AGP Executive Report

Indigenous Tourism & Jobs: Sixteen residents of Kalinago Territory graduated as certified tour guides after a UNDP-supported training, aiming to boost indigenous tourism, expand income opportunities, and strengthen community resilience. Roseau South Politics & Local Economy: The UPP officially named businesswoman Edline Harris as its Roseau South candidate, pitching a “daughter of the soil” campaign focused on education, employment, and staying visible to residents. Marine Conservation & Tourism Income: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators, laying groundwork to protect sperm whales while supporting sustainable marine-based livelihoods. Health Costs & Public Pressure: Dr. Velda Wade told the Dominica Cancer Society AGM that about 300 people in Dominica are living with cancer, calling it an “epidemic” for a small population and urging stronger prevention action. Sports Sponsorship: Wayne George Football Academy received EC$5,000 from Team RUBIS for uniforms and equipment, backing youth football development. By-election Watch (Roseau North): Dominica Business Forum urged electoral authorities to improve transparency ahead of the Roseau North by-election, citing concerns around voter register timing and Electoral Commission silence. Regional Mobility & CBI Scrutiny: A new study questions whether Citizenship by Investment vetting fully matches what international banks see after passports are granted, adding pressure to already tightening regional standards.

Gender & Training: The OECS Commission rolled out a three-part Gender Mainstreaming Staff Training Series (June 15) to strengthen gender-responsive programme design and evaluation across the regional development agenda, supported through the CDB-funded EC-STEMS/CARE work. Sports Sponsorship: Wayne George Football Academy got EC$5,000 from RUBIS to buy uniforms and equipment, backing youth football development in Dominica. Marine Economy & Conservation: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators to align whale protection with sustainable livelihoods. Health Pressure: Dr. Velda Wade told the Dominica Cancer Society AGM that about 300 people in Dominica live with cancer, calling it alarming for a small population and urging prevention action. Local Politics & Business Climate: As the Roseau North by-election nears, DLP candidate Ashma McDougall says she joined Labour to create opportunities for youth and small businesses, while the Dominica Business Forum demands electoral clarity from the Electoral Commission. Infrastructure & Jobs: Government advanced plans for an EC$14 million synthetic athletics track, with World Athletics to assess sites in July. Tourism Connectivity: Contour Airlines says it’s evaluating new Caribbean routes using Puerto Rico as a U.S. gateway, with Dominica among its early markets. Regional Finance Watch: Dominica is again named in discussions around citizenship-by-investment scrutiny as Europe pushes for tighter standards and transparency. Public Safety Tech: Grenada co-hosted a regional cell broadcast emergency warning validation workshop with Dominica and others, supported by the ITU and World Bank. Community Notes: DOWASCO announced office closures (June 29) and normal service resumes June 30.

Roseau North By-Election Politics & Jobs: Dominica Labour Party candidate Ashma McDougall says she chose Labour “unapologetically,” arguing the party is the best platform to turn youth, entrepreneurship and community ideas into projects, while PM Roosevelt Skerrit framed the seat as a hub of modern Dominica’s hopes and backed McDougall’s business and education focus. Independent Challenge: Sherman Boston has entered the Roseau North race as an independent after declining an alleged DLP approach, pitching himself as a “street soldier” focused on practical solutions. Electoral Transparency Pressure: The Dominica Business Forum is calling on the Electoral Commission to break its “silence” and provide clarity on how the by-election will run under the new electoral rules, especially with the voters’ register process still underway. Public Service & Infrastructure: Government is advancing an EC$14 million synthetic athletics track project in Pointe Ronde, with World Athletics and Qatar Development Fund support, aiming to reduce the need for athletes to train abroad. Digital Safety: The UWI warned the public about a fraudulent website using its name to collect personal information, urging people to verify through official channels. Regional Business & Connectivity: Contour Airlines says it’s evaluating new Caribbean routes using Puerto Rico as a gateway to the U.S., with Dominica among its early markets. Energy & Resilience: CARICOM and partners renewed calls for faster renewable energy transition and coordinated action, while ECCB prepares a free regional STEM Camp starting July 6 for youth across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

