc. was founded by Larry and Nancy Rogers in 1983 to provide logistics services to Virgin Gorda, BVI after realizing the logistical challenges of obtaining building materials and everyday household items for their vacation home on the island. Larry and Nancy Rogers were responsible for organizing one of the first regular consolidated container services to Virgin Gorda. That operation began a storied career supplying durable goods and building materials throughout the Caribbean for more than 35 years.

Larry Rogers, President of Tamarind International, Inc.

Larry Rogers, President of Tamarind International, Inc.

“My career has been a true labor of love. The fact that I can continue to serve my many clients and personal friends with the incredible platform and support of Source Logistics is a dream come true. This partnership provides over 90 years of combined experience in our executive team alone. It’s the perfect combination of old-school service and a new, efficient way to conduct business and support customers. The fact that our efforts will help in the rebuilding of the Caribbean is extremely gratifying,” says Larry Rogers, President of Tamarind International, Inc.

About Source Consulting, LLC

Headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Source Logistics, LLC, a division of Source Consulting, LLC is a global sourcing and logistics company providing procurement and consolidated shipping services to builders, developers and homeowners across the globe including the Caribbean and Central and South America.  Their Miami based warehousing operation serves as the hub for all materials to be consolidated and exported directly to their clients throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.

About Tamarind International, Inc.

Headquartered in Hobe Sound, Florida, Tamarind International, Inc. is strategically located to provide shipping services throughout the Caribbean. Tamarind International, Inc. is owned and operated by Larry Rogers and will be merged with Source Logistics, LLC. and will discontinue business operations by August 1, 2018.

CONTACT:


source-caribean-logisitcs

Chris Findlay – CEO

Source Consulting, LLC

1.843.388.3026

[email protected]

www.sourceconsultingllc.com

tamarindint

Larry Rogers – President                     

Tamarind International, Inc.

1.772.545.3439

[email protected]

www.tamarindintl.com

Chris Findlay – CEO
Source Consulting, LLC
1.843.388.3026
www.sourceconsultingllc.com
Larry Rogers – President                      Tamarind International, Inc.
1.772.545.3439
www.tamarindintl.com
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Visa launches Visa Loyalty Solutions, the first 100% digital loyalty platform in Latin America and the Caribbean

In partnership with novae, Visa Loyalty Solutions has made it easier than ever to earn and redeem points with Visa, enabling consumers to exchange loyalty points anytime, anywhere and from any device

MIAMI, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Visa (NYSE:V) today announced the launch of Visa Loyalty Solutions (VLS), an omnichannel digital points redemption platform available to all issuing banks in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and offering consumers more than a quarter of a million redemption options. Visa Loyalty Solutions was co-created by Visa LAC in collaboration with global FinTech and InsurTech company novae.

wearenovae.com

This white-label solution, developed for Visa’s bank partners, enables issuing member banks of any size to offer top-of-the-line rewards and customer care programs they can adapt to their loyalty strategies and brand as their own. Visa Loyalty Solutions features a user-friendly mobile app and web portal, as well as chat and voice, to make points redemption and customer service faster and easier for cardholders and financial institutions around the region.

“Visa Loyalty Solutions offers a seamless and flexible digital experience that adds value for consumers, participating businesses and issuers, and can be easily adapted to each of our bank partners’ loyalty strategies,” said Ricardo Tafur, Vice President of Consumer Products for Visa Latin America and the Caribbean. “We are committed to innovate in order to provide the best consumer experience,” he added.

This new digital platform offers cardholders the option to redeem points and get preferential deals at more than 285,000 hotels, hundreds of airlines and a wide network of car rental companies–not to mention tours, amusement parks and other entertainment options–around the world.

“At novae we want to bring our partners disruptive technologies that are user-friendly, efficient and reliable. That’s why we’re so excited to be co-creating platforms and applications with Visa to create nimbler, simpler and smarter experiences for merchants and consumers,” said Sergio Arana, novae’s CEO and founder.

The platform’s innovative and flexible redemption process allows cardholders to either use their points or combine them with their cards to complete their purchases. Amounts are displayed in U.S. dollars as well as points to give cardholders a better idea of the real value of their purchases. Online and mobile customer service centers provide assistance and information via voice, live chat and video.

To experience the new Visa Loyalty Solutions, click here.

About Visa
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the leading digital payment company. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network that empowers people, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network is capable to handle more than 65,000 transaction messages per second. The company’s continuous focus on innovation is a catalyst for rapid business growth, connected through any device, as well as the engine behind a cash-free future for everyone, everywhere. While the world moves from analog to digital, Visa applies its brand, products, team, network and scale to the task of shaping the new future of commerce. For more detailed information, please visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews. For news in Latin America, please visit @VisaNewsLatam.

About novae
novae leverages disruptive technologies to make mobile transactions, communications and other business-consumer interactions faster, easier and more enjoyable on any platform. Headquartered in San Francisco and with a business and innovation hub in Miami, an InsurTech hub in London and shared service centers in Buenos Aires and Bogotá, novae has clients across the Americas and Europe. novae is part of a&a Co, a global equity investment company based in San Francisco and focused on creating, acquiring and investing in ventures in the artificial intelligence (AI), mobile services and payments/loyalty realms. novae’s strategic partners include Visa, CyberSource, BPP, Expedia and Canopius Syndicate at Lloyd’s. Investors in novae include the private debt and equity capital funds CASEIF III LP and ExWorks Capital LLC. For more information, visit wearenovae.com (mobile-only experience) or Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Pizza Hut and Telepizza Group Announce Landmark International Growth Alliance

Pizza Hut and Telepizza Group Announce Landmark International Growth Alliance

  • Doubles Pizza Hut’s footprint in the regions covered by the alliance; places Pizza Hut in the #1 position in the category across Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of unit count; and confirms Pizza Hut position as the world’s largest pizza restaurant company
  • Telepizza Group to become a leading multi-country pizza operator worldwide and Pizza Hut’s largest master franchisee globally by unit count
  • Alliance nearly doubles Telepizza Group’s store portfolio to more than 2,500 units and €1.1 billion (1.3 Bn $) in system sales, with a presence in 37 countries with more than 500 million potential consumers
  • Long-term alliance involves Telepizza Group opening 1,300 new stores over the next 10 years across regions covered in alliance: Spain, Portugal, Latin America (excluding Brazil), the Caribbean and Switzerland

PLANO, Texas, and MADRID, Spain, May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ – Pizza Hut, a division of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) and the world’s largest pizza restaurant company with nearly 17,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, and Telepizza Group (BME: TPZ), the largest non-U.S. pizza delivery company worldwide with more than 1,600 stores in over 20 countries, today announced a strategic deal and master franchise alliance to accelerate growth across Latin America (excluding Brazil), the Caribbean, Spain (including Andorra), Portugal and Switzerland.

The landmark deal doubles Pizza Hut’s footprint in the regions covered by the alliance; places Pizza Hut in the number one position in the category across Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of unit count; and confirms Pizza Hut’s position as the world’s largest pizza restaurant company. As a result of the alliance, Telepizza Group will become Pizza Hut’s largest master franchisee globally by unit count and a leading multi-country pizza operator worldwide.

“This ground-breaking deal is a major milestone in our journey to become the most loved, fastest growing pizza brand in the world, and Telepizza Group is the ideal partner with the capability, commitment and capital to accelerate Pizza Hut’s expansion into key high-growth regions like Latin America,” said Milind Pant, President, Pizza Hut International. “Geographically, this long-term, strategic alliance with Telepizza Group will make Pizza Hut accessible to more consumers over time, helping fulfill our mission of making it easier to get a better quality pizza.”

“Our alliance with Pizza Hut delivers on Telepizza Group’s strategic plan to transform pizza delivery with a management model grounded in improving the customer experience through best-in-class operations,” said Pablo Juantegui, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Telepizza Group. ”The deal accelerates our global growth plan, nearly doubles the scale of our business and extends our international reach to 37 countries, which represent more than 500 million potential consumers. The aspirations and capabilities of Telepizza Group and Pizza Hut International are complementary, and we are confident this deal will drive significant value for customers, employees, franchisees and shareholders as it represents an ideal platform for future growth opportunities.”

“At Pizza Hut International, we’re focusing all of our innovation, technology investments and franchise alliances on delivering the easiest, fastest and tastiest pizza experience wherever we operate,” said Enrique Ramirez, Global Chief Growth Officer, Pizza Hut. “Telepizza Group is the ideal partner to help us deliver on this focus across Latin America (excluding Brazil), the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland, because of their incredible depth and capability in franchise operations and supply chain management. Leveraging the strong experience of our Pizza Hut franchisees, we expect this to accelerate the growth of Pizza Hut with a best-of-both approach.”

