AGP Executive Report

Border & Trade Tech: St Lucia officers from Customs, Agriculture, Health, Standards, Police and Port Authorities received a three-day OECS workshop to strengthen coordinated, intelligence-led border controls and risk management for a future unified external border. Climate Risk for Kids: UNICEF-backed research warns that children across the Eastern Caribbean face overlapping climate threats, with more than a third already exposed to at least three hazards and projections rising to over nine in ten by mid-century; the study also flags longer hot spells, drought and stronger hurricane impacts. Child-Focused Climate Planning: A UNICEF study says regional climate plans often lack child-specific indicators and measurable targets, making it hard to track whether climate spending is actually helping children. Water Infrastructure Upgrade: WASCO and the Ministry launched a John Compton Dam raw water pipeline replacement to cut leaks and failures from 40-year-old pipes, aiming to reduce water loss and service interruptions. Resilient Infrastructure Support: The new RIISE facility is now operating, offering St Lucia technical help to push climate-resilient projects through procurement, engineering reviews and implementation bottlenecks. Local Science & Skills: SLFA named Miran Louis as technical director to lead player, coach and referee development programs. Education & Talent: Saint Lucia’s Bonita Bart heads to the UK as the island’s sole Chevening Scholar for postgraduate architectural history at UCL’s Bartlett School. Public Safety: Police investigations continue after a decomposed female body was found near the Millennium Highway; DNA testing is expected to confirm identity, and one person is in custody.

Border & Trade Tech: OECS-coordinated training in Castries (Aug 18–20) brought Customs, Agriculture, Health, Standards, Police and Port staff together to strengthen risk management and make St Lucia’s ports of entry more coordinated, efficient and intelligence-led, supporting a future unified OECS external border and customs union. Climate Risk for Kids: UNICEF-backed research warns that Eastern Caribbean children face no “safe zone,” with more than a third already exposed to at least three climate hazards and projections rising to over nine in ten by mid-century, alongside hotter days, longer drought stretches and hurricane impacts. Media & Child Protection: UNICEF and CDEMA hosted a regional workshop in St Lucia to help journalists report on children more responsibly during disasters, focusing on rights, accuracy and the emotional harm that can come from sensational coverage. Water Infrastructure Upgrade: WASCO and the Ministry launched a John Compton Dam raw water pipeline replacement, swapping 5 km of 40-year-old lines to cut leaks and failures and reduce service interruptions for northern communities. Resilient Infrastructure Support: The new RIISE facility is now operating, offering St Lucia and other Eastern Caribbean governments specialist help to push climate-resilient projects past delivery bottlenecks. Local Tech & Skills: SLFA named Miran Louis as technical director (from Sept 1), bringing UEFA coaching credentials and a focus on developing players, coaches and referees. Science & Identification: Police say DNA testing will help confirm whether a decomposed body found near the Millennium Highway is missing woman Merrisa Auguste; one suspect is in custody.

Border & Trade Tech: OECS-coordinated training for St Lucia’s customs, agriculture, health, standards, police and port officers aims to make ports of entry more coordinated, efficient and intelligence-led, using risk management to support a future unified OECS external border and customs union. Climate Risk for Children: A UNICEF-commissioned Meru Labs study warns that Eastern Caribbean children face overlapping hazards, with more than one-third already exposed to at least three climate threats and projections rising to more than nine in 10 by mid-century, alongside hotter days, longer droughts and stronger hurricanes. Media & Child Protection: UNICEF and CDEMA hosted a regional workshop in St Lucia to help journalists report on children more responsibly during disasters, focusing on protecting rights and reducing harmful emotional impacts. Water Infrastructure Upgrade: WASCO and the Ministry launched a John Compton Dam raw water pipeline replacement to cut leaks and failures by replacing 40-year-old lines serving Castries and northern communities. Resilient Infrastructure Support: St Lucia can now request help through the newly operating RIISE facility to speed up climate-resilient project delivery, from technical reviews to procurement and financial management. Sports Leadership: SLFA named Miran Louis as technical director, starting Sept 1, to lead technical programmes for players, coaches and referees. Local Science & Learning: Saint Lucia’s sole Chevening Scholar for 2026/27, Bonita Bart, heads to UCL’s Bartlett School for postgraduate architectural history.

