AGP Executive Report

Venezuela Relief Logistics: Dominica-linked aid for Venezuela’s quake response is set to move via the Galleons Passage to La Guaira’s hardest-hit areas, with private supplies expected to depart soon and Shell pledging a US$5m disaster relief fund as officials push for faster government logistics. Creative Industries Forum: The Alwin Bully Foundation will host a public panel on July 8 at UWI Global Campus, Roseau, focused on building a sustainable arts and cultural industries sector. Bouyon Export Push: Dominican artist Shelly Alfred has wrapped a first Grenada promotional tour, using the trip to boost “I Deserve This” and set up further Caribbean expansion ahead of Spice Mas 2026. Community Tourism Training: OECS is strengthening community-based tourism across member states after a June workshop in Saint Lucia, backed by the EU’s RIGHT programme, aiming to make local communities the main beneficiaries of tourism growth. Indigenous Tourism Skills: Sixteen Kalinago residents graduated as certified tour guides under a UNDP-supported programme, coordinated with the Kalinago Council and Dominica State College to expand indigenous tourism opportunities. Whale Reserve Stakeholder Talks: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators in Dominica to support the reserve while protecting marine livelihoods. Standards & Safety Input: The Dominica Bureau of Standards is soliciting public comments on draft standards, as local voices continue to press for stronger product safety oversight.

Tourism & Culture: Wet Fete 2026 returns to Anguilla on July 31 at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, with a regional lineup that includes Dominica’s bouyon acts Little Boy, Quan Dan and Jahari Chi, alongside bands from St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Community Tourism Capacity: OECS tourism officials met in Saint Lucia (June 9–11) to strengthen community-based tourism policies and action plans, supported by the 11th EDF RIGHT programme, pushing local entrepreneurs and communities to keep more tourism value at home. Indigenous Tourism Skills: Sixteen Kalinago residents graduated as certified tour guides after UNDP-supported training coordinated with the Kalinago Council, Dominica State College and the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association. Marine Economy & Protection: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators in Dominica to align whale protection with sustainable marine livelihoods. Standards & Safety: The Dominica Bureau of Standards faces renewed public pressure after concerns were raised about unsafe imported electrical appliances and a home power tool with design flaws. Energy & Resilience (Regional): Canada and CARICOM renewed cooperation with a results-focused action plan spanning competitive economies, climate action and regional security, including Haiti.

Indigenous Tourism & Jobs: Sixteen residents of Kalinago Territory graduated as certified tour guides after a UNDP-supported training, coordinated with Dominica State College and the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association, aiming to boost community resilience and sustainable tourism. Citizenship by Investment Scrutiny: A new peer-reviewed study questions whether Caribbean CBI vetting claims match what banks see after passports are granted, raising fresh concerns for the region’s financial safeguards. Marine Economy & Conservation: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators in Dominica to align livelihoods with protection of the globally significant whale population. Local Politics & Economic Focus: UPP introduced Edline Harris as Roseau South candidate, pitching a community-centred campaign focused on education and employment. Energy & Resilience Policy: Regional leaders at the CDB urged a faster, coordinated renewable energy transition, calling for investable portfolios, blended finance, and modern climate-resilient grids. Marine Protected Areas: Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with school and public awareness activities centered on marine conservation and stewardship. STEM Skills Pipeline: ECCB announced its free 2026 STEM Camp (ages 14–18 across ECCU territories, including Dominica) to build digital and innovation skills. Infrastructure & Services: Regulators in Dominica and St. Lucia asked Flow for a detailed report after a severe outage, with preliminary causes pointing to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua. Standards & Safety: Dominica Bureau of Standards faced renewed criticism over slow responses to reported safety concerns involving electrical appliances and a power hand tool.

