AGP Executive Report

Tourism & Air Demand: A new travel dataset from Amadeus and CHTA shows Dominica had the biggest jump in arrivals in the region, up 22% (April 2025–March 2026), as more visitors look beyond classic beach breaks. Clean Energy for Women: The Caribbean Development Bank, via SheTrades Caribbean Hub and Canada’s SuRGE support, launched a US$550,000 three-year facility (2026–2028) to help women-led businesses in Dominica and across the Caribbean develop and commercialise clean energy solutions. Agriculture Workforce: At Caribbean Week of Agriculture, Jamaica’s Floyd Green backed a regional farmworker movement framework, pointing to Dominica’s migrant-worker model that has brought about 200 workers to support roughly 80 farmers. Digital Health Strategy: CARICOM health ministers moved to advance a regional digital health strategy with PAHO, IDB and the World Bank, aiming to strengthen healthcare delivery, financing and workforce planning. Connectivity Investment: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029 with a carrier-neutral submarine corridor linking Cayenne to Martinique/Guadeloupe and a western leg to Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Local Business & Events: Dominica’s Botanic Gardens will host Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl-‘Tout Biten Domnik on Oct 19–22, featuring local food, crafts, music and Dominican-made products. Education & Inclusion: Dominica-based ECAAM and St. Maarten’s SKOS foundation launched a two-year Project INSPIRE to improve support for students with special educational needs.

EU Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure: Eastern Caribbean governments selling golden passports were told by the European Union to end the practice by 2028 or risk losing visa-free travel access for their citizens, after talks on security upgrades failed. Clean Energy for Women Entrepreneurs: Dominica women-led businesses can apply for a new US$550,000 CDB initiative (2026–2028) to turn clean energy ideas into commercial products and services, with technical help, financing access, and links to regional value chains. Tourism Jobs & Formalization: A new ILO study flags that tourism’s big economic role in Dominica and the Eastern Caribbean is held back by informality, weak labour protections, limited financing, skills gaps, and social protection shortfalls—calling for productivity and formalization to move together. Agriculture Workforce Framework: A regional push is growing for a farmworker movement framework across the Caribbean, with Dominica cited as a model after bringing in about 200 workers to support roughly 80 farmers. Education & Skills: ECAAM and St. Maarten’s SKOS Foundation launched a two-year Project INSPIRE pilot to improve support for students with special educational needs, starting with training for teachers and school managers. Connectivity Investment: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029 with a carrier-neutral submarine corridor linking islands from French Guiana through the Eastern Caribbean and onward to Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Local Business & Community Events: Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl-‘Tout Biten Domnik returns Oct 19–22 at the Dominica Botanic Gardens, spotlighting Creole food, music, crafts and Dominican-made products.

Education & Skills: Dominica-based ECAAM and St. Maarten’s SKOS Catholic Education Foundation launched a two-year Project INSPIRE pilot to improve support for students with special educational needs, starting with teacher and school-manager training and adding parent workshops. Banking & Human Capital: The Caribbean Association of Banks and UWI rolled out a CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme 2026 to fund eligible banking employees pursuing a BSc in Banking and Finance, with the next intake set for January 2027. Digital Health: CARICOM health ministers moved to advance a regional digital health strategy with PAHO, IDB and the World Bank, aiming to strengthen healthcare delivery, surveillance, workforce management and health financing. Connectivity & Investment: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029 and pushing open-access, carrier-neutral submarine connectivity that includes Dominica among the eastern corridor territories. Agriculture & Food Security: Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson urged a regional “One country, one product” model to boost Caribbean food security through specialization and trade. Labour & Tourism Formalisation: A new ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections in Eastern Caribbean tourism, calling for productivity, decent work and formalisation to move together. Procurement (EU-backed): GIZ, under the Euroclima programme, issued an EOI for design-and-build services for steel-framed industrial installation at the Fond Cole Sanitary Landfill in Roseau, including electrical, CCTV, fire alarm and plumbing works. Regional Mobility for Farmworkers: Floyd Green called for a Caribbean framework to move agricultural workers, pointing to Dominica’s existing migrant-worker framework that has brought in about 200 workers for roughly 80 farmers. Travel Demand Signal: New travel data shows Dominica’s arrivals up 22%, with the island gaining momentum as more visitors look beyond the classic resort model.

