AGP Executive Report

Barbados Offshore Energy: Barbados has kicked off direct negotiations for offshore oil and natural gas, offering 19 ultra-deepwater blocks and requiring stronger climate and environmental standards from bidders, with officials citing seismic survey results that suggest potential reserves of 13+ billion barrels of oil and 40+ trillion cubic feet of gas. Regional Development Finance: Caribbean Development Bank President Daniel Best used the CDB’s board meeting to push a “stronger, greener, more resilient” region, pointing to climate volatility, technological disruption, and shrinking development finance as the big pressures. Digital Payments: The Central Bank of Barbados is rolling out BiMPay as the payment “rail” to connect banks and payment providers for faster, safer, more accessible digital transactions, with a public launch set for June 12. Health Tech & Care: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is advancing a major digital overhaul and capital works, including a new linear accelerator that has already delivered 1,500 cancer treatments. Food Safety & Labs: A regional meeting in Barbados focused on strengthening laboratory testing and food safety systems across CARIFORUM, including standardised methods and better quality assurance. Skills Digitisation: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level Two TVET courses for the CARICOM TVET digitalisation pilot, moving delivery onto its Moodle platform. Education Integrity: Ghana’s GTEC warned the public about 70 unrecognised tertiary institutions and urged verification before enrolling or accepting certificates. Energy Transition Debate: BCEN is urging Barbados to look past short-term electricity stabilisation and focus on real grid and energy transformation.

Energy & Resources: Barbados has begun direct offshore exploration talks after seismic surveys suggested potential for 13+ billion barrels of oil and 40+ trillion cubic feet of natural gas, aiming to strengthen energy security while the country continues its renewables shift. Food Systems: CARICOM’s private-sector push for regional food security is calling for clearer investment cases—targeted value chains, processing plans, logistics and tech support—so investors can move faster. Disaster Readiness: Barbados is expanding disaster planning participation, urging more youth and disability inclusion and improving shelter communication systems ahead of emergencies. TVET Digital Skills: HEART/NSTA Trust has digitised three Level Two courses for a CARICOM TVET pilot, delivering them via the Moodle platform across participating institutions. Consumer Energy Policy: BCEN says Barbados should look past short-term power reliability fixes and focus on real energy transformation, including grid modernisation. Healthcare Tech: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is rolling out a major digital overhaul and capital works, including progress on cancer care tech. Payments Infrastructure: The Central Bank of Barbados is promoting BiMPay as the underlying payment rail to make digital payments faster, safer and more accessible. Education & Health Safety: Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School concerns were addressed after lab results showed only one scarlet fever case, with no closure needed. Qualifications Warning: Ghana’s GTEC flagged 70 unrecognised tertiary institutions, warning the public to verify accreditation before enrolling or accepting certificates.

Digital Payments in Barbados: Central Bank Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge says BiMPay will modernise Barbados’ payment “rail,” connecting banks and credit unions through a single interoperable platform to make digital payments faster, easier, safer and more accessible, with a public launch set for June 12. Health Tech & Hospital Upgrades: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is rolling out a major digital overhaul and capital works, including a new linear accelerator already delivering 1,500 cancer treatments and cutting waiting times for outpatient consultations. Public Health at School Level: Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School won’t close after scarlet fever concerns; lab testing found one Group A Strep case among 13 investigated, and officials say standard hygiene and mosquito-prevention measures remain key. Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake rattled the Southern Caribbean, with tremors felt in Barbados; the Met Office reports no tsunami threat and authorities continue monitoring. Caribbean Climate Risk: CIMH’s lead climatologist warns that even with fewer storms forecast, drought, delayed rains, extreme heat and sudden flooding could still threaten Barbados and the region. Regional Medicines Access: PAHO and OECS-PPS advance joint work to improve access to essential medicines and health technologies across Eastern Caribbean small island states. Tourism Tech & Connectivity: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 opens with leaders pushing resilience, connectivity and unified marketing, including a keynote on airline trends shaping Caribbean airlift. Education & Credentials Watch: Barbados-linked discussions echo wider regional warnings about unrecognised tertiary institutions and the need for due diligence on qualifications. Biometrics & Elections Reform (Regional): An OAS mission recommends modernising elections across the Bahamas with an independent electoral body, electronic results transmission, biometric voter ID and stronger cybersecurity.

