AGP Executive Report

Anti-Corruption Tech & Policy: Jamaica’s Integrity Commission chief Craig Beresford urged Caribbean governments to align anti-corruption laws and enforcement, warning fragmented systems let sophisticated schemes slip through, while highlighting tech upgrades like big-data analytics and forensic tools. Youth & Learning: St George Secondary student Athena Browne won Barbados’ national letter-writing contest, tying human connection to the digital world. Climate Data for Decisions: Barbados-based CIMH head Dr David Farrell says weak data-sharing across the region is blocking climate research and decision-making, calling for urgent policy to unlock datasets. Green Economy Awareness: UNICEF-backed research finds Barbados youth lag peers in knowing green and circular economy opportunities, pointing to a communications gap rather than low interest. AI & Work Protections: Barbados Workers’ Union warns AI and platform employment are already reshaping jobs, urging stronger worker protections as “account deactivated” becomes a workplace reality. Blue-Green Research Push: Government launched a drive to put scientific research at the centre of policymaking, linking agencies like CZMU and Fisheries with UWI and international partners. Payments & Digital ID: Barbados is rolling out WhatsApp-based bill payments tied to BiMPay and digital ID, with an AI voice-note payment concept. Hurricane Readiness: Fisheries officials tested hurricane preparedness by relocating vessels, aiming to avoid repeat losses after Hurricane Beryl. Tourism Strategy: CTO unveiled a Tourism Supply Side Initiative to make tourism deliver more value locally, with Caribbean Week in New York pushing the agenda.

AI & Work Rights: Barbados Workers’ Union warns AI-managed, app-based work is already reshaping jobs, urging stronger protections as “account deactivated” becomes a real workplace risk. Climate Science & Data: CIMH head Dr David Farrell says data-sharing gaps across Barbados and the wider Caribbean are limiting climate research and decision-making, calling for urgent policy to unlock datasets. Blue-Green Research to Policy: Government launches a push to put scientific research at the heart of national policymaking, using the Research Frontier Symposium to connect labs, agencies, and community action. Tourism Strategy: CTO rolls out a Tourism Supply Side Initiative aimed at keeping more value in the region, boosting resilience, and strengthening local participation. Energy & Environment: Barbados begins offshore oil and gas direct negotiations with 19 ultra-deepwater blocks, requiring bidders to meet strengthened climate and environmental standards. Hurricane Readiness: Fisheries officials test hurricane preparedness with a boat relocation drill to protect the fleet after Hurricane Beryl’s damage. Health & Food Policy: Regional leaders call for faster, evidence-based healthy food policy to tackle the NCD crisis, focusing on implementation gaps across the Caribbean. Environment Monitoring: Scientists warn more Saharan dust could reach the region after a recent plume affected Barbados.

AI at Work: Barbados Workers’ Union warns that AI-managed, app-based jobs could leave workers vulnerable unless stronger protections keep pace with platform employment. Climate Data Access: CIMH’s Dr David Farrell says data-sharing gaps are constraining Caribbean climate research and weakening decision-making, calling for urgent policy to unlock datasets. Saharan Dust Watch: Scientists using Copernicus monitoring say more dust could reach Barbados in the coming days, with concentrations likely lower than the last plume. Tourism Tech & Policy: CTO launches a “Tourism Supply Side Initiative” to boost local retention, resilience, and value from tourism across the region. Payments & Digital IDs: Barbados government rolls out services for its 60th anniversary, including WhatsApp bill payments tied to BiMPay and digital ID via “MyGovPay.” Energy & Research: Government begins direct offshore oil and gas negotiations after seismic surveys, while a separate push aims to put scientific research at the centre of national policymaking. Disaster Readiness: Fisheries officials test hurricane preparedness with a boat relocation drill, and emergency planners urge more youth and disability inclusion in response training. Skills Digitised: HEART/NSTA Trust digitises TVET Level Two courses on Moodle under a CARICOM pilot. Regional Tech Diplomacy: PM Mottley strengthens Barbados–Canada ties in Toronto, highlighting quantum computing, maritime research, and energy security cooperation.