Highlights of the alliance include:

  • Spain and Portugal. In Spain, where Telepizza is the leading player, and in Portugal, Telepizza Group will continue operating the Telepizza brand, but it will also operate Pizza Hut stores and oversee Pizza Hut franchisees. Telepizza will leverage the best of Pizza Hut capabilities and well-known signature products.
  • Latin America (excluding Brazil) and the Caribbean. As master franchisee, Telepizza Group will oversee Pizza Hut franchisees who will continue to operate Pizza Hut stores in Latin America (excluding Brazil) and the Caribbean.  Telepizza Group will also progressively convert its existing stores in this region to Pizza Huts and leverage Pizza Hut’s brand awareness to accelerate store network expansion and boost entry into key growth markets.
  • Unit Development Growth. Across the regions covered in the alliance, Telepizza Group will target opening at least 1,300 new stores over the next 10 years, and 2,550 stores total over 20 years. The vast majority of the new store openings will be Pizza Hut, including all stores in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Supply Chain: Telepizza Group will manage Pizza Hut’s supply chain in Latin America (excluding Brazil), the Caribbean, Spain (including Andorra), Portugal and Switzerland and will become an authorized supplier of Pizza Hut establishments. Both groups will explore further possibilities of collaboration in this field worldwide.

Completion of the alliance will be subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by Telepizza Group shareholders.

Impact to Telepizza

The alliance will nearly double Telepizza Group’s store portfolio to more than 2,500 units and €1.1 billion (1.3 Bn $) in system sales, making the company present in 37 countries with more than 500 million potential consumers. Telepizza Group will leverage its strong operational capabilities to crystallize the significant industrial synergies resulting from the combined platform, and will also benefit from its enlarged footprint to accelerate its international growth expansion. All this will be achieved without impacting Telepizza Group’s leverage profile nor its dividend policy and preserving Telepizza Group’s commitment with its current network of franchisees, targeting €100 million (120 M $) EBITDA by 2021.

Impact to Pizza Hut

This landmark deal moves Pizza Hut to the number one position in the category across Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of unit count. Across all the markets covered in the alliance, Telepizza Group will oversee nearly 1,000 Pizza Huts and contribute nearly 1,500 of its stores to Pizza Hut’s global unit count.  Pizza Hut International franchisees in these regions will continue to operate their businesses, under the management of Telepizza as a Pizza Hut master franchisee.  This strategic deal is a long-term initiative by Pizza Hut expected to result in accelerated unit development and operating profit growth on what will be a combined initial unit count of nearly 2,500 stores. The transaction is not expected to have a significant impact on Yum! Brands’ core operating results or cash flows over the next few years.

About Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), has more restaurant locations in the world than any other pizza company. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kan., Pizza Hut operates nearly 17,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.pizzahut.com.

About Telepizza

Telepizza Group, headquartered in Madrid, operates in 23 countries with Telepizza and Jeno’s Pizza brands, among others, and celebrates 30 years with over 60 million of pizzas delivered worldwide. The Company manages a total network of 1,607 stores including 441 owned stores and 1,166 franchisees and master franchisees (as of 31 December, 2017) and is the leading player by number of stores in Spain, Portugal, Chile and Colombia. Total sales in its network, including own stores, franchisees and master franchisees, recorded as chain sales, amounted €561.6 million euro in the 12 months ended December 31, 2017. Telepizza Group is listed in the Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia stock exchanges with its shares starting trading on April 27, 2016.

About Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 45,000 restaurants in more than 135 countries and territories and is one of the Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders in North America. In 2018, Yum! Brands was recognized as part of the inaugural Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and ranked among the top 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine. In 2017, Yum! Brands was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. The company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – are global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. Worldwide, the Yum! Brands system opens over seven new restaurants per day on average, making it a leader in global retail development.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This communication does not constitute an offer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell or exchange any securities. The shares of TELEPIZZA GROUP may not be offered or sold in the United States of America except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to a valid exemption from registration.

This communication contains forward-looking information and statements about TELEPIZZA GROUP, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates” and similar expressions.

Although TELEPIZZA GROUP believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of TELEPIZZA GROUP shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of TELEPIZZA GROUP, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by TELEPIZZA GROUP to the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They have not been reviewed by the auditors of TELEPIZZA GROUP. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All oral or written forward-looking statements hereby made or otherwise attributable to TELEPIZZA GROUP or any of its members, directors, officers, employees or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified on its entirety by the cautionary statement above. All the forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to TELEPIZZA GROUP on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, TELEPIZZA GROUP does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as “expect,” “expectation,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “belief,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “predict,” “likely,” “seek,” “project,” “model,” “ongoing,” “will,” “should,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “new store opening goals” or similar terminology. These statements are based on and reflect our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and/ or projections, our perception of historical trends and current conditions, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events, circumstances or performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. There can be no assurance that our expectations, estimates, assumptions and/or projections, including with respect to the future earnings and performance or capital structure of Yum! Brands, will prove to be correct or that any of our expectations, estimates or projections will be achieved.

Numerous factors could cause our actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: food safety and food borne-illness issues; health concerns arising from outbreaks of viruses or other diseases; the success of our franchisees and licensees, and the success of our transformation initiatives, including our refranchising strategy; our significant exposure to the Chinese market; changes in economic and political conditions in countries and territories outside of the U.S. where we operate; our ability to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of our customers and employees; our increasing dependence on digital commerce platforms and information technology systems; the impact of social media; our ability to secure and maintain distribution and adequate supply to our restaurants; the success of our development strategy in emerging markets; changes in commodity, labor and other operating costs; pending or future litigation and legal claims or proceedings; changes in or noncompliance with government regulations, including labor standards and anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; recent Tax Legislation (defined below) and other tax matters, including disagreements with taxing authorities; consumer preferences and perceptions of our brands; changes in consumer discretionary spending and general economic conditions; competition within the retail food industry; and risks relating to our significant amount of indebtedness. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty.

Information regarding the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (”Tax Legislation”) consists of preliminary estimates which are forward-looking statements and are subject to change. Information regarding the impact of Tax Legislation is based on our current calculations, as well our current interpretations, assumptions and expectations relating to Tax Legislation, which are subject to further ongoing change.

The forward-looking statements included in this announcement are only made as of the date of this announcement and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Milind Pant, President, Pizza Hut International and Pablo Juantegui Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Telepizza Group

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Global Standards Leader ASTM International Launches “Caribbean Roadshow” in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania, May 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — ASTM International, one of the world’s leading standards organizations, announced today that it will host several events in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana as part of the “Caribbean Roadshow,” June 4-8.

The roadshow includes outreach, training, and education focused on the growing use of ASTM International standards and International Code Council (ICC) codes. The team will highlight longstanding Caribbean partnerships and focus on how standards and codes are the foundation for quality and safety in construction projects.

Activities also include industry workshops and meetings with high-profile groups in Kingston (June 4-5), Port of Spain (June 6), and Georgetown (June 7-8). Speakers will include Mark Johnson, executive vice president of ICC, and R. Christopher Mathis, ASTM International board member and president of MC2 Mathis Consulting.

“This partnership involves unprecedented outreach and networking aimed at finding solutions to sustainable construction challenges,” said ASTM International director of external relations, James Olshefsky. “We look forward to highlighting the many members and dozens of partners who increasingly use ASTM’s high-quality standards throughout the region.”

In addition, the roadshow will include student forums during which students will learn about ASTM’s academic offerings, and laboratory roundtables, where ASTM staff will present information about ASTM’s laboratory services.

ASTM International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) as well as all of its member states including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. These agreements encourage participation of technical experts worldwide in the standards development process, while also broadening the global acceptance of ASTM International standards.

The “Caribbean Roadshow” follows a similar roadshow in September 2017 to El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Over the past 17 years, ASTM International has signed 109 MOUs with national standards bodies worldwide. As a result, its standards have been referenced more than 7,500 times outside the United States in laws, regulations, codes, and elsewhere. For more information on this program, visit www.astm.org/GLOBAL/mou.html.

Follow the Road Show on Facebook and Twitter (#ASTMRoadShow).

About ASTM International

Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards – developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts – and innovate services to improve lives… Helping our world work better.

Roadshow Contact: James Olshefsky, tel +1.610.832.9714; [email protected]

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ARIN Launches Caribbean Forum

Encouraging increased Caribbean participation in the ARIN community

CENTREVILLE, Va., April 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) will formally launch a special Caribbean Forum at upcoming ARIN 41 Meeting in Miami, Florida next week.

“Over the past year, ARIN has created several new initiatives to encourage even more Caribbean participation in the community,” said John Curran, ARIN President and CEO. “We are already seeing an increased interest in IPv6 deployment, autonomous network build-out and technical capacity building. The new ARIN Caribbean Forum is expected to help us better facilitate and support these initiatives.”

The ARIN Caribbean Forum comprises three streams:

  1. Public Policy Group for public sector ministers and technocrats in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU).
  2. Justice Sector Group for law enforcement officials in collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS and judicial and legal officers in collaboration with APEX, the Caribbean agency responsible for justice technology.
  3. Network Operators Group for network administrators, IT managers, computer engineers and security professionals in collaboration with the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG).

“Each group is aimed at increasing stakeholder awareness, strengthening community participation, deepening government engagement, and strengthening partnerships with region-based organizations like the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, the Caribbean Network Operators Group, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States,” said Bevil Wooding, ARIN Caribbean Outreach Liaison. “The new Forum will allow us to better understand and directly address the needs of our stakeholders and members in the Caribbean.”

Following ARIN 41, in Miami next week, the Public Policy and Justice Sector Groups will meet on April 19, 2018.  The Network Operators Group will also meet at CaribNOG 15 from April 18-20 in Miami, Florida. Subsequently, initiatives will be staged across the Caribbean in collaboration with ARIN’s partners and stakeholders in the region.

For more information on the launch of the Caribbean Forum, read about it on ARIN’s blog TeamARIN.net.

