AGP Executive Report

Telecom Relief for Flow Customers: Dominica and St Lucia regulators say Flow’s major outage (June 21–22) left customers without service for nearly 19 hours, linked to a fault on a fibre route between Guadeloupe and Antigua; Flow now reports full restoration and will apply automatic rebates (credit for prepaid users, notices for businesses). Tourism & Wellness: The Discover Dominica Authority and Ministry of Tourism will host the island’s inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, “Be Well in Nature,” with free screenings, consultations and fitness sessions. Youth & Community Health: Rotary Club of Dominica installed water fountains at Roseau Primary and Trafalgar Primary as part of its Childhood Obesity Programme, plus reusable bottles to encourage healthier hydration. Sports Tourism Push: Dominica is showcasing football development through International Futbol Experiences’ “Train & Play in Nature” programme, aiming to bring visiting athletes for training and recovery. Education Wins: 124 scholarships and 122 bursaries were awarded to Grade 6 students after the Grade 6 National Assessment. Hospital Upgrades: Major renovations are set to begin at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital to improve access, repairs, drainage and room bathroom facilities.

Diplomacy & Energy Cooperation: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit met New Zealand’s newly accredited High Commissioner Linda Charlotte Te Puni, focusing on deeper ties in renewable energy, climate resilience, agriculture, education and community development. Telecom Relief: Flow fully restored services after a regional outage linked to damaged subsea fibre, with automatic rebates/credit promised for affected customers in Dominica and beyond. Tourism & Wellness: The Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority will host the island’s first Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, offering free screenings, consultations and nature-based wellness activities. Education & Health Habits: Rotary installed water fountains at Roseau and Trafalgar primary schools to support its childhood obesity programme, including reusable bottles for students. Sports Tourism Push: Dominica is positioning itself for athlete development with a “Train & Play in Nature” initiative and a growing focus on overseas football opportunities. Infrastructure Upgrade: Work is set to begin on the Roseau Enhancement Project, starting with a kickoff for road and drainage improvements to make the capital safer and more climate-resilient. Community & Youth: Girl Guides Association of Dominica elected a new executive team, including Abigail Christmas as Chief Commissioner. Summer Events: Dominica Bike Fest 2026 is officially set for July 31–Aug 3, with a bigger four-day programme and international stunt riders. Schools Success: Government awarded 124 scholarships and 122 bursaries to Grade 6 students based on National Assessment results.

Sports Tourism & Development: Dominica is pitching itself as a training destination after a two-week visit by Christopher Saul of International Futbol Experiences, aimed at scholarship and player development and showcasing the “Train & Play in Nature” programme with local partners. Education: Mathematics teachers complete the ACT Cohort 2 programme to strengthen math instruction using a blended learning model. Telecom Relief: Flow says services are fully restored after a major regional outage linked to damaged subsea fibre, with rebates and prepaid credit to be applied automatically. Tourism & Community Events: The Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority will host the island’s first Wellness Fair on July 4 at UWI Global Campus, while the Dominica Bike Festival officially launches for July 31–Aug 3 with international stunt riders and an expanded four-day programme. Health Infrastructure: Renovations are set to begin at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, including moving key offices, fixing leaks, and upgrading patient room bathrooms. Youth & School Support: Government awards 124 scholarships and 122 bursaries to Grade 6 students following the Grade 6 National Assessment.

Telecom Disruption: Flow says its broadband and other services in Dominica were restored after a regional outage that began Sunday evening, but some customers report lingering call and internet problems even after the “fully restored” announcement. Regional Cooperation: OECS leaders opened the 78th Authority Meeting in Antigua under Dr. Gaston Browne’s chairmanship, with priorities including economic development, climate resilience, security, food and energy security, and freedom of movement. Tourism Push: Discover Dominica Authority launched “Summer: The Nature Island Way,” offering eight curated itineraries (four multi-day trips and four full-day tours) aimed at encouraging longer stays and deeper community-based experiences. Ocean Innovation: UWI Five Islands Campus launched a Blue Finance and Ocean Innovation side event ahead of CHOGM 2026, featuring an exhibition and a “beachside chat” with regional leaders. Civic Voices: An open letter urges Dominicans to focus on responsible leadership and stronger institutions ahead of the political moment, while another letter challenges the Electoral Commission’s independence and trust. Local Community: Girl Guides Association of Dominica elected a new executive team, naming Abigail Christmas as Chief Commissioner.

