AGP Executive Report

Housing & Land Policy: Government says a new programme could target about 15,000 vacant lots and derelict houses to ease Barbados’ affordable home shortage, with Cabinet weighing legal tools like compulsory acquisition and an abandonment clause. Reparations, Now With Numbers: At CARICOM’s Third Regional Conference on Reparations in Barbados, leaders pushed a revised Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice and Mia Mottley announced a Barbados-specific committee of historians and economists to quantify harms from slavery. Regional Payments Tech: CARICOM central banks are advancing a regional instant cross-border payment system (CAPSS), with a pilot expected after further consultations and technical work. Climate Data for Funding: Barbados is warned it could lose climate finance access unless it improves detailed, reliable data reporting for donors. Public Health & Care: The Barbados Alzheimer’s Association calls for a national dementia plan, citing gaps in local prevalence data. Education Support: Barbados’ National School Breakfast Programme is operating after launch, with officials monitoring uptake and staffing needs. Autonomous Tech Spotlight: An autonomous solar-and-wind sailboat completed a crewless Atlantic crossing to Barbados, marking a major robotic navigation milestone.

Autonomous tech milestone: Oshen C-Star PC13 became the first crewless sailboat to complete the Microtransat Challenge, crossing the Atlantic to Barbados using solar and wind, with onboard navigation making route decisions from conditions. Regional payments push: CARICOM is moving toward a faster, cheaper cross-border system (CAPSS), with a pilot expected after consultations and technical work, drawing lessons from Africa’s PAPSS. Reparations, but with numbers: Barbados PM Mia Mottley says a technical committee of historians and economists will quantify Barbados’ slavery harms for a stronger case, while CARICOM leaders stress reparatory justice as justice, recognition, accountability and transformation. Climate data for funding: Barbados risks losing climate finance unless it can deliver detailed, reliable data; UNICEF also warns Eastern Caribbean children face overlapping climate hazards, with child-focused tracking missing from climate plans. Local public tech & health: Barbados’ National School Breakfast Programme is rolling out, and the Alzheimer’s Association is calling for a national dementia plan due to data gaps. Cyber safety angle: Central Bank of the region warns users not to share BiMPay verification codes.

Reparations, but with receipts: Prime Minister Mia Mottley says Barbados will appoint historians and economists to quantify slavery-era harms for a Barbados-specific reparations case, pushing CARICOM to shift from advocacy to a documented argument. Regional action on justice: CARICOM’s Ten-Point Plan was relaunched as leaders called for unity and concrete steps after a UN resolution labelled racialised chattel enslavement a “gravest crime against humanity.” Tech for faster money: CARICOM Pay and Settlement System (CAPSS) is moving toward a pilot for instant cross-border payments in local currencies, with central banks sharing lessons from Africa’s PAPSS. Climate data crunch: Barbados warned it risks losing international climate finance unless it can deliver detailed, reliable data on damage and outcomes. Child climate risk: UNICEF-backed research says more than 9 in 10 Eastern Caribbean children could face at least three climate hazards by mid-century. Health and care: Barbados Alzheimer’s Association calls for a national dementia plan as local prevalence data remains unclear. Cancer support boost: BACA and Aventa Barbados signed an agreement to strengthen cancer care, education, and plans for a dedicated hospice at Coverley. Digital public services: NIS is pushing pensioners toward direct bank payments and plans to digitise more processes. Local tech and innovation: CoastSnap is highlighted as an easy way for communities to collect coastal data for scientists. Business and growth: Small businesses are urged to look beyond Barbados with collaboration, technology, and exporting. Sports tech-adjacent: BKA karting returns to Bushy Park this Sunday after a break.

Climate Justice at UNGA: Prime Minister Balen Shah is expected to spotlight climate justice after Nepal’s deadly floods, with new research pointing to warming behind glacier collapse—while warning that reparations-only messaging may miss the bigger push for accountability. Small Business Growth: Barbados’ Small Business Association urged firms to look beyond the island, using collaboration, technology and exporting to scale. Regional Payments Tech: CARICOM’s CAPSS could enable instant cross-border payments in local currencies, with a pilot planned after consultations and technical reviews. Reparations, but with numbers: Mia Mottley says Barbados will appoint historians and economists to quantify harms from slavery for a stronger case at CARICOM reparations talks. Child Climate Risk: A UNICEF-backed study warns that in the Eastern Caribbean, more than 9 in 10 children could face at least three climate hazards by mid-century. Health Tech & Care: BACA and Aventa Barbados signed a cancer-care agreement, advancing plans for a dedicated hospice at Coverley. Digital Government Services: Barbados’ NIS is moving toward full digitisation, pushing pensioners toward direct bank payments. Local Tech & STEM Culture: Fujitsu Caribbean opened a digitisation “Engine Room” in Jamaica to convert paper records into searchable data for AI-ready systems. Water & Resilience: Barbados Meteorological Service urged continued water conservation amid drought warnings and Saharan dust impacts.