Payments Modernisation: Central Bank of Barbados Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge says BiMPay will act as the interoperable “payment rail” behind e-wallets, aiming for faster, safer, more accessible digital payments for banked and unbanked users, with a public launch set for June 12. Healthcare Digital Upgrade: Queen Elizabeth Hospital is rolling out a digital overhaul and major capital works, including a new linear accelerator already delivering 1,500 cancer treatments and cutting early consultation waiting times. Public Health at Hillaby Turner’s Hall: Health officials report 13 suspected scarlet fever cases; lab testing found only one active Group A Streptococcus case, and the school is not being closed. Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake (about 99 km south of Bridgetown) shook Barbados for roughly 12–15 seconds; no tsunami threat is expected. Labour & Skills Transparency: Opposition Senator Ryan Walters urges Government to publish Barbados’s labour and skills deficit areas to guide decisions on imported labour. Regional Tech & Finance: Butterfield agrees to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.79b deal, while Abaxx closes a US$69m bought deal to fund its Singapore exchange and digital infrastructure. Climate Watch: CIMH’s Dr Cedric Van Meerbeeck warns that even with fewer storms forecast, drought, delayed rains, extreme heat and flash flooding risks remain.

Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 6.0 quake struck just south of Bridgetown (about 5:27 p.m., depth ~53 km), with tremors felt across Barbados and nearby islands; Barbados’ Met Office reported no tsunami threat. Regional Tech & Policy: Barbados’ Possibility Summit pushed a “world-class innovation in Barbados” message, urging SIDS to strengthen institutions and break out of the debt-climate trap with better climate finance and resilience planning. Education & Credentials: Ghana’s tertiary regulator (GTEC) warned the public about 70 unrecognised institutions, including some operating in Ghana and abroad, urging due diligence before accepting certificates. Health in Schools: Barbados’ Ministry of Health said Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School won’t close after scarlet fever was detected, noting antibiotics reduce infectiousness quickly and recommending standard hygiene and mosquito prevention. Finance & Infrastructure: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, aiming to build a larger regional banking group. Tourism Tech & Connectivity: Caribbean Week in New York opens with a focus on resilience and airlift strategy, with aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt set to keynote on airline trends and Caribbean connectivity. Climate & Environment: World Environment Day (June 5) spotlights “Inspired by Nature,” with Barbados-linked efforts including science and tech approaches to marine waste cleanup. Digital Commissioning: Valkit.ai launched Valkit Greenfield, a paperless, AI-augmented commissioning and qualification platform for new site start-ups. Markets: Abaxx reported record May trading volume, including record LNG futures activity.

Education & Credentials Watch: Ghana’s tertiary regulator GTEC has warned the public about 70 unrecognised institutions, urging due diligence on certificates—an issue that also flags how cross-border qualification claims can mislead students and employers. Health in Schools: Barbados’ Ministry of Health says Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary won’t close after a scarlet fever case, noting antibiotics reduce infectiousness quickly and recommending standard hygiene and mosquito-bite prevention. Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake rattled the Southern Caribbean, with tremors felt in Barbados; officials report no tsunami threat and continue monitoring. Climate & Water Stress: Caribbean islands are facing harsher 2026 conditions, with drought and extreme heat linked to El Niño patterns threatening water supplies, farming, and tourism infrastructure. Regional Policy & Resilience: A CPDC-backed brief argues the Caribbean is stuck in a debt-climate trap and calls for a regional debt-climate negotiation platform and vulnerability-based climate finance. Tech for Industry: Valkit.ai launched Valkit Greenfield, aiming to make commissioning and qualification for new sites more paperless and AI-assisted. Finance & Infrastructure: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, setting up a larger regional banking group. Tourism Branding: Rum tourism is shifting from “add-on” to a structured premium growth engine, blending heritage, hospitality, education, and retail. Caribbean Week in New York: CTO events bring regional tourism leaders together, with airline connectivity and destination marketing front and centre. Medical Training: AUB med students have begun clinical rotations at Barbados’ QEH after a 13-year wait, expanding local training capacity. Agriculture Support: Barbados dairy farmers are pushing for updates to rebate systems as genetics and collaboration challenges persist. Environment Day: World Environment Day (June 5) spotlights nature-based climate resilience, with regional cleanup and tech-enabled solutions highlighted.