Regional Connectivity: Flow reports a major regional outage that hit Dominica and St Lucia on Sunday evening, starting around 5:30 PM June 21, disrupting broadband and IP services and triggering crisis response teams while updates go out via SMS and social media. Tourism & Community: Discover Dominica Authority launches “Summer: The Nature Island Way,” offering eight curated itineraries (four multi-day trips and four day tours) to encourage longer stays and deeper exploration beyond the usual spots. Urban Development: Dominica begins the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project after a June 17 kickoff, with road rehabilitation planned for Independence Street, Bath Road, Cork Street and more, plus sidewalks and drainage upgrades. Health Innovation: Sickle Cell Cares Foundation launches SickleConnect, a Caribbean-first digital platform for people living with sickle cell disease, with tools for managing care and easier access to support. Youth & Sports: Girl Guides Association of Dominica elects a new executive team, while the Dominica Athletics Association confirms 2026–2030 club and school representatives. Climate Resilience: DNCTF says US$5,000 from the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund will fund drainage and slope stabilization work in Atkinson over three months.

OECS Regional Talks: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is in Antigua and Barbuda for the 78th OECS Authority meeting, with regional leaders set to focus on economic development, integration, climate resilience, security, food and energy security, and freedom of movement; Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre is acting PM during Skerrit’s absence. Roseau Upgrade Starts: Dominica has entered the implementation phase of the Roseau Enhancement Project after a June 17 kickoff with consultants, government departments and utility companies; the US$2.24m consultancy contract covers design review and supervision for road rehabilitation across key Roseau streets. Tourism Push: Discover Dominica Authority launched “Summer the Nature Island Way,” offering eight curated itineraries (four multi-day trips and four full-day tours) designed to help visitors plan faster and stay longer across communities. Health Innovation: Sickle Cell Cares Foundation launched SickleConnect, a Caribbean-first digital health platform for people living with sickle cell disease, with tools for managing care and access to support. Education Results: 124 students earned scholarships in Dominica’s 2026 Grade Six National Assessment, while 122 qualified for bursaries. Climate Resilience Funding: Atkinson Village is set to receive US$5,000 from the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund via DNCTF for drainage improvements and slope stabilization, with work expected to run through September 2026.

Roseau Enhancement Project: Dominica has moved into the implementation phase of the decade-long Roseau Enhancement Project after a June 17 kickoff meeting with consultants, government departments, utility companies and other stakeholders. The works will target key roads including Independence Street, Bath Road, Cork Street, Great George Street, Virgin Lane, River Street and King George V Street, with a US$2.24 million consultancy contract awarded for design review and supervision. Tourism Push: The Discover Dominica Authority launched “Summer: The Nature Island Way,” rolling out eight curated itineraries for families, couples and solo travellers, with multi-day packages and full-day tours focused on nature, wellness, culture and community experiences. Health Innovation: On World Sickle Cell Day, the Sickle Cell Cares Foundation launched SickleConnect, a free Caribbean-first digital platform offering clinical summaries, virtual support and emergency location alerts for people living with sickle cell disease. Citizenship by Investment Watch: A CBI expert says currency volatility and stricter compliance checks are the biggest hurdles for applicants, even as demand remains strong. Regional Finance: The IFC says it will invest up to US$15 million in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund debt sub-fund, aimed at expanding financing for resilience and SME growth across 13 countries including Dominica. Local Governance & Community: The Diocese of Roseau begins Family Week 2026 (June 21–27) under the theme “Carrying the Graces of the Sacraments Home,” focusing on strengthening the domestic church.

Hotel Fire & Evacuations: A woman died and nearly 1,700 tourists were evacuated after a major fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, with officials saying the straw roof and wind helped the flames spread. Roseau North By-Election: Dominica’s Roseau North race heats up as Housing Minister Melissa Skerrit says UWP first approached Ashma McDougall, but she declined and chose the Labour Party. Athletics Leadership: The Dominica Athletics Association confirmed new club and school representatives for 2026–2030, with elections set for remaining athlete roles. Tourism Push: Discover Dominica Authority launched “Summer: The Nature Island Way,” rolling out eight curated itineraries to encourage longer stays and deeper community-based experiences. Regional Finance: The IFC says it will invest up to US$15 million in a Caribbean debt fund aimed at boosting SME financing and climate resilience, including projects in Dominica. Health Tech for Sickle Cell: Sickle Cell Cares Foundation launched SickleConnect, a Caribbean-first digital platform to help patients manage sickle cell care via tools, support, and emergency alerts. Power Outage Update: DOMLEC traced an island-wide outage to a geothermal transmission line trip to Fond Cole, with restoration expected across affected areas by late morning. Climate Resilience Funding: DNCTF says US$5,000 from the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund will fund drainage and slope-stabilisation work in Atkinson over three months.

