AGP Executive Report

Citizenship by Investment: Kenny Green says Dominica’s CBI programme helped restart the private sector after Hurricane Maria and is still funding major national projects, arguing salaries kept families buying essentials while businesses rebuilt. CARICOM-Caribbean-Africa: CARICOM marks the fifth CARICOM-Africa Day with renewed calls for stronger Caribbean-Africa ties, pointing to progress in trade, connectivity, health and reparatory justice. Cruise Tourism Boost: PM Roosevelt Skerrit says a US$75 million cruise village for Roseau North is moving toward a formal agreement, expected to deepen cruise tourism spending for vendors, taxi operators, tour guides and other local businesses. Protected Areas & Tourism: Dominica is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks over about nine months, aiming to align conservation with tourism potential through stakeholder consultation. GEMS Leadership: GEMS Holdings appoints Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, with oversight of Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, while founder Gregor Nassief shifts to Group Executive Director. Roseau North Politics: By-election coverage continues as UWP candidate Danny Lugay pushes youth-focused tourism initiatives and DLP candidate Ashma McDougall leads an online survey. Dominica Adventure Tourism: Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up with kayaking and scuba events, including a Kayaking Champions win for Coulibri Ridge.

Tourism Investment: Dominica’s Roseau North is set for a major boost as a US$75 million cruise village is expected to be formalized soon, with knock-on benefits for vendors, taxi operators, tour guides and other tourism businesses. Protected Areas & Nature Tourism: Dominica is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks over about nine months, aiming to align conservation priorities with watershed protection and tourism development. Hotel Leadership: GEMS Holdings appoints Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, overseeing Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, with founder Gregor Nassief shifting to Group Executive Director. Adventure & Community Events: Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up Aug. 30, highlighting kayaking, scuba, snorkelling and hikes, with Coulibri Ridge winning the corporate kayak race. Regional Travel Context: Caribbean Airlines says it’s pushing a transformation programme and is rolling out new onboard and duty-free options, while Thailand tightens visa-free entry rules from Sept. 15, 2026.

Tourism Investment: Dominica’s Roseau North is set for a US$75 million privately funded cruise village, with a formal agreement expected soon—promising more cruise passengers and extra demand for local vendors, taxi operators, and tour guides. Protected Areas & Nature Tourism: Government is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks over about nine months, aiming to balance conservation with updated tourism development. Hospitality Leadership: GEMS Holdings appoints Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, overseeing Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, with founder Gregor Nassief shifting to Group Executive Director. Adventure & Events: Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up Aug. 30 with kayaking, diving, snorkelling, hiking, and community activities—plus Coulibri Ridge winning the Kayaking Champions title. Regional Health Security: St Vincent and the Grenadines becomes the first OECS state to adopt a regional early warning surveillance system (RIEWSS), strengthening public health readiness ahead of major gatherings. Politics (Local): Roseau North by-election campaigning continues as DLP’s Ashma McDougall leads an online survey while UWP’s Danny Lugay pushes youth-focused tourism initiatives. Caribbean Travel Context: Thailand’s visa-free rules tighten from Sept. 15, 2026, and the Caribbean Music Awards announces Billboard as global media partner with Dominica spotlighted for Bouyon.

Health & Leadership: St Kitts and Nevis PM Dr Terrance Drew reassured the region he’s in “good spirits” and stable after medical treatment in Martinique and further evaluations in South Florida, saying doctors are continuing investigations following nausea, vomiting, neck pain, dizziness and balance issues. Tourism & Infrastructure: Dominica’s Roseau North is set for a US$75 million cruise village, with a formal agreement expected soon, promising more cruise passenger spending and extra demand for local vendors, taxis and tour guides. Protected Areas & Nature Tourism: Dominica is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks over about nine months, with consultations aimed at balancing conservation, watershed protection and tourism development. Hospitality Leadership: GEMS Holdings appoints Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, overseeing Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, with founder Gregor Nassief shifting to Group Executive Director. Local Culture & Adventure: Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up after two days of kayaking, diving, snorkelling and hiking, with Coulibri Ridge winning the Kayaking Champions title.