Disaster Readiness: Barbados fisheries officials tested hurricane response by running a nationwide drill to relocate the fishing fleet, aiming to avoid a repeat of Hurricane Beryl’s damage and stress faster, coordinated vessel movement. Science-to-Policy Push: Government launched a Research Frontier Symposium to put national and regional scientific research at the heart of policymaking, linking agencies and partners around sustainable blue and green economies. Climate Data Sharing: CIMH’s Dr David Farrell warned that gaps in data-sharing across Barbados and the wider Caribbean are limiting climate research and weakening decision-making, calling for urgent access to key datasets. Payments & Digital IDs: The Central Bank of Barbados is rolling out BiMPay, framed as the “payment rail” behind faster, safer, more accessible digital payments, with a WhatsApp-linked service planned around June 12 and digital ID-based registration. Energy & Exploration: Barbados began direct offshore petroleum negotiations for 19 ultra-deepwater blocks, with stronger climate and methane-management standards for bidders, as seismic surveys point to major potential oil and gas resources. Skills & TVET Tech: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised Level Two TVET courses on its Moodle platform under a CARICOM pilot, expanding access to skills training in areas like tiling and hospitality. Regional Finance Reform: CDB President Daniel Best unveiled “CDB Forward” to reshape how the bank delivers climate, infrastructure, education, and private-sector support across the Caribbean. Tourism Tech & Governance: Turks and Caicos passed a Tourism Authority Bill to modernise destination management, including research and visitor experience planning.

Barbados Energy & Climate: Barbados has kicked off a new offshore licensing drive, offering 19 ultra-deepwater blocks for oil and gas exploration while requiring stronger climate and environmental standards, including methane management. Barbados Oil & Gas Potential: The government says seismic surveys point to as much as 13+ billion barrels of potential oil and 40+ trillion cubic feet of natural gas, aiming to boost energy security while continuing the renewables transition. Caribbean Development Bank Reform: CDB President Daniel Best says the bank is entering a “CDB Forward” reform phase to sharpen purpose and impact amid climate volatility, tech disruption, and tighter development finance. Caribbean Week in New York 2026: Tourism ministers and officials gathered in New York under “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences,” pushing cultural and regenerative tourism as the region competes globally. Digital Skills & Training: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level Two TVET courses on the CARICOM pilot (waxing, tiling, and baking/cake tech), expanding access via the Moodle platform. QEH Digital Overhaul: Barbados’ Queen Elizabeth Hospital is advancing a major digital transformation and equipment upgrades, including a new linear accelerator that has already delivered 1,500 cancer treatments. Disaster Preparedness Inclusion: Barbados is urging wider youth and disability participation in emergency planning, with communication gaps for shelters now a focus. Food Safety & Labs: A regional meeting in Barbados reviewed laboratory rationalisation to strengthen testing, standardise methods, and improve quality assurance across CARIFORUM. Agriculture Support: Barbados plans water mains for up to 39 farmers in Christ Church to tackle irrigation problems, pests, and farm theft. BiMPay Payments Infrastructure: The Central Bank of Barbados says BiMPay will act as the interoperable “payment rail” to make digital payments faster, safer, and more accessible. STEM Spotlight: Drone soccer in Jamaica showcased how aviation, coding, and engineering can open new STEM pathways for youth. Education Quality Watch: Ghana’s GTEC flagged 70 unrecognised tertiary institutions, warning students to verify accreditation before enrolling.

Barbados Offshore Energy: Barbados has kicked off direct negotiations for offshore oil and natural gas, offering 19 ultra-deepwater blocks and requiring stronger climate and environmental standards from bidders, with officials citing seismic survey results that suggest potential reserves of 13+ billion barrels of oil and 40+ trillion cubic feet of gas. Regional Development Finance: Caribbean Development Bank President Daniel Best used the CDB’s board meeting to push a “stronger, greener, more resilient” region, pointing to climate volatility, technological disruption, and shrinking development finance as the big pressures. Digital Payments: The Central Bank of Barbados is rolling out BiMPay as the payment “rail” to connect banks and payment providers for faster, safer, more accessible digital transactions, with a public launch set for June 12. Health Tech & Care: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is advancing a major digital overhaul and capital works, including a new linear accelerator that has already delivered 1,500 cancer treatments. Food Safety & Labs: A regional meeting in Barbados focused on strengthening laboratory testing and food safety systems across CARIFORUM, including standardised methods and better quality assurance. Skills Digitisation: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level Two TVET courses for the CARICOM TVET digitalisation pilot, moving delivery onto its Moodle platform. Education Integrity: Ghana’s GTEC warned the public about 70 unrecognised tertiary institutions and urged verification before enrolling or accepting certificates. Energy Transition Debate: BCEN is urging Barbados to look past short-term electricity stabilisation and focus on real grid and energy transformation.