Regional Payments: CARICOM is moving toward a CAPSS system that could enable instant cross-border payments in local currencies, with a pilot expected after consultations and technical reviews, and lessons shared from Africa’s PAPSS. Climate & Children: A UNICEF-backed study warns that in the Eastern Caribbean, more than 9 in 10 children could be exposed to at least three climate hazards by mid-century, with Barbados among the places facing rising heat and longer drought stretches. Water & Coastal Tech: Barbados is urged to conserve water as drought alerts remain elevated, while officials are exploring tech like offshore booms and a dedicated sargassum unit to intercept seaweed before it hits beaches. Health Systems & Data: CARPHA is strengthening the regional laboratory network after a workshop focused on faster disease detection and better specimen and data sharing. Cancer Care Partnership: BACA and Aventa Barbados signed an agreement to boost cancer patient support, education, and plans for a dedicated hospice at Coverley. Digital Safety: The Central Bank of Barbados warns BiMPay users not to share verification codes, tokens, passwords, or other security credentials amid social engineering loan scams. Energy & Finance: CIBC Caribbean highlighted about US$820m in sustainable finance initiatives and clean energy financing across the region. Reparations Evidence Drive: Prime Minister Mia Mottley says Barbados will appoint historians and economists to quantify the island’s reparations case with stronger documentation.

Climate & Children: A UNICEF-commissioned study warns that across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, more than 9 in 10 children could be exposed to at least three major climate hazards by mid-century, with already over a third facing triple-risk areas. Climate Finance Data: Barbados risks losing ground in international climate funding unless it can deliver detailed, reliable data for donors and lenders. Child-Centred Climate Plans: A UNICEF analysis finds none of the region’s climate plans include child-specific indicators or measurable targets, making it hard to prove benefits to children. Sargassum Tech Response: Barbados is exploring a dedicated sargassum management unit and offshore booms to intercept seaweed before it hits beaches. Public Health Labs: CARPHA’s CariPHLN workshop in Bridgetown brought lab directors together to strengthen disease detection, surveillance, diagnostics coordination, and data-sharing. Digital Government & Security: Barbados’ Central Bank warns BiMPay users not to share verification codes/tokens, after a social engineering loan scam; meanwhile, NIS is pushing pensioners toward direct bank payments and broader digitisation. Energy/Infrastructure Delivery: Barbados and the World Bank assess Hurricane Beryl recovery work at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, with a revised timetable expected soon. Tourism Intelligence: CTO appoints Beverley Wilson as deputy director of research to improve tourism statistics, data quality, and forecasting. Reparations (Policy + Research): CARICOM relaunched its Ten-Point Reparations Plan as leaders call for unity and action; Barbados’ PM says a technical committee of historians and economists will quantify the slavery compensation case. Cancer Care Partnership: BACA and Aventa Barbados sign an agreement to boost cancer support, research, and public education, with plans for a dedicated hospice at Coverley.

CoastSnap for science: A community beach-monitoring setup is spreading worldwide, letting people upload shoreline photos via QR codes to help track coastal erosion (over 700 stations in 40 countries and 200,000+ images). Climate risk to children: A UNICEF-backed Eastern Caribbean study warns that more than 9 in 10 children could face at least three climate hazards by mid-century, with Barbados among the hardest hit for heat and drought. Health lab readiness: CARPHA wrapped a CariPHLN workshop in Bridgetown to strengthen regional lab networking, surveillance, diagnostics, and data-sharing across Caribbean states. Cancer care partnership: BACA and Aventa Barbados signed an agreement to boost cancer support, research, and public education, while advancing plans for a dedicated hospice at Coverley. Digital government services: Barbados’ NIS is pushing pensioners toward direct bank payments and plans to digitise more processes for remote access. Cyber safety: The Central Bank of Barbados warns BiMPay users not to share BiMPay verification codes/tokens/passwords after a social-engineering loan scam. Tech & policy: Minister Colin Jordan urged Barbados to prepare for global tech shifts, while Barbados also explores offshore exploration licences and sargassum management tech.