About the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
ARIN is the nonprofit corporation that manages the distribution of Internet number resources – IPv4, IPv6, and Autonomous System numbers – in many Caribbean and North Atlantic islands, Canada, the United States. Organizations that need IP address space and ASNs can request them directly from ARIN. More information about ARIN services, events, IPv6, and more is available at https://www.arin.net/ and https://teamarin.net/get6/

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Caribbean-American Elected Officials Urged To Speak Up On Racist US Census Changes

caribID

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Mar. 29, 2018: Caribbean-American elected officials are being urged to speak up on new US Census changes by the Donald Trump administration that could cost them their jobs.

CaribID Founder Felicia J. Persaud

CaribID Founder Felicia J. Persaud

Felicia J. Persaud, the founder of CaribID, the historic initiative launched in 2009 to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted by the US government, said she is appalled by the deafening silence so far from many Caribbean born and Caribbean-Americans in elected office across the US, to the Trump administration’s racist decision to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 census.

Such a move will not only result in the further undercount of the Caribbean and other immigrant populations already living in fear of Trump’s immigration round-ups, but it will lead to serious redistricting, which will leave many Caribbean and immigrant elected officials possibly out of a job, said Persaud.

“The entire move is a xenophobic political one, aimed at creating fear and slamming the door in the face of immigrants while shoring up the ‘Trump base’ through redistricting triggered by a massive undercount,” said Persaud. “Immigrants have long been fearful of taking the decennial Census and this decision will only serve to drive them further underground, despite their immigration status, while leaving many Caribbean American elected officials vulnerable to having entire districts banished from electoral maps and their jobs becoming history.”

The Caribbean-born, US-based entrepreneur, is also urging the Caribbean Bar Association to join other rights organizations and attorneys general across the US, to take a stand and sue the federal government.

“The US Constitution requires that every resident of the United States be counted in a decennial census, whether or not they are citizens,” said Persaud. “The results are used not just to redraw political boundaries, from school boards to House seats, but to allocate hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants and subsidies to where they are needed most. Census data provide the baseline for planning decisions made by corporations and governments alike. We in the Caribbean US Diaspora must realize how important this is and stand up for those who are too fearful to stand up for themselves but most of all, stand up and be counted because our future and our livelihoods do depend on it.”

ABOUT CARIB ID

Carib ID is a historic initiative started by Persaud in 2009, to get Caribbean nationals a category on US Census forms in order for them to be accurately counted. So far, the movement, which has created dozens of partnerships across the country in its infancy and secured two bills in the US Congress to call for a separate category for Caribbean nationals in the US, has been able to lobby effectively for a write in portion for the 2020 Census under the African American race category, for Caribbean immigrants to write in their country of origin or ancestry.

###

SOURCE: CaribID

MEDIA CONTACT:

For more information or interviews:

Kathy Bronson

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation makes donation to community impact organization Curaçao Cares

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, March 27, 2018: The Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation has today announced a donation of US$25,000 to the community impact organization Curaçao Cares, thanks to the Foundation’s annual fundraising golf tournament.

The tournament – held in Curaçao in its 11th year and raising a total of US$125,000 for the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation – brought together over 90 participants made up of a variety of C&W’s technology, programing and administrative partners, and donors of the Foundation.

The donation from the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation will be used towards CURA DOET, the biggest volunteer effort in Curaçao. Celebrated annually in March, the DOET weekend unites people who serve their communities across cultural and geographical differences. The activity consists of two national days of service whereby people in the communities are encouraged to get out and do something to help local worthwhile causes and NGOs.

Since it was set up in 2013, CURA DOET has engaged more than 21,000 volunteers who have collectively participated in more than 100,000 hours of service. During CURA DOET, NGOs get an opportunity to spruce up their location and grounds, parks and schools get a makeover and elderly people and those with special needs are treated to a special day.

The announcement comes one week after the Foundation confirmed funding of over US$290,000 to go towards rebuilding and equipping five schools in the most badly impacted areas of the Caribbean, following last year’s hurricane season.

Gina Colesanti, Director of the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, said: “We’re extremely proud to give back to the communities we serve, and worked with our local team on the ground to choose Curaçao Cares as the deserving beneficiary of this year’s annual fundraising golf tournament. We’re very fortunate that we continue to have the assistance of C&W’s technology, programming and administrative partners, who support the annual fundraising event through their participation and financial contribution.”

The annual charity golf event has previously been held in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis and Panama. Last year, in Panama, the funds were donated to three institutions that focus on supporting children: the Pro Niños de Darien, the San José de Malambo Orphanage and the Olga Sinclair Foundation. A variety of youth-centered programs have benefited from the tournament’s fundraising efforts over the years, including the SOS Children’s Home in Jamaica, the Sunshine Achievement Center for under-privileged children in Barbados and the Rainbow Rescue team in Trinidad. The tournament has also helped fund orphanages in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and previously funded support programs for the Wilhelmina Fonds Breast Cancer Center in Curaçao.

Lysaye de Windt of Curaçao Cares, said: “As Curaçao Cares continues to grow in its fifth year, partnerships are vital to its success. This generous contribution will help us fulfill our mission of cultivating active citizenship and creating opportunities for individuals to contribute their time, skills, talents and resources towards positive social development, and to connect communities and transform lives. On behalf of the entire Curaçao Cares team, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation.”

The Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation was set up by C&W Communications initially as response to the humanitarian crisis caused by devastating hurricanes in 2017. The Foundation is increasingly the company’s platform for advancing social development, as it strives to fulfil its mission of connecting communities and transforming lives, by funding education and empowerment programs across the Caribbean and Latin America.

To find out more about the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, visit cwc.com, or follow C&W Communications on Twitter.

Notes to editors

About C&W Communications
C&W is a full-service communications and entertainment provider that delivers market-leading video, broadband, telephony and mobile services to consumers in 18 countries. Through its business division, C&W provides data center hosting, domestic and international managed network services, and customized IT service solutions, utilizing cloud technology to serve business and government customers. C&W also operates a state-of-the-art submarine fiber network – the most extensive in the region.

Learn more at www.cwc.com, or follow C&W on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Liberty Latin America
Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America”) is a leading telecommunications company operating in over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean under the consumer brands VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil and BTC. The communications and entertainment services that we offer to our residential and business customers in the region increasingly include combinations of services comprised of digital video, broadband internet, telephony and mobile services. Our business products and services include enterprise-grade connectivity, data center, hosting and managed solutions, as well as information technology solutions with customers ranging from small and medium enterprises to international companies and governmental agencies. In addition, Liberty Latin America operates a sub-sea and terrestrial fiber optic cable network that connects over 40 markets in the region.

Liberty Latin America has three separate classes of common shares, which are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “LILA” (Class A) and “LILAK” (Class C), and on the OTC link under the symbol “LILAB” (Class B). For more information, please visit www.lla.com.

About Curaçao Cares
Curaçao Cares brings together engaged citizens, community partners (NGOs) and companies to achieve impact in communities across Curaçao through volunteer work. Annually they mobilize more than 5,000 volunteers to give 30,000 volunteer hours and support over 160 causes.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ec376b3-249a-4261-9be0-dc9a4771f662

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c00ab107-9e0f-4d86-8d50-d51494ba4730

La Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless le realiza una donación a la organización con impacto en la comunidad Curaçao Cares

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, March 27, 2018: La Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless anunció hoy una donación de US$25.000 a la organización con impacto en la comunidad Curaçao Cares gracias a su torneo de golf de recaudación de fondos anual.

El torneo –que se llevó a cabo en Curazao en su undécimo año y que recaudó un total de US$125.000 para la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless– reunió a más de 90 participantes de una variedad de socios de tecnología, programación, administración de C&W y donantes de la Fundación.

La donación de la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless se utilizará para CURA DOET, las tareas de voluntariado más grandes en Curazao. Celebrado anualmente en marzo, el fin de semana DOET reúne a personas que sirven a sus comunidades en diferentes zonas geográficas y culturales. El evento consiste en dos días de servicio nacional en el que se alienta a las personas de la comunidad a salir y hacer algo para ayudar en causas locales que valgan la pena y ONGs.

Desde su comienzo en 2013, CURA DOET ha reunido a más de 21.000 voluntarios que, en forma colectiva, han ayudado con más de 100.000 horas de su tiempo. Durante CURA DOET, las ONGs tendrán la oportunidad de que se realicen tareas de limpieza, los parques y las escuelas podrán ser reestructurados y las personas mayores y aquellas con necesidades especiales poder brindarles un día especial.

Este anuncio se realiza una semana después de que la Fundación confirmara el aporte de fondos de más de US$290.000 para la reconstrucción y el equipamiento de cinco escuelas en las zonas más afectadas del Caribe luego de la temporada de huracanes del año pasado.

Gina Colesanti, Directora de la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless, dijo: “Estamos extremadamente orgullosos de retribuirles a las comunidades en las que servimos, por lo que trabajamos con nuestro equipo local para elegir a Curaçao Cares como el beneficiario del torneo de golf de recaudación de fondos anual. Somos muy afortunados por continuar contando con la asistencia de los socios de tecnología, programación y administración de C&W, que respaldan el evento de recaudación de fondos anual a través de su participación y contribución anual.”

