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Check Out Our New Blog Posts!
Dear Friends of the Canada-Caribbean Institute:
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Summer is here! And while we've slowed the pace of our newsletter for several weeks there is still plenty going on. Here are some of the news stories and announcements that we have been following.
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One of the things to notice is that we have adopted a new logo and visual identity. Our new design was the result of a student competition that you can read about below.
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If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to those in your networks who might also find it interesting... and tell them to subscribe.
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If you have a story, or ideas for relevant content, that you think we should look at, please do not hesitate to get in touch,
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Gary Bryan, student at Northern Caribbean University, wins competition to design the new logo for the Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI)
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Our new logo has arrived!! Some time ago we launched a student competition across our Member Institutions to design a new logo for the Canada-Caribbean Institute. We are pleased to announce that Gary Bryan, a student at Northern Caribbean University provided us with the winning entry. Gary's design of an arch/bridge formed by the fusion of a Canadian maple leaf …
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Trade Mission to Canada - Join the Virtual Information Session
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Interested in the GRIT 2026 Trade Mission to Canada? Join our upcoming Virtual Information Session to learn more about this exciting opportunity for eligible women-led businesses seeking to explore the Canadian market. During the session, prospective applicants will receive important information on: ✅ The purpose and activities of the trade mission✅ Eligibility criteria and the selection process✅ Application requirements and …
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George Brown alum Jair Kale brings Orinoco Odyssey to the Waterfront Campus
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George Brown Polytechnic is proud to welcome 2021 Fashion Management alumnus Jair Kale back to campus with his football-focused exhibition Orinoco Odyssey, on view at the Waterfront Campus Store until July 26. July 14, 2026 Orinoco Odyssey blends fashion, sport, history and cultural storytelling into a deeply personal exploration of Jair’s Trinidadian and Venezuelan heritage. The exhibition traces the connections among the Orinoco River Delta, …
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Development Partners and Government Rally Behind Jamaica's Recovery at the Fourth Development Partners Forum
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01 July 2026 Kingston, Jamaica — Jamaica’s international development partners and the Government of Jamaica met on Tuesday, June 30th at the Fourth Jamaica Development Partners Forum to chart a coordinated path for the country's recovery following Hurricane Melissa. Held at the UWI Regional Headquarters under the theme "After Melissa: Supporting Jamaica's Resilient Recovery," the forum brought together senior representatives of …
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How Masabilities makes celebrating Toronto Carnival more accessible for disabled Caribbean communities
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A sold-out Toronto event is reimagining Carnival through accessibility, adaptive programming and culturally informed supports, giving disabled and neurodivergent Afro-Caribbean people a space to celebrate without barriers. July 15, 2026 Devon Banfield What to know Masabilities, a sold-out Carnival-inspired event returning July 25, creates an accessible celebration for disabled and neurodivergent Afro-Caribbean people, alongside their families and caregivers. The event …
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International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Exhibition (IUSLCEE)
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2050 Starts with Us: International Undergraduate Student Conference & Entrepreneurship Exhibition Advances Student Research, Leadership, and Innovation The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Monday, July 6, 2026—Marking a historic milestone for The University of the West Indies (UWI), the inaugural International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Exhibition (IUSLCEE) is scheduled to be held September 23–25, 2026, at The UWI …
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Services on the Rise: How Canada’s Trade Future Is Being Redrawn by Digital and Commercial Services
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Global Affairs Canada released a report entitled State of Trade 2026 that provides clear evidence of the importance of trade in services to modern economies. While the report covers the Canadian situation only, government and business in both Canada and Caribbean need to recognize the role of services and ensure that their policies are tailored to advance the services economy. …
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Strengthening trade and investment between T&T and Canada
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Beyond Borders: Dr Vashti Guyadeen, July 15, 2026 On 9 July 2026, the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce launched its Canada Trade and Investment Mission 2026, an initiative aimed at creating new commercial opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago businesses in the Canadian market. The trade mission will take place from August 27 to September 2, 2026 and …
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Caribbean calls for return of British Virgin Islands – and for King Charles to back decolonisation
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At London briefing, Caricom Reparations Commission decries fact region remains ‘most colonised part of world’ Chris Osuh Tue 14 Jul 2026 The main reparations committee for Caribbean nations has called on the UK to return the British Virgin Islands and for King Charles to commit to decolonising Britain’s remaining overseas territories, warning of a “resurgence of colonisation” around the world. In a …
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Keeping Independence Alive: Belize @45