Caribbean Tourism in Focus: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 kicks off today with a strong turnout of tourism ministers and commissioners, aiming to strengthen the region’s economic resilience and air connectivity under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” Aviation & Marketing: Henry Harteveldt will keynote the Caribbean Marketing Conference on June 3, zeroing in on airline trends and what they mean for Caribbean route planning and destination marketing. Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Southern Caribbean, with tremors felt in Barbados and neighbouring islands; Barbados’ Met Office says there’s no tsunami threat. Barbados Heritage: Sir Paul Altman, Celia Toppin and Ronnie Carrington are among five Barbadians honoured with the Fielding Babb Heritage Recognition Award as Heritage Month begins. Ocean Protection: Pacific voyaging and ocean leaders gathered at Rapa Nui to share wayfinding knowledge and push high-seas marine conservation, with Barbados among participants. Regional Tech & Finance: Butterfield has agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, with plans to expand digital and cross-border banking capabilities and keep CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados HQ. Biometrics in Security: MotionAnalytics says its motion-based identification can work even when faces are obscured, pointing to border and anti-trafficking uses. Health Training: AUB medical students finally begin clinical rotations at QEH after a 13-year wait, boosting regional training capacity.

Ocean & Marine Protection: Rapa Nui hosted a Pacific leaders’ gathering focused on voyaging knowledge and high-seas ocean conservation, with participation from communities including Barbados and Belize. Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 6.0 quake hit the eastern/southern Caribbean near Bridgetown (depth 53 km), with tremors felt across multiple islands; Barbados officials reported no tsunami threat. Climate & Water Security: Caribbean islands are facing drought stress alongside a strong El Niño pattern, with regional forums pushing better forecasting, monitoring, and early warning for storms and hazards. Innovation Policy: Barbados PM Mia Mottley urged SIDS to drop “small-island limits” and build stronger institutions to handle tech and climate shocks, positioning the island as an innovation testbed. Health Training: After a 13-year wait, AUB medical students began clinical rotations at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, expanding training capacity. Biometric Tech: MotionAnalytics says it can identify people from movement patterns even when faces are unavailable, aiming at security and surveillance use cases. Finance & Tech in Banking: Butterfield agreed to buy CIBC’s controlling stake in CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.8b deal, with plans to expand regional banking and digital capabilities. Agriculture Systems: BADMC launched an agricultural statistics platform as farmers tackle praedial larceny and supply-chain pressures.

Transatlantic Slavery Research Funding: Jamaica is set to receive £450,000 (about J$91m) from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation to expand the PASSAGE International Research Mobility Programme, boosting Caribbean and West Africa-led archival work and scholar exchanges. Public Safety Law: Barbados’ Criminal Gangs (Prevention and Control) Bill heads into Parliament with Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams stressing gangs exist locally and warning of 10–25 year sentences for involvement or harbouring. Banking Tech & Regional Finance: Butterfield has agreed to buy CIBC’s 91.7% stake in CIBC Caribbean for about US$1.79b, creating a regional banking and wealth platform with roughly US$29b in assets and plans to keep CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados headquarters. Biometrics Beyond Faces: MotionAnalytics says its motion-based ID can identify people from movement even when faces are obscured, targeting uses like border security and surveillance. Health Training: After a 13-year wait, AUB med students have started clinical rotations at Barbados’ QEH, with the first group beginning patient work under supervision. Climate & Early Warning: The Caribbean Climate Outlook forum wrapped with plans to strengthen meteorological and climate services and improve early warning communication across the region.

