AGP Executive Report

Cybersecurity for CHOGM 2026: Antigua and Barbuda signed a UK MoU to boost national cyber readiness, strengthening its Cyber Incident Response Team and support for banks, telecoms, utilities and other digital services. Public Safety Tech Upgrade: The American University of Antigua donated laptops and desktop computers to the Royal Police Force to support mobile operations and real-time digital records during CHOGM (Nov 1–4). Power Reliability: A widespread Monday night outage hit parts of Antigua; APUA restored electricity by early Tuesday after faults were isolated on the 69-kV transmission network, while residents questioned surge risk and network reliability. National Cyber Team Plan: Government is developing a national Computer Incident Response Team to coordinate defence against cyberattacks, including potential risks to utility systems like SCADA. Higher Education Expansion: UWI Five Islands and the Education Ministry discussed campus growth to expand access to learning and research, reinforcing the campus as a regional higher-education hub. STEM Talent Pipeline: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE 2026, heading to Barbados for a residential STEM programme. Digital Youth Policy Watch: Cabinet is reviewing results from other countries before deciding whether to restrict social media access for under-16s, noting enforcement challenges. Regional Travel Economics: Dr Dennis McCall argues intraregional travel is declining due to high costs, aviation taxation and weak connectivity—calling for a structural shift. CBI Transition Pressure: Nevis Premier Mark Brantley wants a five-year transition away from Citizenship by Investment, saying the EU’s proposed two-year timeline is too short for economic restructuring. Science & Health: PAHO says HIV elimination tools exist, but gaps in access and coverage remain; meanwhile local experts linked soil health and microbiomes to human health. Environment & Research: I.CARE marked five years of large-scale coral reef sponge restoration in Florida, reporting transplant survival rates above 70% at one year. Tech Help (Streaming): A guide circulated on fixing Stremio VPN connectivity issues, starting with updating the app and checking firewall settings.

Cybersecurity for CHOGM 2026: Antigua and Barbuda signed a UK MoU to boost national cyber resilience, strengthen the Cyber Incident Response Team, and improve prevention, detection, and response ahead of the Nov. 1–4 summit. Police Tech Upgrade: The American University of Antigua donated laptops and desktop computers to the Royal Police Force to support real-time digital records and field operations during CHOGM. National Cyber Team Plan: Government is developing a national Computer Incident Response Team to coordinate defence against cyberattacks on banks, telecoms, utilities, and other digital services, including grid systems. Power Restored After Outage: A widespread transmission fault left parts of Antigua dark, with APUA restoring electricity by early Tuesday after crews isolated two faults. Higher Education Expansion: UWI Five Islands and the Education Ministry discussed campus growth to expand access to teaching and research. STEM Talent Pipeline: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE, a regional innovation-in-science and engineering programme. Soil-to-Health Research: A medicine workshop linked Antigua’s soil microbiomes to chronic disease risk, highlighting microbiology and farming practices. Regional Travel Economics: Dr Dennis McCall says intraregional travel is declining due to high costs, aviation taxes, and weak connectivity—undermining the ECCB’s “Big Push.” CBI Transition Push: Nevis Premier Mark Brantley urged Eastern Caribbean governments to negotiate a five-year runway to replace Citizenship by Investment revenue after an EU push to end programmes by June 1, 2028. Sports Infrastructure: CWI invited proposals for a High Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground, targeting sports science, conditioning, rehab, and year-round training.

Cybersecurity for CHOGM: Antigua and Barbuda signed a UK MoU to boost national cyber resilience, strengthening the Cyber Incident Response Team and support for banks, telecoms, utilities and other digital services ahead of CHOGM 2026. Police tech upgrade: The American University of Antigua donated laptops and desktop computers to the Royal Police Force to improve real-time digital records and mobile operations during the Nov. 1–4 summit. Power reliability under pressure: A widespread outage hit Antigua Monday night; APUA restored electricity by 3:53 a.m. after isolating faults on the 69-kilovolt network, but residents questioned network reliability and surge risks. Regional travel rethink: Nevis Premier Mark Brantley urged Eastern Caribbean states to negotiate a five-year transition away from Citizenship by Investment after the EU reportedly set a June 1, 2028 end date. Higher education expansion: UWI Five Islands and the Education Ministry discussed campus growth to expand access to teaching and research, while UWI and the University of Toronto plan to make a summer programme annual. STEM talent pipeline: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE 2026, and secondary schools can enter a CARICOM youth agriculture video competition. Tech + environment education: A soil microbiomes workshop linked farming practices to chronic disease, highlighting science-led approaches to local health. Sports infrastructure bid: CWI invited proposals for the CWI High Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground, aiming to add sports science, rehab and year-round training facilities. Community culture exchange: The Antigua and Barbuda–Jersey Art Exchange ended with an official mural unveiling at Elizabeth Marina, with a second mural planned for later this year ahead of CHOGM.