Banking Skills Boost: CAB and UWI launched a 2026 scholarship for Caribbean banking employees to pursue a BSc in Banking and Finance, with the next intake set for January 2027. Digital Infrastructure: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029 and aiming to connect islands from Cayenne through Martinique/Guadeloupe to Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, with onward links toward Dominica and others. Health & Human Capital: CARICOM ministers, with PAHO, IDB and World Bank support, moved to advance a regional digital health strategy to strengthen healthcare delivery, workforce management and public health surveillance. EU Climate Works: A Dominica REOI seeks design-and-build services for steel-framed installation works at the Fond Cole Sanitary Landfill under an EU/GIZ green transition programme. Food Security Strategy: Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson urged a “One country, one product” model to specialize by commodity strengths and back it with infrastructure and regional trade. Tourism Jobs & Formalization: An ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections in Eastern Caribbean tourism, arguing productivity, decent work and formalization must improve together—relevant for Dominica’s tourism growth. Agriculture Recognition: Dominica farmer Dywany St. John received CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 in Jamaica. Travel Demand Signals: New travel data shows Dominica had the biggest visitor increase (+22%) in the region, with air connections and “beyond beach” interest driving gains.

Tourism & Jobs: A new ILO study says tourism is vital to the Eastern Caribbean (about 39% of GDP and 11% of employment) but informality and weak labour protections are holding back decent work and productivity—calling for support that helps small operators formalize while improving working conditions and access to finance. Agriculture Recognition: Dominica farmer Dywany St. John won CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 at Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Jamaica, spotlighting local farming’s role in food security. Women’s Sport: DABA will launch a Dominica Women’s Basketball League with a Nov. 7 3×3 “Ladies Night” at the Massacre Indoor Sports Complex, aiming to build pathways from grassroots to national representation. Digital Connectivity: EllaLink announced the EllaLink Caribbean Gateway initiative, moving from design to committed investment, targeting service by end-2029 with a fibre route linking French Guiana to Martinique/Guadeloupe and branches for Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Road Safety & Infrastructure: PM Roosevelt Skerrit visited the landslide-damaged O’Delices Road and said stabilization work is underway, with upgrades planned for the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route. Consumer/Business Updates: KFC Dominica denied a viral claim that it would bar customers under 21, saying all ages remain welcome and safety is the priority.

Women’s Sports Development: Dominica’s DABA will launch a Women’s Basketball League with a “Ladies Night” 3×3 tournament on Nov. 7 at the Massacre Indoor Sports Complex, aiming to expand structured pathways for girls and young players into clubs and national competition. Agriculture Recognition: Wesley farmer Dywany St. John received the CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 award in Jamaica, with the Ministry of Agriculture citing his role in strengthening food security and sustainable farming. Tourism Jobs & Formalization: An ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism (about 39% of GDP and 11% of employment regionwide) is held back by informality, weak labour protections, limited financing, skills gaps, and climate shocks—urging countries to improve working conditions and formalization together. Pesticide Safety: Dominica marked Pesticide Awareness Day by pushing safer handling and Integrated Pest Management, with continued residue testing to protect consumers. Regional Trade Capacity: OECS, with EU funding, is training services-sector stakeholders across member states—including Dominica—to strengthen trade policy, regulation, and negotiating skills. Digital Connectivity: EllaLink announced the EllaLink Caribbean Gateway initiative, moving from design to committed investment, targeting service readiness by end-2029. Global Finance Watch: U.S. prosecutors seized about $84.2m tied to a Montana payments firm linked to Tether, while Tether says its exposure is under 0.034% and denies wrongdoing.

