AGP Executive Report

Climate-Resilient Housing: Dominica’s Housing and Urban Development Minister Melissa Poponne-Skerrit says 215 new homes and apartment units will be handed over across nine communities starting September 2026, as part of the push for safer, climate-adaptive housing in the post-Hurricane Maria recovery. Community Climate Justice: Six Caribbean civil society groups are receiving small grants to strengthen grassroots climate justice work, including projects on climate litigation, documenting hurricane impacts, and supporting women in agriculture and fisheries. Disability-Inclusive Employment: The UN’s HireAbility campaign is rolling out across the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean to help break workplace barriers for people with disabilities, with businesses signing a Disability Inclusive Employer pledge. Early Warning for Health Threats: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the first OECS member state to adopt the regional RIEWSS system, linking human, animal, environmental and lab data to improve early detection and response. Extreme Weather Watch: Dominica’s meteorological office warns a tropical wave may bring locally heavy rains, gusty winds and thunderstorms, with rough seas and possible flood watch conditions. Agrifood Leadership: FAO named Dominica farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste among its inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, highlighting her climate-smart, soil- and water-conscious farming practices.

Resilient Housing Handover: Dominica’s Housing Ministry is set to begin “Welcome Home” key ceremonies for 215 newly built, climate-resilient homes and apartment units across Canefield East, Trafalgar, Vieille Case, Paix Bouche, Pointe Michel, Grand Bay, Penville, Wesley and Woodford Hill, supporting the wider goal of delivering 5,000 resilient homes. Climate Justice Grants: Six Caribbean civil society groups received small grants to push grassroots climate justice work, including climate litigation, documenting hurricane impacts, and boosting women’s roles in agriculture and fisheries. Disability-Inclusive Work: A UN campaign, the HireAbility Campaign, is urging Caribbean employers to break barriers and expand decent jobs for people with disabilities, backed by a Disability Inclusive Employer Pledge. Agriculture Land Access: OECS leaders are calling for crown lands to be provided to young farmers on transparent, bank-recognised terms, with training spanning climate-smart agriculture, digital tools, leadership and access to finance. Early Warning for Health Security: SVG became the first OECS member to adopt a regional early warning surveillance and response system that links human, animal, environmental and lab data to speed up detection and response. Heat Season Alert: Dominica’s meteorological office warns of heavy rains and gusty winds from a tropical wave, with rough seas and advisories in effect.

Roseau North by-election: Dominica Labour Party candidate Ashma McDougall is in the spotlight after PM Roosevelt Skerrit rallied Yampiece residents ahead of the Sept. 7, 2026 vote, citing the DLP’s housing, education and disaster response record and arguing McDougall has been the one “knocking on doors” since 2019. Disability inclusion push: The UN launched its HireAbility Campaign across the Caribbean, urging employers to break workplace barriers and expand decent jobs for people with disabilities, while Dominica’s finance minister also reiterated plans for a dedicated National Disability Affairs Unit to centralize support and complaints. OECS farming access: OECS leaders urged governments to provide crown lands to young farmers on transparent, bank-recognized terms, with climate-smart agriculture and access to finance and markets on the agenda. Climate and safety watch: Dominica’s meteorological office issued alerts for heavy rains, possible flooding/landslides, and rough seas, including a small craft warning and high surf advisory. Agrifood resilience spotlight: FAO named Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste among its inaugural 100 Women Heroes in agrifood systems for sustainable, diversified production. Nature tourism: Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up Aug. 30, with Coulibri Ridge winning the kayaking title and the event highlighting Dominica’s watersports and community spirit.

Disability & Jobs: The UN launched its regional “HireAbility Campaign” to break barriers and boost disability-inclusive employment across the Caribbean, linking governments, employers and disability groups through a Disability Inclusive Employer’s Pledge. Climate & Safety: Dominica Meteorological Office warns a strong tropical wave (remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly) could bring locally heavy rains, gusty winds and thunderstorms, with flood and landslide risks, plus rough seas and high surf advisories. Health Security: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the first OECS state to adopt the regional RIEWSS early warning and response system, combining human, animal, environmental and lab data to spot threats faster. Agriculture Resilience: Dominica’s Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth is set to produce 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly and also supports disaster recovery by securely storing seeds. Biodiversity & Culture: Dominica is planning a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to spotlight the island’s unique wildlife. Community & Nature Tourism: Soufriere Dive Fest wrapped up with Coulibri Ridge winning the Kayaking Champions title, alongside hikes, hot springs visits and free intro scuba and snorkelling.

