AGP Executive Report

National Security & Justice: Dominica has launched its first-ever National Missing Person Alert System, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable people, other missing adults, and police-officer incidents, set to go live this Wednesday; the ministry also wants all stakeholders, including the judiciary, involved in stemming crime. Government Appointments: Two judicial/legal vacancies were advertised this week—Magistrate (Magistrates Court) and State Attorney for the Legal Aid Clinic—signalling continued staffing in the justice system. Public Finance Pressure: National Security Minister St Clair Leacock publicly said the government is “broke” and urged Vincentians to face reality, highlighting deteriorating public infrastructure and the need for transparency. Diplomacy: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit renewed Dominica’s long-term commitment with China at a ceremony marking the PRC’s 77th anniversary. Regional Politics & Courts: The CCJ will hold itinerant sittings in St Lucia next week, its first time hosting since accepting appellate jurisdiction in 2023. Community & Development: Skerrit met Marigot residents to discuss community priorities and urged people to take up government programmes. Culture & Events: World Creole Music Festival 2026 is confirmed for Oct 23–25 at Windsor Park, Roseau, with a verified lineup. Regional Economy: CDB launched a US$550,000 clean-energy support facility for women-led businesses across the Caribbean, including Dominica.

Judicial Appointments: The Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs has advertised vacancies for a Magistrate (Magistrates Court) and a State Attorney for the Legal Aid Clinic, outlining duties and qualification requirements. Voter Integrity Push: The Dominica Trade Union Congress is urging eligible voters to complete voter confirmation/registration ahead of the October 14 deadline amid public scrutiny over delays and administration. Community Engagement: PM Roosevelt Skerrit met Marigot residents to hear community priorities and encourage people to take up government programmes. Diplomatic Continuity: Dominica and China renewed long-term diplomatic commitments at a ceremony marking the PRC’s 77th anniversary. Missing Persons System: National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore says Dominica will launch a national missing person alert system on October 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable people, other missing adults, and police-involved incidents. Clean Energy Support: The CDB launched a US$550,000 SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility to back women-led businesses developing clean energy solutions across the region, including Dominica. Regional Trade & Labour: CARICOM discussions highlighted hurdles to free movement for small states, while agriculture ministers called for action on standards barriers and a regional framework to move agricultural workers. Connectivity Boost: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029.

CARICOM Free Movement: Regional leaders say small states face real hurdles to full freedom of movement, citing “islandness,” limited administrative capacity, and demographic fears. Digital Health Push: CARICOM ministers backed a CARICOM-led digital health strategy with PAHO, IDB and the World Bank, aiming to strengthen healthcare delivery, workforce planning, surveillance and financing. Local Governance: PM Roosevelt Skerrit met Marigot residents and urged people to take up government development opportunities, while also thanking teachers for their work. Elections & Voting Access: The Dominica Trade Union Congress urged eligible voters to complete voter confirmation by Oct. 14 amid scrutiny of the process. Diplomacy: Dominica and China renewed long-term commitment to deepen relations at a ceremony marking China’s 77th anniversary. Public Safety: Dominica plans a national missing person alert system on Oct. 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable people, other adults, and police-involved incidents. Regional Connectivity: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029. Agriculture & Labour: Floyd Green called for a regional framework to move agricultural workers across borders, pointing to Dominica’s migrant-worker model. Clean Energy Support: CDB launched a US$500,000 initiative to back women-led clean energy businesses across the region, including Dominica. Culture & Regional Loss: CARICOM mourned the death of French Guiana’s President Gabriel Serville, and the Caribbean marked the passing of calypso legend Mighty Sparrow.

Marigot Engagement: PM Roosevelt Skerrit met Marigot residents to hear community priorities and urge people to take up government development opportunities. Diplomacy: Dominica and China renewed long-term ties at a ceremony marking the PRC’s 77th anniversary, with Skerrit reaffirming the One China principle. Voter List Scrutiny: The Dominica Trade Union Congress urged eligible voters to complete confirmation/registration before the Oct. 14 deadline amid public concerns about delays and administration of the electoral reform process. Teachers’ Day: Skerrit and Education Minister Octavia Alfred praised teachers’ role in nation-building, citing appointments, allowances, and ongoing work on early childhood and primary school reclassification. Public Safety: Dominica plans a national missing person alert system on Oct. 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable adults, other missing adults, and police-involved incidents. Regional Policy: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green called for a Caribbean framework to move agricultural workers across borders, pointing to Dominica’s migrant-worker model. Clean Energy Support: The CDB launched a US$550,000 SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility for women-led businesses in Dominica and across the region to commercialise clean energy solutions. EU Pressure on Passports: Reports say the EU has told Eastern Caribbean states to end citizenship-by-investment by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access.

