AGP Executive Report

Air Connectivity & Aviation: Contour Airlines plans twice-weekly flights between Trinidad (POS) and Dominica (DOM) starting Oct. 5, with one-stop same-plane links to St. Thomas and Puerto Rico—an important test after CAL ended its DOM service citing losses. Digital Skills & Workforce: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship opens 10 September (closes 20 September), offering industry-recognised training in areas like AI/ML, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and digital marketing across OECS member states including Dominica. Energy & Renewables Debate: Former Central Bank governor Dr Delisle Worrell argues distributed solar-and-wind models may raise consumer prices, urging Caribbean governments to consider hydroelectric power and centralized storage through existing grids. Waste Management Labour Tension: Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation GM Florian Mitchel says staff issues are being addressed and salary increases are coming soon after union threats of industrial action. Manufacturing & Exports: Omni Industries targets exports to reach 10% of revenue in five years, expanding regional distributorships and pursuing Trinidad baking-tray supply talks. Housing Finance: Government announces a $10M loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less at 5% interest, alongside recent handovers of climate-resilient homes in Canefield East. Agriculture & Resilience: Eco Balance’s “Greening Farms” project launches in Central Dominica with soil mapping, composting systems, equipment support and training—especially for women farmers. Education & Skills Pipeline: Dominica State College reports strong 2026 enrolment growth across programmes, including record intakes in business, engineering, psychology and pre-health.

Omni Industries Exports Push: Omni Industries says it wants export markets to rise from about 3.5% of revenue to 10% in five years, with talks underway to supply Trinidad’s major baked-goods manufacturers with baking trays after expanding distribution across Guyana, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Dominica. Air Connectivity Watch: Contour Airlines plans to start twice-weekly flights between Trinidad (POS) and Dominica (DOM) from Oct. 5, restoring direct air links after Caribbean Airlines ended its service, while Dominica’s airport team also reports major carriers showing interest as the international airport takes shape. Digital Skills Pipeline: OECS opens applications for the 2026 OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship on Sept. 10 (closing Sept. 20), backed by the World Bank’s CARDTP and delivered by UWI Global Campus. Waste Management Labour Tension: Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation’s GM says staff issues are being addressed and salary increases will be handled soon after union threats of industrial action. Renewables Debate: A former Central Bank governor argues hydroelectric power should be prioritized over distributed solar-and-wind models, warning of higher consumer prices and costly grid upgrades. Agriculture & Jobs: Dominica State College reports strong 2026 enrolment growth across engineering, business, pre-health and more, while Eco Balance secures a grant to “Greening Farms” in central Dominica. Housing Finance: Government announces a $10M housing loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less at 5% interest, alongside a separate handing over of climate-resilient homes in Canefield East.

Waste & Labour Relations: Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation GM Florian Mitchel says staff issues are being addressed after Public Service union threats of industrial action, and that salary increases will be handled “very soon.” Aviation & Connectivity: Contour Airlines plans twice-weekly flights between Trinidad (POS) and Dominica (DOM) starting Oct. 5, aiming to compete after Caribbean Airlines ended the route over losses. Renewables & Power Costs: Former Central Bank governor Dr Delisle Worrell argues hydroelectric power should be prioritized over Barbados-style distributed solar-and-wind, warning distributed models may raise consumer prices and force costly grid upgrades. Climate-Smart Development: UWI has appointed Professor Preeya S. Mohan as Executive Director and Dr Ronald Roopnarine as Deputy Director of its Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development. Education & Skills Pipeline: Dominica State College reports strong 2026 enrolment growth, with record intakes in several programmes including Pre-Health, Business Administration, and engineering fields. Housing Finance: Government announced a $10M housing loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less at 5% interest, alongside ongoing handovers of climate-resilient homes in Canefield East. Agriculture Support: Eco Balance secured a grant to launch its “Greening Farms” project in central Dominica, backing safer, more resilient farming with soil mapping, equipment, composting systems, and training. Young Farmers: Two Dominican farmers earned regional recognition—Ephraim Elijah Roberts won the OECS Young Farmer Award, while Dywany St. John was named CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2026. Banking & Tech: Asprofin Bank expands embedded finance via an API-driven Banking-as-a-Service partnership with Digital TRVST, targeting major transaction volumes.