Tourism & Culture: Dominica’s Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up Aug. 30 with two days of kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hiking and community events, including the Corporate Kayak Race won by Coulibri Ridge. Protected Areas & Eco-Tourism: Dominica is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks, a process expected to take about nine months, with a national consultation to balance conservation, watershed protection and tourism potential. Cruise Economy: Roseau North is set to benefit from a US$75 million cruise village, with a formal agreement expected soon—aimed at boosting cruise tourism spending and creating more work for vendors, taxi operators and tour guides. Hospitality Leadership: GEMS Holdings appointed Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, overseeing Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, with founder Gregor Nassief shifting to Group Executive Director. Local Politics (Roseau North By-Election): Campaigning continues ahead of Sept. 7 voting, including an online survey showing Ashma McDougall leading and renewed debate over tourism and youth employment plans. Regional Context: St Kitts and Nevis PM Terrance Drew said he remains in good spirits and stable while medical evaluations continue in South Florida.

Tourism Investment: Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says a US$75 million cruise village for Roseau North is moving toward signing, promising more cruise passenger spending and extra work for vendors, taxi operators and tour guides. Protected Areas & Nature Tourism: Government is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks, with a nine-month process aimed at protecting watersheds and biodiversity while keeping tourism potential on track. Hotel Sector Leadership: GEMS Holdings appoints Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, taking the lead for Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, with founder Gregor Nassief shifting to Group Executive Director. By-Election Watch (Roseau North): Campaigning heats up ahead of Sept. 7 as DLP’s Ashma McDougall leads an online survey and UWP’s Danny Lugay pushes youth-focused tourism initiatives. Regional Culture Spotlight: The Caribbean Music Awards names Billboard as Official Global Media Partner and announces its first Trinidad & Tobago performer wave, with Dominica highlighted as the birthplace of bouyon. Visa Rules for Travellers: Thailand confirms visa-free access cuts for 21 nationalities starting Sept. 15, 2026, with affected travellers directed to e-Visa options.

Tourism & Conservation: Dominica is revising management plans for Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks, with a nine-month process and a national consultation to balance conservation, watershed protection, and tourism development. Cruise Economy: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says a US$75 million privately funded cruise village for Roseau North is moving toward a formal agreement, expected to boost local vendors, taxi operators, tour guides, and other tourism services. Hotel Leadership: GEMS Holdings appoints Marvlyn James as Acting CEO, effective Sept. 1, with oversight of Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, while founder Gregor Nassief shifts to Group Executive Director. Roseau North By-Election: Campaign heat rises as DLP’s Ashma McDougall leads an online Only Polls survey ahead of Sept. 7 voting, while UWP candidate Danny Lugay pushes youth-focused tourism initiatives; separate political commentary also centers on alleged monitoring of a private meeting involving Gregor Nassief. Food & Safety Training: CARPHA delivers ServSafe Train-the-Trainer Advanced Food Safety Certification to 35 Nutrition and Dietetics interns in the region, strengthening practical food safety skills. Adventure Tourism: Soufrière Dive Fest 2026 wraps up after two days of kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hiking, and community events, with Coulibri Ridge winning the kayaking champions title. Regional Travel Policy Watch: Thailand confirms visa-free changes starting Sept. 15, 2026, cutting visa-free eligibility and shortening stays for many nationalities.

Cruise & Tourism Investment: Dominica’s Roseau North is set for a major boost with a US$75 million cruise village planned, with a formal agreement expected soon—aimed at bringing more passengers ashore and lifting local spending for vendors, taxi operators, tour guides and other tourism businesses. Hotel & Dive Industry Leadership: GEMS Holdings has named Marvlyn James as Acting CEO from September 1, 2026, with oversight of Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, while founder Gregor Nassief shifts to Group Executive Director. Dominica Adventure & Events: Soufrière Dive Fest 2026 wrapped up August 30 after two days of kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hiking and community activities, with Coulibri Ridge taking the Kayaking Champions title. Regional Health Security: SVG became the first OECS member to adopt CARPHA’s regional digital early warning system (RIEWSS), strengthening public health readiness ahead of big gatherings like Carnival and the CPL. Royal Travel Watch: King Charles and Queen Camilla announced a nine-day Caribbean tour this fall, including stops in The Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda—another reminder of the region’s high-profile tourism pull.