En otras oportunidades, este evento de golf de caridad anual se realizó en Trinidad y Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, República Dominicana, San Kitts y Nevis y Panamá. El año pasado, en Panamá, los fondos fueron donados a tres instituciones que se enfocan en ayudar a los niños: Pro Niños de Darien, el Hogar San José de Malambo y la Fundación Olga Sinclair. Los fondos recaudados gracias a este torneo han beneficiado, a lo largo de los años, a diferentes programas centrados en los jóvenes, entre los que se encuentran el Hogar SOS Children en Jamaica, el Sunshine Achievement Center para niños necesitados en Barbados y el Rainbow Rescue en Trinidad. Además, el torneo ha colaborado con la fundación de orfanatos en República Dominicana y Puerto Rico y, anteriormente, con la fundación de programas de respaldo para el Wilhelmina Fonds Breast Cancer Center en Curazao.

Lysaye de Windt, de Curaçao Cares, dijo: “A medida que Curaçao Cares continúa su crecimiento en su quinto año, las asociaciones son vitales para su éxito. Esta generosa contribución nos ayudará a cumplir nuestra misión de cultivar la ciudadanía activa y crear oportunidades para que las personas aporten su tiempo, sus habilidades, sus talentos, sus recursos al desarrollo social positivo y conecten comunidades y transformen vidas. En nombre de todo el equipo de Curaçao Cares, queremos agradecerle de corazón a la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless.”

La Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless fue creada por C&W Communications inicialmente como respuesta a la crisis humanitaria ocasionada por los devastadores huracanes en 2017. Esta Fundación es crecientemente la plataforma de la compañía para impulsar el desarrollo social, ya que se esfuerza por cumplir con su misión de conectar comunidades transformando vidas por medio del otorgamiento de fondos para proyectos de educación e impulso en el Caribe y América Latina.

Para conocer más información sobre la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless, visite cwc.com o siga a C&W Communications en Twitter.

Notas para los editores

Acerca de C&W Communications
C&W es un proveedor de servicios completos de comunicaciones y entretenimientos que brinda servicios móviles, de telefonía, de banda ancha y de video líderes en el mercado a consumidores de 18 países. A través de su división de negocios, C&W brinda servicios nacionales e internacionales de gestión de redes, hosting de centros de datos y soluciones de servicios de TI personalizadas mediante tecnología en la Nube para servir a gobiernos y negocios. C&W también opera una red de fibra submarina de última generación –la más extensa en la región–.

Lea más información en www.cwc.com o siga a C&W en Twitter y LinkedIn.

Acerca de Liberty Latin America
Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America”) es una compañía de telecomunicaciones líder que opera en más de 20 países en América Latina y el Caribe bajo las marcas al consumidor VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil y BTC. Los servicios de entretenimiento y comunicaciones que les ofrecemos a nuestros clientes corporativos y residenciales en la región incluyen crecientemente combinaciones de servicios que contienen servicios móviles, de telefonía, de Internet de banda ancha y de video digital. Nuestros productos y servicios corporativos incluyen soluciones gestionadas, de hosting, de Datacenter y de conectividad corporativa así como también soluciones de tecnología de la información que les brindamos a clientes que son desde pequeñas y medianas empresas hasta compañías internacionales y agencias gubernamentales. Además, Liberty Latin America opera una red de cable de fibra óptica terrestre y submarina que conecta a más de 40 mercados en la región.

Liberty Latin America cuenta con tres clases separadas de acciones comunes, que cotizan en el mercado selecto global NASDAQ bajo los símbolos “LILA” (Clase A) y “LILAK” (Clase C) y en el OTC Link bajo el símbolo “LILAB” (Clase B). Para más información, por favor visite www.lla.com.

Acerca de Curaçao Cares
Curaçao Cares reúne a ciudadanos comprometidos, socios de la comunidad (ONGs) y empresas para causar un impacto en las comunidades de Curazao a través del trabajo voluntario. Moviliza anualmente a más de 5.000 voluntarios que trabajan más de 30.000 horas para brindar ayuda en más de 160 causas.

Las fotografías que acompañan este anuncio están disponibles en

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ec376b3-249a-4261-9be0-dc9a4771f662/es

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c00ab107-9e0f-4d86-8d50-d51494ba4730/es

Click Here for More Information »

Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation to give grants totaling US$290,000 to improve the lives of children in the Caribbean

Five grants to be made to a variety of education projects in the Caribbean

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, March 16, 2018: The Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation today announced that it will provide additional funding of over US$290,000 to projects that will improve the lives of children in areas of the Caribbean impacted by last year’s hurricanes. This follows the Foundation’s initial US$100,000 donation to ShelterBox for relief efforts after the hurricanes, as well as a clean-up of the CHANCES children’s home in Dominica as part of C&W Communications’ annual Mission Day.

The new funding – made up of five individual grants – is a continuation of the Foundation’s plans to restore and rebuild affected countries. The grants will be used to support critical education services in some of the most badly impacted countries including the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Dominica and Anguilla.

Specifically, the Foundation’s funding will be used as follows:

  • In BVI:
    • US$100,000 will be used towards replacing the roof at the sole secondary school – Bregado Flax Secondary School – on Virgin Gorda
    • US$25,000 will be used towards repairs for the Eslyn Richiez Henly School for Disabled Children
  • In TCI, US$100,000 will be used to provide computers, printers, desks and chairs for children in the Osetta Jolly Primary School
  • In Dominica, US$45,000 will be used towards refurnishing the computer lab of Roseau Primary School, providing essential equipment like computers, projectors, flat screens and printers
  • In Anguilla, US$22,500 will be used to provide supplies and repair the doors, windows and roof of Bethel Pre-School, working in partnership with Rotary District 7020.

The Board of the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation chose these projects as it believed they would have a long-lasting positive impact on a great number of children and their families. The projects chosen also align with the Foundation’s strategic aims of educating and empowering communities.

Gina Colesanti, Director of the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to provide these much-needed grants to improve the lives of children impacted by the 2017 hurricane season in the Caribbean. By rebuilding and furnishing schools in BVI, TCI, Dominica and Anguilla, we’re creating a better environment for these kids to learn and grow – giving them a great start in life and setting them up for future success.”

Colesanti also thanked the major sponsors of the Foundation which include Sterlite; the Premier League; Anixter; Evolution Digital; One Caribbean; Lorac; HBO Latin America; Advantage Communications; Deloitte and Telenet. Their generosity contributed to the US$1 million that the Foundation has raised so far – which includes the US$500,000 seed funding provided by C&W Communications at its launch.

The Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation was set up by C&W Communications initially as response to the humanitarian crisis caused by devastating hurricanes in 2017. The Foundation is increasingly the company’s platform for advancing social development in the region, as it strives to fulfil its mission of connecting communities and transforming lives, by funding education and empowerment projects like these five initiatives. The Foundation has a number of similar projects in the pipeline and will announce more details in due course.

To find out more about the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, visit cwc.com, or follow C&W Communications on Twitter.

About C&W Communications

C&W is a full-service communications and entertainment provider that delivers market-leading video, broadband, telephony and mobile services to consumers in 18 countries. Through its business division, C&W provides data center hosting, domestic and international managed network services, and customized IT service solutions, utilizing cloud technology to serve business and government customers. C&W also operates a state-of-the-art submarine fiber network – the most extensive in the region.

Learn more at www.cwc.com, or follow C&W on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Liberty Latin America

Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America”) is a leading telecommunications company operating in over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean under the consumer brands VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil and BTC. The communications and entertainment services that we offer to our residential and business customers in the region increasingly include combinations of services comprised of digital video, broadband internet, telephony and mobile services. Our business products and services include enterprise-grade connectivity, data center, hosting and managed solutions, as well as information technology solutions with customers ranging from small and medium enterprises to international companies and governmental agencies. In addition, Liberty Latin America operates a sub-sea and terrestrial fiber optic cable network that connects over 40 markets in the region.

Liberty Latin America has three separate classes of common shares, which are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “LILA” (Class A) and “LILAK” (Class C), and on the OTC link under the symbol “LILAB” (Class B). For more information, please visit www.lla.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1a8f3fb-5e96-4557-806d-6b28c3e9b3e1

La Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless otorgará fondos por US$290.000 para mejorar la vida de niños en el Caribe

Se realizarán cinco asignaciones de fondos a diferentes proyectos educativos en el Caribe

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, March 16, 2018: La Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless anunció hoy que aportará fondos adicionales de más de US$290.000 a proyectos que mejorarán la vida de los niños en las áreas del Caribe impactadas por los huracanes del año pasado. Esto se suma a la donación inicial de la Fundación de US$100.000 a ShelterBox destinada a las tareas posteriores a los huracanes y a la limpieza del hogar de niños CHANCES en Domínica como parte del Día de Misión anual de C&W Communications.

El otorgamiento de nuevos fondos –compuesto por cinco donaciones individuales– es una continuación de los planes de la Fundación para reestablecer y reconstruir los países afectados. Estas asignaciones respaldarán servicios de educación esenciales en algunos de los países más afectados, entre los que se encuentran las Islas Vírgenes Británicas (BVI), las Islas Turcas y Caicos (TCI), Domínica y Anguila.