Tourism Push: Discover Dominica Authority has launched “Summer the Nature Island Way,” rolling out eight curated itineraries (four multi-day and four full-day) to get visitors exploring communities, nature, wellness and culture beyond the usual spots. Education & Youth: Education Minister Octavia Alfred says 124 students earned scholarships from the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment, with 122 also qualifying for bursaries. Youth & Politics: The United Workers Party says it will hold a Youth Symposium in the coming weeks, alongside proposals including tax simplification, removing a $10,000 environmental tax, and raising the minimum wage. Climate Resilience: A US$5,000 Bahamas Protected Areas Fund contribution will support drainage and slope stabilization work in Atkinson over three months. Health Innovation: Sickle Cell Cares Foundation has launched SickleConnect, described as the Caribbean’s first digital health platform for people living with sickle cell disease. Infrastructure Update: DOMLEC reports an island-wide power outage traced to a geothermal transmission line fault, with restoration expected by late morning. Regional Finance: IFC says it will invest up to US$15m in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund debt sub-fund, targeting SME financing across 13 countries.

Digital Health Breakthrough: Sickle Cell Cares Foundation, founded in Dominica, has launched SickleConnect—Caribbean’s first digital platform for people living with sickle cell disease, with tools like a 30-day clinical summary, virtual counselling, emergency location alerts, and moderated community support. Health & Environment Funding: Dominica received US$93,000 from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund for two biodiversity projects—supporting the fight against lethal yellowing in the coconut sub-sector and coral reef restoration in Soufriere. Infrastructure & Roads: The Roseau Enhancement Project has entered its implementation phase, with a US$2.24 million consultancy contract for design review and supervision of road rehabilitation across key Roseau streets. Climate Resilience: Atkinson Village Council is set to benefit from US$5,000 for drainage improvements and slope stabilization to reduce flood and landslide risks. Power Reliability: DOMLEC traced an island-wide outage to a geothermal transmission line issue linked to the Fond Colé substation and restored power in stages. Politics & Elections: With voter confirmation applications hitting 17,800 (14,500 approved), officials are urging citizens to confirm before the October 15 deadline; meanwhile, the Roseau North by-election is moving ahead after Miriam Blanchard’s resignation, with UWP confirming Danny Lugay as its candidate. Community & Safety: Castle Bruce Police continued community policing with mobile patrols and business outreach, while two officers completed a regional CVQ training programme.

Climate Voice: Health Minister Michael Joseph says Caribbean nations must get a stronger seat at the table in global climate talks, warning that hurricanes and climate displacement hit the region hardest despite low emissions. CARICOM Watch on Haiti: The CARICOM Eminent Persons Group says it’s monitoring Haiti closely through virtual consultations and plans an on-the-ground visit “as soon as practical.” Biodiversity Funding: Dominica received US$93,000 for two biodiversity projects, targeting lethal yellowing in coconuts and coral reef restoration. Roads Upgrade: The Roseau Enhancement Project has moved into its implementation phase, with a US$2.24m consultancy contract for design review and supervision of key streets. Health Innovation: Coinciding with World Sickle Cell Day, Dominica’s SickleConnect digital platform was launched to help sickle cell patients across the Caribbean manage care, access support, and use emergency tools. Energy Disruption: DOMLEC reports another island-wide power outage traced to a geothermal transmission line issue involving the Fond Colé substation, with restoration staged by area. Sports & Elections: DAA holds elections for club and school representatives on June 20, while Roseau North by-election politics heats up as UWP confirms Danny Lugay and DLP names Ashma McDougall.

Community Policing: Castle Bruce Police stepped up district patrols, visiting local businesses and sharing emergency contacts while supporting bailiffs with summonses and warrants. Sports Governance: The Dominica Athletics Association will hold elections for club and school representatives on June 20, with one school seat already decided unopposed. Training & Skills: Two Dominican police officers completed a regional CVQ training and development course at the Regional Security System institute. Power & Infrastructure: DOMLEC traced a major island-wide outage to a geothermal transmission line issue between the Geothermal Plant and the Fond Colé Substation, with restoration targeted across affected areas through the morning. Politics & By-Election: The UWP confirmed former Roseau North MP Danny Lugay as its candidate, as the seat heads toward a by-election expected within 90 days. Voter Readiness: Voter confirmation is nearing its October 15 deadline, with 17,800 applications submitted and 14,500 already approved. Agriculture Health: The Ministry of Agriculture says it’s pushing back against Lethal Yellowing in the coconut sub-sector with new grant support. Regional Watch: Jamaica’s talks with the U.S. on third-country deportees continue, with Dominica named among countries that have entered similar arrangements.