El Niño Heat & Storm Alerts: Dominica’s Meteorological Office says a strong tropical wave (remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly) is bringing locally heavy rains, gusty winds and thunderstorms, with flood watch/warning possible by midday, plus rough seas and a high surf advisory. Climate & Water Security: CIMH and UWI warn the Caribbean is heading into peak Heat Season, with El Niño likely to intensify hot, dry conditions into 2027—raising risks for water shortages, farming losses and wildfires. Agrifood Resilience: Dominica’s Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth is boosting plant production (500,000+ plants/year) and supports disaster recovery by storing secure planting material. Biodiversity & Tourism: Dominica plans the world’s biggest Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to spotlight the island’s unique natural heritage. Local Farming Recognition: Farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste has been named among FAO’s inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, praised for sustainable, mixed and rainwater-harvesting practices. Regional Health Security: SVG becomes the first OECS state to adopt a regional early warning and response digital system that links human, animal, environmental and lab data for faster outbreak detection.

Health Security & One Health: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the first OECS country to adopt CARPHA’s Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance and Response System (RIEWSS), a digital platform that links human, animal, environmental and lab data to spot and respond to public health threats—rolled out with World Bank support and paired with port surveillance upgrades ahead of major regional events. Climate & Water Risks: Dominica’s Met Office warns a strong tropical wave (remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly) may bring locally heavy rains, gusty winds and thunderstorms, with flood/landslide risk possible, plus rough seas and high surf advisories. Heat & Drought Preparedness: Regional experts are urging urgent action as El Niño strengthens, pointing to hotter, drier conditions that could worsen water shortages, farming stress and wildfire risk across the Caribbean. Agriculture Resilience: Dominica’s Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth is boosting plant production and also supports disaster recovery by securely storing seeds and planting material. Biodiversity Spotlight: Dominica plans a massive 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to celebrate the island’s unique wildlife while drawing visitors to its natural heritage.

El Niño Heat & Drought Watch: Dominica and the wider Caribbean are bracing for intensifying hot, dry conditions as El Niño strengthens, with warnings that extreme heat can strain health, water supplies, farming, and trade. Flood & Coastal Hazards: A strong tropical wave is bringing locally heavy rains, gusty winds and thunderstorms to the northern Lesser Antilles, while seas are rough with high surf advisories and a small craft warning in effect. Climate-Resilient Farming: Dominica is pushing soil and water conservation and climate-smart agriculture, including a regional soil-fertility initiative and support for farmers to improve resilience. Agrifood Leadership: Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste has been named among FAO’s inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, recognized for sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting, composting and reforestation. Agricultural Capacity Boost: Portsmouth’s Tissue Culture Laboratory is strengthening Dominica’s agricultural future by producing large volumes of healthy planting material and storing seeds for disaster recovery. Renewables Financing Push: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, with Dominica included, to help scale clean energy and support a just transition.

Severe Weather Watch: Dominica’s Meteorological Office says a strong tropical wave (remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly) is bringing locally heavy rains, gusty winds and thunderstorms to the northern Lesser Antilles, with flood watch/warning possible by midday and rough seas building to near 7 feet on the west coast and up to 10 feet on the east—small craft operators should take precautions. Climate & Water Security: Across the region, El Niño is expected to intensify hotter, drier conditions, raising risks for water supplies, farming and heat stress as August to October remains the Heat Season. Agrifood Resilience: Dominica is strengthening sustainable agriculture with an Integrated Soil Conservation and Soil Fertility Improvement Demonstration Project, plus technical support aimed at reducing erosion and boosting soil fertility. Biodiversity Spotlight: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station—positioned as the world’s tallest and biggest parrot statue—linking tourism with the island’s unique natural heritage. Disability Inclusion: Government is moving to establish a dedicated National Disability Affairs Unit to centralize support and give persons with disabilities a stronger voice in development. Regional Health Capacity: PAHO/WHO training in Eastern Caribbean countries focused on practical critical care skills for severe infections and pandemic preparedness, including simulation-based learning.

