AGP Executive Report

Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, with Dominica included, for possible support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing—covering power generation, green industrialization, e-mobility and renewable supply chains. Food Safety Skills: UWI St. Augustine nutrition and dietetics interns got advanced ServSafe Train-the-Trainer food safety training through CARPHA, boosting practical hygiene and handling skills for future workplaces. Agrifood Recognition: Dominica farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste was named among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development, spotlighting decades of sustainable mixed farming and local market supply. Agriculture Capacity: Dominica’s Portsmouth Tissue Culture Laboratory is set to produce 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly, strengthening planting material supply and disaster recovery. Fisheries Upgrade: A new village fish processing plant is planned for Soufriere-Scotts Head, with tendering underway and funding via BNTF and government. Sports Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s multi-purpose complex is moving toward World Athletics Class One synthetic track certification, opening doors for major meets and sanctioned athlete results. Tourism & Creative Industry: DOMLEC marked its 40-year scholarship programme with four new recipients, while Dominica also signed with Stage 32 to expand training and certification pathways for local audio-visual professionals.

Business & Tech: Ocho Rios entrepreneur Kingsley Jair Harrison’s SnapTap—an AI-powered all-in-one dashboard for marketing, sales, payments and customer management—is already used by 500+ operators across 10 countries, including Dominica. Food Safety & Training: UWI St. Augustine nutrition and dietetics interns got CARPHA ServSafe Train-the-Trainer Advanced Food Safety Certification in Trinidad and Tobago, boosting practical skills in hygiene and safe food handling. Agriculture & Resilience: Dominica is strengthening climate-smart farming through a Portsmouth Tissue Culture Laboratory producing 500,000+ plants yearly, plus a regional soil conservation push with German support and INTA technical guidance. Women in Agrifood: Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste was named among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, recognized for 40+ years of sustainable, diversified production. Fisheries & Processing: A new Soufriere-Scotts Head Village Fish Processing Plant is set for tendering, aiming to expand drying, smoking and frozen fish options. Sports Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s multi-purpose complex is moving toward World Athletics Class One certification, opening doors for major meets and training camps. Tourism & Industry: The Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay is slated to start construction in October via foreign direct investment, with direct opportunities for local vendors, farmers, fishers and artisans. Creative Sector: Discover Dominica Authority and Stage 32 signed an agreement to connect Dominican filmmakers and audiovisual professionals to international training and certification. Climate Watch: Regional agencies are warning El Niño could intensify heat and drought through 2027, with knock-on effects for water, farming and trade.

Food Safety Skills: UWI Nutrition and Dietetics interns at St. Augustine got CARPHA’s ServSafe Train-the-Trainer Advanced Food Safety Certification in Trinidad and Tobago, boosting practical know-how on handling, hygiene and sanitation. Agrifood Recognition: Dominica farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste (Capuchin) was named among FAO’s inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development, with Agriculture Minister Roland Royer praising her 40+ years of sustainable production and community impact. Agriculture Capacity: Dominica’s Portsmouth Tissue Culture Laboratory is set to produce 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly, strengthening planting material supply and disaster recovery. Fisheries Processing: A new Soufriere-Scotts Head Village Fish Processing Plant is moving through tendering, with drying, smoking and freezing planned to expand fishermen’s livelihoods. Sports Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s multi-purpose complex is on track for World Athletics Class One synthetic track certification, opening doors for sanctioned events and training camps. Tourism & Industry: Discover Dominica Authority signed with Stage 32 to connect local filmmakers and audiovisual professionals to international training and certification. Climate Pressure: Regional agencies warn El Niño-driven heat and drought could intensify through 2027, affecting water, farming and trade.