CHOGM Security Upgrade: The American University of Antigua donated laptops and desktop computers to the Royal Police Force to support real-time digital records and mobile operations during CHOGM 2026 (Nov 1–4). Cybersecurity Push: Antigua and Barbuda signed a UK MoU to boost national cyber resilience, strengthening its Cyber Incident Response Team ahead of CHOGM and beyond. Power Restored After Outage: APUA restored electricity to affected communities by 3:53 a.m. after faults were isolated on the 69-kV transmission network, following public frustration and appliance-surge worries. Higher Ed Growth: UWI Five Islands and the Education Ministry reviewed progress on campus expansion to expand teaching, learning, and research access. Sports Tech & Training: CWI launched an RFP for a High Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground, aiming to add sports science, conditioning, rehab, and year-round training facilities. STEM Talent: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE 2026, heading to Barbados for advanced science and engineering training. Soil-to-Health Research: Experts linked Antigua’s soil microbiomes to human health, highlighting how farming practices can affect chronic disease risk. Under-16 Social Media Watch: Government said it’s still assessing results from other countries before deciding whether to restrict social media access for children under 16.

Cybersecurity Build-Out: Antigua and Barbuda is developing a national Computer Incident Response Team to coordinate defence against cyberattacks on banks, telecoms, and utilities, with special attention on grid systems like SCADA. Higher Education Expansion: UWI Five Islands and the Education Ministry met to push forward the campus expansion, aiming to boost student access and strengthen teaching, learning, and research. Sports Tech & Training: Cricket West Indies is inviting proposals for the CWI High Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground, targeting sports science, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, and year-round elite preparation. Regional AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda signed on to the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), backing a people-centered, UN-aligned approach and citing UNESCO AI readiness work. STEM Talent Pipeline: Two Antiguan students were selected for the 2026 SPISE programme, heading to Barbados for advanced science and engineering training. Health & Research: PAHO says HIV elimination tools exist, but access gaps remain, while SLBMC doctors represent Antigua and Barbuda at the Caribbean Cardiology Conference. Infrastructure Update: Work is set to begin on the two-mile Barbuda airport-to-River Dock road, expected to finish within eight weeks. Local Opportunities: CWI High Performance Centre RFP is open, and UWI Five Islands posted roles including Project Technician and Functional Analyst.

AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda has signed on to a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) agreement, backing a people-centered, UN-aligned approach and citing work via UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment and UWI partnerships. Cybersecurity: The government is building a national Computer Incident Response Team to coordinate defenses against cyberattacks targeting banks, telecoms, and utilities, including grid systems. Local Infrastructure Tech: Barbuda’s airport-to-River Dock road (two miles) is set to start soon, with completion targeted within eight weeks and an independent monitor for standards and accountability. Health & Research: SLBMC doctors are representing Antigua and Barbuda at a regional cardiology conference, while a soil-to-health workshop highlighted how soil microbiomes can shape human disease risk. STEM Pipeline: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE 2026, and UWI Five Islands and the University of Toronto are moving a summer programme toward becoming annual. Education & Agriculture: Cades Bay Agricultural Station interns are getting hands-on experience, and St Joseph’s Academy used Junior Chef prize funds to buy commercial convection ovens for practical training. Digital Safety Watch: Cabinet is reviewing results from other countries before deciding whether to restrict social media access for under-16s.

Cybersecurity Build-Out: Antigua and Barbuda is developing a national Computer Incident Response Team to coordinate defenses against cyberattacks on banks, telecoms, and utilities, with special attention on critical systems like SCADA for the electricity grid. AI Governance: The country backed a new global AI governance push by signing on to the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), with a people-centered approach and links to UNESCO’s AI readiness work. Soil-to-Health Research: Experts at a local workshop tied Antigua and Barbuda’s soil microbiomes to human health, highlighting how farming practices can influence chronic disease risk. Local Tech & Education: UWI Five Islands and the University of Toronto are moving to make their summer study programme annual, with students studying crime, law, and power across the region. Health & Training: Two doctors from SLBMC are representing Antigua and Barbuda at a regional cardiology conference to strengthen cardiovascular care. Community & Infrastructure: Work on the Barbuda airport-to-River Dock road is set to start soon, with completion targeted within eight weeks.