Marigot Development Push: PM Roosevelt Skerrit met Marigot residents and urged them to take up government programmes and development opportunities, stressing that people must actively participate. China Ties Renewed: Skerrit also attended a ceremony at the Chinese Embassy marking the 77th anniversary of the PRC’s founding, reaffirming Dominica’s long-term commitment to deepen diplomatic relations under the One China principle. Voter List Scrutiny: The Dominica Trade Union Congress urged eligible voters to complete voter confirmation/registration before the Oct. 14 deadline amid public concerns about delays and the process. Teachers’ Recognition: Education Minister Octavia Alfred praised teachers on Teachers’ Day, citing appointments, allowances, and support like PPE and first-aid kits. Missing Persons System: National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore says Dominica will launch a national missing person alert system Oct. 5 with separate alerts for children, vulnerable people, other adults, and police-involved incidents. Regional Clean Energy Support: The CDB launched a US$550,000 SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility for women-led businesses, including in Dominica, to commercialise clean energy solutions over 2026–2028. Diplomatic/Legal Regional Watch: The CCJ will hold itinerant sittings in St Lucia next week for the first time since accepting its appellate jurisdiction in 2023.

CCJ on the move: The Caribbean Court of Justice will hold its first itinerant sittings in St Lucia next week (Oct 7–8), with a seven-member bench hearing cases from St Lucia, Guyana and Belize. Elections watch: The Dominica Trade Union Congress urges eligible voters to complete voter confirmation/registration before the Oct 14 deadline, despite public concerns about delays and administration. Teachers in focus: Education Minister Octavia Alfred marked Teachers’ Day by praising teachers’ role in nation-building, citing appointments, PPE support, and a $250 teacher allowance. Community engagement: PM Roosevelt Skerrit met Marigot residents to hear community priorities and discuss solutions. Missing persons plan: Dominica will launch a national missing person alert system on Oct 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable adults, other adults, and police-related incidents. Regional business support: The CDB launched a US$500,000 clean energy push for women-led businesses across the region, including Dominica. Citizenship-by-investment pressure: The EU warned several Eastern Caribbean states to end CBI by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access. Agriculture labour push: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green called for a regional framework to move farm workers across borders, pointing to Dominica’s migrant worker model.

Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines will resume Trinidad–Caracas flights from Oct. 31 and launch a weekly Tobago–Toronto non-stop service from Oct. 25, with additional Trinidad–Panama seasonal charters planned for Dec. 1, 2026–Feb. 9, 2027. Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure: The EU has told Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia to end citizenship-by-investment by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access. Public Safety: Dominica will launch a national missing person alert system on Oct. 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable adults, other missing adults, and police-officer incidents. Governance & Community: PM Roosevelt Skerrit thanked teachers and met Marigot residents to hear community priorities and concerns. Clean Energy Support: The CDB, via SheTrades Caribbean Hub, is funding a US$550,000, 2026–2028 programme to back women-led businesses in Dominica and across the region to commercialise clean energy solutions. Agriculture Labour Plan: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green renewed calls for a regional framework to move farm workers across borders, pointing to Dominica’s migrant-worker model. Vital Records Update: Dominica’s civil registry says it can resume normal processing after receiving new security paper shipments.

Teacher Appreciation: PM Roosevelt Skerrit thanked Dominica’s teachers for their patience and sacrifice, saying their work shapes the nation’s future beyond the classroom. Community Engagement: Skerrit met Marigot residents at a social gathering to hear community priorities and concerns directly from the public. Missing Persons System: Dominica will launch a four-tier missing person alert on October 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable people, other missing adults, and police-officer incidents. Civil Registry Paper Shortage: The Civil Registry says it can resume normal processing after receiving new security paper shipments, following delays in birth, marriage and death certificates. Regional Agriculture Labour Push: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green renewed calls for a regional framework to move agricultural workers across borders, citing Dominica’s migrant-worker model. Clean Energy for Women: A US$550,000 CDB initiative will support women-led businesses in Dominica to develop and commercialise clean energy solutions. EU Citizenship by Investment Warning: The EU told Eastern Caribbean states to end passport sales by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access. Sports & Law: Golden Jaguars forward Neron Barrow is expected to pursue legal action after a Puerto Rico entry denial, while the Guyana Football Federation says it must follow foreign immigration rules.