Sports Infrastructure: Dominica’s new multi-purpose sporting complex at Pointe Ronde in Portsmouth is moving toward World Athletics Class One certification, which would unlock sanctioned-event ratification and help attract camps, clinics, and winter training. Fisheries & Value-Add: A new Soufriere–Scotts Head Village Fish Processing Plant is set for tendering, with funding of EC$2 million to support drying, smoking, and frozen fish processing. Agriculture Recognition: Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste has been named among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in agrifood systems, with Agriculture Minister Roland Royer praising her 40+ years of sustainable, mixed farming. Agriculture Capacity: Portsmouth’s Tissue Culture Laboratory is expanding Dominica’s planting-material supply (500,000+ plants yearly) and strengthening disaster recovery through secure seed storage. Education & Skills: DOMLEC marked 40 years of its scholarship programme by awarding four secondary-school scholarships to students from the wider community. Creative Industry: Discover Dominica Authority and Stage 32 signed an agreement to connect local filmmakers and audiovisual professionals with international training and certification. Climate Watch: CIMH and UWI are urging Dominica and the wider Caribbean to prepare for intensifying heat and drought as El Niño strengthens. Tourism Development: Work is set to begin on Dominica’s Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay in October, funded by foreign direct investment and aimed at boosting local vendors, farmers, fishers, and artisans.

FAO Recognition for Farmers: Agriculture Minister Roland Royer congratulated Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste after her selection among the FAO’s inaugural “100 Women Heroes” in agrifood systems, praising her 40+ years of farming and her sustainable practices that support local markets and community resilience. Fisheries & Jobs: Senator Oscar George announced a new Soufriere–Scotts Head Village Fish Processing Plant in Scotts Head, with tendering underway for design and works, aiming to help fishermen add value through drying, smoking and freezing. Sports Infrastructure: At Pointe Ronde, Dominica’s multi-purpose sporting complex is progressing toward World Athletics Class One certification, which could unlock higher-level sanctioned meets and training opportunities. Agriculture Capacity Boost: Portsmouth’s Tissue Culture Laboratory is set to produce 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly, strengthening planting material supply and disaster recovery through secure seed storage. Audio-Visual Industry Push: Discover Dominica Authority signed with Stage 32 to open international training and certification pathways for local filmmakers and audiovisual professionals. Climate Pressure Watch: Regional agencies warn El Niño-driven heat and drought risks are intensifying, urging governments, businesses and farmers to prepare for severe extremes. Tourism Development: Plans for a Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay are moving toward construction, with foreign direct investment expected to create new roles for vendors, farmers, fishers and artisans.

Energy & Industry: Barbados’ $350m Harrow hybrid energy project is still waiting on a tariff ruling, with Energy Minister Kerrie Symmonds saying the Fair Trading Commission decision is expected by September 15, clearing a key step before construction can start. Agriculture & Food Systems: Dominica farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste of Capuchin has been named an FAO “Woman Hero in Agrifood Systems,” recognized for decades of production plus sustainable practices. Agri-Production Capacity: Portsmouth’s Tissue Culture Laboratory is set to boost plant supply (over 500,000 quality plants yearly) and support disaster recovery by securely storing seeds. Creative Industries: Discover Dominica Authority has partnered with Stage 32 to expand training and certification pathways for local filmmakers and audiovisual professionals. Climate Resilience: Dominica is pushing more climate-resilient farming through an integrated soil conservation and fertility programme, with technical support from INTA specialists. Tourism Infrastructure: Work is advancing on Dominica’s cable car landmark plans, including a giant Sisserou Parrot statue at the top station. Finance & Business Support: NCCU is running a “Sea to Soil” uniform day to spotlight farmers and fisherfolk and promote its revamped agriculture loan products. Regional MSME Digital Push: A CDB-backed initiative will support at least 150 MSMEs across Dominica and the wider OECS to adopt digital solutions and build resilience.

FAO Agrifood Recognition: Dominica farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste was named an inaugural FAO “100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems,” spotlighting her decades of crop and livestock production plus sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting and composting. Agriculture Capacity Boost: Portsmouth’s Tissue Culture Laboratory is ramping up plant supply, producing 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly to strengthen farming resilience and speed post-hurricane recovery. Agri-Finance & Community: NCCU is inviting businesses to a “Sea to Soil Uniform Deviation” day (Aug 28) to show support for farmers and fisherfolk, alongside its revamped agriculture loan products. Film & Audio-Visual Skills: Discover Dominica Authority and Stage 32 signed new cooperation to bring international training and certification pathways for local filmmakers and audiovisual professionals. Climate Risk Prep: CIMH and UWI are urging Caribbean readiness for intensifying El Niño heat and drought, with water shortages and wildfire risk rising into 2027. Tourism & Cruise Economy: Dominica is pushing cruise-linked growth, including the Woodbridge Bay Cruise Village moving toward construction in October via foreign direct investment, aimed at expanding opportunities for local vendors, farmers, and artisans. Regional Business Digitisation: CDB and SBA Barbados launched a digital transformation push for 150+ MSMEs across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent, targeting competitiveness and market access.