Climate Resilience & Agriculture: Dominica is strengthening climate-resilient farming, including a new Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth that can produce 500,000+ healthy plants yearly and help disaster recovery by securely storing seeds. Biodiversity & Conservation Tourism: Dominica is planning a world-scale 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to spotlight the island’s unique native bird and link tourism with natural heritage. Heat & Water Security: Across the Caribbean, El Niño-driven hotter, drier conditions are already stressing health systems and are expected to worsen water supplies, farming, and wildfire risk. Food Systems Leadership: FAO has named Dominica farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste among its inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, praising her sustainable, soil- and water-smart practices. Regional Energy Transition: IRENA is inviting renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, with Dominica included, to speed up decarbonisation through financing and de-risking support. Health Capacity: PAHO/WHO supported Eastern Caribbean clinicians with simulation-based training to improve critical care readiness for severe infections and pandemics.

Climate & Water Security: Caribbean health clinics are already seeing heat stress as El Niño strengthens, with CIMH/UWI warning of hotter, drier conditions that could hit water supplies, farming and even trigger wildfires and coral bleaching. Agriculture Resilience: Dominica is boosting climate-resilient farming with soil and water support, including a Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth to produce 500,000+ healthy plants yearly and secure seed storage for post-hurricane recovery. Biodiversity & Culture: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car summit—aimed at spotlighting the island’s unique biodiversity and boosting nature-linked tourism. Food Systems Leadership: Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste was named among FAO’s inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, recognized for sustainable, mixed farming and rainwater harvesting. Renewables Financing: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Dominica, to speed up decarbonisation via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing. Health Preparedness: PAHO/WHO supported Eastern Caribbean clinicians with simulation-based training to better manage severe infections and critical care during outbreaks.

Climate & Resilience: Dominica is stepping up climate-resilient farming with an Integrated Soil Conservation and Soil Fertility Improvement Demonstration Project, backed by German Development Cooperation, plus technical support from Argentina’s INTA to help farmers cut erosion and protect soil and water. Agriculture Capacity: The Portsmouth Tissue Culture Laboratory is boosting local production of high-quality plants (over 500,000 a year) and strengthening disaster preparedness through secure seed storage. Food Systems Leadership: Capuchin farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste has been named among FAO’s inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, recognized for decades of sustainable, mixed farming and rainwater harvesting. Biodiversity & Tourism: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to spotlight the island’s unique wildlife while drawing visitors. Heat Season Warning: Across the region, El Niño is expected to intensify hotter, drier conditions—raising risks for water supplies, farming, and health. Sports Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s new multi-purpose complex is moving toward World Athletics Class One certification, which could help Dominica host more international athletics events.

Climate Resilience & Agriculture: Dominica is strengthening climate-smart farming with a Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth that can produce 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly, while also storing seeds for faster post-hurricane recovery. Food Security Leadership: Farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste has been named among FAO’s inaugural “100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development,” recognized for decades of mixed farming, rainwater harvesting, composting, reforestation and supplying local markets. Heat & Drought Preparedness: Eastern Caribbean health officials are already seeing heat-stress cases linked to El Niño-driven hot, dry conditions, with warnings that risks extend to water supplies, farming and trade. Wildlife & Biodiversity Tourism: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to spotlight the endangered bird found only on the island. Regional Capacity Building: PAHO/WHO supported severe infection and critical care training for health professionals across seven Eastern Caribbean countries, using practical simulations to improve pandemic readiness. Sports Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s new multi-purpose sporting complex is progressing toward World Athletics Class One certification, boosting Dominica’s ability to host major meets and training camps. Disaster Risk Planning: Regional Red Cross partners, including Dominica, are advancing Early Action Protocols so pre-funded help can be triggered automatically when forecasts predict cyclones.