Cruise & Local Economy: Dominica’s Roseau North is set for a major boost with a privately funded US$75 million cruise village, with a formal agreement expected soon—promising more cruise passenger spending for vendors, taxi operators, tour guides and other tourism businesses. Hotel Leadership: GEMS Holdings has named Marvlyn James as Acting CEO from September 1, bringing her experience from Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort to lead day-to-day operations. Festival & Diving Tourism: Soufrière Dive Fest wrapped up after two days of kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hiking and community events; Coulibri Ridge won the Kayaking Champions title, and the festival ran Aug. 29–30 with activities like guided hikes, hot-springs soaks and kids’ sessions. Air Access for Visitors: Winair is offering 65% off eligible fares to Dominica for the World Creole Music Festival (promo code WM65YRS), with travel Aug. 28–Oct. 31 and bookings due by Aug. 27. Regional Health Tech: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the first OECS member to adopt a regional digital early warning system (RIEWSS), strengthening public health readiness ahead of big gatherings.

Tourism Investment: Dominica’s Prime Minister has announced a multi-million dollar tourism investment, signaling fresh push to upgrade visitor experiences. Adventure & Events: Soufrière Dive Fest wrapped up after two days of kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hiking and community activities; Coulibri Ridge took the Kayaking Champions title, and the festival continues to build Dominica’s “Nature Island” reputation. Air Access & Festival Deals: Winair is offering 65% off eligible fares to Dominica for the World Creole Music Festival (promo code WM65YRS), with travel running Aug 28–Oct 31 and bookings due by Aug 27. Education & Testing: Dominica successfully hosted its six-week CXC examination programme across 17 centres, with e-testing used where devices and internet allowed, and two breaches leading to cancelled results. Regional Health Security: SVG became the first OECS member to adopt CARPHA’s regional early warning surveillance and response system (RIEWSS), strengthening outbreak detection ahead of major gatherings. People & Work Inclusion: A UN campaign launched across the Caribbean to break barriers for workers with disabilities, backed by employers signing a disability-inclusive hiring pledge.

Tourism Investment: Dominica PM announced a multi-million dollar tourism investment, a fresh boost for the island’s visitor economy. Soufrière Dive Fest: The Soufrière Dive Fest wrapped up Aug. 29–30 with kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hikes and community events; Coulibri Ridge won the Kayaking Champions title and the fest continues as a long-running marine adventure tradition. Air Access Deal: Winair launched a 65% fare cut to Dominica for the World Creole Music Festival (promo code WM65YRS; travel Aug. 28–Oct. 31, bookings by Aug. 27). Education & Tech: Dominica’s June 2026 CXC exams ran across 17 centres over six weeks, with e-testing at 12 centres for Paper One and limited e-testing elsewhere due to device and internet gaps; two breaches led to cancelled results. Road Safety Works: New speed humps are planned in Coulibistrie and Tarreau from Aug. 31–Sept. 5, with temporary disruptions expected. Regional Inclusion: UN’s HireAbility Campaign launched across the Caribbean to expand disability-inclusive employment, backed by governments and businesses.

Soufrière Dive Fest: Dominica’s Soufrière Dive Fest wrapped up August 30 after two days of kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hiking and community events, with Coulibri Ridge taking the Kayaking Champions title and a $2,500 corporate kayak race among the highlights. World Creole Music Festival travel deals: Winair is offering 65% off eligible fares to Dominica for WCMF (Oct 23–25), using promo code WM65YRS for travel Aug 28–Oct 31 (book by Aug 27; taxes/fees extra). Education & exams: Dominica successfully completed its six-week CXC programme across 17 centres, with electronic testing at 12 locations and limited e-testing at five due to devices and internet issues; two exam breaches led to result cancellations. Disability-inclusive jobs push: The UN launched the HireAbility Campaign across the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, urging employers to break workplace barriers and expand decent work for people with disabilities. Local infrastructure: Speed humps are set for Coulibistrie and Tarreau from Aug 31–Sep 5 to improve road safety, with drivers warned of temporary disruptions.