Los fondos de la Fundación se emplearán de la siguiente manera:

  • En las Islas Vírgenes Británicas (BVI):
    • US$100.000 se utilizarán para reemplazar el techo en la única escuela secundaria en Virgin Gorda, Bregado Flax Secondary School.
    • US$25.000 se utilizarán para realizar reparaciones en la escuela para niños discapacitados Eslyn Richiez Henly School.
  • En las Islas Turcas y Caicos (TCI), se emplearán US$100.000 en la compra de computadoras, impresoras, escritorios y sillas para los niños de la Osetta Jolly Primary School.
  • En Domínica, se utilizarán US$45.000 para renovar el laboratorio de informática de la Roseau Primary School a través de la adquisición de equipamiento esencial como computadoras, proyectores, pantallas planas e impresoras.
  • En Anguilla, se gastarán US$22.500 en la adquisición de suministros y la reparación de las puertas, las ventanas y el techo de la Bethel Pre-School en asociación con el Distrito Rotary 7020.

La Junta Directiva de la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless seleccionó estos proyectos porque consideró que tendrán un impacto positivo a largo plazo en muchos niños y sus familias.

Además, se alinean con los objetivos estratégicos de la Fundación con respecto a la educación y el impulso a las comunidades.

Gina Colesanti, Directora de la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless, dijo: “Es un honor realizar estas asignaciones de fondos que tanto se necesitan para mejorar la vida de niños que sufrieron el impacto de la temporada de huracanes de 2017 en el Caribe. A través de la reconstrucción y reparación de escuelas en las Islas Vírgenes Británicas (BVI), las Islas Turcas y Caicos (TCI), Domínica y Anguila, estamos creando un mejor ambiente para que estos niños aprendan y crezcan brindándoles un gran comienzo en sus vidas y preparándolos para un futuro exitoso”.

Colesanti también le agradeció a los principales patrocinadores de la Fundación, entre los que se encuentran Sterlite, la Liga Premier, Anixter, Evolution Digital, One Caribbean, Lorac, HBO Latin America, Advantage Communications, Deloitte y Telenet. Su generosidad contribuyó al US$1 millón de dólares que la Fundación ha recaudado hasta el momento, que incluye los US$500.000 dólares de fondo inicial que aportó C&W Communications al momento de su lanzamiento.

La Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless fue creada por C&W Communications inicialmente como respuesta a la crisis humanitaria ocasionada por los devastadores huracanes en 2017. Esta Fundación es crecientemente la plataforma de la compañía para impulsar el desarrollo social en la región, ya que se esfuerza por cumplir con su misión de conectar comunidades y transformar vidas, por medio del otorgamiento de fondos para proyectos de educación e impulso tales como estas cinco iniciativas. La Fundación está trabajando en otros proyectos que anunciará con más detalles oportunamente.

Para conocer más información sobre la Fundación de Caridad de Cable & Wireless, visite cwc.com o siga a C&W Communications en Twitter.

Acerca de C&W Communications

C&W es un proveedor de servicios completos de comunicaciones y entretenimientos que brinda servicios móviles, de telefonía, de banda ancha y de video líderes en el mercado a consumidores de 18 países. A través de su división de negocios, C&W brinda servicios nacionales e internacionales de gestión de redes, hosting de centros de datos y soluciones de servicios de TI personalizadas mediante tecnología en la Nube para servir a gobiernos y negocios. C&W también opera una red de fibra submarina de última generación –la más extensa en la región–.

Lea más información en www.cwc.com o siga a C&W en Twitter y LinkedIn.

Acerca de Liberty Latin America

Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America”) es una compañía de telecomunicaciones líder que opera en más de 20 países en América Latina y el Caribe bajo las marcas al consumidor VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil y BTC. Los servicios de entretenimiento y comunicaciones que les ofrecemos a nuestros clientes corporativos y residenciales en la región incluyen crecientemente combinaciones de servicios que contienen servicios móviles, de telefonía, de Internet de banda ancha y de video digital. Nuestros productos y servicios corporativos incluyen soluciones gestionadas, de hosting, de Datacenter y de conectividad corporativa así como también soluciones de tecnología de la información que les brindamos a clientes que son desde pequeñas y medianas empresas hasta compañías internacionales y agencias gubernamentales. Además, Liberty Latin America opera una red de cable de fibra óptica terrestre y submarina que conecta a más de 40 mercados en la región.

Liberty Latin America cuenta con tres clases separadas de acciones comunes, que cotizan en el mercado selecto global NASDAQ bajo los símbolos “LILA” (Clase A) y “LILAK” (Clase C) y en el OTC Link bajo el símbolo “LILAB” (Clase B). Para más información, por favor visite www.lla.com.

Click Here for More Information »

Knowledge First Financial to Acquire Heritage Education Funds to Pursue a Shared Goal of Helping Families Maximize Their Education Savings

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Jan. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On January 3, 2018 Knowledge First Financial announced the acquisition of Heritage Education Funds Inc. and Heritage Education Funds International, LLC to pursue a shared goal of helping families maximize their education savings. The companies will create the largest Education Savings Plan provider in Canada and select international markets with a total of $6.4 billion in assets under management. Knowledge First is owned by a not-for-profit Foundation, while Heritage was privately held.

Each company brings more than 50 years of helping families across the globe save for post-secondary education through the use of a focused education savings plan. Heritage Education Funds International has been serving the education savings needs of customers around the globe for more than three decades.

“We are very pleased to bring together these two strong, long-standing financial institutions,” says George Hopkinson, President and CEO, Knowledge First Financial. “We believe the combined size and scale of these two organizations will enable us to meet a growing need for education specialists who are dedicated to helping families maximize their education savings.”

“It’s a privilege to serve families around the world who are planning ahead so their children can pursue a post-secondary education,” said Jason Maguire, outgoing president and CEO of Heritage Education Funds International, LLC. “Now we are in an even stronger position to make our education savings plans available to more parents and grandparents.”

The Heritage International Scholarship Trust Plan is a US dollar-denominated savings plan which has, to date, over US $115 million in asset under management and has benefited over 20,000 students attending post-secondary institutions in the Caribbean, United States, Canada, UK and other parts of the world. The Plan is sponsored by The Heritage International Scholarship Trust Foundation, a not-for-profit Canadian corporation which was also part of the acquisition. Since its inception, The Heritage International Scholarship Trust Foundation has returned more than US$152 million in principal, educational assistance payments and scholarships to qualified students.

The Heritage International Scholarship Trust Plan will continue to be distributed and managed as it is today. The international business will operate under the name of Knowledge First International Inc. and the company will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Knowledge First Foundation. The Knowledge First Foundation is a not-for-profit Canadian corporation that reinvests its net revenue in initiatives that support student success. Since 1965 the Knowledge First Foundation has provided students with nearly $50 million in additional discretionary top-up payments and has awarded more than $1 million in post-graduate scholarships.

George Hopkinson will continue as President and CEO and will lead the integration activities.  Jason Maguire will join Knowledge First as Managing Director to assist in the integration and continue to lead and support the international operation.

The acquisition closed January 2, 2018.

The acquisition is not expected to have any impact on subscribers or beneficiaries to the Heritage International Scholarship Trust Plan or Knowledge First Plans.  Blair Franklin Capital Partners Inc. is serving as financial advisor and Wildeboer Dellelce, LLP is acting as legal counsel to Knowledge First.

About Knowledge First Financial

Canadian families have relied on education savings plans offered by Knowledge First Financial for more than 50 years.  Today the company provides sound financial management and administers $3.72 billion in assets on behalf of more than 250,000 customers. Since 1965, payments from the plans have reached $3.6 billion.

Knowledge First Financial Inc. is the investment fund manager, administrator and distributor of the Registered Education Savings Plans.

About Heritage Education Funds

Heritage Education Funds is a leading and trusted provider of Education Savings Plans, with over 50 years of experience in Canada and over 30 years in select international markets.

Heritage Education Funds International operates in Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.

visit www.HeritageESPcom.

Click Here for More Information »

ONE CARIBBEAN TELEVISION ANNOUNCES CARNIVAL WEEK 2017 COVERAGE

octv

Network Named International Media Partner for the Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. July 26, 2017: One Caribbean Television is pleased to announce its week-long live broadcast of the Carnival celebrations in Toronto, Barbados and Antigua from Thursday, August 3rd through Monday, August 7th, 2017.

This year, One Caribbean Television will partner with the newly rebranded Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival for its 50th anniversary celebration.  For the past five years, the network has covered Toronto’s Carnival, which remains one of North America’s largest cultural events attracting millions of attendees, annually.

In addition, the One Caribbean Television production team will provide live coverage of both the Barbados Crop Over Festival and Antigua’s 60th Carnival celebration.

Throughout Carnival Week, One Caribbean Television will offer live coverage of events, interviews and feature stories to highlight the people and pageantry that make Carnival one of the world’s most popular celebrations.

One Caribbean Television, a U.S.-based, 24/7 television network, most known for its extensive weather coverage, also carries news, sports, travel, lifestyle, and entertainment programming along with the most Caribbean carnival coverage anywhere. The channel is currently seen on cable systems throughout the Caribbean and in a number of major cities in the United States.