Energy & Renewables: Former Central Bank governor Dr Delisle Worrell says Barbados-style distributed solar-and-wind may not cut power prices, warning it could raise costs and force expensive grid upgrades; he argues Dominica should back utility-run solar/wind farms with central storage and use existing grids. Aviation & Tourism Trade Links: Dominica’s planned international airport is moving into route-building mode, with reports that American Airlines will add capacity from December, United Airlines will resume seasonal New York service in October, and talks are underway with JetBlue, Delta, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Housing & Construction: Government housing continues at pace, with 11 Canefield East families receiving keys to climate-resilient homes and another 215 units planned across multiple communities, alongside a new $10M loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less at 5% interest. Agriculture & Food Security: Eco Balance secures a grant for its “Greening Farms” project in central Dominica, including soil mapping, composting systems, and training with a focus on women farmers; separately, two young Dominicans won regional agricultural honours. Business & Finance: Asprofin Bank expands embedded finance via a Banking-as-a-Service partnership aimed at scaling digital transaction capabilities. Education & Skills Pipeline: Dominica State College reports strong 2026 enrolment growth across engineering, business, and science programmes. Governance & Civic Life: Roseau North by-election campaigning heats up as residents prepare to vote on Sept. 7.

Housing Finance: Dominica is moving to expand home ownership for lower-income public officers, with PM Dr Roosevelt Skerrit announcing a $10M Government Housing Board loan facility for earners making $45,000 or less, at a 5% interest rate. Climate-Resilient Homes: In Canefield East, 11 families received keys to hurricane-resilient houses, with more units set to begin construction soon. Airport & Trade Links: Dominica’s planned international airport is drawing airline interest, with American Airlines expected to add capacity from December and United Airlines resuming seasonal New York service in October, while talks continue with other major carriers. Agriculture & Food Security: Eco Balance secured a grant to launch its “Greening Farms” project in central Dominica, including soil mapping, composting systems, and training (with a focus on women farmers). Youth in Agriculture: Two young Dominican farmers earned regional honours—Ephraim Elijah Roberts won the OECS Young Farmer Award, and Dywany St. John was named CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2026. Education & Skills: Dominica State College reported strong 2026 enrolment growth across multiple programmes, including record intakes in Psychology and new/returning science offerings. Energy & Policy: A wind opposition group in Victoria, Australia filed a lawsuit targeting a wind project and the planning minister, raising questions about how renewables approvals could face broader legal pressure. Regional Climate Governance: UWI appointed new leadership for its climate-smart development institute, with Professor Preeya S. Mohan as Executive Director and Dr Ronald Roopnarine as Deputy Director.

Wind & Legal Risk: A central Victorian wind opposition group is suing Dominica’s planning minister and wind project owners, warning of follow-on actions against public servants and compensation claims—raising fresh concerns about how legal pressure can affect renewable investment. CBI & Business Climate: Local businessman Kenny Green defended Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme as key to recovery after Hurricane Maria, while noting EU pressure to end CBI by 2028 and urging clarity on what happens next. Housing Finance: Dominica announced a $10M housing loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less, with 5% interest, alongside the handing over of climate-resilient homes in Canefield East for 11 families. Agriculture Skills: Eco Balance secured a grant for its “Greening Farms” project in central Dominica, backing safer, more sustainable farming with soil work, composting systems, and bilingual best-practices support. Farm Safety Training: More than 20 southeast banana and plantain farmers received hands-on training on chemical safety and mist-blower use, plus tools and supplies. Aviation & Routes: Dominica’s airport push continues as major airlines signal interest, including expected capacity increases on American Airlines and renewed New York service by United Airlines. Local Politics: Roseau North by-election coverage heats up, with candidates pitching jobs, housing, waste management and healthcare as voters prepare for September 7 polls.

