AGP Executive Report

AI & Innovation Push: Future Caribbean is launching a global agentic AI build-a-thon, urging Caribbean talent to help shape the region’s digital future instead of lagging behind. Tourism Boost: Dominica has been named the No. 1 island in the Caribbean and No. 9 worldwide in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, with officials crediting sustained investment in nature-based tourism. ECCB Leadership & Policy: The ECCB Monetary Council meets in Dominica today as Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine presents the report on monetary, credit and financial conditions, alongside the “Big Push” agenda. CBI Pressure on the OECS: The EU has asked OECS states to phase out Citizenship by Investment by 2028, with Dominica’s revenue exposure highlighted and leaders warning of possible visa-free fallout. Community & Seniors: The Dominica Council on Ageing is calling for justice after the death of an 83-year-old man found in a manhole, urging vigilance and care for seniors. Education & Skills: Teachers are being encouraged to use AI as a classroom tool during DAT’s summer training, while Dominica State College marks major graduation milestones. Agriculture Resilience: Agriculture officials are training staff on pre- and post-disaster damage assessment to strengthen farming recovery after storms.

CBI Shockwaves for the OECS: The EU has formally urged Eastern Caribbean states running Citizenship by Investment to phase out the programmes by June 1, 2028, warning that visa-free access to Europe could be suspended under a revised visa suspension mechanism—sparking urgent pushback from regional leaders including Nevis Premier Mark Brantley. Tourism Boost: Dominica has been named No. 1 island in the Caribbean and No. 9 globally in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, with officials crediting sustained investment in nature-based tourism. Sports Milestone: Dominica is set for a historic senior FIBA debut in the AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Guyana, opening against Turks and Caicos with a 12-man squad led by captain Kijuan Thomas. Community & Safety: The Dominica Council on Ageing is calling for justice after the death of an 83-year-old man found in a manhole, and also raised concern over another recent senior death in Castle Bruce. Culture & Education: The 26th World Creole Music Festival launch is set for July 11, while the Dominica Association of Teachers’ summer institute urged educators to use AI as a learning tool.

EU/CBI Pressure: OECS leaders are bracing for fallout after the EU told Dominica and other member states to end Citizenship by Investment by June 2028, warning of possible visa-free access consequences. Local Finance & ECCB: Dominica’s Finance Minister Dr Irving McIntyre will take the ECCB Monetary Council chairmanship on July 9, with the handover also marking 50 years of the EC dollar’s fixed exchange rate. Elections Update: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says voter ID cards will begin issuing before the end of July, as the electoral reform process moves forward. Festival & Culture: Dominica’s Flavours of the World Festival returns October 4, 2026, bringing international food, music, dance and language to the island. Sports (Basketball): Dominica is set to make its first senior FIBA tournament appearance at the AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers, with the team competing in Guyana starting July 8. Announcements/Infrastructure: DOWASCO warns of heavy traffic in Morne Rachette due to water tank construction, and notes other scheduled service interruptions across parts of the island.

Electoral Reform: Dominica will begin issuing voter ID cards before the end of July, as Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the rollout is meant to strengthen the electoral system and support eligible voters through the confirmation process. CARICOM Legal Fight: CARICOM leaders have agreed to seek a Caribbean Court of Justice advisory opinion on the process used to reappoint Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett after Trinidad and Tobago raised objections. ECCB Milestone: Dominica’s Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre is set to take over the chairmanship of the ECCB Monetary Council, as the bank marks 50 years of the EC dollar’s fixed exchange rate. Sports Development: Dominica named its 12-member senior men’s squad for the historic FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers debut, led by coach Donnie Robinson and captain Kijuan Thomas. Education & Youth: Teachers are being urged to renew their passion through DAT’s summer training institute, with calls to embrace innovation and AI; a first-ever Nature Island Innovators Robotics Camp is also set for July 13–18. Public Works/Blue Economy: DOWASCO warned of heavy traffic in Morne Rachette due to construction for a new water storage tank, and the government advertised a vacancy for a Chief Whale Reserve Officer to manage the sperm whale reserve. Crime/Court: Police are investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains in Castle Bruce, with identity pending autopsy and formal identification.