Energy & Resources: Barbados has begun direct offshore exploration talks after seismic surveys suggested potential for 13+ billion barrels of oil and 40+ trillion cubic feet of natural gas, aiming to strengthen energy security while the country continues its renewables shift. Food Systems: CARICOM’s private-sector push for regional food security is calling for clearer investment cases—targeted value chains, processing plans, logistics and tech support—so investors can move faster. Disaster Readiness: Barbados is expanding disaster planning participation, urging more youth and disability inclusion and improving shelter communication systems ahead of emergencies. TVET Digital Skills: HEART/NSTA Trust has digitised three Level Two courses for a CARICOM TVET pilot, delivering them via the Moodle platform across participating institutions. Consumer Energy Policy: BCEN says Barbados should look past short-term power reliability fixes and focus on real energy transformation, including grid modernisation. Healthcare Tech: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is rolling out a major digital overhaul and capital works, including progress on cancer care tech. Payments Infrastructure: The Central Bank of Barbados is promoting BiMPay as the underlying payment rail to make digital payments faster, safer and more accessible. Education & Health Safety: Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School concerns were addressed after lab results showed only one scarlet fever case, with no closure needed. Qualifications Warning: Ghana’s GTEC flagged 70 unrecognised tertiary institutions, warning the public to verify accreditation before enrolling or accepting certificates.

Digital Payments in Barbados: Central Bank Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge says BiMPay will modernise Barbados’ payment “rail,” connecting banks and credit unions through a single interoperable platform to make digital payments faster, easier, safer and more accessible, with a public launch set for June 12. Health Tech & Hospital Upgrades: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is rolling out a major digital overhaul and capital works, including a new linear accelerator already delivering 1,500 cancer treatments and cutting waiting times for outpatient consultations. Public Health at School Level: Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School won’t close after scarlet fever concerns; lab testing found one Group A Strep case among 13 investigated, and officials say standard hygiene and mosquito-prevention measures remain key. Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake rattled the Southern Caribbean, with tremors felt in Barbados; the Met Office reports no tsunami threat and authorities continue monitoring. Caribbean Climate Risk: CIMH’s lead climatologist warns that even with fewer storms forecast, drought, delayed rains, extreme heat and sudden flooding could still threaten Barbados and the region. Regional Medicines Access: PAHO and OECS-PPS advance joint work to improve access to essential medicines and health technologies across Eastern Caribbean small island states. Tourism Tech & Connectivity: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 opens with leaders pushing resilience, connectivity and unified marketing, including a keynote on airline trends shaping Caribbean airlift. Education & Credentials Watch: Barbados-linked discussions echo wider regional warnings about unrecognised tertiary institutions and the need for due diligence on qualifications. Biometrics & Elections Reform (Regional): An OAS mission recommends modernising elections across the Bahamas with an independent electoral body, electronic results transmission, biometric voter ID and stronger cybersecurity.

Payments Modernisation: Central Bank of Barbados Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge says BiMPay will act as the interoperable “payment rail” behind e-wallets, aiming for faster, safer, more accessible digital payments for banked and unbanked users, with a public launch set for June 12. Healthcare Digital Upgrade: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is rolling out a digital overhaul and major capital works, including a new linear accelerator already delivering 1,500 cancer treatments and cutting early consultation waiting times. Public Health at Hillaby Turner’s Hall: Health officials report 13 suspected scarlet fever cases; lab testing found only one active Group A Streptococcus case, and the school is not being closed. Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake (about 99 km south of Bridgetown) shook Barbados for roughly 12–15 seconds; no tsunami threat is expected. Labour & Skills Transparency: Opposition Senator Ryan Walters urges Government to publish Barbados’s labour and skills deficit areas to guide decisions on imported labour. Regional Tech & Finance: Butterfield agrees to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.79b deal, while Abaxx closes a US$69m bought deal to fund its Singapore exchange and digital infrastructure. Climate Watch: CIMH’s Dr Cedric Van Meerbeeck warns that even with fewer storms forecast, drought, delayed rains, extreme heat and flash flooding risks remain.

Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 6.0 quake struck just south of Bridgetown (about 5:27 p.m., depth ~53 km), with tremors felt across Barbados and nearby islands; Barbados’ Met Office reported no tsunami threat. Regional Tech & Policy: Barbados’ Possibility Summit pushed a “world-class innovation in Barbados” message, urging SIDS to strengthen institutions and break out of the debt-climate trap with better climate finance and resilience planning. Education & Credentials: Ghana’s tertiary regulator (GTEC) warned the public about 70 unrecognised institutions, including some operating in Ghana and abroad, urging due diligence before accepting certificates. Health in Schools: Barbados’ Ministry of Health said Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School won’t close after scarlet fever was detected, noting antibiotics reduce infectiousness quickly and recommending standard hygiene and mosquito prevention. Finance & Infrastructure: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, aiming to build a larger regional banking group. Tourism Tech & Connectivity: Caribbean Week in New York opens with a focus on resilience and airlift strategy, with aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt set to keynote on airline trends and Caribbean connectivity. Climate & Environment: World Environment Day (June 5) spotlights “Inspired by Nature,” with Barbados-linked efforts including science and tech approaches to marine waste cleanup. Digital Commissioning: Valkit.ai launched Valkit Greenfield, a paperless, AI-augmented commissioning and qualification platform for new site start-ups. Markets: Abaxx reported record May trading volume, including record LNG futures activity.

Education & Credentials Watch: Ghana’s tertiary regulator GTEC has warned the public about 70 unrecognised institutions, urging due diligence on certificates—an issue that also flags how cross-border qualification claims can mislead students and employers. Health in Schools: Barbados’ Ministry of Health says Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary won’t close after a scarlet fever case, noting antibiotics reduce infectiousness quickly and recommending standard hygiene and mosquito-bite prevention. Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake rattled the Southern Caribbean, with tremors felt in Barbados; officials report no tsunami threat and continue monitoring. Climate & Water Stress: Caribbean islands are facing harsher 2026 conditions, with drought and extreme heat linked to El Niño patterns threatening water supplies, farming, and tourism infrastructure. Regional Policy & Resilience: A CPDC-backed brief argues the Caribbean is stuck in a debt-climate trap and calls for a regional debt-climate negotiation platform and vulnerability-based climate finance. Tech for Industry: Valkit.ai launched Valkit Greenfield, aiming to make commissioning and qualification for new sites more paperless and AI-assisted. Finance & Infrastructure: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, setting up a larger regional banking group. Tourism Branding: Rum tourism is shifting from “add-on” to a structured premium growth engine, blending heritage, hospitality, education, and retail. Caribbean Week in New York: CTO events bring regional tourism leaders together, with airline connectivity and destination marketing front and centre. Medical Training: AUB med students have begun clinical rotations at Barbados’ QEH after a 13-year wait, expanding local training capacity. Agriculture Support: Barbados dairy farmers are pushing for updates to rebate systems as genetics and collaboration challenges persist. Environment Day: World Environment Day (June 5) spotlights nature-based climate resilience, with regional cleanup and tech-enabled solutions highlighted.

Caribbean Tourism in Focus: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicks off today with a strong turnout of tourism ministers and commissioners, aiming to strengthen the region’s economic resilience and air connectivity under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” Aviation & Marketing: Henry Harteveldt will keynote the Caribbean Marketing Conference on June 3, zeroing in on airline trends and what they mean for Caribbean route planning and destination marketing. Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Southern Caribbean, with tremors felt in Barbados and neighbouring islands; Barbados’ Met Office says there’s no tsunami threat. Barbados Heritage: Sir Paul Altman, Celia Toppin and Ronnie Carrington are among five Barbadians honoured with the Fielding Babb Heritage Recognition Award as Heritage Month begins. Ocean Protection: Pacific voyaging and ocean leaders gathered at Rapa Nui to share wayfinding knowledge and push high-seas marine conservation, with Barbados among participants. Regional Tech & Finance: Butterfield has agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, with plans to expand digital and cross-border banking capabilities and keep CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados HQ. Biometrics in Security: MotionAnalytics says its motion-based identification can work even when faces are obscured, pointing to border and anti-trafficking uses. Health Training: AUB medical students finally begin clinical rotations at QEH after a 13-year wait, boosting regional training capacity.