Crypto & Banking Shock: U.S. prosecutors seized about $84.2M from Montana payments firm Capstone, alleging it moved money without a license and misled banks; the case is linked to Dominica-based EQIBank and raises fresh questions about how stablecoin rails intersect with offshore banking. Tether Fallout: Tether says its EQIBank exposure is under 0.034% of group assets (about $64M at most), and claims it had no knowledge of Capstone’s alleged conduct, while EQIBank fights to recover seized funds. Tourism Jobs & Formalisation: A new ILO study warns that Eastern Caribbean tourism’s big economic role (around 39% of GDP and 11% of jobs) is held back by informality, weak labour protections, limited finance, skills gaps, and climate shocks—urging countries to improve working conditions and support small businesses moving into the formal economy. Trade Services Capacity: OECS, with EU funding, is running training for services trade stakeholders across member states to strengthen policy, regulation, and negotiating capacity. Agriculture Safety: Dominica’s Pesticide Control Board marked Pesticide Awareness Day, pushing safer handling and Integrated Pest Management to protect food security and consumers. Local Infrastructure: PM Skerrit visited the Aux Delices Road landslide area and announced stabilisation work plus upgrades to the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route.

Tourism Jobs & Formalization: A new ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism—averaging about 39% of GDP and 11% of jobs—can’t deliver sustainable growth while informality and weak labour protections persist, urging Dominica to tackle financing gaps, skills mismatches, social protection shortfalls and enforcement limits together. Pesticide Safety Push: Dominica’s Agriculture Ministry marked Pesticide Awareness Day by urging safer handling of highly hazardous pesticides and promoting Integrated Pest Management, plus residue testing with the Bureau of Standards to protect food quality. Geothermal Milestone: Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton told the UN that the geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, lifting renewable electricity to about 84% and supporting the push for 100% renewables by 2030. Crypto & Banking Shockwaves: US prosecutors seek to keep about $84.2M seized from accounts tied to Capstone, with Dominica-licensed EQIBank warning the seizure could force liquidation; Tether says its EQIBank exposure is under 0.034% of group assets. Local Business Clarity: KFC Dominica denied a viral claim that it would bar customers under 21, saying all ages remain welcome while it reviews a recent incident. Infrastructure After Landslide: PM Skerrit visited the Aux Delices landslide area and announced plans to stabilize the damaged road and upgrade the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route.

Tourism & Trade: Dominica launched a new self-paced training course for travel advisors, aiming to boost how the island is sold across key travel segments. Infrastructure & Transport: PM Roosevelt Skerrit visited the Aux Delices Road landslide area and announced plans to stabilise the damaged stretch and upgrade the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route. Energy & Investment: President Sylvanie Burton told the UN Dominica’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, with renewables at about 84% of electricity and a push for 100% by 2030, tied to jobs and reduced fuel import exposure. Regional Cooperation: CARICOM and the Pacific Islands Forum formalised an MoU to coordinate on shared SIDS priorities, including climate and economic pressures. Finance & Risk (Global, with local links): U.S. prosecutors moved against Capstone-linked accounts tied to Tether and Bitfinex, while Tether says its EQIBank exposure (Dominica-licensed) is under 0.034% of total assets; EQIBank warns a seizure could force liquidation. Local Business & Consumer Trust: KFC Dominica denied a viral claim that it would bar customers under 21, saying all ages remain welcome and safety is the priority.

Travel & Tourism Training: Dominica launched a new self-paced “Caribbean Travel Advisor” course for travel agents, aiming to boost destination-specific selling across segments like adventure, wellness, romance, diving and culture. Roads & Access: PM Roosevelt Skerrit visited the Aux Delices landslide site and said the government will stabilise the damaged O’Delices Road stretch while upgrading the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route. Energy & Investment: Dominica President Sylvanie Burton told the UNGA the island’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, lifting renewable electricity to about 84% and targeting 100% renewables by 2030, with calls for financing to cut fossil-fuel exposure. Climate Finance Push: Burton also urged partners to fund resilience before disasters, warning that rebuilding after storms forces vulnerable states into costly borrowing. Regional Cooperation: CARICOM and the Pacific Islands Forum formalised a partnership to advance shared SIDS priorities. Local Business Clarity: KFC Dominica denied a viral claim that it would bar customers under 21, saying all ages remain welcome while it reviews a recent store incident. Crypto & Banking Risk: US authorities seized about US$84.2m tied to Capstone-linked accounts, with Dominica-licensed EQIBank warning the loss of roughly 80% of its monetary holdings could trigger liquidation; Tether says its EQIBank exposure is under 0.034% of group assets. Governance & Justice: The DPP discontinued a nine-year obstruction charge against UWP leader Dr Thomson Fontaine stemming from a 2017 Roseau public meeting.

