AGP Executive Report

CCJ Explained Amid Leaks: A fresh explainer breaks down how the Caribbean Court of Justice works for five CARICOM states, and why leaked internal correspondence could hit the court’s legitimacy. Medicinal Cannabis Training: St. Kitts and Nevis opens registration for a Traditional Cultivator Programme orientation (Aug 20–22) to help growers transition into the regulated medicinal cannabis sector. Sperm Whale Reserve Rules: Dominica’s sperm whale reserve is now governed by a dedicated legal framework for tourism and research, with permits, vessel rules, and limits on swim encounters. Loan Collections Tech Upgrade: Dominica’s NCCU rolls out new measures to improve repayment, including upgraded collections technology and a plan to name persistent loan defaulters only after failed contact efforts. Youth + AI Standards: The UN hosts young people to shape AI policy and governance, pushing for meaningful youth participation in how AI is governed. Crypto Sanctions Ripple: US OFAC sanctions Shelbit over Iran-linked crypto flows, while Georgia’s regulator says the sanctioned Shelbit entity isn’t registered as a virtual asset service provider there. Travel Partnerships + Creators: Expedia’s partnership with livestream star IShowSpeed spotlights how tech platforms are shaping modern travel discovery.

Solo Travel Rankings: Travel And Tour World put Dominica on its 2026 list of top solo destinations across the Americas and Caribbean, highlighting safety, transit, affordability and culture. Whale Tourism Rules: Dominica’s sperm whale reserve is now governed by a dedicated legal framework, with certified operators, vessel rules and swim-permit limits aimed at keeping in-water encounters properly regulated. Local Justice Update: A special prosecutor says an international investigation helped secure convictions in the murder of Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and partner Dominique Marchand, with prosecutors citing dozens of witnesses plus ballistics, DNA and phone records. Credit Union Tech & Policy: NCCU is rolling out new loan-management steps, including upgraded collections technology and a plan to publicly name repeat loan defaulters only after contact and failed repayment efforts. Youth + AI Governance: The UN brought together young people on International Youth Day to shape AI policy and governance for the Sustainable Development Goals. Elections Scrutiny: A UWP candidate alleges irregularities on the Roseau North voters’ list, including duplicate entries, and says volunteers used digital tools to flag issues. Citizenship Pathway: Dominica plans citizenship through a Dominican grandparent starting 1 January 2027, with proof of ancestry, identity and good character. Crypto Sanctions Watch: US OFAC sanctions Shelbit and related entities over Iran-linked crypto flows, while Georgia’s National Bank says the sanctioned firm isn’t registered as a regulated virtual asset service provider.

Medicinal Cannabis Training: St. Kitts and Nevis’ Medicinal Cannabis Authority opened registration for a Traditional Cultivator Programme orientation (Aug 20–22, EC$200) to help residents move from informal growing into the regulated sector. Whale Tourism Rules: Dominica’s new Sperm Whale Reserve framework spells out certified operators, permits, vessel rules, and swim limits—aimed at making whale encounters safer and more accountable. Loan Repayment Tech: NCCU in Dominica is upgrading collections tech and reorganizing its collections team, plus plans a Patronage Refund Programme and a process to publicly name chronic loan defaulters only after failed contact. Youth + AI Standards: The UN brought together 600+ young people in New York to shape AI policy and governance, pushing for meaningful youth participation. Crypto Sanctions Watch: The US sanctioned Shelbit and related entities tied to Iran-linked crypto flows; Dominica’s links appear in reporting about the operator’s citizenship, while Georgia’s regulator says Shelbit wasn’t registered there. Local Governance + Waste: Salisbury MP Jesma Paul-Victor calls for better garbage collection capacity and future-focused skills, warning about public health impacts from inconsistent service.

Medicinal Cannabis Training: St. Kitts and Nevis’ Medicinal Cannabis Authority opened registration for a 3-day Traditional Cultivator Programme orientation (Aug 20–22, EC$200) to help residents move from informal growing into the regulated sector. Marine Conservation & Tourism Rules: Dominica’s new Sperm Whale Reserve law created a dedicated marine reserve system for whale tourism, with certified operators, vessel rules, swim permits, and limits on encounters. Toxic Weedkiller Watch: Agricultural authorities across the region are reviewing whether to ban or tighten controls on paraquat (Gramoxone) as more countries phase it out over health concerns. Youth & AI Governance: The UN brought together 600+ young people to shape AI policy and governance for the Sustainable Development Goals, pushing for meaningful youth participation. Local Tech for Finance: NCCU rolled out new loan-delinquency strategies, including upgraded collections technology and a plan to name repeat defaulters only after contact efforts fail. Crypto Sanctions Ripple: US OFAC sanctioned Iran-linked crypto exchanges and networks, including Shelbit, raising compliance alarms for digital-asset activity tied to sanctioned groups. Citizenship Policy Update: Dominica plans citizenship through a grandparent starting Jan 1, 2027, aiming to grow the resident population and reconnect the wider Dominican family.