EU Citizenship by Investment Pressure: Eastern Caribbean governments selling golden passports say the EU won’t budge—unless changes are made by 2028, visa-free travel access could be cut. Public Safety: Dominica will roll out a national missing person alert system on October 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable adults, other missing adults, and police-involved incidents. Clean Energy for Women: A new US$550,000 initiative will support women-led businesses in Dominica and across the region to commercialise clean energy solutions from 2026–2028. Regional Health Policy: CARICOM ministers moved to advance a regional digital health strategy with PAHO, the IDB and the World Bank backing. Agriculture Labour Push: A Caribbean farmworker framework is being urged, with Dominica cited for its migrant worker model. Tourism Jobs & Formalisation: An ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections in Eastern Caribbean tourism, calling for better working conditions alongside formalisation. Crime/Police: Four probationary police officers were dismissed following an internal investigation. Culture: The Caribbean mourns calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow, who died at 91.

CARICOM Regional Affairs: CARICOM mourned the death of French Guiana President Gabriel Serville, 67, who helped drive French Guiana’s move to CARICOM Associate Membership in July 2026. Public Safety: Dominica will launch a four-tier missing person alert system on October 5, with separate alerts for children, vulnerable adults, other missing adults, and police-officer incidents, using media and public screens to speed up searches. Local Governance & Services: Dominica’s Civil Registry says it can resume normal processing of birth, marriage and death certificates after a shipment of secure paper, following certificate delays tied to supply shortages. Regional Policy: CARICOM is pushing a regional digital health strategy, backed by PAHO, IDB and the World Bank, to strengthen healthcare delivery, surveillance and health financing across member states. Agriculture & Labour: A new ILO study flags that Eastern Caribbean tourism—crucial to jobs and GDP—still suffers from informality and weak labour protections, including in Dominica. Clean Energy for Women: Dominica women-led businesses are eligible for a US$550,000 CDB clean energy initiative running 2026–2028, offering technical help and financing to commercialise solutions. Crime & Discipline: Four probationary police officers were dismissed after an internal investigation, with the police chief stressing dismissal and criminal prosecution are separate processes. Culture: The Caribbean mourns calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow, who died at 91.

Haiti Security: OAS member states, including Dominica, urged the UN Security Council to renew and fully deploy Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force, calling for personnel, funding, equipment and logistics to support Haitian-led solutions. Local Governance: Dominica’s Civil Registry says it can resume normal processing of birth, marriage and death certificates after delays tied to limited security paper supplies, with more sheets received and additional stock ordered. Public Safety: Four probationary police officers were dismissed following an investigation, with the Chief of Police saying dismissal and criminal prosecution are separate processes. Regional Health: CARICOM health ministers moved to advance a regional digital health strategy with support from PAHO, the IDB and the World Bank, aiming to strengthen care delivery, surveillance and health financing. Agriculture & Food Security: Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson backed a “One country, one product” model to boost Caribbean food security through specialization and trade. Infrastructure & Procurement: Dominica issued REOI/EOI for design-and-build services for steel-framed installation work at the Fond Cole Sanitary Landfill in Roseau. Regional Connectivity: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development stage, targeting service by end-2029 and linking multiple islands via a carrier-neutral submarine corridor. Tourism Jobs: An ILO study on Eastern Caribbean tourism warns that informality and weak labour protections are limiting decent work and formal growth, including in Dominica. Culture: Dominica joined the wider region in mourning calypso legend Mighty Sparrow, who died at 91.

Court & Public Safety: Dominica’s police are investigating a Sunday shooting in Pointe Michel that left a 37-year-old St. Lucian man with multiple gunshot wounds; authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Pointe Michel Police Station, CID, or Crime Stoppers. Police Discipline: Four probationary officers were dismissed after a police investigation, with the Chief of Police saying one was not criminally charged but still dismissed for serious conduct and language concerns. Civil Registry Operations: Dominica says it can resume normal processing of birth, marriage and death certificates after a new shipment of security paper; officials blamed delays on limited stock and a fee waiver that triggered multiple requests. Agriculture Recognition: Dywany St. John of Wesley was named CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026, with the Ministry highlighting the win for Dominica’s food security and sustainable farming. Tourism Jobs: An ILO study warns that Eastern Caribbean tourism’s big economic role is held back by informality, weak labour protections, financing gaps and limited social protection—calling for productivity and decent work improvements together. Regional Diplomacy: OAS member states, including Dominica, backed renewing Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force mandate and urged full funding and deployment support. International Mobility Rules: The UK published a student-visa English exemption list that includes Dominica, alongside several Caribbean states. Culture & Community: Mas Domnik 2027’s official calendar was announced, with major events running from Jan. 9 to Feb. 10, 2027. Caribbean Loss: Leaders across the region mourned calypso icon Mighty Sparrow, who died at 91.

