AGP Executive Report

Fuel Relief: Government says it’s subsidizing fuel to keep prices among the lowest in the region—gasoline at EC$14.50 and diesel at EC$14.25, while LPG is also cushioned—though the treasury burden is rising. Cancer Fundraising & Arts: CIBC Caribbean’s “Gala for the Cure” at Galley Bay Resort drew 100+ attendees, with a sunset cocktail, wine pairing, and an interactive art message wall for hope. Track & Field Spotlight: Reigning men’s 100m champion Dwayne Fleming is aiming to defend his title at the National Track & Field Championships (June 20–21), with the 200m a key focus. Cricket at Home: Cricket West Indies named a 15-man Test squad for Sri Lanka (June 25–July 7) with Roston Chase captaining and Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo recalled; Alzarri and Shamar Joseph return after injury. Tech in Healthcare: Health officials say Antigua is leveraging ties with China to explore robotic theatre tech and AI for healthcare planning. Youth Entrepreneurship: Sandals Foundation invests EC$38,000 in the Entrepreneurship Edge Programme, training young business owners in AI, finance, leadership, and pitching. Scam Alert: ABIA warns of fake social media investment offers using its name and logo, and flags intermittent website issues.

Ferry Future Uncertainty: Questions are swirling in Montserrat as private operators move ahead while the Government says its long-awaited ferry tender isn’t finished yet. Local Fraud Alert: ABIA is warning the public about scammers impersonating the authority on Facebook and other platforms, plus intermittent issues with its website investantiguabarbuda.org. Tech for Health: Antigua and Barbuda’s Health Minister says China ties will help modernize care, including robotic theatre tech and AI planning support. Parliament & Safety: The Attorney General is pushing for immediate licence suspensions in fatal crash cases, while Daryll Matthew backs tougher electronic-crimes powers with daily penalties for telecom non-compliance. Sports Spotlight: West Indies Test squads for Sri Lanka are taking shape with Alzarri and Shamar Joseph back, and Joshua Da Silva recalled—while Alzarri Joseph says his focus is staying fit and contributing. Media & AI: The Caribbean Broadcasting Union is set to spotlight regional media and AI at its upcoming General Assembly in Guyana. Arts & Community: Antigua Community Players marks 74 years of theatre and music, and Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre gets a £25,000 Linbury Trust grant for a portable ultrasound.

Cricket Spotlight: West Indies have named a 15-man Test squad for the Sri Lanka series at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (June 25 start), with Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo recalled and fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph back from injury. Local Sports & Talent Pathways: CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow and Jamaica’s Olivia Grange met to push grass-roots cricket, coaching education, pitch prep, and youth pathways—plus talk of cricket’s Los Angeles 2028 Olympic inclusion. Carnival & Entertainment Infrastructure: Antigua Carnival 2026’s Carnival City build is moving fast, with the stage and roof complete and the ABFC now focused on upgrading the venue for long-term use. Music Industry Boost: The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission wrapped a Music Development Masterclass (June 8–12), training artistes and producers on songwriting, mixing/mastering, distribution, copyright, marketing, and branding. Community Events: OECS invites residents to the OECS Fun Walk in Antigua and Barbuda on June 18 at 5 p.m., starting and ending at the Ministry of Health HQ. Health & Services: Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre received a £25,000 Linbury Trust grant to buy a portable ultrasound system and strengthen bedside diagnostics. Tourism Buzz: Sandals Grande Antigua marked a year of hospitality excellence at its annual Prestige Awards.

Obeah & Film: A new Jamaican movie spotlights obeah’s roots in African spiritual practice and its Caribbean endurance, even as it’s often demonised. Tourism & Hospitality: Sandals Grande Antigua marks a year of hospitality excellence at its Prestige Awards, while Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2027 is set for Barbados after Antigua’s successful hosting. National Census: Antigua’s Census Office resumes and intensifies field operations with a second cohort of enumerators deployed from June 15. Disaster Readiness: NODS staff complete DisasterAWARE training to strengthen monitoring and decision-making for emergencies. Parliament Watch: Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle clashes with the House Speaker over calls for parliamentary impartiality. Arts & Culture: Antigua Community Players celebrates 74 years on the cultural stage, and the ABFC wraps up a Music Development Masterclass. Health Upgrade: Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre receives a £25,000 Linbury Trust grant for a portable ultrasound system. Sports (Local Spotlight): West Indies announce Test recalls for Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo ahead of Sri Lanka at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Entertainment: Dancehall star Masicka announces “Forever Reign” and a Barclays Center debut.