Roseau North By-Election Politics: DLP candidate Ashma McDougall says joining the Labour Party was the “only choice,” pitching youth, entrepreneurship and community wellbeing as her priorities after Miriam Blanchard’s resignation set up a by-election. Campaign Backing: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit framed Roseau North as a hub of modern ambition and backed McDougall’s “bread-and-butter” agenda, while independent candidate Sherman Boston entered the race after declining a reported DLP approach. Electoral Process Scrutiny: The Dominica Business Forum urged the Electoral Commission to speak clearly on how the by-election will run under new rules, warning of gaps around transparency and the voters’ register timeline. Sports Infrastructure: Skerrit updated on the EC$14 million synthetic athletics track project, with World Athletics and Qatar Development Fund support and a July site assessment planned. Digital Safety & Skills: UWI warned the public about a fake UWI website collecting personal data, while the ECCB launched a free 2026 STEM Camp across ECCU states including Dominica. Regional Finance & Trade: A Caribbean banking series highlighted who benefits from banking access, and regional coverage noted Dominica’s large current-account deficit in 2025 alongside investment-driven spending. Energy Transition Push: CDB discussions again stressed coordinated renewable energy scaling across the Caribbean, with Dominica named among ECCU participants in regional digital and resilience efforts.

Roseau North By-Election Politics: DLP candidate Ashma McDougall says joining the Labour Party was the “only choice,” pitching her run on creating opportunities and solving “bread-and-butter” problems, while PM Roosevelt Skerrit backs her and frames the seat as a youth-and-entrepreneurship push. Electoral Transparency: The Dominica Business Forum is calling out the Electoral Commission’s “silence,” warning the Roseau North by-election is a key test of the new electoral law and urging clearer public communication. Sports Infrastructure: Skerrit updates progress on an EC$14 million synthetic athletics track in Pointe Ronde, funded with World Athletics and Qatar Development Fund, with a World Athletics team due in July for final site checks. Digital Trust & Education: UWI warns the public about a fake website using its name and collecting personal data, while UWI also reports Dominicans among the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship cohort. Utilities & Service Notices: DOWASCO announces office closures on June 29, and Flow regulators in Dominica and St Lucia demand a detailed report after a major service outage. Regional Finance & Trade Context: A wider Caribbean banking analysis looks at who benefits from being “banked,” and regional policy chatter continues around citizenship-by-investment scrutiny.

Roseau North by-election pressure: The Dominica Business Forum is demanding clearer communication from the Electoral Commission ahead of the Roseau North by-election, arguing the new electoral rules are being tested under unusual constraints, including the ongoing voters’ register confirmation process. Campaign momentum: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit backed Ashma McDougall at the Labour campaign lift-off, framing the race around youth empowerment and “bread-and-butter” economic issues. Digital safety for students: The UWI warned the public about a fake website using its name and asking for personal details, urging people to verify through official channels. Public finance & governance: Government warned against disbanding the CBI programme. Sports infrastructure investment: Skerrit updated plans for an EC$14 million synthetic athletics track, funded with partners including World Athletics and the Qatar Development Fund. Telecom reliability: Regulators in Dominica and St Lucia asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage, citing a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua. Energy & skills push: ECCB announced a free 2026 STEM Camp across ECCU territories, including Dominica. Local operations: DOWASCO offices close Monday June 29 for a staff meeting; normal service resumes Tuesday.

Telecom Reliability: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators say they’ve requested a detailed report from Flow after a major outage left customers without service for nearly 19 hours; preliminary findings point to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, with Flow promising more resilient routes and backup connectivity. Banking & Markets: Scotiabank is taking Scotia Group Jamaica private, buying the remaining 28.22% it doesn’t own and paying minority shareholders about J$54 billion—another sign of consolidation in Caribbean finance. Energy Transition: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting urged a faster, coordinated renewables push, calling for regional project bundling, blended finance, and modern climate-resilient grids. Renewables & Resilience Finance: A new anticipatory action insurance mechanism is set to release hurricane funds to fisherfolk up to three days before landfall, aiming to protect livelihoods and reduce losses. Local Business & Services: DOWASCO will close offices in Portsmouth and Roseau on June 29 for a staff meeting, with normal service resuming June 30. Tourism & Connectivity: Contour Airlines is evaluating new Caribbean routes using Puerto Rico as a hub, while Dominica’s Discover Dominica Authority plans an inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4.

Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say Flow’s near-19-hour outage (fault on a fibre route between Guadeloupe and Antigua) has prompted calls for backup communication plans for households and businesses, while Flow reviews network resilience. Utilities & Service Continuity: DOWASCO will close offices in Portsmouth and Roseau from 12:00 pm Monday June 29, reopening Tuesday June 30. Regional Finance & Investment: A CARICOM snapshot shows only four economies ran current-account surpluses in 2025 (oil/gas or remittances), while Dominica posted a large deficit (about 38% of GDP), reflecting investment-heavy spending. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting urged faster, coordinated renewable energy rollouts using regional portfolios and blended finance. Diplomacy for Development: Canada and CARICOM renewed a results-focused action plan covering competitive economies, climate action, and regional security. Aviation & Trade Links: Contour Airlines is evaluating new Caribbean routes using Puerto Rico as a US gateway, while Executive Air launched a regional cargo service in St Vincent to boost exports and supply chains. People & Skills: UWI’s inaugural Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure fellowship selected Dominicans among regional participants, supporting digital infrastructure expertise. Local Business/Community: Dominica’s Discover Dominica Authority will host its inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4, bringing wellness providers and community groups together.