Police-Community Partnership: Portsmouth officers joined God’s Family House of Worship for a fellowship service, part of the force’s community policing push to build trust. Vital Records Update: Dominica’s Civil Registry says it can resume normal processing of birth, marriage and death certificates after a new shipment of security paper, with officials urging applicants to collect ready documents and submit new requests as usual. Public Safety & Discipline: Four probationary police officers were dismissed following an investigation, with the chief of police stressing that dismissal and any criminal cases are separate processes. Agriculture Recognition: Dywany St. John of Wesley was named CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026, celebrated at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture opening in Jamaica. Tourism Jobs Focus: An ILO study warns that Eastern Caribbean tourism’s informality and weak labour protections limit decent work and formal growth, calling for support that improves productivity and working conditions together. Regional Politics: OAS member states, including Dominica, urged the UN Security Council to renew Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force mandate and fund full deployment. International Mobility: The UK listed Dominica among countries exempt from English tests for student visas, while also publishing a separate family-visa English exemption list. Culture & Calendar: Mas Domnik 2027 dates and major events were officially announced, running Jan 9–Feb 10, 2027. Road Recovery: PM Skerrit assessed the Aux Delices landslide area and outlined plans to stabilise the damaged road and upgrade the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route.

CARICOM & Culture: Caribbean leaders mourn calypso icon Mighty Sparrow, with CARICOM chair Phillip J. Pierre and Dominica’s PM Roosevelt Skerrit praising the singer-songwriter’s wit and storytelling. Civil Registry: Dominica’s Civil Registry says it can resume normal birth, marriage and death certificate processing after a new shipment of security paper, following delays tied to limited stock and fee-waiver-driven demand. Policing: Four probationary police officers were dismissed after an investigation, with the police chief stressing dismissal decisions can be separate from criminal charges. Agriculture: Dywany St. John of Wesley received the CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 award in Jamaica, spotlighting Dominica’s farming and food security role. Carnival: Discover Dominica Authority officially released the Mas Domnik 2027 calendar, running Jan. 9–Feb. 10, with key dates including Bouyon Day, Sunrise, Calypso Monarch and Teway Vaval. Roads & Safety: PM Skerrit assessed the Aux Delices landslide and announced steps to stabilise the road and upgrade the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route. Regional Politics: OAS member states, including Dominica, backed renewing Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force mandate and urged full deployment support.

Tourism Jobs & Formal Work: A new ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism—crucial to jobs and GDP—can’t deliver decent work while informality, weak labour protections, skills gaps, and limited access to finance persist, urging countries like Dominica to tackle productivity and formalisation together. Road Safety After Landslide: PM Roosevelt Skerrit assessed the Aux Delices landslide damage and announced stabilisation steps plus upgrades to the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route, with drainage and vegetation control and possible road widening. Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure: OECS leaders say an EU technical team will meet Europe next month after the EU asked Dominica and other CIPs to phase out by June 1, 2028, warning visa-free Schengen access could be at stake. Crime Update: Police are investigating a Pointe Michel shooting that left a 37-year-old St. Lucian man with multiple gunshot wounds. Regional Politics: OAS member states, including Dominica, backed renewing Haiti’s UN-backed gang suppression force mandate and called for full funding and deployment support. Public Debate on Abortion: Letters to the editor continue the pushback on criminalising abortion, arguing it harms women and doesn’t protect “sanctity of life.” Education: The Dominica Association of Teachers kicked off Teachers Week 2026 with island-wide activities, health and wellness events, and a Teachers’ Appreciation Day.

Tourism & Jobs: A new ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism drives big GDP and employment gains, but informality and weak labour protections are holding back decent work and productivity—citing limited finance, skills gaps, and poor enforcement across Dominica and other OECS states. Teachers Week 2026: The Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) has rolled out a full Teachers Week programme, including “DAT in the Street,” a wellness day with health screenings, and Teachers’ Appreciation Day. Road Recovery: PM Roosevelt Skerrit assessed the Aux Delices landslide impact and says the government will stabilise the damaged road section while upgrading the Delices–Petite Savanne alternative route for safer access. UN Diplomacy on Haiti: All 32 OAS member states backed renewing the UN Security Council mandate for Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force, urging full deployment support. UNGA Gaza Fallout: Netanyahu’s UN speech triggered mass walkouts by dozens of countries, including several from the Caribbean and Latin America. Dominica at the UN: President Sylvanie Burton told the UN Dominica’s geothermal plant is now in commercial operation and pushed for climate resilience financing before disasters strike. Local Justice: The DPP discontinued a nine-year obstruction case against UWP leader Dr Thomson Fontaine. Digital Governance: Dominica State College launched a Youth Internet Governance Lab to tackle campus connectivity issues and build policy-focused skills.