Tourism & Business: CHTA has named Barbados host for Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2027 (May 18–21), with the announcement made in Antigua—another big regional signal for travel and hospitality networking. Hospitality Spotlight: Sandals Grande Antigua marked a year of service wins at its annual Prestige Awards, celebrating team development and “hospitality excellence.” National Census: Antigua’s Census Office is ramping up field work again, deploying a second cohort of enumerators around Greenbay Primary School from June 15. Disaster Readiness: NODS staff completed training on the DisasterAWARE platform to strengthen monitoring and emergency decision-making. Politics & Parliament: Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle pressed for an impartial parliamentary chair as Parliament convened, sparking a sharp exchange with the House Speaker. Arts & Culture: Antigua Community Players marked 74 years on the cultural stage, while the ABFC wrapped up a Music Development Masterclass to boost songwriting, production, and music business skills. Health & Community: Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre received a £25,000 Linbury Trust grant for a portable ultrasound to improve bedside diagnostics. Sports: West Indies recalled Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo to the Test squad for Sri Lanka, and the Windies clinched the T20I series 2-1 with Holder’s late heroics. Work & Jobs: Cabinet moved to tighten work permit rules, pushing employers to recruit qualified nationals first.

Carnival Culture: Revel De Road 2026 brought hundreds of revellers to Pembroke and Devonshire, with colourful costumes and feathers lighting up the National Heroes Weekend celebrations. Sports Spotlight: West Indies sealed a 2-1 T20I series win over Sri Lanka at Sabina Park, with Shamar Joseph’s five-for and Jason Holder’s late hitting steering the chase. Local Arts Milestone: Antigua Community Players marked 74 years of musical and theatrical excellence, celebrating decades of community creativity. Music Industry Boost: The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission wrapped up a Music Development Masterclass, training artistes and producers in songwriting, production, distribution, and branding. Carnival City Upgrade: Antigua Recreation Ground’s new grand stage is taking shape ahead of Carnival 2026, with plans for sound improvements too. Tourism & Pride: Two resorts publicly welcomed LGBTQIA+ travellers for Pride Month, promising a more welcoming stay. Health & Community: Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre received a £25,000 Linbury Trust grant for a portable ultrasound system to strengthen bedside diagnostics. Youth & Learning: A free AUACAS bootcamp for aspiring doctors is underway, with another session planned for July.

Carnival & Arts: Antigua Recreation Ground is getting a bigger, modern grand stage plus sound upgrades for Antigua Carnival 2026, with ABFC also pushing ahead on Carnival City’s next phase after the stage and roof were completed. Music Industry: The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission wrapped a Music Development Masterclass (June 8–12) training local artistes and producers on songwriting, mixing, distribution, copyright, marketing, and branding. Tourism & Pride: Two Antigua resorts publicly welcomed LGBTQIA+ travellers for Pride Month, stressing “belonging” and respectful, comfortable stays. Sports (Cricket): Jason Holder’s late hitting powered West Indies to a dramatic five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the deciding T20I, sealing a 2-1 series victory. Sports (Football): “Pretty Boy” Derrick Edwards returns to national coaching, joining the men’s U20 staff after years away. Community & Safety: Barbuda moved closer to UNESCO Tsunami Ready status after a successful community exercise and school evacuation drill. Local Life: Police are investigating the death of senior surgeon Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan (Dr. Krishna) found unresponsive outside his Belmont home. Work & Jobs: Cabinet says work permit rules must balance growth with protecting jobs for Antiguans and Barbudans. Health & Education: AUACAS is running a free virtual doctor bootcamp starting June 16, with a second session planned for July.

Carnival Build-Up: The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission says the biggest Eastern Caribbean stage and roof for Antigua Carnival 2026 is now in place at ARG, with Prime Minister Browne directing further venue upgrades after a site inspection. Music Industry: The ABFC wrapped up a June 8–12 Music Development Masterclass in Coolidge, training emerging and established artistes on songwriting, mixing, distribution, copyright, marketing and branding. Sport & Community Pride: West Indies levelled up and clinched the T20I series over Sri Lanka 2-1 with a dramatic decider win in Jamaica. Football Coaching Return: Derrick “Pretty Boy” Edwards is back in the national setup as part of the U20 coaching staff. Health & Education Pathways: AUACAS is launching a free virtual bootcamp for aspiring doctors (June 16–July 1) and already planning a second round for July. Tourism & Inclusion: Two resorts publicly welcomed LGBTQIA+ travellers for Pride Month, pledging belonging and respectful hospitality. Local Development: Government plans a $13.5m upgrade for Jolly Beach Resort and is moving ahead with Perry Bay housing and marina plans. Public Safety: Barbuda completed a Tsunami Ready community exercise, bringing it closer to international recognition.