Canada–CARICOM Partnership: Canada and CARICOM foreign ministers renewed cooperation in Panama, agreeing a results-focused action plan on competitive economies, climate action, and regional security, with clear timelines and financing. Regional Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators say Flow’s outage (Guadeloupe–Antigua fibre fault) disrupted services for nearly 19 hours, and they’re pushing for stronger network resilience and backup communication plans. Digital Skills for Youth: The ECCB’s free 2026 STEM Camp is set to open July 6 across ECCU territories, aiming to turn young people into digital creators and innovators. Renewables Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting urged a faster, coordinated renewable energy transition using regional project portfolios and blended finance. Energy Transition & Governance: Dominica’s role in regional digital and energy resilience continues, including UWI’s inaugural Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship selections. Local Announcements: DOWASCO will close Portsmouth and Roseau offices June 29 for a staff meeting; offices reopen June 30. Tourism & Wellness: Discover Dominica Authority will host its inaugural Wellness Fair July 4 as part of the 2026 tourism awareness push. Dominica–New Zealand Ties: PM Skerrit met New Zealand’s new High Commissioner, Linda Charlotte Te Puni, to deepen cooperation on sustainable development, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness.

Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say the Flow outage (Guadeloupe–Antigua fibre fault) left customers without service for nearly 19 hours, and they’re urging backup communication plans while Flow reports network-strengthening steps. Utility Operations: DOWASCO will close its Portsmouth and Roseau offices from noon June 29 and resume June 30; it also put a vehicle tender on the table (JCB backhoe, bids due June 30). Digital Skills & Jobs: UWI secured Dominicans among the first Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship cohort, linking Caribbean talent with Berkeley-led expertise across policy, economics, engineering and governance. Energy Transition: CDB governors pushed for bolder, coordinated renewable energy action—bundling projects, using guarantees/blended finance, and building climate-resilient grids. Trade & Finance Context: A CARISTATS snapshot shows Dominica among the biggest current-account deficit economies in 2025 (investment-driven), while only four CARICOM states ran surpluses. Diplomacy for Development: PM Skerrit met New Zealand’s new High Commissioner, focusing on sustainable development cooperation in areas like renewable energy and climate resilience. Local Business/Community: Dominica’s Discover Dominica Authority plans an inaugural Wellness Fair July 4, bringing wellness providers and businesses into the tourism spotlight.

Telecom Reliability & Consumer Relief: Flow fully restored services after a major regional outage (June 21–22) blamed on damaged subsea fibre, with Dominica and Grenada also affected; the company says rebates will be automatically applied (prepaid credit for prepaid users, individual notices for business customers). Digital Skills & Regional Innovation: The inaugural UWI Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship selected nearly three dozen Caribbean participants, including 16 UWI members, to build expertise in how digital infrastructure should be designed and governed. Water & Public Service Continuity: DOWASCO will close its Portsmouth and Roseau offices from noon June 29, reopening June 30; regulators also urged customers to keep backup communication plans after the Flow disruption. Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting called for a faster, coordinated renewable energy transition using regional project bundling, blended finance, and climate-resilient grids. Marine Conservation & Livelihoods: Dominica marked SSMR Day 2026 with school and community activities focused on marine protection, while a regional anticipatory insurance scheme aims to release hurricane funds to fisherfolk before landfall. Local Economy & Tourism: Discover Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism plan the island’s first Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, supporting wellness tourism and local service providers. Governance & Business Climate: Spain removed Gibraltar (and also Dominica) from its non-cooperative tax blacklist, a move tied to updated EU/OECD transparency standards.

Telecom Reliability: Flow fully restored services after a major outage that hit Dominica and Saint Lucia from June 21–22, caused by a damaged subsea fibre; regulators say Flow is reviewing route resiliency and adding alternative fibre paths, while customers are set to receive automatic rebates/credits. Regional Finance & Banking: A new Caribbean banking series spotlights who controls the region’s banks as Scotiabank moves to buy out remaining minority stakes in Scotia Group Jamaica and take it private—raising the bigger question of regional ownership and global connectivity. CARICOM External Balances: CARISTATS reports only four CARICOM economies ran current-account surpluses in 2025 (oil/gas or remittances), while Dominica posted a large deficit tied to investment and imported infrastructure. Energy Transition: CDB governors urged faster, coordinated renewable energy action—bundling projects, using guarantees/blended finance, and building climate-resilient grids. Climate Risk Financing: A new “anticipatory action” insurance mechanism will release hurricane funds up to three days early for fisherfolk, shifting support from post-disaster recovery to preparedness. Dominica Local Economy & Services: DOWASCO issued a tender for purchase of a JCB backhoe; the Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with marine conservation education. Tourism & Community: Discover Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism plan the inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4, while Dominica’s Roseau North Labour campaign launches June 28 with candidate Ashma McDougall focused on youth, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