Ocean & Marine Protection: Rapa Nui hosted a Pacific leaders’ gathering focused on voyaging knowledge and high-seas ocean conservation, with participation from communities including Barbados and Belize. Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 6.0 quake hit the eastern/southern Caribbean near Bridgetown (depth 53 km), with tremors felt across multiple islands; Barbados officials reported no tsunami threat. Climate & Water Security: Caribbean islands are facing drought stress alongside a strong El Niño pattern, with regional forums pushing better forecasting, monitoring, and early warning for storms and hazards. Innovation Policy: Barbados PM Mia Mottley urged SIDS to drop “small-island limits” and build stronger institutions to handle tech and climate shocks, positioning the island as an innovation testbed. Health Training: After a 13-year wait, AUB medical students began clinical rotations at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, expanding training capacity. Biometric Tech: MotionAnalytics says it can identify people from movement patterns even when faces are unavailable, aiming at security and surveillance use cases. Finance & Tech in Banking: Butterfield agreed to buy CIBC’s controlling stake in CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, with plans to expand regional banking and digital capabilities. Agriculture Systems: BADMC launched an agricultural statistics platform as farmers tackle praedial larceny and supply-chain pressures.

Transatlantic Slavery Research Funding: Jamaica is set to receive £450,000 (about J$91m) from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation to expand the PASSAGE International Research Mobility Programme, boosting Caribbean and West Africa-led archival work and scholar exchanges. Public Safety Law: Barbados’ Criminal Gangs (Prevention and Control) Bill heads into Parliament with Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams stressing gangs exist locally and warning of 10–25 year sentences for involvement or harbouring. Banking Tech & Regional Finance: Butterfield has agreed to buy CIBC’s 91.7% stake in CIBC Caribbean for about US$1.79b, creating a regional banking and wealth platform with roughly US$29b in assets and plans to keep CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados headquarters. Biometrics Beyond Faces: MotionAnalytics says its motion-based ID can identify people from movement even when faces are obscured, targeting uses like border security and surveillance. Health Training: After a 13-year wait, AUB med students have started clinical rotations at Barbados’ QEH, with the first group beginning patient work under supervision. Climate & Early Warning: The Caribbean Climate Outlook forum wrapped with plans to strengthen meteorological and climate services and improve early warning communication across the region.

Banking & Digital Finance: Butterfield has signed a definitive deal to buy CIBC’s 91.7% stake in CIBC Caribbean Bank for about US$1.794bn, creating a roughly US$29bn banking and wealth-management platform and keeping CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados HQ. Housing Delivery: Bermuda’s Affordable Housing Programme is set to deliver 229 units in about 18 months, with precast construction and a BLMC–BHC delivery framework. Biometrics & Identity Tech: MotionAnalytics says its motion-based ID can identify people from a few seconds of movement, even when faces are unavailable, while Ghana moves toward mandatory biometric verification for more transactions and expands child enrollment for its Ghana Card system. Agriculture & Food Security: Barbados is pushing back on praedial larceny with patrols and farm tracking, and dairy farmers are calling for a rebate system overhaul as genetics and stakeholder coordination remain concerns. Health & Training: AUB med students finally begin QEH clinical rotations after a 13-year wait, starting patient-facing training blocks. Climate & Early Warning: CIMH-led regional talks aim to strengthen meteorological and climate services and improve early warning for the 2026 wet and hurricane season. Public Safety & Protests: Trinidad and Tobago saw heavy police presence at “silent” protests tied to the Kaia Sealy case, with access restrictions around the forensic science centre.

Affordable Housing Delivery: Bermuda’s housing push moves fast, with Minister Zane DeSilva saying 229 residential units will be built in about 18 months under the Affordable Housing Programme, using precast construction and coordinated delivery via BLMC and BHC. Clinical Training Boost: After a 13-year wait, 208 AUB medical students begin clinical rotations at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the Psychiatric Hospital, strengthening Barbados’ role as a regional training hub. Agriculture Security & Incentives: BADMC’s new Agricultural Statistics Platform launches alongside renewed focus on praedial larceny and dairy rebate uptake, as farmers call for a modernised rebate system and better support for genetics and collaboration. Biometrics Beyond Face/Touch: MotionAnalytics is taking identity tech into movement, using biomechanical signatures from just a few seconds of video—raising big questions for border security and surveillance use. Digital Identity at the Border: Guyana and Barbados plan passport-free travel from July 1 using national e-ID cards and facial recognition, with eGates processing and biometric verification. Regional Climate Readiness: CIMH and partners wrap up Caribbean climate coordination efforts, including plans to upgrade skills and improve early warning services ahead of the wet/hurricane season. Banking Tech & Scale: Butterfield’s $1.794B deal to acquire CIBC Caribbean (91.7%) aims to expand cross-border payments and digital banking across the region, with Barbados set to remain a regional headquarters. Tourism Innovation: The CTO’s Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase finals are set for June 4 in New York, spotlighting investment-ready, sustainable tourism proposals from across the Caribbean.