Carnival & Live Events: Work is underway at the Antigua Recreation Ground on a bigger grand stage for Antigua Carnival 2026, with plans to upgrade the sound system for a more modern show experience. Culture & Music: The Department of Culture will host a Soca and Calypso Adjudicators’ Training Workshop on June 20 to strengthen scoring, professionalism, and fairness for major Carnival contests. Tourism Spotlight: Two resorts—Pineapple Beach Club Antigua and The Verandah Resort and Spa—publicly welcomed LGBTQIA+ travellers during Pride Month, stressing belonging and respectful hospitality. Sailing & Sport: The Caribbean Inclusive Sailing Championship returns June 24–27 at the National Sailing Academy, pairing training with a regatta built for sailors of all abilities. Local Governance & Community: PM Browne outlined “Peace Beach” at Barnacle Point—an artificial beach and reef project meant to draw people in and support conflict resolution and marine learning ahead of CHOGM 2026. Business of Entertainment: Government says it will invest $13.5 million to upgrade Jolly Beach Resort, including new conference space for up to 500 people. Health & Community News: Police are investigating the death of senior surgeon Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan (Dr. Krishnan), found unresponsive outside his Belmont home; no cause has been confirmed.

Luxury Travel Deal: Limitless Sky Partners teamed with Blue Ocean Club for seamless sea-to-sky private jet and superyacht itineraries, with one advisor handling the full trip. Tragic Medical Update: Police are investigating the death of senior surgeon Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan (Dr. Krishnan), found unresponsive outside his Belmont home; cause of death hasn’t been confirmed. Tourism & Events: PM Browne unveiled “Peace Beach” at Barnacle Point—an artificial beach and reef project meant for public gathering, conflict resolution, and marine learning ahead of CHOGM 2026. Resort Upgrade: Jolly Beach Resort gets a $13.5M boost, including new A/C, better internet, and a conference facility for up to 500. Carnival Build-Up: Work is underway at ARG on a bigger grand stage plus sound upgrades for Carnival 2026. Pride Month Hospitality: Two resorts publicly welcomed LGBTQIA+ travellers with messages of belonging and inclusive care. Community Resilience: Barbuda moved closer to UNESCO Tsunami Ready status after a successful preparedness exercise with schools and emergency drills. Work Permits: Cabinet plans tighter work permit rules, pushing employers to recruit qualified nationals first.

Work Permits Tightened: Cabinet says employers must prove they tried to hire qualified Antiguans and Barbudans before foreign workers get approvals, with stricter transparency on where vacancies were advertised. Perry Bay Plan: Government will survey about 13 acres at Perry Bay for a major mixed-use push including housing and a marina, building on the wider housing programme. Carnival at ARG: A bigger grand stage is being installed at the Antigua Recreation Ground, plus sound upgrades, as Antigua Carnival 2026 preparations ramp up. Pride Month Hospitality: Pineapple Beach Club Antigua and The Verandah Resort and Spa publicly reaffirm LGBTQIA+ welcome, aiming to make guests feel “at ease” and valued. Culture Training: The Department of Culture will host a Soca and Calypso adjudicators’ workshop on June 20 to sharpen scoring, rubrics, and bias awareness for Carnival contests. Barbuda Tsunami Ready: Barbuda completed a UNESCO-backed Tsunami Ready exercise with schools and community drills to strengthen evacuation planning and public awareness. Local Sports & Talent: ABFA welcomed Cabinet’s greenlight for top-tier football to return to the ARG (Sept–Dec trial), and Winston Benjamin’s Grassroots Cricket Academy summer camp runs June 29–July 17. In Memoriam: Tributes continue after surgeon Dr. Radhakrishnan Krishna was found unresponsive outside his Belmont home; police investigations are ongoing.

Pride & Tourism: Two Antigua resorts—Pineapple Beach Club Antigua and The Verandah Resort and Spa—have publicly reaffirmed LGBTQIA+ welcome during Pride Month, using social posts that promise guests “belonging” and “authentic hospitality.” Carnival Culture: The Ministry of Creative Industries’ Department of Culture is set to host a Soca and Calypso Adjudicators’ Training Workshop on June 20, with hands-on scoring, rubric use, bias awareness, and performance analysis for Soca Monarch, Party Monarch, and Calypso Monarch judges. Barbuda Preparedness: Barbuda has completed a UNESCO IOC “Tsunami Ready” exercise (May 26–28), bringing schools and disaster officials together for hazard education, evacuation planning, and public awareness content. Work Permits: Cabinet says work permit rules will be tightened so employers must show they recruited qualified nationals first, with stricter transparency on where vacancies were advertised. Sports & Community: Work continues on the Potters Sports Field Redevelopment, with new courts, a dual-purpose field, Little League diamond, play area, walking trail, and a half-sized Olympic pool—aimed at youth pathways. Medical Community: Tributes continue after surgeon Dr. Radhakrishnan Krishna was found dead outside his Belmont home; police investigations are ongoing.