Climate & Children: UNICEF-backed research warns Eastern Caribbean children face escalating, overlapping climate hazards, with more than a third already exposed to at least three risks and projections rising to over 9 in 10 by mid-century—no “safe zone.” Media & Disaster Response: UNICEF and CDEMA trained Caribbean journalists in St Lucia to improve how children are covered during emergencies, focusing on children’s rights and psychological impacts. Climate Planning Gaps: A UNICEF study says regional climate plans across six Eastern Caribbean states lack child-specific indicators and measurable targets, making it hard to track whether climate spending benefits children. Water Infrastructure: WASCO and the Ministry launched a John Compton Dam raw water pipeline replacement to cut leaks and service interruptions, aiming to reduce major water losses. Resilient Infrastructure Support: The new RIISE facility is now operating, offering Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines specialist help to push climate-resilient projects past implementation bottlenecks. Food & Farming Impacts: Saint Lucia’s agriculture minister says climate change is already affecting crops, fisheries, water availability, and the affordability of nutritious food. Local Tech/Skills: SLFA named Miran Louis as technical director, bringing UEFA coaching credentials to strengthen football development.

Climate & Children: UNICEF-backed research warns there may be “no safe zone” for Eastern Caribbean children, with more than a third already living where schools and health facilities face at least three climate hazards, and projections rising to over nine in ten by mid-century. Climate Planning Gaps: A UNICEF study says regional climate plans across Barbados and other Eastern Caribbean states lack child-specific indicators and measurable targets, making it hard to track whether climate spending is actually helping children. Water Infrastructure Upgrade: Saint Lucia’s John Compton Dam raw water pipeline replacement will swap out 40-year-old lines to cut leaks and service interruptions, supporting water delivery for a large share of WASCO customers. Resilient Infrastructure Support: The new RIISE facility has begun operations, offering Saint Lucia technical help to push climate-resilient projects past implementation bottlenecks. Lake St Lucia Ecosystem Shift: A seminar invites environmental journalists to discuss evidence that Lake St Lucia is nearing a tipping point toward a freshwater wetland, driven by changing connectivity and sedimentation. Local Tech & Skills: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship opens for applications, including tracks in AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and data analytics.

Water Infrastructure Upgrade: Saint Lucia’s John Compton Dam raw water pipeline replacement will swap out 5 km of 40-year-old pipe to cut leaks and reduce service interruptions for communities in Castries and northern St. Lucia, with the project expected to lower the current 50% water loss. Climate Risk for Children: A UNICEF-backed, child-centred Eastern Caribbean study says one in three children in the region live where at least three climate hazards overlap, with projections rising to more than nine in ten by mid-century—highlighting threats to schools and health facilities. Food and Water Already Under Strain: Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir says climate change is already affecting what farmers can grow, fish and marine resources, and water availability—ultimately hitting the affordability of nutritious food. Resilient Infrastructure Support: The new RIISE facility is now operating, offering Saint Lucia specialised technical help to push climate-resilient projects past implementation bottlenecks, including water, transport, energy, coastal protection, and disaster recovery. Local Tech & Skills: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opens for applications Sept. 10–20, offering advanced training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics. Sports Tech Spotlight: SLFA names Miran Louis as technical director, tasked with upgrading technical programmes for players, coaches, referees, and staff. Health Policy Training: PAHO and UWI wrapped up a postgraduate health policy and systems programme, strengthening regional leadership capacity across multiple Caribbean countries including Saint Lucia.

Climate & Children: A UNICEF-backed, Meru Labs study says one in three children across the Eastern Caribbean already live where they face at least three climate hazards, with projections rising to more than nine in ten by mid-century—highlighting heavy exposure around schools and health facilities as heat, drought, hurricanes and sea-level rise intensify. Food & Water Impacts in St. Lucia: Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir says climate change is already reshaping what farmers can grow, stressing water and fisheries, and threatening the affordability and access to nutritious food. Resilient Infrastructure Support: St. Lucia and three other OECS countries can now tap the new RIISE facility for technical help to push climate-resilient projects past implementation bottlenecks, including water, transport, coastal protection, health, education and housing. Digital Skills Boost: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship opens for applications (Cohort II) from Sept. 10 to Sept. 20, offering training in areas like AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data analytics and digital marketing. Local Tech & Careers: SLFA names Miran Louis as technical director, tasked with upgrading player, coach and referee development across the association. Health Policy Training: PAHO and UWI marked the completion of their health policy and health systems postgraduate programme’s third cohort, training 11 professionals from eight Caribbean territories, including St. Lucia. Science in Action (Identification): Police say DNA testing will help confirm the identity of a decomposed body found near St. Lucia’s Millennium Highway, with one person arrested and a post-mortem scheduled.

Climate & Food Security: Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir says climate change is already hitting what Saint Lucian farmers can grow, how reliably they can produce it, and water availability—effects that also reach fisheries and could raise the cost and reduce access to nutritious food. Resilient Infrastructure Support: Saint Lucia can now request specialised help through the newly operational RIISE Facility (funded by Canada, hosted by UNOPS) to speed up climate-resilient projects, including water, transport, energy, coastal protection, health, education, housing, and disaster recovery. Health Policy Training: PAHO and UWI marked the completion of a postgraduate health policy and health systems programme, training 11 professionals across eight Caribbean countries/territories, including Saint Lucia. Digital Skills Boost: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opens Sept. 10 and runs to Sept. 20, offering advanced training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, fintech, and UX/UI. STEM & Learning Abroad: Bonita Bart, Saint Lucia’s sole Chevening Scholar for 2026/27, heads to the UK’s Bartlett School of Architecture for postgraduate study in architectural history. Tech for Consumers: Apple expands iCloud+ in 100+ countries by bundling Apple Arcade, Apple TV, and Apple Music stations (with family sharing), though the US and some major regions are excluded.