Geothermal Power Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW Laudat geothermal plant has begun commercial operations, making the island the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources; officials say geothermal already supplied about 43% of power in June and could reach around 60% of gross production by 2027. Digital Finance & Sanctions: The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned crypto exchanges Shelbit and Aban Tether, alleging Iran-linked laundering tied to the IRGC, with the Shelbit operator named as Siavash Kayvanpour. Youth, AI Standards: The UN brought together 600 young people in New York on International Youth Day to shape youth-led AI policy and governance guidance for future global digital rules. Local Tech & Governance: NCCU says it’s upgrading loan collections and introducing member-focused measures, including a plan to publish names of persistent loan defaulters only after contact efforts fail. Elections & Data Concerns: UWP candidate Danny Lugay alleges Roseau North voter-list irregularities, including duplicate and triplicate entries, and says his team used tech skills to flag issues. Travel Trend: A new “skillcation” wave is growing among Americans, mixing trips with learning, and pushing interest in digital detox while traveling. Public Health Education: The REACH project launched a webinar series on adolescent health, covering mental health, nutrition, stigma reduction, and parent-teen communication.

Geothermal Breakthrough: Dominica’s 10-MW Laudat geothermal plant has started commercial operations, making the island the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources; geothermal already supplied about 43% of power in June and is projected to cover roughly half of demand in 2026. Cyber/Finance Watch: The U.S. Treasury (OFAC) sanctioned Iran-linked crypto exchanges and networks, including Shelbit, alleging billions moved to support the IRGC—Dominica’s connection appears via the operator’s Dominica citizenship. Local Credit Tech: NCCU rolled out new loan-delinquency measures, including upgraded collections tech and a plan to publicly name repeat defaulters only after contact and failed repayment negotiations. Youth + AI Governance: The UN hosted youth on International Youth Day to shape AI policy and governance, pushing for meaningful youth participation in global digital rules. Community Health Online: Dominica and partners launched REACH webinar series on adolescent health, covering mental health, nutrition, stigma reduction, and parent-teen communication. Elections + Data Integrity: UWP candidate Danny Lugay alleged duplicate and triplicate entries on the Roseau North voters’ list, with tech-savvy volunteers helping review the register. Sports Spotlight: Dominica’s Addison James won bronze at the World U20 javelin championships, while Ashish Yadav took silver.

Geothermal Power Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant in Laudat has started commercial operations, making the island the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources; geothermal already supplied about 43% of power in June, and is projected to cover roughly half of demand in 2026. Youth & AI Governance: The UN brought together 600+ young people in New York on International Youth Day to shape AI policy, with delegates presenting a youth-led declaration meant to feed into future UN AI governance efforts. Digital Citizenship for Girls: IHARF’s Girlhood Summer Leadership Bootcamp wrapped up, training Dominican girls in leadership, wellbeing, and digital citizenship, including responsible technology use and AI’s impact. Adolescent Health Online: The REACH Project launched a new Caribbean webinar series on adolescent health, covering mental health, nutrition, healthy relationships, and parent-teen communication. Local Tech & Voting Integrity: UWP candidate Danny Lugay raised concerns about alleged irregularities on the Roseau North voters’ list, pointing to duplicate and triplicate entries found with help from tech-savvy volunteers. Crypto Sanctions Watch: US OFAC sanctioned Shelbit and related entities over alleged Iran-linked crypto laundering, including claims tied to wallets moving millions through networks involving Georgia and the UAE.

Dominica Electoral Tech & Integrity: UWP Roseau North candidate Danny Lugay says the voters’ register shows “duplicate and even triplicate” entries, alleging people are listed at addresses they don’t live in, and says his team has been using tech-savvy volunteers to flag questionable names after complaints to the Electoral Office. Adolescent Health (REACH): The REACH Project is rolling out a new webinar series across Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, covering mental health, nutrition, healthy relationships, parent-teen communication, and stigma reduction, with interactive Q&As for youth and caregivers. Geothermal Power Milestone: Dominica’s 10MW geothermal plant in Laudat has begun commercial operations, boosting renewable supply and positioning the island as the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources. Citizenship Policy (Diaspora): Dominica plans to introduce citizenship through a Dominican grandparent starting 1 January 2027, alongside a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme aimed at growing the resident population and closing skills gaps. US Crypto Sanctions (Iran Links): The US Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned Shelbit and related entities, alleging Iran-linked crypto flows used to support the IRGC and evade restrictions, while Dominica is mentioned via operator Siavash Kayvanpour’s citizenship.