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Debate: Local businessman Kenny Green says Dominica’s CBI programme helped restart the economy after Hurricane Maria, keeping public salaries flowing and pulling private business back to life, while also warning that the European Commission’s push to end CBI by 2028 could force CBI countries to make hard choices. Aviation & Tourism Infrastructure: Dominica’s planned international airport is moving into route-building mode, with reports that American Airlines may add capacity from December, United Airlines plans to resume New York service in October, and other carriers have shown interest. Housing & Climate Resilience: PM Roosevelt Skerrit marked the handover of climate-resilient homes for 11 Canefield East families, alongside a wider push for more resilient housing units across multiple communities. Agriculture Skills & Food Security: Eco Balance secured a grant for its “Greening Farms” project in central Dominica, pairing soil/runoff work with farmer training, composting systems, and bilingual best-practices support. Regional Agriculture Policy: OECS Director General Didacus Jules urged governments to open crown lands to young farmers on transparent, bank-collateral-friendly terms. Local Governance Watch: Roseau North by-election campaigning continues ahead of the Sept. 7 vote, with candidates pitching jobs, housing, healthcare, waste management and development priorities.

CBI & Investment Politics: Local businessman Kenny Green says Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment programme helped restart the private sector after Hurricane Maria and continues to fund major national projects, while also noting the wider Caribbean CBI challenge after the European Commission’s push to end programmes by 2028. Housing & Construction: PM Roosevelt Skerrit announced a $10M housing loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less at 5% interest, and separately handed over keys to 11 climate-resilient homes in Canefield East as more units roll out. Agriculture & Farm Safety: Eco Balance secured a DNCTF grant for its “Greening Farms” project in Central Dominica, backing soil mapping, composting systems, and safer equipment use—while southeast banana and plantain farmers received practical training on chemical handling and mist-blower operations. Aviation & Tourism Links: Dominica’s planned international airport push is already drawing airline interest, with reports of American Airlines capacity increases and United resuming New York service, alongside talks with other major carriers. Local Governance Watch: Residents of Roseau North head to a by-election on Sept. 7, with candidates pitching economic development, healthcare, waste management, and infrastructure priorities. Climate Resilience Debate: Commentary argues the world has broken the 1.5°C promise and that small states shouldn’t take on more debt for damage they didn’t cause.

Sustainable Farming Push: Eco Balance Inc. secured a DNCTF grant of XCD 33,918.17 for its “Greening Farms” 12-month project in Dominica’s Central Agricultural Region, including soil mapping, runoff risk checks, safer use of ergonomic weeders/brush cutters, composting systems, peer learning, and a bilingual best-practices manual for farmers—especially women. Housing & Construction Delivery: PM Roosevelt Skerrit’s government handed over keys to 11 climate-resilient homes in Canefield East, while residents are also questioning delays on the long-stalled Castle Bruce Police Station project, now left incomplete for years. Agriculture Skills & Recognition: More than 20 southeast banana and plantain farmers received hands-on training on chemical safety and mist-blower use, and two young Dominican farmers—Ephraim Elijah Roberts and Dywany St. John—won regional honours for diversified, resilience-focused farming. Air Connectivity Watch: Dominica’s planned international airport is moving into route development mode, with reports of American Airlines adding capacity and United resuming New York service, alongside talks with other major carriers. Finance Innovation: Asprofin Bank expands into embedded finance via an API-driven Banking-as-a-Service partnership with Digital TRVST, targeting major transaction volume growth. Civic & Political Stakes: The Roseau North by-election is set for Sept. 7, with candidates pitching jobs, housing, healthcare, waste management, and governance themes.

Roseau North By-Election: Voters head to the polls Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 after Miriam Blanchard’s resignation, choosing between UWP’s Daniel Lugay, DLP’s Ashma McDougall and independent Sherman Boston; campaigns are centered on jobs, healthcare, waste management and local infrastructure, with Lugay proposing a commercial hub and a plan to relocate the Fond Cole landfill. Housing & Public Finance: PM Roosevelt Skerrit says 11 Canefield East families received keys to climate-resilient homes, while a new $10M housing loan facility will help public officers earning $45,000 or less buy homes at 5% interest. Air Connectivity Push: Dominica’s planned international airport is drawing airline interest, with reports of American Airlines adding capacity from December and United resuming seasonal New York service in October. Banking & Fintech: Asprofin Bank expands into embedded finance via a partnership with Digital TRVST, targeting about US$5B in annualized transaction volume through API-enabled Banking-as-a-Service. Agriculture Skills & Awards: Southeast banana/plantain farmers get chemical-safety and equipment training, and young farmer Ephraim Elijah Roberts wins an OECS Young Farmer Award for diversified, resilient farming. CBI Debate: Businessman Kenny Green backs Dominica’s CBI but warns Caribbean programs face pressure after the European Commission’s call to end them by 2028; meanwhile, questions continue around Gregor Nassief’s political alignment amid reported CBI disputes.