CBI and US visa pressure: Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit defended the Citizenship by Investment programme as a major development engine, saying it has funded resilient housing, schools, health facilities, roads and climate-resilient projects, while warning against negative comments as international scrutiny and US visa restrictions continue to loom. Public safety and investigations: The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force is investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains in Castle Bruce (Milbranche area) near the Calice River, with identity pending an autopsy and formal identification. Education and youth skills: The first-ever Nature Island Innovators Robotics Camp will run July 13–18 at Portsmouth Secondary School, giving young people hands-on robotics, coding and leadership training. Sport and community: Dominica returned with four medals from the ANOECS Track and Field Championships in St. Kitts, and the Dominica Olympic Committee-backed Child Safeguarding Officers Workshop trained sports representatives on protecting children in sport. Regional finance: ECCB Monetary Council meetings and a “Big Push” agenda are set to be presented in Dominica this week, with media briefings and a chairmanship handover ceremony.

CBI Debate: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit pushed back against negative comments about Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment programme, saying it has been a major development engine and that oversight has been strengthened. Regional Finance: Dominica will host ECCB Monetary Council events, including a communiqué media conference and a chairmanship handover at the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort, with the “Big Push” initiative on the agenda. Education & Youth: DASCI awarded scholarships to 47 students in Dominica and Florida, while the Dominica Association of Teachers opened its two-week training institute for 187 teachers. Tech for Young People: The first Nature Island Innovators Robotics Camp runs July 13–18 in Portsmouth Secondary School, aiming to build robotics and leadership skills. Sports & Community: Dominica returned with four medals from ANOECS in St. Kitts, and the Dominica Olympic Committee-backed Child Safeguarding workshop trained sports representatives on protecting young athletes. Public Safety: Police are investigating the apparent suicide of a 35-year-old man in Lagoon, Portsmouth.

Visa Pressure on Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit urged the U.S. to reconsider visa restrictions affecting Dominicans and Antiguans and Barbudans, saying Washington should act “at the soonest opportunity” as citizens face delays for travel, education and medical access. Energy Update: Dominica’s geothermal plant reliability test resumed July 1 after June outages, with the plant now supplying about 10.4MW to the national grid following fixes to protection settings. Ebola Preparedness: The Health Ministry issued an advisory to avoid non-essential travel to Ebola-affected countries in Central and East Africa and said Dominica’s risk remains low, while strengthening screening at ports of entry. Electoral Reform: Skerrit says voter ID card issuance is expected before the end of July as Dominica moves from passing electoral reform laws to implementation. Regional Security Training: Thirty-two police and soldiers from seven Caribbean countries graduated from an RSS public order training and instructors’ course, stressing discipline and teamwork. Sports & Community: Dominica posted strong results at the 19th CARICOM Road Run/Walk in Saint Lucia, while police honoured a disciplined student at Petite Savanne Primary’s graduation and DOWASCO announced a Roseau office cashiers closure on Tuesday, July 7.

CARICOM Sports: Dominica’s Curvin Leatham turned in a standout Elite 10K run at the 19th CARICOM Road Run/Walk in Gros Islet, finishing 7th overall in 37:24, while Raedian Felix placed 10th in the Local 10K with 43:25. Regional Diplomacy: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew is in Saint Lucia for the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government meeting (July 5–8), with talks expected to focus on security, food protection, climate resilience, renewable energy, transport, integration, Haiti and youth. Energy Update: Dominica’s geothermal plant reliability test resumed July 1 after June outages, and the plant is now supplying about 10.4MW to the national grid. Health & Travel: Dominica’s Health Ministry says Ebola risk in Dominica is low, but has issued tighter screening and an advisory urging caution and avoiding non-essential travel to affected African countries. Elections Watch: PM Roosevelt Skerrit says voter ID card issuance is expected to begin before the end of July as electoral reform moves into implementation. Weather: Partly cloudy to cloudy, hazy and breezy with scattered showers; Saharan dust is expected to keep air quality moderate to poor.