Climate Resilience Financing: Dominica President Sylvanie Burton told the UN General Assembly that resilience must be financed and built before disasters strike, warning that the current model forces vulnerable states to borrow for recovery; she also highlighted Dominica’s geothermal plant now in commercial operation and said renewables are about 84% of electricity, targeting 100% by 2030. Geothermal & Infrastructure: PM Roosevelt Skerrit visited the Aux Delices landslide site and announced steps to stabilise the damaged O’Delices Road stretch while upgrading the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route to restore safer access. Public Finance: Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre asked Parliament to approve an IDA credit facility of about EC$68.6 million (SDR18.5m) to strengthen fiscal and climate resilience, with a 0.75% interest rate and a 10-year grace period. Banking/Payments Risk: A major U.S. civil forfeiture case targeting Capstone-linked accounts has put Dominica-licensed EQIBank under pressure, with EQIBank warning the seized funds could force liquidation; Tether says its EQIBank exposure is under 0.034% of group assets. Governance & Consumer Protection: Parliament passed a Banking Amendment Bill aimed at strengthening consumer protection, while a separate push encourages landlords and tenants in Dominica to seek early help through the Rent Services Unit to resolve disputes. Energy Sector Jobs/Skills: A national seminar on poultry and pig production urged “produce local, consume local,” pointing to the upgraded Layou abattoir as key livestock infrastructure. Local Business/Community: KFC Dominica clarified that a viral claim about banning under-21 customers is false, saying customers of all ages remain welcome. Politics: The DPP discontinued a nine-year obstruction charge against UWP leader Dr Thomson Fontaine stemming from a 2017 Roseau public meeting.

Crypto & Banking Shock: U.S. prosecutors moved to seize about $84.2M tied to Capstone, a payments firm alleged to have processed transactions for Tether via Dominica-licensed EQIBank; Tether says its EQIBank exposure is below 0.034% of group assets, while EQIBank warns the seizure—about $89M or roughly 80% of its monetary holdings—could force liquidation. Local Business & Consumer Safety: KFC Dominica denied a viral claim that it would bar customers under 21, saying all ages are welcome and the company is reviewing a Friday store altercation. Infrastructure & Access: PM Roosevelt Skerrit visited the Aux Delices/O’Delices Road landslide area and announced stabilisation work plus upgrades to the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route. Energy Transition: President Sylvanie Burton told the UN Dominica’s geothermal plant is in commercial operation, with renewables at about 84% of electricity and a goal of 100% by 2030. Climate Finance Push: Burton also urged faster, pre-disaster resilience funding and easier access to concessional support for small states. Parliament & Finance: Dominica sought parliamentary approval for an IDA credit facility of about EC$68.6M to boost fiscal and climate resilience, and passed a Banking Amendment Bill to strengthen consumer protection and bank fee oversight.

Geothermal & Energy Transition: Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton told the UN General Assembly the country’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, lifting renewable electricity to about 84% and targeting 100% renewables by 2030, framing clean power as an economic transformation engine. Climate Finance Push: Burton also urged partners to fund resilience before disasters hit—arguing small states shouldn’t be forced into borrowing for reconstruction—and invited the world to use Dominica as a “living laboratory” for resilient development. Public Works & Access: PM Roosevelt Skerrit visited the Aux Delices landslide site and announced plans to stabilise the damaged O’Delices Road stretch and upgrade the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route. Banking & Consumer Protection: Parliament passed the Banking Amendment Bill 2026 to strengthen ECCB oversight, improve how banks treat customers, and expand financial market conduct and inclusion functions. Development Financing: Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre sought parliamentary approval for an IDA credit facility of about EC$68.6 million to bolster fiscal and climate resilience. Agriculture & Food Security: A national seminar focused on strengthening poultry and pig production, highlighting the upgraded National Abattoir at Layou Park and efforts to help farmers prepare for expanded output. Migrant Labour Policy: IOM and the agriculture ministry advanced a policy and action plan to integrate migrant labour into agriculture, aiming to address labour shortages while improving governance. Crypto/Banking Risk Watch: A major U.S. civil forfeiture case involving Capstone and Dominica-licensed EQIBank is in the spotlight; Tether says its EQIBank exposure is under 0.034% of group assets, while EQIBank warns seized funds could force liquidation. Governance/Justice: The DPP discontinued a nine-year obstruction charge against UWP leader Dr Thomson Fontaine tied to a 2017 Roseau public meeting. Regional Diplomacy: Dominica participated in India–CARICOM foreign ministers talks on trade, investment, digital governance, climate resilience and energy.