Climate & Finance: A new op-ed says the world has broken the 1.5°C promise and argues small states like Dominica shouldn’t take on more debt to repair damage they didn’t cause. Housing & Construction: PM Roosevelt Skerrit announced a $10M housing loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less at 5% interest, while 11 Canefield East families received keys to climate-resilient homes and more handovers are planned across multiple communities. Aviation & Tourism Infrastructure: Dominica’s international airport push is moving into route-building mode, with reports of airline interest and capacity increases on Douglas-Charles services. Banking & Digital Services: Asprofin Bank is expanding embedded finance via API-driven Banking-as-a-Service partnerships, targeting major transaction volumes. Agriculture & Food Security: Two young Dominican farmers won regional honours, and southeast banana/plantain producers received practical safety training; meanwhile, the Ministry flagged lethal yellowing disease risks for coconut and palm growers. Politics & Governance: Ahead of the Roseau North by-election, businessman Gregor Nassief and DLP campaign meetings are fueling fresh debate over governance and CBI-linked questions. Regional Industry & Markets: OECS urged transparent crown-land access for young farmers, and SVG adopted a regional digital health warning system to strengthen port and event readiness.

Housing Finance Boost: PM Dr Roosevelt Skerrit says Dominica will extend a new $10M housing loan facility for eligible public officers earning $45,000 or less, with 5% interest, to help more families move toward home ownership. Climate-Resilient Homes Handover: 11 Canefield East families received keys to hurricane-resilient homes, with more units set to begin construction soon as the government pushes “promises kept” on safer housing. Air Access for the Airport Build: International Airport Development Company officials report major airlines are showing interest, including expected capacity increases from American Airlines and renewed seasonal service from United Airlines, as route planning ramps up alongside construction. CBI Industry Debate: Businessman Kenny Green backs Dominica’s CBI as post–Hurricane Maria relief, but warns the European Commission’s push to end CBI by 2028 could force major changes across the region. Agriculture Skills & Safety: More than 20 southeast banana and plantain farmers trained at La Plaine on safer chemical handling and mist-blower use, with tools and follow-up support from the Banana and Plantain Unit. Young Farmers Recognised: Ephraim Elijah Roberts won the OECS Young Farmer Award for diversified, resilience-focused farming, while regional youth agriculture leaders also urged better access to crown lands on transparent terms. Regional Climate Justice Grants: Six Caribbean civil society groups received small grants to strengthen grassroots climate justice work, including support for women in agriculture and fisheries and practical resilience tools.

Climate Finance Pressure: Sir Ronald Sanders says the world has broken its 1.5°C promise, warning small states like Dominica—already hit by rising risks—shouldn’t be forced into more debt to pay for damage they didn’t cause. Housing & Construction: PM Roosevelt Skerrit handed over keys to 11 climate-resilient homes in Canefield East, with 6 more homes set to start soon, as government pushes “promises kept” on hurricane resilience. Public Officers Home Loans: Skerrit also announced a new $10M housing loan facility for public officers earning $45,000 or less, offering 5% interest to help more families move toward home ownership. Roseau North Politics: Ahead of the Sept. 7 by-election, businessman Gregor Nassief’s reported UWP alignment is drawing questions, while DLP candidate Ashma McDougall’s campaign rallies in Fond Cole and Yampiece focus on governance and housing records. Air Service Push: As Dominica’s international airport takes shape, major airlines are reportedly showing interest, including expected capacity increases from American Airlines and renewed New York service by United Airlines. Agriculture Skills & Awards: Banana and plantain farmers in the southeast received practical safety training, and two young Dominicans won regional honours—Ephraim Elijah Roberts (OECS Young Farmer) and Dywany St. John (CARICOM Young Farmer). Banking & Digital Growth: Asprofin Bank expands embedded finance via API-driven Banking-as-a-Service partnership with Digital TRVST, targeting large transaction volumes. Climate Justice Grants: Six Caribbean civil society groups received small grants to boost grassroots climate justice work, including tools and advocacy tied to resilience and agriculture. Health Security Tech: SVG became the first OECS state to adopt the regional early warning surveillance and response system, strengthening port and event monitoring. Energy & Industry: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across the region, including Dominica, for potential financing support through its climate and transition platforms.