Digital Government: Barbados’ National Insurance Scheme is pushing pensioners off paper-and-voucher collection and onto direct bank payments, while planning to digitise more NIS services so people can register, submit contributions and claims, and track progress remotely. Public Health Tech: CARPHA wrapped up a CariPHLN workshop in Bridgetown bringing 26 lab directors together to strengthen disease detection, diagnostic coordination, specimen transport, and data-sharing across the region. Cyber Safety: The Central Bank of Barbados warned BiMPay users not to share verification codes, tokens, passwords or other credentials after a social-engineering loan scam led to an unauthorised transaction. Climate Resilience: Barbados is exploring a dedicated sargassum management unit and offshore booms to intercept seaweed before it reaches beaches, while a UNICEF-backed Eastern Caribbean study warns drought could last longer—pressuring water, farming, and child wellbeing. Maritime Infrastructure: After Hurricane Beryl, Barbados is upgrading fisheries haul-out facilities and breakwater repairs, but fisherfolk are asking for a clear construction timetable. Regional Tech & Skills: The new RIISE facility (secretariat in Barbados) is now operational to help Eastern Caribbean governments overcome bottlenecks and speed climate-resilient infrastructure delivery. Energy/Industry: Six companies applied for Barbados’ 2026 offshore exploration licences, with one applicant already cleared to reserve three blocks for exclusive negotiations. Global Tech Signals: Apple is expanding iCloud+ with Apple Arcade and Apple TV in over 100 countries, including Barbados.

Offshore Energy: Barbados’ Ministry says six companies applied for 2026 offshore exploration licences; one applicant has been approved and reserved three blocks (Flying Fish, Manjak, Oistins) for exclusive negotiations, while the other five are still under review. Public Health Labs: CARPHA wrapped a CariPHLN workshop in Bridgetown with 26 lab directors focused on faster disease detection, better diagnostic coordination, specimen transport, and stronger regional lab networking. Climate Risk for Kids: A UNICEF-backed, Meru Labs study warns that in the Eastern Caribbean, one in three children already live where multiple climate hazards overlap, with projections rising to more than nine in ten by mid-century—pressuring schools and health facilities. Water & Heat Stress: The same analysis flags longer, more frequent dry spells for Barbados and the region, adding strain to water supplies, farming, and child health. Sargassum Response: Government is exploring a dedicated sargassum management unit and offshore booms/barriers to intercept seaweed before it reaches beaches. Cyber Safety (BiMPay): The Central Bank warns users not to share BiMPay verification codes, tokens, passwords or security credentials after a social-engineering loan scam. Maritime Autonomy: Oshen’s C-Star PC13 robotic sailing boat reportedly crossed the Atlantic unaided, finishing east of Barbados after 127 days. Regional Infrastructure Delivery: The RIISE facility has started operations from Barbados, offering technical help to speed climate-resilient infrastructure projects in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines.

Public Health Lab Readiness: CARPHA wrapped its 11th CariPHLN workshop in Bridgetown, bringing 26 lab directors (11 in person, 15 online) together to strengthen disease detection, surveillance, diagnostic coordination, specimen transport, and data-sharing across the Caribbean. Financial Safety (Barbados): The Central Bank of Barbados warned BiMPay users not to share verification codes, tokens, passwords, or other security credentials after a social-engineering loan scam led to an unauthorised transaction. Climate & Food Security (Saint Lucia): Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir says climate change is already hitting what farmers can grow, water availability, fisheries, and the affordability of nutritious food. Resilient Infrastructure (Eastern Caribbean): The RIISE Facility has started operations, offering specialised technical support (from Barbados) to help Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines push climate-resilient projects past implementation bottlenecks. Maritime Tech: Oshen’s autonomous sailing boat C-Star PC13 reportedly crossed the Atlantic unaided to win the Microtransat Challenge, underscoring advances in persistent ocean sensing. Digital Entertainment Expansion: Apple announced iCloud+ will include Apple Arcade and Apple TV in 100+ countries, including Barbados, via a single subscription.

