AGP Executive Report

Circular Economy & Innovation: Route 27 in Costa Rica is launching an open innovation challenge to tackle landfill pressure, aiming to reuse more of the roughly 27 tons of highway waste it generates each month, with a focus on tires and plastics; the winning project can receive up to €20,000 to build a working prototype for circular-economy reuse. OECS Child Policy: The OECS, with UNICEF support, has unveiled a Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032, built through input from children, parents and stakeholders, with a “whole-of-the-child” goal that by 2032 every child across the OECS feels valued, safe and empowered. Caribbean Mobile Growth: A new GSMA report says 5G is set to rise from 10% of Caribbean mobile connections today to 23% by 2030, but warns that regulatory upgrades and spectrum access are needed to close an investment gap and avoid a widening digital divide. Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on August 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders. Tourism & Connectivity: Seabourn has opened bookings for its winter 2028–29 Caribbean season, including itineraries that call at small ports such as Little Bay (Montserrat). Visa-Free Travel: From January 1, 2027, Nigerians will be able to enter Chad and the Republic of the Congo without entry visas as both countries move toward broader African free movement.

OECS Child Policy: The OECS, with UNICEF support, has unveiled a Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032 in St Lucia, aiming for a “whole-of-the-child” approach so every child across the OECS feels valued, safe, supported, loved and empowered by 2032. Arts & Leadership: Montserrat’s Office of the Premier appointed Jo-Annah Richards as Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, strengthening leadership for the island’s cultural and creative sectors. Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (5 p.m.), with virtual participation for registered shareholders. Tourism & Trade Links: Seabourn opened bookings for its winter 2028–29 Caribbean season, including calls at small ports such as Little Bay (Montserrat). Mobile Economy: A GSMA report says 5G could reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but regulatory updates and spectrum access are needed to close the investment gap. Business/Manufacturing Funding: ARPA-H awarded $26 million to GE HealthCare’s FLASH programme to scale cell-free DNA bioproduction.

OECS Child Policy: The OECS, with UNICEF support, has unveiled a Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032, built from input by children, parents and stakeholders, aiming for every child to feel valued, safe, supported, loved and empowered by 2032. Local Governance & Culture: The Office of the Premier says Jo-Annah Richards will become Director of the Montserrat Arts Council from August 10, strengthening leadership for the island’s cultural and creative sectors. Banking & Shareholders: Bank of Montserrat has set its 32nd Annual General Meeting for August 19 at 5 p.m. (with virtual participation for registered shareholders). Tourism & Shipping: Seabourn has opened bookings for its winter 2028–29 Caribbean season, including calls at small ports such as Little Bay (Montserrat). Mobile Economy: A GSMA report at CANTO says mobile’s economic impact is large in the Caribbean, with 5G projected to reach 23% of connections by 2030—if regulators modernise and spectrum access improves. Trade Policy: A new U.S. Section 201 safeguard adds a four-year tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products starting August 15, with higher duties once quarterly quota allocations run out. Science & Manufacturing: ARPA-H awarded $26 million to GE HealthCare-led FLASH for scalable, modular cell-free DNA manufacturing. Nuclear Policy: CCJ President Winston Anderson urged nuclear-armed states to adopt a no first use policy.

Regional Policy & Children: The OECS, with UNICEF support, has unveiled its OECS Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032 in St Lucia, built from input by children, parents and stakeholders and aiming for a “whole-of-the-child” approach so every child is protected and empowered by 2032. Montserrat Governance & Culture: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, as the Premier’s Office says it strengthens leadership and supports the island’s creative sector. Banking & Shareholders: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation for registered shareholders. Caribbean Connectivity: A new GSMA report says 5G could reach 23% of mobile connections in the Caribbean by 2030, but warns regulatory upgrades are needed to close an investment gap. Business Travel & Mobility: Chad and the Republic of the Congo will drop visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027, boosting travel and trade links across the continent. Tech & Health Funding: ARPA-H has awarded $26 million for a DNA manufacturing programme led by GE HealthCare, targeting faster, scalable production for next-gen genetic medicines. Tourism & Trade Winds: Seabourn has opened bookings for its winter 2028–29 Caribbean season, including calls at small ports such as Little Bay (Montserrat).