Visa Pressure on Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the U.S. should reconsider visa restrictions on Dominicans “at the soonest opportunity,” after Washington’s June review timeline passed, as concerns grow over travel for medical care, education, business and family. Weather & Public Safety: The Dominica Meteorological Office warns of partly cloudy to cloudy, hazy and breezy conditions with scattered showers, plus Saharan dust affecting air quality; mariners face a small craft advisory with rougher seas. Power & Energy: Dominica’s geothermal plant reliability test resumed July 1, with the facility supplying about 10.4MW to the national grid after fixes to protection settings linked to earlier outages. Ebola Preparedness: The Health Ministry says the risk in Dominica is currently low, but has issued travel advisories and tightened screening at ports of entry as the WHO flags the outbreak in Central and East Africa. Electoral Reform: Voter ID card issuance is expected to begin before the end of July, as the government moves from legislation to implementation. Regional Focus: CARICOM leaders open their summit in St. Lucia aiming for stronger integration and a more united front. Local Services: DOWASCO announces a Roseau cashiers closure on Tuesday, July 7.

Geothermal Power Update: Dominica’s geothermal plant resumed its mandatory seven-day reliability test on July 1 and is now supplying about 10.4MW to the national grid after engineers fixed issues linked to protection settings between the battery energy storage system and the plant. CARICOM Focus: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew is set to attend the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St. Lucia (July 5–8) as leaders push priorities including security, food security, climate resilience, and regional integration. Ebola Preparedness: Dominica’s Health Ministry says the risk of Ebola in Dominica is currently low, but has issued an advisory urging against non-essential travel to high-risk African countries and announced stronger screening at ports of entry. Electoral Reform: Voter ID card issuance is expected to begin before the end of July, as the government moves from passing electoral reform legislation to implementation. Weather & Sea Conditions: Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a few showers are expected, with Saharan dust affecting air quality; mariners are warned visibility may be low and waves could reach near 5 feet (west) and 8 feet (east). Local Community News: DOWASCO says its Roseau cashiers will close Tuesday, July 7, and the police recognized a disciplined student at Petite Savanne Primary’s graduation.

Geothermal Power Update: Dominica’s geothermal plant has restarted its mandatory seven-day reliability test, following June outages, and is now supplying about 10.4MW to the national grid as engineers say protection settings between the battery storage system and the plant were corrected. Regional Diplomacy: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew is set to travel to Saint Lucia for CARICOM’s 51st Regular Meeting of Heads of Government, where leaders will focus on economic development, food security, climate resilience, regional security and integration. Health Watch (Ebola): Dominica’s Health Ministry has issued an Ebola precaution advisory for Central and East Africa, saying the risk in Dominica is low while strengthening port-of-entry screening and urging caution for travel to higher-risk countries. Elections Reform: Voter ID card issuance is expected to begin before the end of July, as Dominica moves from passing electoral reform legislation to implementation. Road Tragedy: A 39-year-old man from Antrizile, Johnson Abraham, died after a crash in Marigot on July 2; police say he was the sole occupant. Local Services: DOWASCO says the Roseau office cashiers will close Tuesday, July 7 for a staff meeting.

ANOECS Athletics: Dominica’s track and field team is back at the ANOECS Games in St Kitts after nearly 10 years, with eight athletes set to compete across shot put, jumps, sprints, hurdles and long jump. School Discipline: Acting Sgt. Dion Moses presented the Dion Moses Most Disciplined Student Award at Petite Savanne Primary’s graduation. Public Health: The Health Ministry issued an Ebola travel advisory for the DRC and Uganda and says enhanced screening is now in place at ports of entry, with possible monitoring up to 21 days. Road Tragedy: Antrizile resident Johnson Abraham died after a Marigot road crash; police say he was the sole occupant and the body is pending an autopsy. Elections Update: PM Roosevelt Skerrit says voter ID card issuance is expected to begin before the end of July as part of the electoral reform rollout. Business/Services: DOWASCO says the Roseau cashiers will close Tuesday, July 7 from noon for a staff meeting. Regional Economy: ECCB released its 2025–2026 annual report, citing net profit of $121.6 million and a “Big Push” to boost the regional economy. Aid to Venezuela: Dominica pledged US$500,000 toward Venezuela’s earthquake recovery.