CARPHA & Lab Readiness: CARPHA’s 11th Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network workshop in Bridgetown (Sept 8–10) brought lab directors and public health teams together to strengthen regional health security and faster threat detection. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: The new RIISE Facility is now operating, with Barbados-based support for Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines to speed up resilient projects via technical advice and specialist deployments. Hurricane Beryl Recovery: The World Bank says it’s confident rebuilding the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex breakwater after Beryl damage, with a revised work timetable expected soon. Tourism Data Leadership: CTO named Beverley Wilson deputy director of research to boost tourism statistics, forecasting and data quality across the region. Maritime Safety Planning: Coastal authorities are redesigning emergency vessel haul-out systems after Beryl delays left boats vulnerable ahead of storms. Cyber Safety (Barbados): The Central Bank warns residents not to share BiMPay verification codes, tokens or passwords after a social-engineering loan scam. Health Systems Training: PAHO and UWI wrapped a postgraduate health policy and systems programme, training leaders across multiple Caribbean countries. Autonomous Tech: Oshen’s C-Star PC13 robotic sailing boat completed an unaided Atlantic crossing, landing east of Barbados to win a major autonomy challenge. Energy & AI Skills: Barbados scholarship recipients plan to apply generative AI and emerging technologies to help modernise the grid and cut fossil-fuel dependence. Animal Welfare Call: Groups renewed pressure for stronger enforcement after the Sparky case, urging better use of technology and penalties. Co-op Policy Consultation: Barbados launched a consultation on a national policy for the non-financial co-operative sector, including digitalisation and market access.

Tourism Data Boost: CTO appointed Guyanese Beverley Wilson as deputy director of research, aiming to strengthen tourism statistics, data quality and forecasting across the region under its Reimagine Plan. Cyber Safety: Central Bank of Barbados warns residents not to share BiMPay verification codes, tokens, passwords or credentials after a social-engineering loan scam led to an unauthorised transaction. Climate Resilience for Coasts: Coastal Zone Management Unit plans 32 emergency haul-out upgrades after Hurricane Beryl delays, including a travelift system to move vessels faster before storms. Family Support in Schools: Parent Education Programme research flags caregiver relationship breakdowns and inherited trauma as major drivers of household stress, with a focus on co-parenting and child development. Animal Welfare Push: Groups mark Sparky’s death with calls for stronger enforcement and real consequences for animal abuse, citing gaps in penalties and government action. Regional Infrastructure Delivery: RIISE begins operations in Barbados to help Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines speed climate-resilient public projects. Maritime Autonomy: Oshen’s C-Star PC13 autonomous sailing boat reportedly crossed the Atlantic unaided, finishing east of Barbados after 127 days. Health Systems Online: Grenada trained health workers to use new online integrated surveillance guidelines, with updates managed centrally and aligned to One Health reporting. Digital Trade Rules: WTO’s 2026 Public Forum highlights stalled dispute resolution and disagreements over tariffs on digital trade, with small businesses seeking a bigger role. Energy Skills for Barbados: Scholarship winners say new qualifications in renewable energy and generative AI will help guide Barbados’ energy sector and grid management.

Health Policy & Training: PAHO and The UWI wrapped up a third cohort of a joint Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate in Health Policy and Health Systems, training 11 professionals across eight Caribbean territories including Barbados, to strengthen regional health leadership. Election Transparency: Analysts say Barbados should focus less on candidate spending totals and more on who funds parties, after the EBC’s election expenses list raised questions about how well spending can be verified. Energy Skills for Barbados: Scholarship recipients Kenya Belle and Rommel Clarke say their studies—renewable energy and generative AI for grid management—are meant to guide Barbados’ energy sector. Cyber Fraud Warning: A Caribbean-focused opinion argues cyber fraud is now a citizen security issue, calling for stronger cross-border coordination to protect households and businesses. Sargassum Solutions: Grenada’s delegation trained in Punta Cana on sargassum containment and use, aiming to reduce coastal health and fisheries impacts. Water Tech Debate: A feature asks whether desalination can solve Caribbean water problems as climate pressure grows. Agri-Tech & Genetics: Fiji plans to import improved sheep and goat genetics from Barbados and India to cut meat import dependence. Small Business Push: Barbados Small Business Association calls for more unity as Small Business Week highlights digital access and global positioning. Local Tech Growth: Liberty Business launched an AWS cloud partnership in Jamaica, extending advisory and managed cloud services via its network—following a similar Barbados launch. Engineering Talent: BAPE awarded four scholarship recipients $25,000 each to support future engineers in areas like renewable energy and water security. Tourism Tech Upgrade: Royalton reopened its full Jamaica resort portfolio with redesigned rooms and app-based, Wi-Fi-enabled guest services.