For more information about One Caribbean Television:  www.Facebook.com/OneCaribbeanTelevision

Contact: Mark Walton  -  917.887.0401  -  [email protected]

Watch One Caribbean Television – Carnival Week Recap

For more information about Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival:  www.TorontoCaribbeanCarnival.com

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CHRISTEL HOUSE EXPANDING TO JAMAICA

CaribPR Wire, Indianapolis, Indiana, July 18, 2017: The Government of Jamaica and Christel House last week entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement, which facilitates the development of a new learning center on the island – the second most-impoverished in the Caribbean.  Christel House, an international NGO with a proven track record of breaking the cycle of poverty for severely at-risk children, will build its facility on a 10 acre parcel of land near Kingston, which the Jamaican government is contributing as part of a public private partnership.   At its own expense, Christel House will construct a facility which will serve approximately 840 students from the severely impoverished area.

Minister of Education, Youth & Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, applauds the decision of Christel House to invest in Jamaica. “This proposed development will be a significant addition to the many safe housing facilities available for the children under our watchful care,” says Reid. “This will be a home where the children will experience love, care and security, while their education and development needs are being addressed.”

Christel House Jamaica plans to begin operations no later than August, 2019.  The school will be built in phases, with the first phase to accommodate grades KG – 2.  Each year thereafter an additional 60 kindergarten students will be admitted, and the school will grow organically until it reaches capacity at grade 13.  Admission to the tuition-free school is needs-based. In addition to academics, leadership and character education, students will receive books, uniforms, transportation, breakfast, lunch and a snack daily and health services.

Christel House Founder and CEO, Christel DeHaan, is delighted with the expansion announcement.  “Breaking the cycle of poverty is the only way to unleash human potential and to build better societies.  We are thrilled to bring a Christel House to Jamaica and we thank the Ministry of Education for its support and belief in our model and our mission.”

Fundraising initiatives will be pursued both on-island and around the world, but particularly in the U.S., where Christel House International is based.  Christel House Jamaica is a Jamaican legal entity, with an independent board of directors, and its nonprofit tax status is expected to be received shortly.  The organizations have no political or religious affiliations.

See a video about Christel House Jamaica

About Christel House International

The mission of Christel House is to transform the lives of impoverished children around the world—breaking the cycle of poverty and building self-sufficient, contributing members of society. A focus on academic excellence through a robust K–12 curriculum is combined with a strong character development program to give students the skills and competencies necessary to compete successfully in complex 21st Century society.

Much more than a school, Christel House was established in 1998 by Founder and CEO Christel DeHaan, and currently serves over 4,600 impoverished students through eight learning centers—located in India, Mexico, South Africa and the U.S.A. Christel House students maintain a 99% graduation exam pass rate, and the majority of its graduates go on to pursue higher education. They become productive citizens, and many secure employment with top multinational corporations. Christel House graduates are confident, hardworking, responsible and ethical, with a passion for giving back to their communities and caring for their families.

For more information, please visit www.christelhouse.org and follow us on social media: www.facebook.com/christelhouse; www.twitter.com/christelhouse

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4ac2bb2-046c-453e-a0f2-a844d16319fb

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62d47922-4b5e-4239-858a-ed9f7b0b0e3b

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Bahamian recording artist Sammi Starr launches “#Bahamas, Your Best Picture Deserves My Best Song”, a social media campaign celebrating his love for his country, his music and his roots

NASSAU, Bahamas, March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ – Bahamas-born Sammi Starr, Sony Music recording artist, is proud to announce the launch of “#Bahamas, Your Best Picture Deserves My Best Song”, a grassroots social media campaign aiming to share with the world Sammi’s love for his country and the sounds of its Junkanoo festival through his song “Jump in Da Line”, a single produced and remixed by Latin Grammy® winner, DJ Buddha.

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Sammi Starr is launching “#Bahamas” on Tuesday, March 28th on his website www.sammistarrmusic.com as well as on Instagram. Sammi will search for his favorite photos and videos posted on Instagram with the hashtag #Bahamas and share them back with a soundtrack, his Bahamian Carnival anthem “Jump in Da Line” as well as an invitation to visit his web page. Fans can also add Sammi’s music to their photos themselves visiting www.sammistarrmusic.com.

“When you come to The Bahamas you are surrounded by beauty, music, culture, history and great vibes. I find thousands of pictures on Instagram of Bahamians and visitors having the time of their lives here. They inspired me to add my song “Jump in Da Line” as the soundtrack to their most vivid memories as we all celebrate together Junkanoo style through #Bahamas!” said Sammi.

“Jump in Da Line” is inspired by Junkanoo and it describes the Bahamian Junkanoo festival including the groups in formation and lines all moving to the sound of the rhythm. The song has received extensive airplay since its release and you can listen to it on the platform of your preference clicking here.

About Sammi Starr
Sammi Starr is a renowned Bahamian recording artist and producer in the Caribbean. Sammi landed a recording contract with Sony Music Latin for his single “Jump in Da Line” after winning the Music Masters Competition during the 2015 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival organized by the Bahamas National Festival Commission. He represents The Bahamas with pride at international events throughout the Caribbean and in the United States. His style has been described as a unique blend of Marvin Gaye, Usher, Kanye West and John Legend with an island twist. For more information, please visit: www.sammistarrmusic.com

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Sotheby’s International Realty Brand Expands Presence in Dominican Republic

MADISON, New Jersey, Feb. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced that Sergio Llach Luxury Dominican Properties in eastern Dominican Republic is the newest member of its network and will now operate as Sergio Llach Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Sergio Llach is the owner and operator of the boutique firm established in 2002 that serves the luxury residential real estate markets of La Romana, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Dominican Republic.

“Known for its beaches, resorts and golf courses, the Dominican Republic is an ideal second-home location,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.  “Sergio Llach and his knowledgeable team have a profound understanding of the luxury consumer in the Dominican Republic and we are proud to welcome them to our global network.”

“Providing excellent client service is how we measure our success,” said Llach.  “The wealth of opportunities provided by the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand will allow us to serve our clients at the highest level of quality and we are proud to be a member of the Sotheby’s International Realty network.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand also has an affiliate in northern Dominican Republic, Holden Sotheby’s International Realty.  The two brokerage companies plan to work cooperatively to best serve clientele around the island.

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 20,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in approximately 850 offices in 65 countries and territories worldwide.  Sergio Llach Sotheby’s International Realty listings will be marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website.  In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house.  The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.

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Antigua and Barbuda Implements GIIC Diplomatic Regulatory Framework

LONDON, Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne announced that the Cabinet has approved a new policy on diplomatic representation and accreditation based in part on the Global Investor Immigration Council’s (GIIC) regulatory recommendations.

The GIIC made the regulatory recommendations to increase the transparency and accountability of diplomatic appointments’ work with the country’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP). The recommendations are part of the GIIC’s collaboration with Professor Craig Barker, Dean of the School of International Law and Social Sciences, London South Bank University, and included proposals for more thorough due diligence, stricter appointment procedures and tighter controls.

“In order to manage the risks associated with these appointments, the appointment shall be for a maximum of two years, subject to renewal upon satisfactory performance.” shared the Hon. Gaston Browne. Further he shared “To ensure appropriate representation by non-national ambassadors-at-large, special envoys and honorary consuls, thorough background and other due diligence checks shall be conducted on persons under consideration and prior to their appointment.”

Mykolas Rambus, Chairman of the GIIC shared “For countries with citizenship by investment programs, diplomatic figures are of even greater importance. Conscious of preserving the integrity and standing of diplomatic and other passports of Antigua and Barbuda, the government has implemented even more rigorous appointment procedures including expanded due diligence and monitoring practices. Antigua and Barbuda have clearly taken steps to advance the reputation of the country and improve the performance of its citizenship by investment program.”

About the GIIC

The Global Investor Immigration Council (GIIC) is the investor immigration industry’s self-regulatory body, protecting integrity, ensuring transparency, and advancing advocacy for all constituents. The GIIC develops and maintains best industry practices, serves as a non-partisan, not-for-profit forum for all stakeholders to ensure dialogue, stability, and success. To learn more, please visit www.giic.uk.

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The University of the West Indies announces Canadian and Caribbean leaders to be honoured at the eighth annual Toronto Benefit Gala Saturday, April 1, 2017

TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – The University of the West Indies today announced leaders of Canadian and Caribbean heritage to be honored at the eighth annual Toronto Benefit Gala, on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, hosted by CBC News Anchor Dwight Drummond.

Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, will receive the Luminary Award. This award is given to people of Caribbean Heritage who are outstanding achievers on an international scale in their respective fields or people who have brought prominence to the Caribbean or to issues which affect the Region.

Archbishop Tutu has a strong passion for social justice, starting with his unflinching activism against Apartheid since the early 1970s, as the first Black Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and as Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. He has also used his high-profile position to campaign globally for poverty, HIV/AIDS, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and land rights. This is the second time UWI is recognizing the Archbishop for his accomplishments as he received an honorary degree from the university in 1986. Other prestigious acknowledgements he has received include the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Gandhi Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He will be represented at the UWI Toronto Gala by his daughter, Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth.

Canadian Senator Murray Sinclair will receive the G. Raymond Chang Award. The G. Raymond Chang award was established to honour outstanding individuals who exemplify the leadership and ideals of G. Raymond Chang (1948-2015). Mr. Chang was a recognized outstanding business leader and philanthropist who embodied great humility and commitment to his fellow persons. Chang, who passed away in July 2014, was the UWI Gala’s patron for five years.