Citizenship by Investment Shock: Nevis Premier Mark Brantley says “CBI as we know it is dead,” warning Caribbean states to prepare for a hostile geopolitical climate and EU pressure to phase out investment migration by June 1, 2028. Tourism & Cruise Growth: Dominica is pushing ahead with a Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay, with construction expected to start in October and the project funded by foreign direct investment to create new opportunities for local vendors, farmers, fishers and tour operators. Cable Car Landmark: Work continues on Dominica’s cable car, with a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue planned for the top station—aimed at becoming the world’s tallest parrot statue and strengthening the tourism-natural heritage link. Climate Risk for Industry: Regional meteorology groups warn El Niño is intensifying heat and drought, with August–October the peak heat season and water shortages and wildfires a growing concern. Agriculture Resilience: Dominica is strengthening sustainable farming through an integrated soil conservation and fertility improvement project, including technical support from Argentina’s INTA. SME Digital Push: A CDB-backed regional initiative will support at least 150 MSMEs across Dominica and other islands to adopt digital tools and boost competitiveness. Energy Debate: A local commentary argues renewable, grid-tied power should reduce diesel demand and fuel surcharges, calling for wider solar adoption across public buildings. Workforce & Services: A Dominica terminal operator vacancy was announced, alongside a planned DOWASCO water interruption for pipeline relocation.

Tourism & Cruise Development: Dominica is pushing toward a $1 billion tourism target, citing about EC$405 million in 2024–2025 revenue and pointing to the International Airport push plus marina and other upgrades. Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay: Construction is set to start in October after two years of prep, with the Cruise Village funded through foreign direct investment and designed to directly benefit vendors, farmers, fishers, artisans and tour operators. Cable Car Landmark: Work continues on the cable car project, with a planned world-tallest Sisserou Parrot brass statue at the summit—23 feet on a 7-foot pedestal—aimed at tying Dominica’s biodiversity to tourism. Climate & Agriculture Resilience: With El Niño strengthening, the region is being urged to prepare for hotter, drier conditions and possible drought and water stress; locally, Dominica is also intensifying soil and water conservation support for farmers through an integrated soil conservation and fertility improvement demonstration project. Business & Skills for MSMEs: A CDB-backed regional initiative will support at least 150 MSMEs across Dominica and other islands to adopt digital solutions and build resilience and competitiveness. Ports & Logistics: Argos Dominica is advertising for a temporary Terminal Operator role, underscoring ongoing terminal activity and dispatch needs. Public Services: DOWASCO scheduled a water interruption in Loubière, Fond Baron and Pte Michel for pipeline relocation work.

Visa Policy Shock for Caribbean Workers: A New York judge struck down a Trump administration nationality-based U.S. visa ban affecting Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and many Caribbean countries including Dominica, calling it unlawful and beyond authority. Cable Car Tourism Landmark: Dominica’s cable car project is advancing, with the Sisserou Parrot statue at the top station set to become the world’s tallest parrot statue once completed. Climate-Resilient Farming Push: Dominica is rolling out an Integrated Soil Conservation and Soil Fertility Improvement Demonstration Project to help farmers manage soil and water, cut erosion, and boost output under climate pressure. Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay: Construction is set to begin in October for a new Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay, funded by foreign direct investment and aimed at expanding opportunities for local vendors, farmers, fishers and tour operators. Tourism Targets: The tourism ministry says Dominica is moving toward a $1 billion tourism sector, citing $405m in revenue for 2024–2025 and pointing to the airport and marina as key drivers. Digital Skills for MSMEs: A CDB-backed regional initiative will support at least 150 MSMEs across Dominica and other islands to adopt digital solutions and improve competitiveness. Renewables Debate: A regional energy price index flags planning failures around solar projects as a cautionary tale for Caribbean power affordability and resilience. Power Reliability Update: DOMLEC apologized for outages from Aug 14–15, citing geothermal disconnects and weather/vegetation impacts, and said it’s reviewing communications during prolonged blackouts. Population Renewal Plan: Government says it aims to grow Dominica’s population to 100,000 by 2040, with a diaspora-focused programme and a CBI-linked pathway.