Dominica Tourism & Culture: Soufrière Dive Fest returns Aug 29–30 with kayaking, scuba, snorkelling, hikes, hot-springs time and community events; Coulibri Ridge won the Kayaking Champions title, and the festival is co-hosted by the Soufrière Organising Committee, Dominica’s Ministry of Tourism and the Dominica Watersports Association. World Creole Music Festival (WCMF): Dominica is gearing up for Oct 23–25 at Windsor Park Sports Stadium, with Grammy winner Ne-Yo headlining alongside Machel Montano, Maxi Priest, Alkaline and Skillibeng. Air Access for Visitors: Winair is offering a 65% fare cut to Dominica for WCMF using code WM65YRS (travel Aug 28–Oct 31; bookings by Aug 27; taxes/fees extra). Local Infrastructure: Speed humps are set for Coulibistrie and Tarreau from Aug 31–Sep 5 to improve road safety. Regional Health Security: SVG becomes the first OECS state to adopt CARPHA’s regional digital early warning system (RIEWSS), strengthening surveillance ahead of major gatherings. Caribbean Travel Context: Caribbean Airlines will discontinue some direct Barbados–Trinidad/Tobago routing from Sep 2 as it optimises schedules. Global Travel Watch: The UN-backed HireAbility campaign launches across the Caribbean to boost disability-inclusive employment.

World Creole Music Festival: Winair is offering 65% off eligible fares to Dominica for WCMF (promo code WM65YRS), with travel Aug 28–Oct 31 and bookings due by Aug 27; the Oct 23–25 event at Windsor Park Sports Stadium is headlined by Grammy winner Ne-Yo and also features Machel Montano, Maxi Priest, Alkaline and more. Soufrière Tourism: Soufrière Dive Fest 2026 returns Aug 29–30 with a packed lineup of hikes, scuba/freediving, kayaking, coral presentations, family bayfront fun, and a corporate kayak race. Local Travel & Roads: The Ministry plans speed humps in Coulibistrie and Tarreau from Aug 31–Sep 5 to improve road safety, with temporary disruptions expected. Dominica Policy: PM Roosevelt Skerrit says the government could eliminate personal income tax by 2028 if revenue measures succeed. Regional Health Security: SVG becomes the first OECS member to adopt CARPHA’s Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance and Response System (RIEWSS), boosting early detection ahead of major gatherings. Air Connectivity Watch: Caribbean Airlines will discontinue direct Trinidad/Tobago–Barbados return flights effective Sep 2 as it optimizes schedules.

Regional Health Security: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the first OECS member to adopt CARPHA’s Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance and Response System (RIEWSS), a Caribbean-tailored digital platform to speed up detection and response to public health threats—timed ahead of big crowds for SVG Carnival and the Caribbean Premier League. Dominica Diving & Water Fun: Soufrière Dive Fest 2026 returns Aug. 29–30 with a packed mix of early hikes, Discover Scuba/Freediving/Kayaking, coral presentations, family beachside activities, and a corporate kayak race. World Creole Music Festival Travel Deals: Winair is offering 65% off eligible fares to Dominica for WCMF (Oct. 23–25), using promo code WM65YRS for travel Aug. 28–Oct. 31 (book by Aug. 27; taxes/fees extra). Big Music Headliner: Dominica’s WCMF lineup is led by Grammy winner Ne-Yo, with Machel Montano, Maxi Priest, Alkaline and Skillibeng also set to perform at Windsor Park. Airline Network Updates: Caribbean Airlines will discontinue certain Trinidad/Tobago/Barbados return flights from Sept. 2 as part of schedule optimization, with affected passengers re-accommodated. Road Safety Works: Speed humps are planned for Coulibistrie and Tarreau from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, with temporary disruptions expected. US Travel Pause: The Trump administration has suspended new U.S. visa issuance worldwide, with existing appointments reportedly cancelled and rescheduled.

Air Access & Festival Deals: Winair is offering a 65% discount to Dominica for the World Creole Music Festival, using promo code WM65YRS for travel Aug 28–Oct 31, 2026 (book by Aug 27; taxes/fees extra). Tourism Events: Soufrière Dive Fest 2026 returns Aug 29–30, with a Hike & Soak, multiple “Discover” water activities (scuba, freediving, kayaking, snorkelling), coral presentations, family bayfront fun, and a corporate kayak race. Big Tourism Pull: Dominica is set to build a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot at the cable car summit—aiming to become the world’s tallest/largest parrot statue—plus a “Golden Love Bird” feature for visitors. Regional Travel Signals: Caribbean Airlines will discontinue its Trinidad/Tobago–Barbados direct routing from Sept 2, and earlier this year it withdrew from Dominica routes—watch for knock-on effects for regional visitors. Climate & Planning: CIMH and UWI are urging the Caribbean to prepare for intensifying El Niño-driven heat and drought, with August–October flagged as the peak heat season.