Energy Transition Push: Caribbean leaders at the CDB meeting urged a faster, coordinated renewable energy shift—bundling projects into investable regional portfolios, using blended finance, and upgrading climate-resilient grids. Disaster-Ready Finance: A new anticipatory action insurance scheme will release hurricane funds up to three days early for fisherfolk, helping protect boats and livelihoods before landfall. Telecom Resilience & Rebates: Flow restored services after a major outage tied to a damaged subsea fibre, with automatic rebates for affected customers in Dominica and beyond; regulators also urged backup communication plans. OECS Governance & Trade: OECS leaders opened their 78th Authority meeting calling for an “OECS renaissance,” with focus on trade, connectivity, and economic resilience. Local Business & Public Services: DOWASCO issued a tender for vehicle purchases; the Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 with marine conservation education. Skills for Growth: ECCB announced a free 2026 STEM Camp for ECCU youth, and Dominica’s tourism sector is gearing up for a July 4 Wellness Fair. Diplomacy for Development: PM Skerrit met New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to deepen cooperation on renewable energy, climate resilience, agriculture, and community development.

Renewables Push: Caribbean leaders urged faster, coordinated renewable energy action at a CDB seminar, warning fragmented efforts won’t meet the region’s energy, economic and climate resilience goals. Tech Skills for Youth: The ECCB announced its 2026 free STEM Camp (July 6, four weeks) for ages 14–18 across ECCU territories, aiming to build AI and design-thinking skills for future work. Telecom Disruption & Rebates: Regulators said Flow’s outage in Dominica and St Lucia (June 21–22) was linked to a damaged fibre route between Guadeloupe and Antigua; services are restored and customers should receive automatic rebates/credits. Water & Health Angle: The Fisheries Division marked SSMR Day 2026 in Scotts Head with marine conservation education in schools and community events. Tourism Wellness Drive: Dominica’s Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority will host the inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, offering free screenings, consultations and nature-based wellness activities. Local Business/Procurement: DOWASCO opened a tender for the purchase of a JCB backhoe (TS 669), with bids due June 30. Diplomatic Ties: Dominica welcomed New Zealand’s new High Commissioner, Linda Charlotte Te Puni, with talks focused on sustainable development cooperation.

Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say the Flow outage that left customers offline for nearly 19 hours (June 21–22) was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, and they’ve asked Flow for a full incident report while urging backup communication plans. Customer Relief: Flow confirmed full restoration and said rebates will be automatically applied—prepaid customers get credit, and business customers will be notified individually. Regional Integration: OECS leaders opened the 78th Authority meeting in Antigua, marking 45 years of integration and calling for an “OECS renaissance” with stronger implementation on trade, connectivity, climate resilience and economic resilience. Tourism & Wellness Push: Discover Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism will host the island’s inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, as part of the 2026 Tourism Awareness Program. Sports Tourism: Dominica is positioning itself for athlete development and sports tourism after a two-week visit by International Futbol Experiences founder Christopher Saul, with a “Train & Play in Nature” programme aimed at scholarships and player development. Regional Finance/Skills: ECCO announced its 2025 annual report is now available online and named a new board after its AGM, reinforcing transparency in royalty licensing across six OECS territories.

Telecom Resilience: Dominica and St. Lucia regulators say Flow’s major outage (June 21–22) was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, and they’ve asked Flow for a full incident report while urging customers and businesses to keep backup communication plans. Consumer Relief: Flow reports full restoration and says rebates will be automatically applied—prepaid customers get credit, and business customers will be notified individually. Tourism Wellness Push: Discover Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism will host the island’s inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, offering free screenings, consultations and wellness activities under “Be Well in Nature.” Regional Integration Watch: OECS leaders met in Antigua for the 78th Authority meeting, focusing on trade, connectivity, economic resilience, climate resilience and security. Roseau Upgrade Plan: Dominica has entered the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project after a June 17 kickoff, with road, drainage and pedestrian-focused improvements underway. Air Cargo Boost (Regional): St. Vincent’s Argyle Airport announced Executive Air’s new regional cargo service, aimed at improving logistics for tourism and exports, including produce pipelines.