Cable Car & Tourism Branding: Dominica’s cable car project is nearing a major milestone, with the Sisserou Parrot statue at the top station set to become the world’s tallest parrot sculpture—23 feet on a 7-foot pedestal for a 30-foot total, designed as a landmark for visitors. Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Dominica is stepping up sustainable farming with a regional, soil-and-water focused programme backed by German Development Cooperation, including an Integrated Soil Conservation and Soil Fertility Improvement Demonstration Project and technical support from Argentina’s INTA. Cruise Village Push: Construction for a new Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay is expected to start in October via public-private partnership funded by foreign direct investment, aiming to create direct opportunities for local vendors, farmers, fishers, artisans and tour operators. Tourism Targets: Tourism Minister Denise Charles Pemberton says the sector is moving toward a $1 billion goal, citing about $405 million in revenue for 2024–2025 and pointing to the international airport and marina as key boosts. Power & Business Continuity: DOMLEC has apologized for widespread outages (Aug 14–15), including geothermal plant disconnects and weather/vegetation impacts, and says it’s reviewing how it communicates during prolonged disruptions. Regional MSME Digital Support: A CDB-backed initiative will help at least 150 MSMEs across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines adopt digital solutions to improve competitiveness and resilience, with inclusion for women-led and underserved firms. Food Security Cooperation: A US delegation met IICA leadership to discuss food security, nutrition, agricultural trade, and emergency response coordination across the Americas. Electoral Administration: Dominica’s Electoral Office has started producing new voter ID cards, valid for 10 years, rolling out from Roseau North to Roseau Central and Roseau South.

Tourism Infrastructure: Dominica is pushing ahead with a new Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay, with construction expected to start in October after two years of prep and talks for a public-private setup funded by foreign direct investment—aimed at boosting opportunities for vendors, farmers, fishers, artisans, musicians and tour operators. Tourism Targets: Tourism Minister Denise Charles Pemberton says the sector is moving toward a $1 billion goal, citing about EC$405 million in revenue for 2024–2025 and pointing to the international airport and marina as key drivers. Cruise Capacity & Connectivity: The island’s cable car project is also advancing, with work on support towers, bottom and top stations, and landscaping—positioned to improve access to Boiling Lake and Valley of Desolation. Agriculture & Labour: Agriculture Minister Roland Royer says a new migrant farm labour policy has brought 100+ migrant farmers into Dominica’s farms to ease labour shortages. Regional Business Support: The Caribbean Development Bank-backed “Reengineering MSMEs for Growth” digital transformation initiative will support at least 150 MSMEs across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with a focus on women-led and underserved firms. Policy & Data for Trade: OECS, UNCTAD and ECLAC wrapped up a services-trade evidence push using TiSSTAT to close data gaps and help member states build stronger export strategies. Energy & Reliability: DOMLEC apologized for outages between Aug 14–15, including geothermal disconnects and storm/vegetation impacts, and said it’s reviewing how it communicates during prolonged disruptions.

Cruise Village Push: Dominica is set to start construction in October on a new Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay, backed by foreign direct investment and a public-private partnership, with plans to create new opportunities for vendors, farmers, fishers, artisans, musicians and tour operators. Tourism Revenue Target: Tourism Minister Denise Charles Pemberton says the sector is moving toward a $1 billion goal after generating about EC$405 million in 2024–2025, pointing to the international airport project and marina construction as key boosts. Infrastructure for Visitors: Work continues on Dominica’s cable car project, with tower assembly and landscaping progressing and major work at the top station; the 6.6 km ride is still aiming for late 2026 completion. Population Plan: Government outlines a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme aiming to raise the population from 71,946 to 100,000 by 2040, focused on diaspora return and a citizenship pathway tied to grandparents. Agriculture Labour: Agriculture Minister Roland Royer says a new migrant farm labour policy has brought 100+ migrant farmers to work on Dominican farms to ease labour shortages. Regional MSME Digital Boost: A CDB-backed initiative will support at least 150 MSMEs across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to adopt digital tools and build resilience. Power Reliability: DOMLEC apologized for outages between Aug 14–15 linked to geothermal disconnects and storm/vegetation damage, and says it’s reviewing communications during prolonged outages. Electoral Admin: The Electoral Office has begun producing new voter ID cards in Roseau, with a 10-year validity period, starting with Roseau North then expanding to Roseau Central and South.