Forensics-led Justice: Police have arrested a suspect after a decomposed female body was found near St. Lucia’s Millennium Highway; DNA testing and a post-mortem will confirm whether the remains are those of missing 21-year-old Merrisa Auguste, with the Major Crimes Unit now handling the case. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: St. Lucia is among four Eastern Caribbean countries gaining access to the newly operating RIISE Facility, offering technical help to speed up climate-resilient water, transport, energy, coastal protection, disaster recovery, health, education and housing projects. Digital Skills Push: OECS applications for the Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme (Cohort II) open Sept. 10 and close Sept. 20, with training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and fintech. Health Policy Training: PAHO and UWI marked the graduation of the third cohort of a joint health policy and health systems postgraduate programme, training 11 professionals across eight Caribbean territories, including St. Lucia. Tech in Tourism: OECS-linked regional education and skills efforts continue, while a separate tourism leadership spotlight highlights MindTrip AI being integrated into a destination website for smarter trip planning.

Regional Infrastructure: The Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility has officially started operations, with Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines now able to tap technical support to push climate-resilient projects past delivery bottlenecks. Health Policy Training: PAHO and the University of the West Indies wrapped up a postgraduate programme in health policy and health systems, training 11 professionals across eight Caribbean countries/territories, including St Lucia. Digital Skills: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opens for applications (Cohort II) from Sept. 10–20, offering advanced training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and fintech. Climate Grants (Bahamas): CABRIC is providing up to US$5m for Bahamian locally led coastal resilience projects, with funding categories from small to large grants. Sargassum Solutions (Grenada): A Grenada delegation studied Punta Cana’s sargassum containment and use approaches to build a system suited to local conditions. Local Tech/Wellness: St Lucia’s new longevity-focused spa concept, part of a “longevity village,” highlights wellness tech such as red light and hyperbaric therapies. Local Safety (St Lucia): Police say DNA testing will confirm the identity of a decomposed body found near the Millennium Highway, with one person in custody. Caribbean Tech in Tourism: CMEx will spotlight BVI tourism leader Natasha Chalwell, including her MindTrip AI work on destination planning. Tech in Entertainment (Global): Apple expands iCloud+ with Apple Arcade and Apple TV in 100+ countries, including several Caribbean islands.

Health Leadership: PAHO and the University of the West Indies (UWI) wrapped up the third cohort of their Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate in Health Policy and Health Systems, training 11 professionals from eight Caribbean countries and territories, including Saint Lucia, to tackle workforce shortages, noncommunicable diseases, climate-linked health emergencies and more. Aviation & Security: A report revisits how civil aviation infrastructure is tied to geopolitical power, pointing to the Leipzig/Halle airport drone attempt and what it signals for NATO logistics and aid politics. Digital Skills for OECS: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme (via the World Bank-backed CARDTP and UWI Global Campus) opens Sept. 10 and runs to Sept. 20, targeting advanced training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and fintech. Climate Resilience Funding: The CABRIC programme is pushing grant support for locally led coastal resilience projects in The Bahamas (with focus areas including Cat Island, Long Island and San Salvador), backed by the Green Climate Fund. Local Tech & Food Innovation: A St. Lucia breadfruit agro-processing project uses preservation technology to extend shelf life from seasonal availability to long-term packaged product. Health & Safety Case: Police say DNA testing will confirm whether a decomposed body found near the Millennium Highway is missing woman Merrisa Auguste, with one person in custody.

Tech Diplomacy: Taiwan and Paraguay are pushing an AI-focused technology partnership, including engineering student exchanges, as Asunción presses for deeper investment ties with Taipei. Health & Safety: A Quebec doctor was convicted of assault and counselling a partner to forge a diary entry tied to a patient dispute, while a separate Saint Lucia case is using DNA testing to confirm the identity of a decomposed body found near the Millennium Highway; one suspect is in custody. Water Security: A new look at desalination argues the technology is moving from “emergency” to mainstream water infrastructure as coastal states face worsening drought and groundwater stress. Climate Funding for St. Lucia: The CABRIC programme is opening grant support for locally led coastal resilience projects across the region, with St. Lucia among the five beneficiaries and funding categories ranging from small to large grants. Digital Skills: OECS scholarships for advanced digital training (including AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and data analytics) open Sept. 10 and run to Sept. 20, aiming to boost tech-ready careers across member states including Saint Lucia. Sports Tech Spotlight: World Athletics’ Ultimate Championship in Budapest featured top performances, including St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m final.