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The Belize Policy Research Institute at the University of Belize (BELPRI-UB) in collaboration with the Institute of Social & Cultural Research-National Institute of Culture and History (ISCR‑NICH) welcome submissions exploring Belize's progress, shortcomings, and pathways forward.🗓 Submission Deadline: July 27, 2026ℹ Conference Information:Keeping Independence Alive: Belize @ 45September 30-October 1, 2026Belmopan, Belize (In person)✉ Send Submissions to:belpri@ub.edu.bzFor more information, visit …
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Guyana's candidate for top UN post receives backing of Caribbean leaders
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July 13, 2026 by Nand C. Bardouille Members of a leading regional grouping of Caribbean countries have converged around a candidate regarding the much-publicised race for the next United Nations (UN) Secretary-General. Yet this diplomatic moment is not so straightforward. It requires a closer look with an eye to an emergent geopolitical situation that carries warnings for such states, which …
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The CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Ten Point Plan for Reparations: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment
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The CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Ten Point Plan for Reparations: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment is a document prepared principally for the governments and people of the Caribbean but conceptualised and designed to facilitate and guide the global African reparations movement. It outlines the development priorities for the Region as it demands reparations from the United Kingdom (UK), Europe and …
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Caribbean Canadian Investment Summit and Trade Forum (CCISTF) 2026
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June 26, 2026 Toronto, Ontario – The Official Launch for the Caribbean Canadian Investment Summit & Trade Forum (CCISTF) 2026, Canada's premier platform for advancing trade, investment and economic collaboration between Canada and the Caribbean. As Canada diversifies trade beyond the U.S., the Caribbean is emerging as a real investment destination. The launch event will bring together elected officials, members …
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Ontario artistes keeping the legacy of Miss Lou alive
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TORONTO July 11 2026 by Neil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer Tania Hernandez, also known as Miss Tania Lou, and Nadia L. Hohn have been so inspired by the life of Jamaica’s late cultural ambassador, Louise Bennett-Coverley, popularly known as Miss Lou, that they have created works to honour her legacy. Hernandez, who was born in Jamaica and is a multi-talented Hamilton resident, …
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Communique from the 51st CARICOM Leaders meeting
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The CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting recently wrapped up in St. Lucia and the Communique has been released. As usual, the meeting covered a wide range of issues ranging from important governance issues (reappointment of the Secretary General); support for a candidate for the UN Secretary General position; updates on CARICOM memberships; Haiti; reparations; border issues and other questions. The …
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“No Small State is Safe”: Experts at UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Forum caution Cuba’s Crisis Tests Caribbean Solidarity
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The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I., Wednesday, July 8, 2026— Cuba’s deepening crisis reflects broader shifts in the global order and is testing Caribbean solidarity, regional experts said at a Vice-Chancellor’s Forum hosted by The University of the West Indies (The UWI) on June 25. The livestreamed event titled “Perspectives on the Current Cuban Crisis: Issues, Impact, and Imperatives” brought together diplomats, academics, …
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Call of Martinique "Countering narcotrafficking and illicit trafficking in the Caribbean and across the Americas"
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The “Call of Martinique” is a new G7‑linked multinational security declaration issued on 7 July 2026 in Fort‑de‑France, Martinique, under the French Presidency of the G7. It is not a treaty but a political commitment by a large coalition of countries and regional bodies to intensify cooperation against drug trafficking, illicit firearms trafficking, and transnational organized crime across the Caribbean …
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EU calls on Antigua to phase out Citizenship by Investment programme
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ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The Antigua and Barbuda Government says it has been called upon by the European Union (EU) to phase out its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme by June 2028. Antigua and Barbuda is among several countries within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) which provides citizenship to foreign investors in return for making a substantial …
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STATEMENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) ON THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL
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July 7, 2026 During the Retreat of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held on 06 July 2026, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago maintained its objection to the process used in the reappointment of the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM acknowledged that the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago desires to have the issue of …
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Haiti approves $120M budget for long-delayed elections
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by Juhakenson Blaise Jul. 07, 2026 Government and electoral council reach compromise after months of disputes, but key steps—including an electoral calendar and final decree—remain unfinished Haiti's government and electoral council agreed on a $120 million budget for long-delayed elections, though major components of the process remain unresolved. Authorities said this amount, developed with technical support from the Ministry of Economy …
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Caribbean leaders continue to urge unity over divisions as leaders meet in St. Lucia
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By Jacqueline Charles July 6, 2026 Caribbean leaders opened a four-day summit in this windswept eastern Caribbean island on Sunday once more seeking to project unity over division and cooperation over confrontation amid an increasingly complex political environment and growing strains within the bloc. In the five months since they last met, the region has seen the return of ruling governments …