Venezuela Earthquake Aid: Dominica’s PM Roosevelt Skerrit says the government has approved an initial US$500,000 donation to help Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated areas including La Guaira, as officials push for faster delivery of relief supplies. Health Policy Clarification: Health Minister Cassanni Laville says healthcare stays free for Dominicans aged 18 and under and 60 and over, after a circulating document suggested a 25% contribution fee for those qualifying for waivers. Visa Pressure on Medical Care: Skerrit urges the U.S. to reconsider visa restrictions affecting Dominicans seeking treatment and education, saying Washington should act “at the soonest opportunity.” OECS Tourism Push: OECS officials in St. Lucia trained member states on community-based tourism, aiming to put local communities at the centre of tourism planning and benefits. Sports Leadership & Selection: Dominica names Falcons captain Kijuan Thomas to lead the senior men’s basketball team for FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifiers in Guyana. Water Notices: DOWASCO schedules water interruptions in Stockfarm & Tarish Pit (July 3) and St. Joseph, Layou, Mero and Hillsborough Gardens (July 2) for system maintenance.

Creative Industries: The Alwin Bully Foundation will host a public forum on strengthening Dominica’s arts and cultural industries on Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00 PM at the UWI Global Campus in Roseau, focusing on building a sustainable creative sector. Healthcare Access: Health Minister Cassanni Laville says healthcare stays free for Dominicans aged 18 and under and 60 and over, after clarification on a circulating document about a possible 25% contribution fee. Disaster Support: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced Dominica will donate US$500,000 to Venezuela after devastating twin earthquakes. Tourism & Jobs: Sixteen residents of the Kalinago Territory graduated as certified tour guides under a UNDP-supported programme aimed at boosting indigenous tourism and community resilience. Sports: Dominica’s senior men’s basketball team has named Kijuan Thomas as captain for the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Guyana, and Dominica is set to return to revived ANOECS athletics championships in St. Kitts and Nevis with a nine-member team. Regional Tourism Policy: OECS officials met in St. Lucia to advance community-based tourism, supported by the EU’s 11th EDF RIGHT programme. Water Notices: DOWASCO scheduled service interruptions are set for Stockfarm & Tarish Pit (July 3) and St. Joseph, Layou, Mero and Hillsborough Gardens (July 2).

Water Supply Disruptions: DOWASCO has scheduled maintenance water interruptions for Stockfarm & Tarish Pit on Friday, July 3 (9am–5pm), and for St. Joseph, Layou, Mero and Hillsborough Gardens on Thursday, July 2 (9am–5pm). Indigenous Tourism Boost: Sixteen residents of the Kalinago Territory graduated as certified tour guides after a UNDP-supported training programme aimed at strengthening indigenous tourism and local economic opportunities. Roseau South Politics: The UPP has unveiled Edline Harris as its Roseau South candidate, while the UWP’s Wesley meeting ahead of elections drew a notably low turnout. Health Spotlight: Dr. Velda Wade says Dominica has about 300 people living with cancer, calling it an alarming burden for the small island. Marine Conservation: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators to support the reserve and protect the whales while sustaining livelihoods. Sports Support: Team RUBIS donated EC$5,000 to the Wayne George Football Academy for uniforms and equipment. Regional Gender Training: The OECS Commission launched a three-part gender mainstreaming staff training series to strengthen gender-responsive policy work.

Indigenous Tourism Boost: Sixteen residents of Kalinago Territory graduated as certified tour guides after a UNDP-supported training programme, with the push aimed at strengthening indigenous tourism and local livelihoods. Roseau South Politics: The UPP has unveiled Edline Harris as its Roseau South candidate, pitching her as a “daughter of the soil” focused on education, jobs and staying engaged with residents. Wesley Rally Scrutiny: A UWP public meeting in Wesley drew a noticeably small crowd, with observers saying attendance was mostly party insiders rather than the wider public. Water Service Notice: DOWASCO says there will be a scheduled water interruption in St. Joseph, Layou, Mero and Hillsborough Gardens on Thursday, July 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cancer Concern: Dr. Velda Wade told the Dominica Cancer Society AGM that about 300 people in Dominica are living with cancer, calling it an alarming wake-up call. Marine Conservation: The new Sperm Whale Reserve Board has started consultations with watersports operators to support the reserve and protect the whales while sustaining marine-based livelihoods. Youth Football Support: Wayne George Football Academy received EC$5,000 from Team RUBIS for uniforms and equipment.