Longevity & Wellness Tourism: A new Caribbean spa resort in St. Lucia is pitching itself as a “longevity village,” backed by a clinical team and tech-forward treatments like red light, cryotherapy and hyperbaric therapy, as part of a major £1 billion A’ila Resorts development. Forensic Science & Public Safety: Police say DNA testing will help confirm whether a decomposed body found near St. Lucia’s Millennium Highway is missing woman Merrisa Auguste, with one person in custody and a post-mortem scheduled. Climate Resilience Funding: The CABRIC programme is opening grant applications for locally led coastal climate projects, with about US$25m across five countries (including St. Lucia) and funding categories from small grants up to large awards. Digital Skills Push: OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship applications open Sept. 10 and run to Sept. 20, offering training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and fintech for eligible citizens across member states including St. Lucia. Water Security Debate: A new look at desalination argues the technology is moving from “emergency” to mainstream water infrastructure, while weighing environmental and cost risks for coastal islands. STEM Education Spotlight: LUCELEC’s SPISE scholarship is sending St. Lucian students to a regional STEM residential programme at UWI Cave Hill, building skills and confidence for future study. Sports Science Moment: At the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred is named in the sprint results as the meet spotlights top global performance.

Forensic ID in Missing Person Case: Royal Saint Lucia Police say DNA testing will confirm whether a decomposed body found near the Millennium Highway is that of missing woman Merrisa Auguste; a post-mortem is set for Monday and one suspect remains in custody. Digital Skills Boost: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opens Sept. 10 and runs to Sept. 20, offering training and industry certifications across areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, fintech, and UX/UI via CARDTP and UWI Global Campus. Climate Resilience Funding: The CABRIC programme is making up to US$5m available to Bahamian organisations for locally led coastal resilience projects, supported by the Green Climate Fund, with small, medium and large grant categories. Water Security Question: A new regional look asks whether desalination can solve Caribbean water problems as climate pressures mount and technology costs shift. Health Policy Training: PAHO and UWI celebrated the graduation of the third cohort of a joint health policy and health systems postgraduate programme, building leadership capacity across the Caribbean. Local STEM Pathway: LUCELEC SPISE scholar Anaiah Bousquet says a rigorous UWI Cave Hill STEM residential programme helped her build confidence and aim higher in science and engineering.

Digital Skills: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opens for Cohort II on September 10 and runs to September 20, delivered by UWI Global Campus under the World Bank-backed CARDTP, with training areas spanning AI/ML, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, fintech/blockchain, UX/UI, and more for eligible citizens across OECS states including St. Lucia. Climate Resilience Funding: The CABRIC programme is offering grant funding for locally led climate resilience projects, with about US$25m across The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia (around US$5m per country), and applications open for small (up to US$150k), medium (US$150k–$300k) and large grants (US$300k–$500k) targeting coastal erosion, extreme weather, ecosystem degradation and livelihoods. Water Tech Watch: A new look at desalination argues the technology is moving from “emergency” to mainstream water security as CARICOM countries face intensifying drought and groundwater stress. Regional Health Leadership: PAHO and UWI celebrated the third cohort graduation of a Health Policy and Health Systems postgraduate programme, training professionals from across the Caribbean to strengthen leadership for health workforce and system challenges. Local STEM Spotlight: LUCELEC’s SPISE scholar Anaiah Bousquet says the UWI Cave Hill residential STEM experience helped build confidence and push her toward bigger university plans. Sports & Science Culture: World Athletics’ Ultimate Championship in Budapest featured St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m, while Imran Tahir set a new T20 five-wicket record at 47 in CPL 2026.

Sports & Science of Performance: Audrey Werro edged Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson to win the women’s 800m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden took the women’s 100m in 10.62—the fastest time of the season. Water Security Tech: A new look at desalination argues the once “luxury” option is crossing into mainstream water planning as CARICOM countries face drought pressure, with the technology now framed as less energy-heavy than before. Climate Grants for St. Lucia: The OECS/CARICOM-linked CABRIC programme is opening grant funding for locally led climate resilience projects, with St. Lucia among five participating countries and up to about US$5m allocated nationally across small, medium and large categories. Digital Skills Push: OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarships (CARDTP, delivered by UWI Global Campus) open Sept 10 and run to Sept 20, targeting advanced training in areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and fintech. Local STEM Spotlight: LUCELEC’s SPISE scholar Anaiah Bousquet says the UWI Cave Hill residential STEM programme helped her build confidence and aim higher in science and engineering. Health Systems Training: PAHO and UWI celebrated the third cohort graduation of a regional health policy and health systems postgraduate programme, focused on strengthening Caribbean health leadership.