Housing Finance: PM Roosevelt Skerrit announced a new $10M housing loan facility for lower-income public officers (earning $45,000 or less), offering financing at 5% interest via the Government Housing Board, as the government continues rolling out climate-resilient homes in Canefield East and other communities. Roseau North Politics: Businessman Gregor Nassief urged voters to back “the right people” in the Roseau North by-election, framing the race as a test of good governance, transparency, and accountability. CBI Debate: Nassief’s reported political move is being questioned amid claims tied to Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment programme, including allegations and public controversy around Secret Bay and demands for further CBI-related benefits. Aviation & Tourism Links: Dominica’s planned international airport is moving toward route development, with reports that American Airlines and United Airlines are expected to expand or resume services, while talks continue with other major carriers. Banking & Fintech: Asprofin Bank says it’s expanding embedded finance through an API-driven Banking-as-a-Service partnership with Digital TRVST, targeting major transaction volumes and new digital banking integrations. Agriculture Recognition: Two young Dominican farmers won regional honours—Ephraim Elijah Roberts took the OECS Young Farmer Award and Dywany St. John was named CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year—highlighting diversification and resilience. Farm Safety Training: Southeast banana and plantain producers received hands-on training on safer chemical handling and mist-blower use, with tools provided to support better farm operations. Climate Justice Grants: Six Caribbean groups received small grants to advance grassroots climate justice advocacy, including work on climate litigation, women in agriculture, and hurricane impacts.

Air Connectivity Watch: Major airlines are reportedly eyeing Dominica’s developing international airport, with American Airlines expected to boost Douglas-Charles capacity from December, United set to resume seasonal New York service in October, and talks ongoing with JetBlue, Delta, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Banking & Fintech: Dominica-headquartered Asprofin Bank is expanding into embedded finance via an API-driven Banking-as-a-Service partnership with Digital TRVST, targeting about US$5 billion in annualized transaction volume. Agriculture Awards: Ephraim Elijah Roberts (Castle Bruce) won the OECS Young Farmer Award, while Dywany St. John was named CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2026, both highlighting diversification and resilience. Climate-Resilient Housing: Canefield East families are set to receive new hurricane-resilient homes as part of a wider handover of 215 units across nine communities. Regional Farming Support: Southeast banana and plantain producers gained hands-on training on farm safety, chemical handling and mist-blower use. Policy & Land Access: OECS governments were urged to provide crown lands to farmers on transparent, bank-collateral-friendly terms to help youth scale agribusiness. CBI Debate: Businessman Kenny Green endorsed Dominica’s CBI program but warned Caribbean CBI schemes face pressure after the European Commission’s call to end them by 2028.

Housing & Resilience: Dominica is set to hand over climate-resilient homes to about 11 Canefield East families on Sept. 4, with keys and ceremonies tied to a wider push for 215 hurricane-resilient units across nine communities. CBI & Investment Climate: Businessman Kenny Green backs Dominica’s CBI programme, while warning the wider Caribbean CBI model faces pressure after the European Commission’s call to end it by 2028—though he says major Dominica-funded projects are nearing completion. Agriculture Skills & Safety: More than 20 southeast banana and plantain farmers received hands-on training at La Plaine on safer chemical handling and correct mist-blower use, plus tools and supplies to support production. Food & Plant Health Threats: The Ministry of Agriculture is holding an LYD awareness meeting for Grand Bay and nearby communities, after lethal yellowing disease was confirmed in Dominica in March 2026. Regional Climate Justice Grants: Six Caribbean civil society groups received small grants to boost grassroots climate justice advocacy, including work on climate litigation, women in agriculture and fisheries, and documenting hurricane impacts. Embedded Finance Push: Asprofin Bank says it’s expanding Banking-as-a-Service and embedded finance capabilities via an API-enabled platform partnership, aiming to serve fintech and cross-border transaction demand.