OECS Child Policy: The OECS, with UNICEF support, has unveiled a Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032, aiming for every child in the OECS to feel valued, safe, supported and empowered by 2032, with a “whole-of-the-child” focus across health, education, justice and protection. Local Arts Leadership: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, bringing public policy, law, finance and governance experience, including prior work in Montserrat’s internal audit and banking roles. Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat Limited will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (5 p.m.) at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation for registered shareholders. Trade & Import Costs: A new U.S. Section 201 safeguard measure sets a four-year tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products starting August 15, 2026, with safeguard duties potentially rising sharply once quarterly quota allocations are used up. Mobile Economy: A GSMA report says 5G could reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory updates and investment incentives are needed to close the deployment gap. Health Tech Funding: ARPA-H has awarded $26 million for FLASH, a programme to scale cell-free DNA manufacturing for faster, more flexible DNA-based medicines and vaccines. Travel Policy: From January 1, 2027, Nigerians will be able to enter Chad and the Republic of the Congo visa-free as both countries remove entry visa requirements for African nationals. Tourism Angle: A “dark tourism” feature spotlights Montserrat as a destination for visitors drawn to sites tied to the island’s darker history.

OECS Child Policy: The OECS Commission, with UNICEF support, has unveiled its Regional Child Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2032, aiming for a “whole-of-the-child” approach so every child across the Eastern Caribbean is protected, heard, and treated fairly by 2032. Montserrat Leadership & Culture: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, bringing public policy, law, finance, governance and arts administration experience. Banking Watch: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on August 19 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation for registered shareholders. Caribbean Business & Tech: A GSMA report says 5G is set to reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory changes are needed to close an investment gap. Travel & Trade: Chad and the Republic of the Congo will remove entry visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027, boosting regional travel and integration. Health Innovation: ARPA-H has awarded $26 million for FLASH, a programme to scale cell-free DNA manufacturing for faster, on-demand genetic medicines.

Montserrat governance & culture: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, bringing public policy, law, finance, audit and risk management experience, plus prior work with Royal Bank of Scotland and the UNDP. Banking & shareholder calendar: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders; nominations and proxies have firm deadlines. Tourism & regional business links: Seabourn opened bookings for its winter 2028–29 Caribbean season, with itineraries calling at small ports including Little Bay (Montserrat), potentially boosting future visitor demand. Digital economy & telecom investment: A GSMA report says 5G could reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory updates and spectrum access are needed to close an investment and usage gap. Trade policy affecting imports: A new U.S. Section 201 safeguard sets a four-year tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products starting August 15, with higher duties once quota allocations run out—important for importers and local supply chains. Fintech in the region: Finovate Global Caribbean highlights Belize Bank’s six-year partnership with Backbase to modernise retail and business digital banking.

Arts & Culture Leadership: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, bringing public policy, law, finance, audit and risk management experience plus prior banking work at Royal Bank of Scotland and arts administration background. Banking & Shareholder Watch: Bank of Montserrat Limited will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders; nominations and proxy deadlines are set for mid-August. Regional Tech & Connectivity: A GSMA report says 5G is expected to reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory updates and spectrum access are needed to close an investment and usage gap. Trade Policy Impact: A new U.S. Section 201 safeguard measure sets a four-year tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products starting August 15, 2026, with safeguard duties potentially rising sharply once quarterly quota allocations are used up. Health Innovation Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26 million from ARPA-H to develop scalable cell-free DNA manufacturing for faster, on-demand genetic health research and therapies. Business Finance (Caribbean): Finovate Global highlights Belize Bank’s six-year digital modernization partnership with Backbase to roll out an AI-native banking platform for retail and business customers.