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Stephen Francis, influential coach who transformed Jamaican sprinting, dies at 64
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KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — June 5, 2026 Stephen Francis, the influential Jamaican track and field coach whose athletes won Olympic and world titles and helped turn the small Caribbean island into a sprinting powerhouse, has died, his club said Sunday. He was 64. The training group Francis co-founded in 1999, the Maximising Velocity & Power Track & Field Club, or …
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Trinidad and Tobago PM to attend regional summit
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Anna Ramdass, July 2, 2026 ...says T&T will not recognise a new term for the Secretary-General Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed that she will be attending the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government in St Lucia which starts Sunday. Persad-Bissessar said she spoke to incoming Caricom chairman, St Lucia’s Prime Minister …
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High and dry: St Lucia’s battle to fix water woes
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By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK June 30, 2026 Costly effort to overhaul supply has yet to solve the everyday struggle for reliable water On the small Caribbean island of St Lucia, a crisis is brewing. For “more than a decade”, residents have lived with an “intermittent water supply”, said The Guardian. But the most recent emergency has upended day-to-day life for …
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Jamaica to ask King Charles to refer reparations questions to Privy Council
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July 1, 2026KINGSTON – Jamaica says it will formally petition Charles III on September 6 to refer key legal questions on slavery reparations to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the Caribbean country advances its campaign for reparatory justice. Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange told Parliament during her contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate on Tuesday that …
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What is in the Caribbean’s new slavery reparations manifesto?
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June 25, 2026 Caricom Reparations Commission’s Hilary Beckles explains how it will help address the ‘residual legacy of slavery’ Barbados prime minister announces manifesto for slavery reparations One of the key outcomes of the recent reparations conference in Ghana was the launch of the Caribbean’s manifesto outlining the “moral, ethical and legal case for reparations” for the enslavement of African people. The …
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Barbados prime minister announces manifesto for slavery reparations
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June 18, 2026 Updated document, which emphasises harm done to African women, is being considered by other Caribbean countries Barbados’s prime minister, Mia Mottley, has announced a new manifesto from Caribbean leaders asserting the “moral, ethical and legal case” for reparations over damage caused by hundreds of years of enslavement. Mottley was speaking at a “historic” conference in Ghana to advance the push …
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JOINT SUMMARY: 2026 CANADA-CARICOM Foreign Ministers Group Meeting
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A little more detail on the recent CARICOM-Canada Foreign Ministers meeting. June 26, 2026 This week, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and the Honourable Christopher Sinckler, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, on behalf of the Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) presided over the …
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Minister Anand concludes participation in the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, announces $35.3 million to support security and stability in the Americas
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Canada and CARICOM have launched a renewed action plan under the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership. This is good to see, although including greater detail in the announcement would be useful to fully understand what is included in the new action plan. News release June 23, 2026 - Panama City, Panama - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign …
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Minister Anand to attend the General Assembly of Organization of American States in Panama
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It is positive to see that a Canada-CARICOM discussion is planned to discuss key issues under the Canada-Strategic Partnership. News release June 21, 2026 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Panama from June 22 to 24, 2026. Minister Anand will lead Canada’s official delegation to the 56th regular …
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BRN, U of T and University of the West Indies fund research on climate resilience, health and AI
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June 17, 2026 Five research teams have received funding through a joint initiative supported by the University of Toronto’s Black Research Network (BRN), the Office of the Vice-President, International and the University of the West Indies (UWI). New collaborations tackling climate resilience, public health and artificial intelligence to improve daily life are among the projects receiving support through the program. …
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About the the Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI)
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The CCI is a collaboration between Caribbean and Canadian universities and colleges. The mission of the Institute is to provide a forum:
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to connect academic institutions, scholars, the business and public sectors, civil society, the cultural and diaspora communities
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to inform and encourage collaboration across Canada and the Caribbean to advance important social, environmental, and economic issues that are vital to the shared prosperity and advancement of both regions; and
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to identify impediments and opportunities related to such progress.
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For more information please visit our website
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