Banking & Digital Finance: Butterfield has signed a definitive deal to buy CIBC’s 91.7% stake in CIBC Caribbean Bank for about US$1.794bn, creating a roughly US$29bn banking and wealth-management platform and keeping CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados HQ. Housing Delivery: Bermuda’s Affordable Housing Programme is set to deliver 229 units in about 18 months, with precast construction and a BLMC–BHC delivery framework. Biometrics & Identity Tech: MotionAnalytics says its motion-based ID can identify people from a few seconds of movement, even when faces are unavailable, while Ghana moves toward mandatory biometric verification for more transactions and expands child enrollment for its Ghana Card system. Agriculture & Food Security: Barbados is pushing back on praedial larceny with patrols and farm tracking, and dairy farmers are calling for a rebate system overhaul as genetics and stakeholder coordination remain concerns. Health & Training: AUB med students finally begin QEH clinical rotations after a 13-year wait, starting patient-facing training blocks. Climate & Early Warning: CIMH-led regional talks aim to strengthen meteorological and climate services and improve early warning for the 2026 wet and hurricane season. Public Safety & Protests: Trinidad and Tobago saw heavy police presence at “silent” protests tied to the Kaia Sealy case, with access restrictions around the forensic science centre.

Affordable Housing Delivery: Bermuda’s housing push moves fast, with Minister Zane DeSilva saying 229 residential units will be built in about 18 months under the Affordable Housing Programme, using precast construction and coordinated delivery via BLMC and BHC. Clinical Training Boost: After a 13-year wait, 208 AUB medical students begin clinical rotations at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the Psychiatric Hospital, strengthening Barbados’ role as a regional training hub. Agriculture Security & Incentives: BADMC’s new Agricultural Statistics Platform launches alongside renewed focus on praedial larceny and dairy rebate uptake, as farmers call for a modernised rebate system and better support for genetics and collaboration. Biometrics Beyond Face/Touch: MotionAnalytics is taking identity tech into movement, using biomechanical signatures from just a few seconds of video—raising big questions for border security and surveillance use. Digital Identity at the Border: Guyana and Barbados plan passport-free travel from July 1 using national e-ID cards and facial recognition, with eGates processing and biometric verification. Regional Climate Readiness: CIMH and partners wrap up Caribbean climate coordination efforts, including plans to upgrade skills and improve early warning services ahead of the wet/hurricane season. Banking Tech & Scale: Butterfield’s $1.794B deal to acquire CIBC Caribbean (91.7%) aims to expand cross-border payments and digital banking across the region, with Barbados set to remain a regional headquarters. Tourism Innovation: The CTO’s Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase finals are set for June 4 in New York, spotlighting investment-ready, sustainable tourism proposals from across the Caribbean.

Digital Borders: Guyana and Barbados will let eligible citizens travel passport-free from July 1, 2026 using national e-ID cards and facial verification, with airlines given time to update systems. Regional Health Tech: Guyana completed a landmark long-distance robotic cardiac telesurgery, using the SSI Mantra 3 system to link a patient in India with surgeons operating from Guyana, and says it will build a regional robotics training hub. Tourism Innovation: Students from the British Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia and Turks and Caicos advanced to the finals of the CTO’s 2026 Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase in New York, pitching investment-ready, sustainable tourism proposals. Energy & Resilience: Barbados PM Mia Mottley warned of a looming insurance crisis that could choke Caribbean economies within a decade, urging risk-pooling reforms. Power Grid Automation: Barbados Light & Power says distribution automation is already serving over half of customers, aiming for 81% within three years to reduce outage impacts. Fintech/Banking Deal: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean’s 91.7% stake in a US$1.8B transaction, promising expanded digital banking and cross-border payments. Agrifood Innovation: The Global AgriInno Challenge 2026 is open for SIDS-focused agrifood solutions, with Barbados among eligible countries.

Digital Borders: Guyana and Barbados will let citizens travel passport-free from July 1, 2026 using national e-ID cards and facial recognition at automated eGates, with airlines updating systems in the run-up. Health Tech & Regional Capacity: CARPHA is strengthening vector-borne disease surveillance across the Caribbean with technology and harmonized early-warning indicators, building on prior workshops in Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. Energy & Resilience: Barbados Light & Power is expanding distribution automation to cut outages via a “self-healing grid,” targeting 81% of customers within three years. Climate Risk: Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned of a looming insurance crisis within a decade, urging reforms and regional risk pooling as climate shocks tighten credit. Banking Tech: Butterfield has agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean Bank’s 91.7% stake in a US$1.8b deal, promising more cross-border payments and continued investment in digital banking infrastructure. STEM in Action: PATHS (New York) donated music instruments to Barbados schools at the Oceana Innovation Hub, boosting arts education through international exchange. Tech & Identity: ID Tech Digest highlights biometric and authentication progress, including NIST FRIFTE fingerprint testing results and YubiKey FIPS 140-3 validation. Regional Innovation: The Global AgriInno Challenge 2026 is open for SIDS-focused agrifood solutions, with Barbados among eligible teams.