Climate & Health: A new warning says El Niño-driven heat will push already overheated classrooms even higher, hurting students’ focus and test performance and reducing teachers’ ability to instruct. Barbados Energy Skills: Scholarship and grant recipients Kenya Belle and Rommel Clarke say their studies—renewables and emerging tech with generative AI—will help guide Barbados’ energy sector and grid management. Cyber Safety: A Caribbean-focused opinion argues cyber fraud is now citizen security, calling for stronger cross-border coordination as finance goes borderless. Digital Trade Rules: As the WTO Public Forum opens, dispute resolution and digital trade tariff disagreements remain central, with small businesses pressing for a bigger role. Co-op Policy Consultation: Barbados launches consultation on a national co-op policy, aiming to modernise regulation, improve capital access, and boost diversification, including digitalisation and market access. Agri-Tech & Genetics: Fiji plans to improve sheep and goat production by importing higher-quality genetic bloodlines from Barbados and India. Local Tech Growth: Liberty Business expands in Jamaica with an AWS cloud partnership, offering advisory, migration, managed operations, and disaster recovery via its network. Water Security: A look at desalination argues it’s moving from “last resort” to mainstream water resilience for climate-stressed islands. Science Commercialisation: Export Barbados backs a push to patent microbe discoveries from UWI Cave Hill, framing it as a potential multi-billion-dollar industrialisation opportunity.

Barbados Co-op Policy Consultation: Barbados’s Ministry of Energy, Business Development and Consumer Affairs has launched a consultation for a national policy covering the non-financial co-operative sector, aiming to modernise regulation, improve affordable capital access, and boost governance and growth through stakeholder input. Barbados Microbes Patent Push: UWI Cave Hill researcher Dr Bidyut Mohapatra says the government plans to patent three novel microorganisms found in sargassum after major pharma firms showed interest, with the goal of keeping the intellectual property and its commercial and environmental value in Barbados. Cloud Partnership for Regional Businesses: Liberty Business in Jamaica has launched an AWS cloud partnership via its own network and local support, extending a similar Barbados launch and offering advisory, migration, managed operations, hybrid cloud and disaster recovery. Health Policy Training in the Region: PAHO and UWI Cave Hill marked the graduation of the third cohort of a joint health policy and health systems programme, training leaders across eight Caribbean countries to strengthen health systems for workforce, ageing and climate-related emergencies. Agriculture Tech and Food Security: OECS and Grenada hosted a Youth and Women in Agriculture Symposium focused on using technology and business skills to drive agricultural transformation and reduce the region’s heavy food import dependence. Water Security Debate: A CARICOM-focused discussion asks whether desalination can solve water problems as coastal nations face climate-driven shortages and rising pressure on groundwater. Sports Science Longevity: A profile of Shikha Pandey highlights recovery science in fast bowling, including ice baths and structured protocols—an angle on how sports tech supports longer careers. Tourism and Local Tech Demand: BHTA reports visitor growth in key markets for the first half of 2026, while the wider week also includes a Barbados film premiere, Call Me Raven, exploring addiction recovery and second chances.

Local Business Unity: Barbados Small Business Association chair Charles Carter urged more collaboration among small firms during Small Business Week, arguing that tech connectivity can still leave entrepreneurs feeling isolated and that unity will strengthen the sector. Agri-Tech & Genetics: Talks are underway to import high-quality genetic bloodlines from Barbados and India to improve Fiji’s sheep and goat production, with large-scale farm plans in Vanua Levu. Health & Research Capacity: UWI Cave Hill and PAHO marked the graduation of the third cohort of a Health Policy and Health Systems postgraduate programme, building regional leadership for workforce and health-system challenges. Biotech IP Push: Export Barbados says government moves to patent novel microbes from sargassum seaweed could unlock multi-billion-dollar opportunities while keeping commercial value in Barbados. Engineering Talent: BAPE honoured four aspiring engineers with the 2026 Angus Edghill Scholarship Fund, supporting studies aligned with resilience, renewables, water security and transport. Tourism Tech & Sustainability: The Caribbean Tourism Organization appointed Barbadian Courtney-Diana Walker as program officer for sustainable tourism, supporting its Reimagine Plan 2025–2027. Energy Sector Spotlight: A feature traces BLPC’s 115-year evolution from early generation to solar and battery storage, highlighting how the utility is adapting for a cleaner future. Caribbean Connectivity: Liberty Business launched an AWS cloud partnership in Jamaica, extending cloud and AI services via its network and local support. Science in the News: A new Barbados film, Call Me Raven, uses research-backed storytelling to spark discussion on addiction, recovery and second chances.