Tourism & Infrastructure: Dominica is pushing ahead with major visitor projects, with the Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay set to start construction in October via foreign direct investment, and the cable car project continuing toward a late-2026 finish as it improves access to the Boiling Lake and Valley of Desolation. Airport Build-Out: Work on the international airport passenger terminal is progressing across steel, masonry, roofing, waterproofing and safety systems, as the country targets completion in 2028. Tourism Targets: At a Roseau South Town Hall, Tourism Minister Denise Charles Pemberton said tourism revenue hit about EC$405 million in 2024–2025 and the sector is on track toward a $1 billion goal. Cruise Demand: MSC Cruises is reshuffling its winter 2027/28 season, adding Roseau among Caribbean stops on its southern Caribbean itineraries. Business & Skills: The CDB and Barbados SBA launched a regional digital transformation push for at least 150 MSMEs across Dominica and other OECS states, aimed at boosting competitiveness and resilience. Agriculture Labour: Agriculture Minister Roland Royer says a new migrant farm labour policy has brought 100+ migrant farmers to work on Dominican farms to ease labour shortages. Governance & People: The Electoral Office has begun producing new voter ID cards valid for 10 years, and the government outlined a plan to grow the population to 100,000 by 2040. Macroeconomic Outlook: ECLAC forecasts Dominica’s economy to grow 4% in 2026 and 4.4% in 2027, with productivity gains stronger in the formal sector.

Tourism Push: Dominica is moving toward a $1 billion tourism target, with the sector bringing in about EC$405 million in 2024–2025, and officials pointing to the international airport build, a marina, and other upgrades as key drivers. Cruise Economy: A new Cruise Village at Woodbridge Bay is set to start construction in October after two years of prep, funded by foreign direct investment through a public-private partnership, with plans to directly benefit vendors, farmers, fishers, artisans, musicians and tour operators. Infrastructure Build-Out: Work on Dominica’s international airport passenger terminal is continuing across steelwork, masonry, roofing, waterproofing and safety systems, while the wider airport project remains on track toward completion in 2028. Digital for MSMEs: A CDB-backed regional initiative, “Reengineering MSMEs for Growth,” will support at least 150 MSMEs across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to boost digital capability and competitiveness. Agriculture Labour: The agriculture ministry says a new migrant farm labour policy has brought 100+ migrant farmers into Dominica’s farms to ease labour shortages. Governance & People: The Electoral Office has begun producing new voter ID cards valid for 10 years, and the government is also pursuing a population renewal plan aiming for 100,000 people by 2040. Macro Outlook: ECLAC projects Dominica’s economy to grow 4% in 2026 and 4.4% in 2027 amid a tougher global environment.

Tourism & Infrastructure: Dominica’s tourism push stays on track with the $1B target in sight, as the Tourism Minister cites $405m tourism revenue (2024–2025) and points to the international airport build and marina plans, while the cable car project continues advancing—tower assembly, bottom-station works, and top-station construction—with a late-2026 completion outlook. Aviation & Construction: Progress also continues on the new international airport passenger terminal, with steelwork, masonry, concrete, roofing, waterproofing, fireproofing, and lightning protection systems all underway. Energy & Utilities: DOMLEC has apologized for outages (Aug 14–15), including geothermal disconnects and weather/vegetation impacts, and says it’s reviewing how it communicates during prolonged power cuts. Agriculture & Labour: The Agriculture Minister says a new migrant farm labour policy has brought 100+ migrant workers to ease farm labour shortages. Regional Business Digitisation: Dominica is included in a CDB-backed initiative to help at least 150 MSMEs across the OECS adopt digital solutions, with support for digital maturity checks and transformation plans. Governance & People: The Electoral Office has started producing new voter ID cards in Roseau constituencies, valid for 10 years, and the government reiterated plans to grow the population to 100,000 by 2040 through diaspora engagement. Culture & Media: “Women of Dominica” will screen at the 2026 Urban Film Festival in Miami, spotlighting intergenerational stories tied to land and legacy.