Sperm Whale Reserve: Dominica’s newly formed Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started stakeholder consultations, meeting watersports operators in Goodwill to share progress, explain its mandate, and push shared responsibility for protecting the globally significant sperm whale population while supporting marine-based livelihoods. Roseau North Politics: DLP candidate Ashma McDougall backed by PM Roosevelt Skerrit at Lindo Park, with the campaign framing Roseau North as a hub of entrepreneurs and youth and pitching a plan focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and community wellbeing ahead of a by-election expected before mid-September. Telecom Reliability: Dominica and St Lucia regulators have asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage left customers without service for nearly 19 hours; preliminary indications point to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, with regulators urging backup communication plans and follow-up steps to strengthen network resilience. Marine Conservation & Fisheries: The Fisheries Division marked Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve Day 2026 with school and public awareness activities under the theme “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet,” continuing the long-running push for stewardship of Dominica’s coastal and ocean resources. Digital Skills: UWI’s Seismic Research Centre director urged preparedness after major Venezuela earthquakes, while UWI also secured strong representation in the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship, highlighting growing regional capacity-building in engineering and policy. Local Business & Culture: Dominica’s Bouyon continues to gain traction internationally, with local artists and songs nominated for the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, reinforcing the genre’s role in tourism and cultural branding.

Roseau North By-Election Politics: DLP candidate Ashma McDougall launched her campaign with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit backing her as the “right platform” to serve Roseau North, pitching youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, education and community wellbeing as her core agenda. Telecom Reliability: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators urged backup communication plans after a Flow outage left customers without service for nearly 19 hours, with Flow pointing to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua and promising resilience upgrades. Standards & Consumer Safety: The Dominica Bureau of Standards opened public comments on draft standards, while a commentary renewed calls for stronger action on unsafe imported electrical appliances and defective power tools. Marine Conservation: The Fisheries Division marked Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve Day 2026 with school and public awareness activities under the theme “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet.” Digital Skills for Youth: UWI’s first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship selected participants across the region, including Dominica-based university community members. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: A regional soil-health training programme reached 49 farmers and agricultural officers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, supporting climate-resilient farming practices. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders and partners called for a more coordinated renewable energy push, warning that fragmented efforts won’t deliver reliable, affordable power. Infrastructure Procurement: DOWASCO issued a tender for the purchase of vehicles, with bids due June 30.

Roseau North Campaign Launch: PM Roosevelt Skerrit backed DLP candidate Ashma McDougall at Lindo Park, framing Roseau North as a hub of entrepreneurs, youth and public workers and pitching a “new generation” of leadership focused on bread-and-butter issues and economic opportunity. Mobility & Citizenship Watch: The Global Passport Index 2026 highlights a widening gap between the world’s strongest and weakest passports, with Dominica noted among Caribbean citizenship-by-investment performers. Digital Skills Push: UWI’s Seismic Research Centre director urged preparedness after major Venezuela quakes, while UWI also placed nearly three dozen people into the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship to build Caribbean-ready expertise in digital systems. Energy Transition Drive: Caribbean leaders and regulators renewed calls for a faster, coordinated renewable energy push, including regional portfolios, blended finance and more resilient grids. Telecom Reliability: Dominica and St Lucia regulators asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage blamed on a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, urging businesses and consumers to plan backups. Standards & Safety: The Dominica Bureau of Standards is again in the spotlight over public concerns about product safety and electrical appliance risks. Marine Conservation: Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with school and community activities focused on marine protected areas and stewardship. Industry & Culture Export: Dominica’s Signal Band brought Bouyon energy to St. Kitts Music Festival, reinforcing the island’s cultural brand beyond tourism.