Geothermal Power Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant in Laudat has started commercial operations, making the island the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources, with geothermal contributing about 43% of power supply in June 2026. Population & Skills Push: Dominica will introduce citizenship through a Dominican grandparent starting 1 January 2027, alongside a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme aimed at boosting the resident population to 100,000 by 2040 and narrowing the skills gap. Sanitation & Climate-Ready Infrastructure: Opposition leader Jesma Paul-Victor is urging more investment in Salisbury’s garbage collection capacity and better farm access roads, including proper engineering, drainage, and climate resilience. Youth Tech & Wellbeing: I Have A Right Foundation’s Girlhood Summer Leadership Bootcamp wrapped up, mixing leadership, digital citizenship, digital literacy, and responsible technology use for adolescent girls. Crypto Sanctions Watch: The US Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned Shelbit and related entities over Iran-linked crypto flows, while Dominica’s policy and regulatory angle also shows up in a Georgia bank statement denying Shelbit NBG registration. Health Tech Training: REACH launched a webinar series on adolescent health, and PAHO/WHO supported regional lab training to strengthen molecular diagnostics using a One Health approach.

Waste & Skills: Salisbury MP Jesma Paul-Victor says garbage collection is failing residents due to too few trucks and inconsistent operations, calling for more resources and workforce training for emerging industries. Farm Roads & Climate Resilience: She also urges a full programme to rehabilitate Salisbury farm access roads with proper engineering, drainage, slope stabilisation, durable surfacing and routine maintenance to protect perishable harvests. Youth Leadership & Tech Literacy: I Have A Right Foundation wrapped up its Girlhood Summer Leadership Bootcamp, mixing wellbeing, first aid, leadership and digital citizenship, including responsible technology use and AI awareness. Citizenship Policy: Dominica will introduce “citizenship through a grandparent” from 1 Jan 2027 under a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme aimed at growing the resident population and closing skills gaps. Geothermal Power Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant has entered commercial operations, boosting renewable electricity supply and strengthening the island’s energy future. Regional Health Tech: REACH launched a new webinar series on adolescent health, starting with mental health stigma reduction. Fintech in the Caribbean: Finovate Global Caribbean highlights digital banking upgrades like Belize Bank’s partnership to modernise onboarding and lending with AI. Crypto Sanctions Watch: US OFAC sanctioned Iran-linked crypto exchanges and networks, including Shelbit, as part of a broader crackdown on illicit finance.

Geothermal & Energy: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant in Laudat has started commercial operations, making it the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources; officials say geothermal already contributed about 43% of the island’s power in June and could reach around 60% of gross production by 2027. Population Policy: Dominica will introduce citizenship through a Dominican grandparent starting 1 January 2027, tied to a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme aimed at growing the resident population to 100,000 by 2040. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: Opposition leader Jesma Paul-Victor is pushing a full programme to rehabilitate and maintain Salisbury farm access roads with proper engineering, drainage, durable surfacing and climate-ready design to protect perishable crops. Digital Finance Watch: The US Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned Iran-linked crypto exchanges and firms, including Shelbit, after tracing billions in transactions tied to IRGC-linked activity. Health Education: The REACH project launched a new adolescent health webinar series across the region, starting with mental health and stigma reduction sessions. Regional Tech/Science Capacity: Eastern Caribbean lab professionals trained on molecular diagnostics to strengthen rapid detection and response to emerging infectious diseases.

Dominica’s Farm Access Push: Opposition leader Jesma Paul-Victor is demanding a full programme to rehabilitate and maintain Salisbury farm access roads, saying poor, rain-prone routes trap farmers for months, driving lost income, wasted labour and missed export chances; she wants proper engineering, drainage, slope stabilisation, durable surfacing and routine maintenance with climate resilience built in. Citizenship by Grandparent: Dominica will start “grandparent” citizenship applications on 1 January 2027 under the National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme, aiming to grow the resident population to 100,000 by 2040 and bring back skills, investment and talent. Crypto Sanctions Watch: The US Treasury/OFAC sanctioned Iran-linked crypto exchanges and networks it says launder billions for the IRGC, including Shelbit Exchange; Dominica’s name also appears via an operator described as holding Dominica citizenship. Geothermal Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant at Laudat has begun commercial operations, strengthening the island’s push for renewable power. Adolescent Health Online: REACH launched a new webinar series on adolescent health and well-being, starting 11 August with a session on mental health stigma. MarineLab Training: Educators across the Caribbean wrapped up a MarineLab teacher workshop focused on marine ecology and field-based action projects.