Montserrat Arts & Culture: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective August 10, bringing public policy, law, finance, audit, risk and arts administration experience, including prior roles in Montserrat’s government and with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Caribbean Digital Economy: A new GSMA report says next-gen mobile networks can drive the region’s digital transformation, but Caribbean regulators need to modernise rules, unlock incentives, and secure harmonised spectrum; it estimates 5G will reach 23% of mobile connections by 2030. Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders. Health Tech Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26m from ARPA-H to advance scalable cell-free DNA manufacturing through the FLASH programme. Trade Policy Watch: A Section 201 safeguard measure adds a four-year tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products starting August 15, with potential safeguard duties up to 50% after quarterly quota allocations run out. Business & Travel: Seabourn opened bookings for its 2028–29 Caribbean winter season, including itineraries that call at small ports such as Little Bay (Montserrat).

Arts & Culture Leadership: Jo-Annah Richards has been appointed Director of the Montserrat Arts Council, effective Aug. 10, bringing public policy, law, finance, auditing and arts administration experience, including work with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the UNDP. Tourism & Trade Links: Seabourn opened bookings for its winter 2028–29 Caribbean season, with itineraries visiting 21 ports across 20 countries and island territories, including late calls in St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, Aruba and Curaçao and access to small ports such as Little Bay (Montserrat). Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wed., Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders. Health Innovation Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26m from ARPA-H to advance scalable cell-free DNA manufacturing under the FLASH programme. Digital Economy: A GSMA report says 5G could reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory upgrades and spectrum access are needed to close the investment gap. Business Compliance Watch: A new U.S. Section 201 safeguard sets a four-year tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products starting Aug. 15, 2026, with safeguard duties potentially rising sharply after quota tranches are used.

Visa-Free Travel & Trade: Chad and the Republic of the Congo will let Nigerians enter without visas from January 1, 2027, as both governments move to boost free movement and continental integration. Mobile & Digital Economy: A new GSMA report says 5G could reach 23% of Caribbean mobile connections by 2030, but warns regulatory upgrades and spectrum access are needed to close a major investment gap. Banking & Shareholder Watch: Bank of Montserrat Limited is set to hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders. Health Tech Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26 million from ARPA-H to scale cell-free DNA manufacturing for faster, on-demand genetic medicines and vaccines. Fintech in the Region: Finovate Global Caribbean spotlights Belize Bank’s six-year digital modernization deal with Backbase to expand AI-native retail and business banking. Community & Business Networking: Hopeful Hearts Foundation has been named Antigua and Barbuda’s National Leader for Good Deeds Day, coordinating business, school and volunteer participation.

Mobile Connectivity: A new GSMA “Mobile Economy Caribbean” report says 5G is 10% of Caribbean mobile connections today and is set to reach 23% by 2030, but deployment needs about $1bn in investment and faster regulatory updates plus access to harmonised spectrum to avoid a widening digital divide. Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat Limited will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation for registered shareholders and nomination/proxy deadlines of Aug 14 and Aug 17. Health Tech Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26m from ARPA-H for FLASH, aiming to scale “cell-free” DNA manufacturing for faster, distributed production for future personalised medicines and vaccines. Nuclear Policy: CCJ President Winston Anderson urged nuclear-armed states to adopt a no-first-use policy to reduce the risk of catastrophe. Community & Volunteering: Hopeful Hearts Foundation was named Antigua and Barbuda’s National Leader for Good Deeds Day, coordinating the country’s participation in the global volunteer movement.

Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat Limited announced its 32nd Annual General Meeting for Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (5 p.m.) at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation available for registered shareholders; 2025 financial statements and proxy forms are posted online, and director nominations must be submitted by Friday, August 14. Health & Innovation: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26 million from ARPA-H for a four-year FLASH programme to scale cell-free DNA bioproduction, aiming for faster, modular manufacturing for personalised medicines and vaccines. Public Policy & Risk: New UK research says breast cancer referral criteria used by GPs miss up to 95% of women under 50 who later develop the disease, arguing for broader risk tools beyond family history. Community & Volunteering: Hopeful Hearts Foundation was named Antigua and Barbuda’s official National Leader for Good Deeds Day, coordinating the country’s participation in the global volunteer movement. Business & Events: Hampshire Chamber of Commerce will host a behind-the-scenes networking event at Thruxton Aerodrome on September 11 ahead of the Hampshire Air Festival (Sept 12–13), with Babcock named key sponsor. Regional/Global Watch: A week of major international legal and migration developments continues to draw attention, including U.S. court fights over voting enforcement and Spain’s Ceuta border crisis.

Banking & Governance: Bank of Montserrat Limited announced its 32nd Annual General Meeting for Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (5 p.m.) at the Brades Arts and Education Centre, with virtual participation for registered shareholders; nominations and proxy submissions have firm deadlines (nominations by Aug. 14; proxies by 5 p.m. Aug. 17). Health & Policy: A major UK study says breast cancer referral rules used by GPs miss up to 95% of women under 50 who later develop the disease, arguing for risk assessments that go beyond family history. Biotech Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare received up to $26 million from ARPA-H to advance scalable cell-free DNA manufacturing under the FLASH programme, targeting faster on-demand production for future personalised medicines and vaccines. Community & Volunteering: Hopeful Hearts Foundation was named Antigua and Barbuda’s National Leader for Good Deeds Day, coordinating the country’s participation in the global volunteer movement. Local Project Oversight: Montserrat’s health ministry introduced a Grievance Redress Mechanism for the New National Hospital Project, letting residents and businesses submit complaints and feedback via online form, WhatsApp, phone, or a drop box.

Nuclear Policy: CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson urged nuclear-armed states to adopt a no-first-use pledge, warning that a small number of leaders could trigger global catastrophe. Fintech & Banking: Finovate Global Caribbean spotlights Belize Bank’s six-year partnership with Backbase to modernize retail and business digital banking, including AI-powered onboarding and lending. Health & Community Systems: Montserrat’s business audience may care about governance too: Montserrat’s Ministry of Health and Social Services launched a Grievance Redress Mechanism for the New National Hospital Project, letting residents and contractors submit concerns via QR, phone/WhatsApp, or a drop box. Biotech Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare won up to $26m from ARPA-H to advance scalable cell-free DNA bioproduction through the FLASH program. Local Services: The Philippines’ DOH says prosthetic fitting and rehabilitation will expand to Pampanga via Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital. Business Networking: Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Hampshire Air Festival for a behind-the-scenes networking event at Thruxton Aerodrome on Sept 11.

Aviation & Business Networking: Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the inaugural Hampshire Air Festival to host a “behind-the-scenes” networking event at Thruxton Aerodrome on Friday, Sept 11 (10:30am), with keynote talks, aviation-themed presentations, Q&As with pilots and experts, and time to see aircraft landing. Aviation Sponsorship: Babcock International Group has been named key sponsor of the Hampshire Air Festival, backing STEM and family activities plus RAF Tutor display support. Fintech in the Caribbean: Belize Bank has signed a six-year digital modernization partnership with Backbase to roll out an AI-native banking platform for retail and business customers, including faster onboarding and unified cash-flow visibility. Health & Community Systems: Montserrat’s wider region news includes a new Grievance Redress Mechanism for a national hospital project in Antigua and Barbuda, letting residents and businesses submit concerns via QR/WhatsApp/phone or a drop box. Breast Cancer Screening Policy: UK research says current GP referral criteria for women under 50 miss up to 95% of those who later develop breast cancer, arguing for broader risk assessment beyond family history. Biotech Funding: DNA Script and GE HealthCare have received up to $26m from ARPA-H to advance scalable cell-free DNA bioproduction under the FLASH program.