Roseau North By-Election: PM Roosevelt Skerrit backed Ashma McDougall at Labour’s campaign lift-off, pitching youth empowerment and “bread-and-butter” delivery ahead of the expected mid-September vote. Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage blamed on a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, urging backup communication plans for customers. Digital Skills Pipeline: UWI’s Seismic Research Centre and the wider UWI community saw 30+ selected for the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure fellowship, aimed at building Caribbean-ready expertise in digital infrastructure. Standards & Consumer Safety: The Dominica Bureau of Standards faced renewed criticism over slow responses to safety concerns about imported electrical appliances and a home power tool. Water & Marine Conservation: Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with marine protection messaging for schools and the public. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders called for a faster, coordinated renewable energy shift, with regulators and utilities urged to scale resilient grids and financing. Infrastructure Procurement: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of vehicles (JCB backhoe) with bids due June 30. Regional Diplomacy: Canada and CARICOM renewed a strategic partnership focused on security, climate resilience, and trade. STEM for Youth: ECCB announced its 2026 STEM Camp starting July 6 for students across ECCU territories, including Dominica. Culture & Industry: Dominica’s Bouyon artists scored nominations at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, reinforcing the genre’s growing tourism and export appeal.

Roseau North By-Election Campaign: PM Roosevelt Skerrit officially backed DLP candidate Ashma McDougall at the campaign lift-off in Goodwill, framing the race around “bread-and-butter” issues like youth empowerment and entrepreneurship ahead of a by-election expected before mid-September. Seismic Preparedness: UWI Seismic Research Centre urged calm but readiness after major earthquakes in Venezuela, noting the Caribbean Plate saw disruption and that monitoring is ongoing. Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St Lucia regulators asked Flow for a detailed report after a severe outage left customers without service for nearly 19 hours, with preliminary cause linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua. Standards & Consumer Safety: The Dominica Bureau of Standards is soliciting public comments on draft standards, while a separate commentary renews pressure on the regulator to act on safety concerns with imported electrical appliances and power tools. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders and CDB officials called for a more coordinated renewable energy drive, warning fragmented efforts won’t meet resilience and affordability goals. Agriculture & Climate-Smart Training: IICA expanded soil-health training for 49 farmers and technical officers in St Vincent and the Grenadines under a climate-resilient agriculture project. Regional Digital Skills: UWI announced nearly three dozen selections for the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship, aimed at building Caribbean-ready expertise in digital governance and resilience. Bouyon Spotlight: Dominica’s Signal Band brought Bouyon energy to the St Kitts Music Festival, and Dominica’s Bouyon artists scored nominations at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards.

Education & Research Links: Five Arkansas State University students returned from Dominica on a first-of-its-kind environmental management study trip led by Dr. Jason Post, with field mapping and ecology work forming part of the two-project programme. Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage left customers offline for nearly 19 hours, with preliminary blame on a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua; regulators also urged backup communication plans. Water & Climate Pressure (Regional): Coverage highlights how Caribbean islands are wrestling with intermittent supplies and drought risk as climate extremes intensify, with Dominica mentioned in the context of regional water support discussions. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders and CDB officials renewed calls for a coordinated renewable energy shift, including bundling projects and building climate-resilient grids. Agriculture & Soil Health: An ADOPT Caribbean soil-health initiative trained 49 farmers and technical officers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, using soil testing to guide climate-resilient farming practices. Local Industry & Services: DOWASCO issued a tender for the purchase of vehicles, with bids due June 30. Culture with Economic Reach: Dominica’s Bouyon continues to travel—Signal Band brought Bouyon energy to St. Kitts Music Festival, while Dominica’s Bouyon artists scored nominations for the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards.

Bouyon & Culture Export: Dominica’s Signal Band brought high-energy Bouyon to the St. Kitts Music Festival in Basseterre (June 25), rooted in Goodwill since 2010 and praised for blending jing ping/lapo kabwit with modern electronic, soca and reggae. Regional Diplomacy for Industry: Canada and CARICOM renewed their strategic partnership in Panama, backing an action plan for competitive economies, climate action and regional security, with timelines and measurable outcomes. Digital Skills Push: UWI secured places for nearly three dozen people in the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure (GDI) Fellowship, training participants across engineering, law, policy, economics and media to strengthen resilient digital systems in the Caribbean. Climate-Smart Agriculture: IICA expanded its ADOPT Caribbean soil-health training in St. Vincent, with 49 farmers and technical officers learning soil testing and field practices for climate-resilient food production. Energy Transition Pressure: CDB governors urged the Caribbean to move faster on renewables with coordinated regional portfolios, blended finance and modern climate-resilient grids. Local Business & Services: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of vehicles (JCB backhoe 2CX, 2008) with bids due June 30. Marine Conservation: Dominica’s Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with school presentations, radio programmes and an inter-school debate under “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet.” Tech & Connectivity Risk: Regulators urged Flow customers in Dominica and St. Lucia to plan backups after a fibre-path fault outage between Guadeloupe and Antigua left users offline for nearly 19 hours.

Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say Flow’s near-19-hour outage (June 21-22) was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, and they’re pushing for stronger network resilience and backup plans for customers. Water & Climate Risk: St Lucia’s water crunch is tied to unreliable supply and “super El Niño” uncertainty, with tourism and households feeling the squeeze as climate stress tests infrastructure. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting urged coordinated action to scale renewables, bundle projects into investable portfolios, and modernize climate-ready grids. Digital Skills for Youth: ECCB’s free 2026 STEM Camp (starting July 6) targets ages 14-18 across ECCU territories, including Dominica, to build tech and innovation skills. Water Utility Procurement: DOWASCO issued a tender for the purchase of vehicles, with bids due June 30. Marine Conservation: Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with school and public awareness activities under “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet.” Local Politics & Jobs: DLP launches Roseau North campaign Sunday (Ashma McDougall), spotlighting youth, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators say Flow’s near-19-hour outage (June 21–22) was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, and they’re pushing for stronger backup connectivity and network resilience. Urban Infrastructure: Dominica has entered the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project, with a kickoff meeting for consultants and utilities ahead of road upgrades and drainage/sidewalk improvements. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting urged coordinated renewable energy action—bundling projects, using blended finance, and building climate-resilient grids instead of fragmented national efforts. Digital Skills for Youth: The ECCB’s first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship has selected nearly three dozen UWI-linked participants to study how digital infrastructure should be designed and governed for resilience. Climate-Smart Farming: IICA training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines reached 49 farmers and technical officers under an ADOPT soil-health programme, including soil testing to guide future management. Marine Conservation: Dominica’s Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with school presentations, radio programmes, and an inter-school debate focused on protecting marine protected areas. Local Business & Services: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of vehicles, with bids due June 30. Tourism & Culture: Dominica’s Bouyon artists scored nominations at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, while regional festival buzz continues with major soca lineups across the islands.

Digital Skills Boost: The UWI secured nearly three dozen spots in the inaugural Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship, with participants spanning students, faculty and alumni, and training delivered with SubOptic Foundation and UC Berkeley experts. Climate-Smart Agriculture: In St Vincent and the Grenadines, 49 farmers and technical officers completed training under IICA’s ADOPT Caribbean soil-health project, including soil sampling to guide future climate-resilient farming. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB annual meeting urged a more coordinated renewable energy transition, calling for regional project bundling, blended finance, and modern climate-resilient grids. Telecom Resilience After Flow Outage: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say Flow’s fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua triggered a near-19-hour disruption, and they’re urging customers to set backup communication plans while regulators review Flow’s resilience upgrades. Roseau Upgrade Moves Ahead: Dominica has entered the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project, starting works planning for road upgrades and safer, more pedestrian-friendly streets. Water, Marine and Culture Watch: Fisheries marked SSMR Day 2026 with marine conservation education, while Dominica’s Bouyon continues to rack up Caribbean Music Awards nominations. Local Business & Public Service: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of vehicles, with bids due June 30.