Cybersecurity Build-Out: Antigua and Barbuda is developing a national Computer Incident Response Team to coordinate defence against cyberattacks targeting banks, telecoms and utilities, with plans to extend coverage to critical systems like SCADA-based electricity control. AI Governance: The country backed a new global AI governance push by signing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization agreement in Shanghai, with a people-centered, UN-aligned approach. Education & Research Links: UWI Five Islands and the University of Toronto are making their summer study programme an annual initiative, expanding student and faculty exchanges after a successful first run. Healthcare Skills: Two doctors from Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre are representing Antigua and Barbuda at the Caribbean Cardiology Conference to share advances in cardiovascular care. STEM Talent: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE 2026, heading to Barbados for an intensive science and engineering programme. Youth Digital Policy Watch: Government says it’s still assessing results from other places before deciding whether to restrict social media access for children under 16. Local Infrastructure: Work is set to begin on Barbuda’s airport-to-River Dock road, expected to finish within eight weeks. Retirement Spotlight: Investopedia ranked Antigua and Barbuda among top Caribbean retirement picks for Americans, citing healthcare strength, residency/citizenship pathways and tax advantages. Jobs: UWI Five Islands posted vacancies including Project Technician and Functional Analyst.

AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda has signed on to a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) agreement, backing a people-centered, UN-aligned approach and citing work like UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment and UWI collaboration. Digital Policy: The government says it hasn’t decided whether to restrict social media for children under 16 yet, preferring to review results from other countries first—while noting enforcement will be hard given kids’ tech skills. Health Tech & Training: Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre staff are representing Antigua and Barbuda at the Caribbean Cardiology Conference, while the AIDS Secretariat runs a five-day workplace professional development workshop on HIV, mental health, stigma, and confidentiality. STEM Pipeline: Two Antiguan students were selected for SPISE 2026, and schools are invited to enter a CARICOM agriculture video competition (deadline Sept. 4). Local Infrastructure: Work on Barbuda’s airport-to-River Dock road is set to start soon, with completion targeted within eight weeks. Science in the Spotlight: Police are investigating viral claims about alleged human remains off Parham, with divers’ identities and the exact location still being verified. Regional Tech & Data: CARICOM tax leaders meet in Guyana to push “smart, data-driven and AI-enabled” revenue systems.

AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda has signed on to a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) agreement, backing a people-centered, UN-aligned approach and citing work via UNESCO’s AI readiness assessment and UWI collaboration. Health & Research: Two SLBMC doctors are representing Antigua and Barbuda at the 39th Annual Caribbean Cardiology Conference, while the AIDS Secretariat runs a five-day workplace HIV and AIDS professional development workshop to tackle stigma and improve support. Agriculture & Youth STEM: Ministry of Agriculture interns gained hands-on experience at the Cades Bay Agricultural Station, and two Antiguan students were selected for the 2026 SPISE innovation programme. Digital Policy Watch: Government says it’s still assessing results from other countries before deciding whether to restrict under-16 social media access, noting enforcement challenges. Infrastructure: Work on Barbuda’s airport-to-River Dock road is set to start soon, with an eight-week completion target. Public Safety Probe: Police are verifying claims about alleged human remains found off Parham, including whether Canadian divers were involved.

AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda has signed on to a new global AI governance agreement, backing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) as a UN-aligned, people-centered framework, with local groundwork tied to UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment and UWI collaboration. Regional Tax Tech: CARICOM tax leaders are set to meet in Guyana for COTA’s 27th General Assembly on “Smart, Data-Driven and AI-Enabled” tax administration, with sessions focused on analytics, AI, compliance, and taxpayer services. Digital Skills for TVET: CARICOM’s Digitalisation of TVET Delivery project is rolling out tailored online learning units and training for instructors across member states to speed up regional digital transformation. Youth & Tech Policy: Antigua and Barbuda is still assessing whether to restrict social media access for under-16s, weighing results from other countries and the practical challenge of enforcement. Infrastructure (Barbuda): Work on the two-mile airport-to-River Dock road in Barbuda is expected to start soon and finish within eight weeks, with an independent monitor appointed. Public Safety (Parham): Police are verifying claims about alleged underwater human remains off Parham, including checking with the Canadian consulate about any deep-sea diving teams. Education & Tech Jobs: UWI Five Islands is advertising a Functional Analyst post focused on records management systems, SQL reporting, and enterprise support. Health Systems: St. Vincent and the Grenadines is advancing Integrated Health Surveillance Guidelines with PAHO support, aiming for a living online policy tool for faster public health decisions. Housing & Engineering Imports: Minister Rawdon Turner leads a 16-city China mission to identify construction and housing technologies, equipment, and partnerships for faster, cost-effective delivery.

Digital Safety Watch: Antigua and Barbuda says it hasn’t decided whether to restrict social media for kids under 16, pointing to CARICOM talks and asking what results other countries are seeing—while noting enforcement could be hard because young users can often bypass controls. AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda backed a new global AI governance push by signing on to the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), with officials citing UNESCO readiness work and a people-centered, open-source approach. Barbuda Infrastructure: Work on the two-mile airport-to-River Dock road is set to start soon, with completion targeted within eight weeks and an independent monitor added for oversight. Public Health Tech: CARICOM tax administrators are meeting in Guyana (27–31 July) to discuss smart, data-driven, AI-enabled tax administration. Community Learning: St. Joseph’s Academy used EC$12,500 from the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef prize to buy two commercial convection ovens for its Food and Nutrition program. Ongoing Investigation: Police are verifying claims about alleged human remains found off Parham, including checking whether Canadian divers were in the area.

AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda backed the new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), with Crown Counsel Andrea Jacobs calling for a people-centered, UN-aligned, multilateral approach and noting local groundwork via UNESCO’s AI Readiness work and UWI collaboration. Public Safety Investigation: Police are still verifying claims about alleged human remains found off Parham, after searches couldn’t locate the reported site; investigators are contacting the Canadian Consulate to identify the divers and will move to underwater searches once credible location details are confirmed. Infrastructure (Barbuda): Work on the two-mile airport-to-River Dock road is set to start soon and is expected to finish within eight weeks, with an independent monitor appointed to oversee standards and accountability. Regional Tech & Skills: CARICOM is rolling out online learning for TVET delivery, building a practical, region-owned digital pathway for instructors and learners. Education & Training: St. Joseph’s Academy used EC$12,500 from its Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef wins to buy two commercial convection ovens, upgrading its Food and Nutrition training. Health Workplace Capacity: Antigua and Barbuda’s AIDS Secretariat is running a five-day professional development workshop to strengthen workplace responses on HIV, mental health, stigma, and confidentiality.

Human Remains Probe: Police are verifying the identities of Canadian divers after social media claims of underwater human remains off Parham, with searches done but no confirmed location yet. Road Build in Barbuda: Work is set to start soon on the two-mile airport-to-River Dock road, expected to finish within eight weeks, with an independent monitor appointed. AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda has backed a new global AI governance framework via the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), stressing people-centered, UN-aligned, multilateral rules. Education & Tech Skills: St. Joseph’s Academy used EC$12,500 in Junior Chef prize money to buy two commercial convection ovens, upgrading practical food and nutrition training. Regional Tax Tech: CARICOM tax administrators will meet in Guyana (27–31 July) to push “smart, data-driven and AI-enabled” tax administration. Health Workforce Training: Antigua and Barbuda AIDS Secretariat runs a professional development workshop to strengthen workplace responses to HIV, mental health, stigma, and related issues.

AI Governance: Antigua and Barbuda has signed on to a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) framework, with National AI Focal Point Andrea Jacobs backing a UN-aligned, people-centered approach and pointing to UNESCO AI readiness work and UWI collaboration. Housing & Infrastructure Tech: Minister Rawdon Turner leads a 16-city China mission to scout construction systems and equipment to build quality homes faster and cheaper, plus upgrades for offices, sewerage, wastewater, urban renewal, and municipal infrastructure. Healthcare Research & Training: Antigua and Barbuda signed seven healthcare agreements with Hangzhou Normal University to modernise services, expand medical education and workforce development, and launch a public health research programme using multi-stream data. Local Public Safety (Underwater Claims): Police and the ABDF Coast Guard are investigating social media claims of human remains found off Antigua’s northeast coast near Parham Dock; searches reportedly found no exact site yet. Education & Food Skills: St. Joseph’s Academy used EC$12,500 in Junior Chef prize money to buy two commercial convection ovens for its Home Economics department. Regional Tech Skills: CARICOM wrapped up a Digitalisation of TVET Delivery push, building online learning units and training instructors to support digital transformation across member states.

AI in Healthcare: Alibaba’s DAMO Academy is pushing early cancer screening beyond the lab with DAMOMED, using routine non-contrast CT scans plus deep-learning to widen access. Local Tech & Education: St. Joseph’s Academy is investing EC$12,500 from its Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef wins into two commercial convection ovens to upgrade practical home economics training. Housing & Infrastructure Tech: Minister Rawdon Turner leads a 16-city China mission to source construction systems, materials, and equipment to build quality homes faster and improve sewerage, urban renewal, and municipal infrastructure. Health Research Partnerships: Antigua and Barbuda signs seven healthcare agreements with Hangzhou Normal University to modernise services, expand medical education, and support workforce development and research using multi-stream data. Public Safety Tech: The expanded CCTV network is on track for end-of-August completion, adding high-definition cameras at 42 locations to strengthen monitoring and investigations. Education Integrity: CXC overhauls School-Based Assessments for 2027, aiming to protect exam integrity as generative AI use grows. Local Investigation: Police are investigating viral claims of human remains found off Antigua’s northeast coast; searches have not yet located the alleged site. Heritage Milestone: The Antigua Naval Dockyard marks 10 years since UNESCO World Heritage inscription, with the National Parks Authority highlighting conservation and the site’s engineering legacy. Regional Skills: CARICOM develops online courses for technical and vocational students, focusing on practical, region-owned digital delivery.