Crypto & Banking Shock: U.S. prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture case seeking $84.2 million tied to Capstone Ltd., alleging it moved money for Tether without a license, with funds routed through Wells Fargo and JPMorgan accounts. Dominica Link: Tether says its EQIBank exposure is “less than 0.034%” of group assets, while EQIBank warns the seized $89 million is about 80% of its monetary holdings and could force liquidation. Local Dispute Resolution: Dominica’s Rent Services Unit is urging landlords and tenants to seek help early over arrears, deposits and illegal rent increases, with unresolved matters referred to the Rent Assessment Board tribunal. Energy Transition: President Sylvanie Burton told the UN Dominica’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, lifting renewable electricity to about 84% and targeting 100% renewables by 2030. Climate Finance Push: Burton also called for financing resilience before disasters, arguing small states shouldn’t be pushed into borrowing to rebuild after storms. Governance & Consumer Protection: Parliament passed the Banking Amendment Bill 2026 to strengthen ECCB oversight, including fair treatment, complaint handling, and a financial market conduct office. Regional Diplomacy: CARICOM and the Pacific Islands Forum formalised a partnership to advance shared SIDS priorities, including climate and economic pressures.

UN Climate Finance Push: Dominica President Sylvanie Burton used the UN General Assembly to urge partners to fund resilience before disasters, warning that today’s model leaves vulnerable states borrowing to rebuild after storms. Geothermal Milestone: Burton also said Dominica’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, lifting renewable electricity to about 84% and supporting a goal of 100% renewables by 2030. Banking Oversight: Parliament passed the Banking Amendment Bill 2026 to strengthen consumer protection, expand ECCB supervision of banks’ customer treatment, and create a central bank office for financial market conduct and inclusion. IDA Credit Approval Sought: Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre asked lawmakers to approve an IDA credit facility of about EC$68.6 million to bolster fiscal and climate resilience. Livestock Sector Support: A national seminar focused on strategies to strengthen poultry and pig production, building on the upgraded Layou abattoir. Tourism Skills for Sales: Discover Dominica Authority launched an online destination training course for travel advisors via Online Travel Training (OTT), covering Dominica’s tourism pillars. Geothermal Prep Tender (Regional): Grenada published a tender for infrastructure and equipment ahead of geothermal slim-hole drilling. Crypto Banking Risk: Tether said its exposure to Dominica-licensed EQIBank is under 0.034% as EQIBank fights a US seizure tied to Capstone, where about $89M seized is reported as roughly 80% of EQIBank’s monetary holdings. Local Business Boost: The Small Business Support Unit announced a Creole products exhibition on Sept 25, Oct 2 and Oct 9 to help micro and small enterprises reach shoppers.

Banking Dispute: EQIBank says US authorities’ seizure of about $89M tied to Capstone Ltd. equals roughly 80% of its monetary holdings, warning it could be forced into liquidation unless the funds are returned. Renewable Energy: President Sylvanie Burton told the UN General Assembly that Dominica’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation, lifting renewable electricity to about 84% and targeting 100% by 2030. Climate Finance Push: Burton urged partners to fund resilience before disasters hit—arguing Dominica shouldn’t keep borrowing to rebuild after storms—and pitched Dominica as a “living laboratory” for resilient development. Consumer Banking Reform: Parliament passed the Banking Amendment Bill 2026 to strengthen ECCB oversight, require fair treatment and complaints procedures, and expand consumer protection and financial education. Agriculture & Labour: IOM and the agriculture ministry advanced a policy and action plan to integrate migrant labour into farming, while a national poultry and pig seminar focused on boosting local production. Tourism Skills: Discover Dominica Authority launched an online destination training course for travel advisors via OTT. Regional Cooperation: CARICOM and the Pacific Islands Forum formalised a partnership to advance shared SIDS priorities.