Digital Borders: Guyana and Barbados will let citizens travel passport-free from July 1, 2026 using national e-ID cards plus facial recognition at automated eGates, with airlines given time to update systems. Robotics in Healthcare: Guyana completed a landmark long-distance robotic cardiac tele-surgery linking Georgetown and India (about 20,000 km) using the SSI Mantra 3 system, with plans to build a regional training hub. Grid Resilience Tech: Barbados Light & Power says over half of customers will be on distribution automation by mid-2026, aiming for 81% within three years, using a “self-healing grid” to cut large-scale outages. Regional Health Tech: CARPHA is expanding vector-borne disease surveillance across the Caribbean with technology and harmonised early-warning indicators, following workshops in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. Caribbean Climate Planning: CIMH and partners will host the 2026 Wet and Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) in Nassau May 27–28, focusing on forecasts and how climate data supports disaster, water, food, tourism and public health decisions. Innovation for SIDS Food Systems: The Global AgriInno Challenge 2026 is open for agrifood innovators targeting Small Island Developing States, with reserved finalist spots for Barbados and other SIDS.

Digital Borders: Guyana and Barbados will let eligible citizens travel passport-free from July 1, 2026 using national e-ID cards plus facial recognition at upgraded eGates, with airlines given a transition period to update check-in and boarding systems. Remote Surgery: Guyana completed a landmark robotic cardiac tele-surgery, with an international surgeon operating remotely from India on a patient in Guyana (and a separate local robotic hernia repair), positioning the country as a regional training hub for advanced medical tech. Health Tech & Surveillance: CARPHA is expanding Caribbean vector-borne disease surveillance, standardising regional datasets and early-warning indicators while integrating new monitoring tools after workshops in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Regional Health Access: PAHO/WHO and OECS-PPS are convening a workshop in Saint Lucia to improve access to safe medicines and health technologies, including pooled procurement and stronger supply-chain planning. Local Business Resilience: A new Barbados MSME survey warns the sector remains “survival-based” without targeted financing and coordinated policy support to boost scaling, exports, and resilience. Energy Governance: SEPA named new board executives from SMUD, Trico Electric Cooperative, and NASUCA to strengthen cross-sector input on grid and consumer-focused solutions. Diaspora Finance & Investing: Guyana announced a diaspora bond and a Guyana/Barbados investment fund plan, aiming to channel overseas capital into infrastructure and utility, technology, and agri-processing projects. Barbados-Liberia Digital Heritage: TABHI launched the Back2Barbados website to preserve the Barbadian migration story to Liberia and expand research and cultural ties.

Digital Borders: Guyana and Barbados will let citizens travel passport-free using e-ID cards starting July 1, with airlines getting a short runway to adapt—Barbados’ PM Mia Mottley was the first to test the system. Remote Surgery: Guyana also marked a healthcare milestone with the world’s longest-distance robotic telesurgery—linking a Guyana-based team to a coronary bypass in India—and said it’s building a regional robotics training hub. Diaspora Finance: Guyana’s government says a diaspora bond is coming within a week, plus a Guyana/Barbados investment fund, aimed at funding major infrastructure. Public Health Tech: CARPHA is pushing stronger Caribbean vector-borne disease surveillance, standardising early-warning indicators and harmonising data across member states. Barbados-Liberia Online: TABHI launched Back2Barbados, a new website to preserve migration history and deepen cultural ties. Sports Tech Drama: The Enhanced Games in Las Vegas “broke” just one world record unofficially, as the doping-permitted event faced heavy backlash. Love Island Barbados Connection: ITV2’s 2026 lineup includes Mica Harris, a 21-year-old student from Barbados living in London, as the show returns June 1.