Climate Resilience & Agriculture: Dominica is strengthening climate-resilient farming with a Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth that can produce 500,000+ plants yearly and also stores seeds for faster recovery after hurricanes. Food Systems Leadership: Farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste was named among FAO’s inaugural 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems, recognized for decades of sustainable, mixed farming and rainwater harvesting. Extreme Heat Watch: Eastern Caribbean health officials are already seeing heat stress cases, with El Niño expected to intensify hotter, drier conditions that can also strain water supplies and farming. Sports & Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s new multi-purpose sporting complex is progressing toward World Athletics Class One certification, which could help Dominica host major meets and support winter training. Biodiversity & Tourism: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to spotlight the island’s unique wildlife through a major visitor landmark. Regional Health Capacity: PAHO/WHO supported severe infection and critical care simulation training for health professionals across seven Eastern Caribbean countries, boosting practical readiness for outbreaks.

Wildlife & Biodiversity: Dominica’s farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste (Capuchin) has been named among FAO’s inaugural “100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development,” recognized for decades of mixed, soil-friendly farming, rainwater harvesting, composting and reforestation. Climate & Resilience: Across the Caribbean, CIMH and UWI climate experts are urging urgent preparation for intensifying El Niño heat and drought, warning of hotter, drier conditions through late 2026 and into 2027 that could strain water, farming and health. Agriculture Capacity: Dominica is expanding agricultural resilience with its Portsmouth Tissue Culture Laboratory, able to produce 500,000+ high-quality plants yearly and also support disaster recovery by securely storing seed and planting material. Health & Preparedness: PAHO/WHO ran a simulation-based critical care training for severe infections for health professionals across seven Eastern Caribbean countries, building practical skills for outbreaks and pandemics. Conservation Culture: EPIC’s “Seas & Scenes: Love the Caribbean” photo contest is in its final week (entries due Aug 31), with US$3,000+ in prizes and a public Audience Choice vote—spotlighting Caribbean life, nature and stewardship. Sports Infrastructure: Pointe Ronde’s new multi-purpose complex is moving toward World Athletics Class One certification, which could boost Dominica’s ability to host major meets and support training camps.

Climate & Disaster Watch: Catastrophic flash flooding along the China–Nepal border has killed more than 150 people, with hundreds missing, after a landslide blocked the Bhote Koshi River and triggered a surge downstream. Agrifood Resilience: Dominica is boosting farm resilience with a Tissue Culture Laboratory in Portsmouth that can produce over 500,000 high-quality plants yearly, while also storing seeds for faster recovery after hurricanes. Local Recognition in Food Systems: Dominican farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste has been named an FAO “Women Hero in Agrifood Systems,” praised for decades of sustainable, mixed farming and rainwater harvesting. Biodiversity & Tourism Branding: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the top of its cable car station, aiming to make it the world’s tallest and biggest parrot landmark. Regional Heat & Drought Preparedness: Caribbean partners are urging action as El Niño strengthens, with hotter, drier conditions expected through late 2026 into 2027. Health Leadership: Dr. Eva Jané Llopis has taken up her PAHO/WHO role for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, bringing 25 years of public health experience. Energy Policy (Regional): Barbados’ $350m Harrow hybrid energy project is awaiting a tariff ruling expected by September 15, a key step before construction can begin.

Agrifood Recognition: Dominican farmer Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste of Capuchin was named an inaugural FAO “Women Hero in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development,” praised for decades of farming and sustainable practices like green manuring, rainwater harvesting, composting and reforestation. Agriculture Resilience: Dominica’s Portsmouth Tissue Culture Laboratory is ramping up production of over 500,000 high-quality plants a year, boosting access to healthy planting material and acting as secure seed storage to speed recovery after hurricanes. Climate Watch: CIMH and UWI researchers warn El Niño is strengthening, with hotter, drier conditions likely through late 2026 into 2027—raising risks of drought, water shortages and wildfires. Wildlife & Tourism: Dominica plans a 23-foot brass Sisserou Parrot statue at the cable car top station, aiming to make it the world’s tallest and biggest parrot landmark. Health Leadership: Dr. Eva Jané Llopis assumed the PAHO/WHO role for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, bringing 25 years of public health experience to support resilient health systems.