US Crypto Sanctions: OFAC sanctioned Iran-linked digital asset exchanges and a network operator, saying crypto was used to launder billions and support the IRGC; one named figure, Siavash Kayvanpour, is reported to hold Dominica citizenship and to have run Shelbit Exchange via a Georgia firm. Local Finance Watch: Georgia’s National Bank says the OFAC-sanctioned Shelbit entity isn’t registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider there, with its registration reportedly cancelled. Dominica Energy Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant at Laudat has started commercial operations, with geothermal contributing about 43% of electricity supply in June 2026 and expected to keep rising. Population Policy: Dominica plans a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme aimed at reaching 100,000 residents by 2040. Health Tech & Training: REACH launched a new adolescent health webinar series across Dominica and the region, focused on mental health, nutrition, stigma reduction, and parent-teen communication. Tech in the Region: IRENA opened a funding call for renewable energy projects across Central America and the Caribbean, including geothermal, solar, wind, clean transport, and green hydrogen.

Crypto & Sanctions: The U.S. Treasury (OFAC) sanctioned Iran-linked digital asset exchanges and a multinational front network, saying crypto was used to launder billions and support the IRGC. The centerpiece operator, Siavash Kayvanpour, is described as Iran-born with Dominica citizenship, operating Shelbit Exchange via a Georgia firm, with funds reportedly moving between IRGC-linked wallets and sanctioned platforms. Regional Health Tech: REACH launched a Dominica-focused webinar series on adolescent mental health, nutrition, stigma reduction, and parent-teen communication, aiming to spread evidence-based sexual and reproductive health info across the Eastern Caribbean. Renewables in Practice: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant has started commercial operations, boosting the island’s push toward cleaner power and making it the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources. Fintech in the Caribbean: Finovate Global Caribbean highlighted Belize Bank’s digital modernization partnership with Backbase, bringing AI-powered onboarding and a unified digital banking platform. Energy Funding Call: IRENA opened a proposal call for renewable energy projects across Central America and the Caribbean, including geothermal and clean transport, with deadlines before Sept. 1.

US Crypto Sanctions: The U.S. Treasury (OFAC) sanctioned Iran-linked digital asset exchanges and a multinational front-company network, alleging billions in laundering and covert support for the IRGC, with named operator Siavash Kayvanpour tied to Shelbit Exchange. Dominica Energy & Jobs: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant in Laudat has started commercial operations, boosting renewable electricity supply and reinforcing the island’s push toward more stable, locally generated power. Local Health Tech & Youth Support: Dominica’s REACH project launched a regional adolescent health webinar series, with sessions on mental health, nutrition, stigma reduction, and parent-teen communication. Fintech in the Caribbean: Finovate Global Caribbean highlights Belize Bank’s digital modernization partnership with Backbase, aiming to speed onboarding and unify business cash-flow visibility. Population Strategy: Dominica plans a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme to grow the resident population toward 100,000 by 2040. Marine Science Training: Eastern Caribbean lab and molecular diagnostics capacity got a boost through a PAHO/WHO workshop using a One Health approach. Tourism Tech & Infrastructure: The Dominica Cable Car is framed as an economy builder, supporting hundreds of jobs and ongoing roles beyond construction. Real Estate Watch: A regional estimate says Eastern Caribbean property values are down about 10% over five years, with risks of further declines.

US Crypto Sanctions: The U.S. Treasury (OFAC) sanctioned two crypto exchanges and a multi-country network it says helped Iran launder billions for the IRGC, including Shelbit Exchange, after alleged crypto flows between Iran-linked wallets and the platforms. Dominica Energy Milestone: Dominica’s 10-MW geothermal plant in Laudat has started commercial operations, boosting the island’s renewable power share and making it the first CARICOM member to generate electricity from geothermal resources. Local Tech & Jobs: The Dominica Cable Car is framed as more than tourism—hundreds of local jobs during construction, local suppliers, and ongoing roles after opening. Health Education Online: Dominica’s REACH project launched a regional adolescent health webinar series with sessions on mental health, nutrition, stigma reduction, and parent-teen communication. Regional Lab Strengthening: Eastern Caribbean lab professionals trained on molecular diagnostics for diseases like measles, leptospirosis, and hantavirus, using a One Health approach. Policy & Economy Debate: Opposition leader Jesma Paul-Victor argued government alone can’t build a dynamic economy, calling for stronger private-sector conditions as AI and digital commerce reshape opportunities. Population Push: Dominica plans a National Population Renewal and Global Dominican Engagement Programme to grow the resident population toward 100,000 by 2040. Tourism Investment: Secret Bay Resort announced new cliffside villas, extra spas, and a family pool pavilion as it moves into its final residential phase.