Senator Sinclair served as the Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), documenting the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system that affected the lives of more than 6000 indigenous women and men of First Nations, Inuit and Métis background. Sinclair also served as the justice system in Manitoba for over 25 years and was the first Aboriginal Judge appointed in Manitoba and Canada’s second. He served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Manitoba. Over the course of his career, he has been recognized for his work in his profession and his community as the recipient of numerous awards, including Honorary Doctorates from eight Canadian universities.

The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala will also honour one Caribbean organization and five Canadian and Caribbean leaders in the following award categories.

The Chancellor’s Award will be presented to GraceKennedy. Established in 1922 by Dr. John Grace and Mr. Fred William Kennedy, in Kingston, Jamaica, it is one of the Caribbean’s largest group of companies that began as a general mercantile, shipping and insurance business. It operates in the food and financial services industries, with operations in Jamaica, other Caribbean countries, and Belize, the U.S., UK, Canada and Africa. GraceKennedy has also contributed to Jamaica’s development through the years through its two Foundations, generously providing financial assistance to a host of worthy causes. They are the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation (Grace & Staff) and the GraceKennedy Foundation. The Chancellor’s award is given to organizations, which have contributed significantly to the Caribbean, or outstanding organizations owned by persons of Caribbean heritage.

The Vice Chancellor’s Award, awarded to people of Caribbean heritage who have made significant contributions within their organizations and communities, will be presented to the five community leaders.

Dr. Renn Holness, Consultant Neurosurgeon
Dr. Holness is an alumnus of UWI’s Mona campus and recipient of an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc). He served as Professor and Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University and Director of The UWI Clinical Training Programme in Nassau, Bahamas. He served as President of the Canadian Neurological Society and Chairman of the Examining Board in Neurosurgery, Royal College of Physicians of Canada. He is a Professor and Examiner in Neurosurgery in the DM (UWI) Neurosurgery Programme and teaches at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Ms. Kay McConney, Businesswoman and Retired Diplomat
Ms. McConney was the youngest Consul-General of Barbados in Canada. She also served as a high-level diplomat at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland; and as a trade negotiator at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2009, she founded The Executive Minds which specializes in strengthening institutional and individual capacities for 21st century environments, through training, coaching and consulting.

Mr. Wayne Purboo, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Mr. Purboo is the President, CEO and Co-founder of Quickplay, developing award-winning technologies and forging critical partnerships with market leading content providers, video service providers, handset manufacturers and mobile service operators. He is also active on a number of Boards in Toronto.

Dr. Vivian Rambihar, Cardiologist and Community Activist
Dr. Rambihar is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a globally renowned cardiologist, involved in teaching, research and practice in Toronto for 35 years. Since 1990, he has lectured on ethnicity and health, and chaos/complexity and health across the West Indies. He is a pioneer in chaos and complexity science and is the first to apply these ideas to medicine, proposing their use in solving complex world problems, including peace, health, development, poverty reduction and climate change.  

The Honourable Mr. Justice Michael H. Tulloch, Judge, Ontario Court of Appeal
The Honourable Mr. Justice Michael H. Tulloch has been a judge on the Court of Appeals for Ontario since 2012 following nine years on the Superior Court of Justice. He was an Assistant Crown Attorney in both Peel and Toronto.

In 1995, he entered private practice, specializing in criminal law and continued in this practice until his appointment to the Bench in 2003. During his private practice, Justice Tulloch was also appointed a special prosecuting agent with the Federal Department of Justice, participating in a number of commissions. He has been actively involved in post-secondary education as well as numerous community organizations.

In 2011, he was appointed a Distinguished Research Fellow for the Centre of Law and Policy at Ryerson University. He is the recipient of two Honorary Doctorate Degrees. A Doctor of Laws from the University of Guelph and a Doctor of Theology from Tyndale University and Seminary.

The UWI Toronto Benefit Gala brings together Canada’s business and academic communities to celebrate the greatness and tireless work of the honourees, making it a much-anticipated event on the Toronto social calendar. Former honourees include: Dr. Shirley J. Thompson, Food For The Poor, Mr. Stephen Ames, Mr. Wesley Hall, Dr. Paul Steinbok, The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., Dr. the Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM, Tessanne Chin,  Roger Mooking and Mr. David Taylor, retired boxer and undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, The Hospital for Sick Children, Mary Anne Chambers, Dr. Upton Allen, Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay, The University of Toronto, award winning author Malcolm Gladwell, The University Health Network, Zanana Akande, The Honourable Harry Belafonte; The Right Hon. Michaëlle Jean, former Deputy Chief of Toronto police Mr. Keith L. Forde; Hon. Michael Lee-Chin, OJ; the Hon. Jean Augustine; the Hon. Justice Dr. Irving André and Dr. Karl Massiah, Senator Vivienne Poy and Mr. Charles Coffey.

Under the theme “Light, Learning and Liberty”, The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala provides funds for scholarships.  Over 250 scholarships have been awarded to date. Over 70 have graduated, most with first class honours. The Patron of the eighth annual Gala is The G. Raymond Chang Family (wife Donette Chin-Loy Chang, and children Andrew Chang and Brigette Chang Addorisio).  Lead Sponsor is Scotiabank for the eighth consecutive year.

Please visit our website www.uwitorontogala.com, or call 416-214-7848 or email the secretariat [email protected], for more information.  At this time, the event is SOLD OUT.

About The University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies was established in 1948 as a College of the University of London. It achieved full university status in 1962. Today it is the only pan-Caribbean tertiary level institution offering a wide array of diverse and accredited programmes to 45,000 students throughout the region, with campuses in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos.

Social Media
Web:
http://www.uwitorontogala.com
Twitter:@uwitorontogala
Facebook:www.facebook.com/UWIBenefitGalaToronto

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Midea expands operations for Latin America and the Caribbean

Portfolio includes full line of home appliances and portable devices, plus residential and commercial air conditioners

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Midea, a global leader in air conditioning and appliances, present in more than 150 countries, will invest US $ 30 million in expanding its business to Latin and Central America. The operation’s Head Quarter will be in Miami, where the launch of the project will take place on January 23rd at the Pullman Hotel.

The company, with revenues of over US $ 24 million, more than 20 factories and 124 thousand employees worldwide, aims to reach a key area for its global expansion strategy, Latin America and the Caribbean, which in 2016 only, had a volume of 12 million units sold, with average revenues of US $ 3.1 million.

Currently, Midea is present in the region in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, through the joint venture with American Carrier. “Our goal is to strengthen even more the brand globally, positioning products with the latest technology and quality,” says Joao Claudio Guetter, CEO of Midea LATAM.

“The strategy will be to introduce the products gradually with a launching schedule. To win local consumers, we will develop a differentiated product line, which will have the characteristics of each country where they will be offered, with specific design that pleases the consumer”.

The headquarters of the new operation was chosen for its geographical location, ease of finding bilingual professionals and the proximity to clients who have offices in the city, since they buy directly from the exporters in Miami.

Midea will market air conditioners; heaters, fans and humidifiers; water heaters; complete kitchen line; small appliances; vacuum cleaners and laundry line. The products will be brought from factories in China and Brazil.

About Midea

Founded in 1968, Midea Group is a World Fortune 500 company, and has grown to be one of the world’s largest manufacturers and exporters of household appliances.

Over 150 countries and regions, Midea employs over 124,000 people worldwide, including engineers, researchers, and industrial designers worldwide, which help the company to lead with innovative concepts that enrich the lives of consumers, in addition to providing manufacturing expertise and scale to business partners Around the world.

For more information, just go to www.midea.com/global/

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Grammy Nominated Legendary Jamaican Jazz Great Monty Alexander Returns To NYC’s Jazz Standard

Grammy Nominated Legendary Jamaican Jazz Great Monty Alexander.

Grammy Nominated Legendary Jamaican Jazz Great Monty Alexander.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Jan. 10, 2017: Grammy-nominated, award-winning Jamaican jazz pianist and band leader, Monty Alexander, will begin the New Year in fine style as he returns to the Jazz Standard, one of NYC’s renowned jazz clubs, from Jan. 31st to Feb. 4, 2017 for ten shows under the theme: “Looking Back.”

Alexander kicks off a five-night series of shows on January 31st by looking back on his career of pure jazz performances as he remembers and revisits his musical journey in jazz and jazz collaborations with some of the greatest giants of the genre between 1959 and 1977.

On Jan. 31st and Feb. 1st, Alexander, along with special guests Warren Wolf, (vibraphone), and Ron Blake, (tenor sax), will reprise songs from the Impulse! LP: ‘That’s The Way It Is,’ an outstanding album by the Milt Jackson Quintet – featuring Alexander, Ray Brown and Teddy Edwards that was recorded live in 1969 at Shelly Manne’s Manne–Hole in Los Angeles.

On Feb. 2, 2017, the jazz maestro, whose “right-hand lines ring out with the power of a great vocalist” according to NPR, will remember legends Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson and Norman Granz and Jazz at the Philharmonic/Montreux 1977.

The show wraps up on Friday, Feb. 3rd and Saturday, Feb. 4th with a special Jamaican fusion spotlight as Alexander, Jamaica’s Commander of Distinction, and his band, the Harlem-Kingston Express, bring the vibes of his beloved homeland to their fans, while remembering Clement Seymour “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, CD and Studio One, one of Jamaica’s most influential record producer whose record label and recording studio has been described as the ‘Motown of Jamaica.’