Coconut Disease Response: The Ministry of Agriculture says it’s stepping up the fight against Lethal Yellowing in the coconut sub-sector in Woodfordhill, after receiving a grant from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and the Dominica National Conservation Trust Fund. Power and Energy: DOMLEC reports a second island-wide outage this week caused by a transmission line problem linking the geothermal plant to the Fond Colé substation; most areas were restored by late morning, with remaining communities scheduled to come back by 10:00 AM. Roseau North By-Election: The UWP confirms Danny Lugay as its candidate, while the DLP has named Ashma McDougall following Miriam Blanchard’s resignation for health reasons; the by-election is expected within 90 days. Elections Update: Voter confirmation applications have reached 17,800, with 14,500 approved, and officials warn unconfirmed voters will be removed from the new list ahead of the October 15 deadline. Hurricane Preparedness: PM Skerrit urges households and businesses to prepare for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season as NEPO reviews readiness and shelters and supplies are checked. Health and Community: The Dominica Cancer Society will hold its AGM on June 27 at UWI Open Campus Dominica.

Dominica Summer Events: The Festivals Committee has unveiled a packed June-to-August calendar with seven major events, starting with Comess on June 27, then Gouté Domnik (July 19–26), Poker Run (July 26), and a new Tasty Treasures Heritage Relay on August 1, plus more to follow. Elections Update: Voter confirmation is moving fast, with 17,800 applications submitted and 14,500 confirmed ahead of the October 15 deadline; officials warn unconfirmed voters will be removed from the new list. Hurricane Preparedness: PM Roosevelt Skerrit urges households and businesses to prepare as the 2026 Atlantic season runs June 1 to Nov. 30, pointing to NEPO inspections and shelter readiness. Power and Energy: DOMLEC traced a major early-morning outage to a fault between the Fond Colé Substation and Fond Colé Power Plant, with repairs expected to take time. Health and Community: The Dominica Cancer Society sets its AGM for June 27, while PAHO donates 20 computers to strengthen health surveillance and data systems. Sports and Culture: Thea LaFond and Tyler Mason were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the National Sports Awards, and Dominica’s Earnisha Fontaine earns a WCPL spot. Regional Politics: Jamaica’s talks with the U.S. over third-country deportees continue, with Dominica closely watching the wider Caribbean immigration fallout.

Hurricane Readiness: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is urging Dominicans to prepare early for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, saying NEPO has already reviewed shelters, supplies and agency response plans, but stressing preparedness is a shared responsibility. Power & Utilities: DOMLEC says a fault between the Fond Colé Substation and Fond Colé Power Plant triggered a major early-morning outage, with crews isolating the fault and some communities facing longer restoration times. Roseau North By-Election: The Dominica Labour Party has named Ashma McDougall as its candidate after Miriam Blanchard resigned for health reasons, while the party also says she was approached by the UWP before accepting the DLP nomination. Sports: Thea LaFond and Tyler Mason took top honours at the Dominica National Sports Awards, marking the awards’ return after a hiatus since Hurricane Maria. Health Policy: PAHO reports health taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks across the Americas are still too low to curb harmful consumption, including in the Caribbean. Environment & Tourism: Work has begun on protecting Morne Diablotin National Park through boundary demarcation and a buffer zone under a GEF/World Bank-backed eco-tourism biodiversity project. Regional News: Jamaica and the U.S. are in talks on a third-country nationals transit arrangement, with Jamaica insisting it is not an uncontrolled migration programme.

Roseau North By-Election Politics: The Dominica Labour Party has named Ashma McDougall as its candidate to succeed outgoing MP Miriam Blanchard, who resigned for health reasons, with the party saying McDougall was also approached by the UWP before choosing to represent the DLP. Education & Skills: Thirty secondary-school educators have completed the ACT in Mathematics Cohort 2 regional training, supported by UWI Mona and the Commonwealth of Learning, aimed at boosting math instruction and classroom technology use. Health Systems: PAHO has donated 20 computers (15 laptops, 5 desktops) to strengthen Dominica’s disease surveillance, health data management, and primary care reporting. Environment & Tourism: Work has begun on demarcating Morne Diablotin National Park boundaries and creating a buffer zone under a GEF/World Bank-backed eco-tourism biodiversity project, while DNCTF has awarded over US$100,000 for biodiversity and ecosystem protection initiatives. Sports & Culture: Dominica’s Earnisha Fontaine is set to make history as the first Dominican woman in the WCPL after being drafted by Trinbago Knight Riders. Regional Development: IICA highlighted support for agriculture and food security at its annual accountability seminar in Dominica, focusing on farmers, agribusiness and rural communities.