Carnival Culture: The Ministry of Creative Industries’ Culture Department will host a Soca and Calypso adjudicators’ training workshop on Saturday, June 20 (9am–3pm) at the Harrison Centre, Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies, with hands-on scoring, rubric use, bias awareness, and mock adjudication led by cultural specialist Kimdale Mackellar. Barbuda Preparedness: Barbuda has completed a UNESCO IOC Tsunami Ready exercise (May 26–28), bringing schools and disaster officials together to build public awareness, evacuation planning, and tsunami-ready education content. Community Loss: Antigua and Barbuda’s medical fraternity mourns the sudden passing of surgeon Dr. Radhakrishnan Krishna of Mount St. John’s Medical Centre, with tributes highlighting his mentorship and compassion. Tourism on TV: Antigua and Barbuda’s cuisine and culture are featured in BBC MasterChef’s Finals Week episode, filmed at Nelson’s Dockyard and Jumby Bay, giving the islands major international exposure. Sports & Youth: Cabinet has backed the return of top-tier football to the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) for Sept–Dec on a trial basis, while Winston Benjamin’s Grassroots Cricket Academy summer camp runs June 29–July 17 at Clare Hall. LGBTQ+ Welcome: Two Antigua resorts—Pineapple Beach Club Antigua and The Verandah Resort and Spa—publicly reaffirm they welcome LGBTQ+ travellers through inclusive social media messaging.

BBC MasterChef Spotlight: Antigua and Barbuda’s cuisine and culture hit BBC One and iPlayer as the final four contestants cooked at Nelson’s Dockyard and toured the island for a major international TV feature. Tourism & Travel Buzz: Air Peace is pushing direct Nigeria-to-Antigua and Barbuda travel, while St. Kitts and Nevis’ Rhapsody of the Seas first off-season call signals continued cruise momentum for the region. Sports & Youth: Cabinet backed the U-20 men’s historic CONCACAF qualification, and the Potters Sports Field redevelopment is progressing toward a CHOGM-ready finish with new courts, a multi-sport field, and youth pathways. Work & Rights: Government moves to tighten work permit rules with stricter vacancy advertising, while unions warn workplace culture is sliding into “master-slave” dynamics. Education Wins: Antigua and Barbuda celebrated top CSEC performers, including Kaylei John-Baptiste as Student of the Year, plus 151 awardees. Community & Culture: LGBTQ+ welcome messages from two Antigua resorts are drawing attention, and Blue Economy marked World Ocean Day with a school-led mural campaign.

Work Permits Tightened: Cabinet is tightening work permit rules, demanding employers prove vacancies were advertised across multiple independent platforms and pushing applicants to be considered locally first. Workplace Rights: Union leaders are blasting a “master-slave” style industrial relations climate, saying stress, discrimination, and harassment are rising. Football Back at ARG: ABFA’s new general secretary says top-tier football returns to the historic Antigua Recreation Ground on a September-to-December trial, with club licensing next week. Cricket & Youth: Winston Benjamin’s Grassroots Cricket Academy summer camp runs June 29–July 17 at Clare Hall for ages 6–20. Tourism Boost: Rhapsody of the Seas makes its first off-season call to Antigua with nine summer visits planned, while Antigua explores Japanese support for sargassum processing. Culture & Sports Tech: Google marks the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2026 with a cricket-themed Doodle, and West Indies name their T20 squad vs Sri Lanka. Education Wins: Ottos Comprehensive student Anika Sablon earns Director’s Special Recognition after reading at grade one on entry.

Barbuda Land Fight: The Barbuda Council says Cabinet-approved plans for a Barbuda Land Registry and land sales are meant to mislead the public, warning it won’t accept moves to register and sell what it calls “the people’s land,” with court hearings already underway. Missing Persons: One year after Trinidadian Thomas Vasquez disappeared in Antigua, his mother Candy Vasquez says she has received no updates and notes no missing persons alert was issued in Antigua. Archives Under Strain: National Archives staff say climate-control upgrades reduced risk to irreplaceable records, but a leaking roof still threatens mold returning with heavy rains. Youth & Women Leadership: A gender affairs advocate calls for structured mentorship and real pathways for youth and women to shape decisions, not just symbolic appointments. Sports & Community: Blue Economy marked World Ocean Day with a school-led mural campaign, while a new public mural celebrates winners from Buckley’s Primary in a marine-themed art contest. Tourism & Travel Buzz: Air Peace is marketing Antigua to Nigerian travelers ahead of direct service, and the Potters Playing Field redevelopment is on track for CHOGM 2026 completion. Health Update: SLBMC reports 1,074 pediatric emergency visits so far in 2026. Police & Safety: Police are investigating the death of a U.S. visitor who became unresponsive during a scuba dive near North Sound.