Show times are 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. nightly. Caribbean and other jazz fans who call New York City home can secure their tickets for the shows here or by logging on to the Jazz Standard website. Tickets are $35 for per show from Jan. 31st to Feb. 2nd and $40 per show from Feb. 3rd – 4th.

For over a decade, the Jazz Standard, at 116 E 27th St, New York, NY, has been setting the standard for world-class jazz, warm hospitality, pitch-perfect sound and award-winning Southern cuisine and barbecue in an intimate and comfortable environment.

Alexander is an American classic. His performances have been called pure magic by many journalists and jazz fans around the world and his sets are undoubtedly “a refined concept of groove.” This extraordinary musician continues to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. His energetic pieces, documented on more than 70 CDs, draws upon the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition “to build up the heat and kick up a storm,” as Alexander puts it.

In the course of any given performance, Alexander applies those aesthetics to a repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expression – the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Like his “eternal inspiration” – Erroll Garner -  Alexander is cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) and mentioned in Robert Doerschuk’s ‘88: The Giants of Jazz Piano.’

Alexander’s voluminous discography includes albums for many labels including MPS, Concord Music, Island Jazz, Telarc and Studio One. Two of his most fondly remembered professional associations was with legendary jazz entrepreneur and producer Norman Granz, who conceived of Jazz at the Philharmonic back in the late 40’s/50’s and “Sir Coxsone Dodd.” The pianist recorded “Monty and the Cyclones” between 1959-1961 for Studio One and released three LPs on Granz’s Pablo label in the 70’s – Jamento (1978), In Tokyo (1979), and Soul Fusion (1978) by Milt Jackson & The Monty Alexander Trio.

For more on Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performance on Twitter at @montyHKE.

Media Contact:

Felicia Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616

[email protected]

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Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited to Own and Operate Baha Mar Resort

Leading, Global Conglomerate to Create Thousands of Jobs for Bahamians

Phased Opening Planned for Resort Beginning April 2017

NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE), a leading Hong Kong-based global conglomerate with a diversified business portfolio – including extensive hospitality experience with resort and mixed-use developments worldwide – today announced it has signed an agreement to own and operate Baha Mar Resort. The signed share purchase agreement (SPA) allows for the acquisition by CTFE of all issued capital from Perfect Luck Assets Limited (Perfect Luck), including those Baha Mar Resort assets previously transferred to the company.

Said Graeme Davis, President, CTFE’s Bahamas subsidiary, “CTFE will dedicate significant, ongoing investment and resources towards the pre-opening and opening of Baha Mar Resort. We will also ensure that the Bahamian people and the region benefit fully from the project, which will create tremendous job and economic stimulus opportunities. Further, by combining our global hospitality expertise with the vibrant and authentic Bahamian culture, we will create a memorable, unmatched experience for guests of which all Bahamians can be proud.”

CTFE is in discussions with several globally recognized hospitality brands to be luxury hotel operators at Baha Mar including Grand Hyatt, SLS Hotels, and CTFE subsidiary, Rosewood Hotel Group.

To prepare for the opening of the casino hotel and casino, CTFE is onboarding a leadership team of executives from internationally recognized brands. It plans to begin recruiting employees for the casino in the New Year and is also in discussions to form marketing alliances with leading global gaming companies.

CTFE Brings Vast, Global Expertise with a Diverse Portfolio Including Tourism and Hospitality

CTFE has a diversified, international business portfolio across the commercial real estate, hospitality, retail and transportation industries that includes property holding and development; hotel investment and management; jewellery retailing and department store interests; and transportation and infrastructure investment. Among the publicly listed companies controlled by CTFE are New World Development Company Limited, a property developer with a market capitalization of over US $10 billion; NWS Holdings Ltd, an infrastructure and transportation company with a market capitalization of over US $6 billion; and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, one of the largest jewellery retailers in the world with a market capitalization of over US $8 billion.

Within the tourism and hospitality arena, CTFE’s expertise is extensive, in part through its ownership of Rosewood Hotel Group, which owns and/or operates 55 hotels in 18 countries under three different brands. These include some of the world’s most iconic hotel properties including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York), Rosewood London and Rosewood Beijing.    Rosewood Hotel Group also operates three Caribbean resorts: Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort in Antigua, Rosewood Tucker’s Point in Bermuda, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands (re-opening 2017).

In addition, the expertise of CTFE and its affiliated companies includes large-scale investment and development projects such as the US $10+ billion Greenwich Peninsula development project, one of the largest investments in London’s history, which is expected to include more than 15,000 new residences; the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, a US $2.3 billion integrated resort development project in Australia; and a deluxe casino hotel development in Metro Manila, in the Philippines.

CTFE Committed to Phased Opening of Baha Mar Resort Beginning April 2017 and the Creation of Thousands of Jobs for Bahamians

CTFE is dedicated to the successful and timely opening and operation of Baha Mar Resort. Upon completion of the project by China Construction America (CCA) and EXIM Bank, the company intends to quickly establish Baha Mar as one of the world’s finest destination properties.  CTFE plans to open the resort in phases, beginning with phase one in April 2017, which will include the casino hotel, casino, convention center and golf course. The company estimates that more than 1,500 jobs will be generated for Bahamians within this first phase. Once fully operational, Baha Mar Resort will employ thousands more.

Davis continued, “The Bahamas is one of the most iconic and popular destinations in the Caribbean. As we build on the foundation that has been established thus far, a critical part of our vision for Baha Mar Resort is to showcase the extraordinary beauty of the island in addition to its culture.  In partnership with the Bahamian people, we look forward to delivering future guests a resort that is distinctive not only for the Bahamas but for the entire Caribbean.”

CTFE has plans to invest an additional US $200 million in the project to support pre-opening activities as well as the redevelopment of the prime beachfront Crystal Palace Casino Hotel site, and the development of additional family-friendly amenities, entertainment venues and offshore island facilities.

Bahamian Prime Minister and EXIM Bank Support CTFE in its New Role

“We are delighted to have CTFE join Baha Mar Resort as the owner and developer, leveraging its expansive network and resources to open new markets and opportunities for The Bahamas that will deliver great benefits to the island and our people,” said the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Perry G. Christie. “The Government is confident that CTFE has the precise capabilities and track record to successfully complete and operate Baha Mar Resort from both a lodging and casino perspective. We look forward to having such a renowned and experienced company turn the vision for Baha Mar Resort into reality.”

EXIM Bank said in a statement, “While there have been challenges with the project along the way, The Government of The Bahamas and EXIM Bank have been steadfast in bringing this project to fruition. Now, with a supremely qualified, world-class owner and operator in place, we look forward to working together with CTFE to bring the already stellar reputation of the Bahamas as a leading tourism destination to a new level.”

About Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited

Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) is a leading Hong Kong-based conglomerate owned and controlled by the Cheng Family with a diversified global business portfolio. Principal activities of CTFE and the Cheng Family include commercial real estate, hospitality, retail and transportation industries that includes property holding and development; hotel investment and management; jewellery retailing and department store interest; transportation and infrastructure investment. Among the publicly listed companies controlled by CTFE are New World Development Company Limited, a property developer with a market capitalization of over US $10 billion; NWS Holdings Ltd, an infrastructure and transportation company with a market capitalization of over US $6 billion; and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, one of the largest jewellery retailers in the world with a market capitalization of over US $8 billion.

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Caricel Joins Global Cyber Alliance

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Dec. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Caricel, Jamaica’s only superfast LTE broadband network is pleased to announce its partnership with the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), an international non-profit organization focused on addressing systemic cyber risks through delivery of concrete, measurable solutions.

Risks to consumers – government, businesses and individuals – are on the rise. Threats such as phishing, malware, spyware and other threats continue to be of high concern. As part of its ongoing commitment to be the best telecommunications provider in Jamaica, Caricel is working to reduce risk to its customers.

“Our partnership with the Global Cyber Alliance is part of our commitment to provide our customers with the best internet experience in the country and create a positive impact on our community. Caricel seeks to provide quality service with the added peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to protect our customer from harm,” said Lowell Lawrence, Director and CEO of Caricel.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Caricel as a Global Cyber Alliance partner.  GCA applauds Caricel’s efforts to provide a more secure Internet experience for the citizens and businesses of Jamaica,” said Philip Reitinger, President and CEO of GCA. ”We look forward to working with Caricel and our other partners to enhance wireless security in the Caribbean, using GCA’s projects to help protect Caricel’s customers and Caricel’s capabilities and contributions to make the Internet safer for everyone.”

Caricel is a Jamaican owned telecommunications company providing mobile data services to businesses and residential customers in Jamaica. The company is among the first to provide 4G LTE service in Jamaica with mobile solutions and internet service on the go. Caricel has the distinction of being the only “Jamaican owned, facilities based telecommunications company” to survive the liberalization process since 2003 and enter the mobile telecommunications market.

The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to confronting cyber risk and improving our connected world. It is a catalyst to bring communities of interest and affiliations together in an environment that sparks innovation with concrete, measureable achievements. While most efforts at addressing cyber risk have been industry, sector, or geographically specific, GCA partners across borders and sectors. GCA’s mantra “Do Something. Measure It.” is a direct reflection of its mission to eradicate systemic cyber risks. GCA, a 501(c)3, was founded in September 2015 by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the City of London Police and the Center for Internet Security. Learn more at www.globalcyberalliance.org.

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