Roseau Upgrade Kickoff: Dominica has moved into the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project after a June 17 kickoff with consultants, ministries and utility firms, following a US$2.24m consultancy contract (PACE with Corisav) for design review and supervision of road rehabilitation across key streets including Independence, Bath, Cork, Great George, Virgin Lane, River Street and King George V. Energy Transition Push: Regional leaders at the CDB’s 56th Annual Meeting urged a more coordinated renewable energy transition, calling for bundled regional portfolios, blended finance and climate-resilient grids. Telecom Resilience After Flow Outage: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say Flow’s near-19-hour disruption (fault on a fibre route between Guadeloupe and Antigua) is being reviewed, while urging customers and businesses to keep backup communication plans. Marine Conservation Spotlight: The Fisheries Division marked Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve Day 2026 with school presentations, radio programmes and an inter-school debate under the theme “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet.” Water & Climate Risk Context: A regional report highlights how Caribbean water stress is worsening, with St Lucia’s intermittent supply and fears of limited relief from “super El Niño” conditions. DOWASCO Vehicle Tender: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of a 2008 JCB Backhoe (TS 669), with bids due by 3:30 pm Tuesday June 30, 2026. OECS Integration Agenda: OECS leaders opened the 78th Authority meeting in Antigua, focusing on economic development, trade, connectivity, climate resilience and implementation of regional priorities. Roseau North Campaign: The DLP will launch its Roseau North by-election campaign Sunday June 28 at Lindo Park with candidate Ashma McDougall, alongside PM Roosevelt Skerrit and senior party figures.

Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB’s 56th Annual Meeting urged a faster, coordinated renewable energy shift, calling for regional project bundling, blended finance, stronger grids, and youth inclusion to cut costs and boost reliability. Roseau Infrastructure Upgrade: Dominica has entered the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project after a June 17 kickoff, with road rehabilitation planned for key streets and a US$2.24m consultancy awarded for design review and supervision. Water & Utilities Procurement: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of vehicles, with bids due June 30. Marine Conservation Focus: The Fisheries Division marked Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve Day 2026 with school presentations, radio programmes, and an inter-school debate under a “Strong Marine Protected Areas” theme. Tech Skills for Youth: ECCB announced its 2026 STEM Camp starting July 6, a free four-week programme for ages 14–18 across ECCU member territories including Dominica. Connectivity Disruption Response: Dominica and St Lucia regulators urged Flow customers to plan backups after a fibre-path fault caused a major outage from June 21 to June 22, while Flow said it’s strengthening network resilience. Regional Finance for Resilience: IFC will invest up to US$15m in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund debt sub-fund, targeting resilience and medium-sized enterprise financing across multiple countries including Dominica. Biodiversity Funding: Dominica received US$93,000 for two biodiversity projects, supporting work against lethal yellowing disease and coral reef restoration in Soufriere. Local Politics: The DLP will launch its Roseau North campaign Sunday, June 28, featuring candidate Ashma McDougall at Lindo Park.

DOWASCO Procurement: Dominica Water and Sewerage Company has put a JCB Backhoe (2008, TS 669) up for sale via sealed tenders due Tuesday, June 30 at 3:30 pm, with viewing available at its Rawles Lane store office. Marine Conservation: The Fisheries Division marked Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve (SSMR) Day 2026 in Scotts Head under “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet,” featuring school presentations, radio programmes, and an inter-school debate ahead of an awards finish. Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say Flow’s outage (June 21–22) was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, and they’re urging customers and businesses to keep backup communication plans while monitoring Flow’s network-strengthening steps. Urban Infrastructure: Dominica’s Roseau Enhancement Project has entered its implementation phase after a June 17 kickoff, with a US$2.24m consultancy contract for design review and supervision tied to road rehabilitation and drainage upgrades across key Roseau streets. Biodiversity Funding: Dominica received US$93,000 for two Caribbean Biodiversity Fund projects—supporting work against lethal yellowing and coral reef restoration in Soufriere. Energy Diplomacy: PM Skerrit met New Zealand’s new High Commissioner, Linda Charlotte Te Puni, highlighting cooperation on geothermal exploration, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture. Regional Finance: The IFC will invest up to US$15m in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund debt sub-fund, including financing for Dominica.