AGP Executive Report

CARICOM Tax & Development: Tax administrators and revenue experts will meet in Georgetown, Guyana (27–31 July) for COTA’s 27th General Assembly and Technical Conference, focused on “future-ready” tax systems using smart data and AI to boost compliance and services. Decolonisation & Reparations: A 15-member CARICOM delegation is pressing the UK to relinquish overseas territories—including Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Anguilla, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands—alongside reparations, arguing residents remain “second-class inhabitants.” OECS Connectivity Push: Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne renewed calls for an OECS airline, citing hours-long delays and cancellations that leave regional travellers stranded. Montserrat Energy Costs: Premier Reuben Meade says governments must be careful with fuel subsidies amid US–Iran-driven price pressure, pointing to Montserrat’s targeted approach and limited fiscal space. ECCB Banknotes: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled redesigned EC banknotes honouring regional icons and national heroes, replacing the Queen Elizabeth II-era designs. Saint Lucia Travel Advisory: The US upgraded its warning for Saint Lucia to Level 2, urging extra caution due to violent crime risks. Montserrat HR Appointment: Montserrat named Paula Simone Atkinson as new Chief Human Resources Officer, starting 15 July on a three-year contract.

Regional Reparations Push: CARICOM leaders are in the UK demanding Britain hand back territories including Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, and commit to decolonisation as part of slavery reparations. OECS Air Connectivity: Antigua’s PM Gaston Browne renewed calls for an OECS airline, pointing to hours-long delays and missed connections that keep OECS travellers “stranded daily.” ECCB Banknotes Update: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled redesigned EC$ banknotes replacing Queen Elizabeth II with regional heroes; Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble is set to appear on the EC$10. Montserrat Public Service: Montserrat appointed Paula Simone Atkinson as new Chief Human Resources Officer on a three-year contract from July 15. Fuel Subsidy Warning: Premier Reuben Meade and DBRP’s Hyginus Leon urged governments to keep fuel subsidies targeted and sustainable amid US-Iran-driven price pressure. Travel Advisory: The US upgraded its travel warning for Saint Lucia to Level 2, citing violent crime risks and slower police response times. Health Policy Spotlight: Executive Director Emer Cooke addressed the European Parliament’s public health committee.

Caricom Reparations Push: A Caricom delegation in the UK is urging Britain to hand back overseas territories tied to slavery and colonial rule, including the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat, and to back “decolonisation” as part of reparatory justice. OECS Airline Call: Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne renewed the push for an OECS airline, pointing to daily delays and cancellations that strand travellers, including his own six-hour airport wait en route to a regional meeting. ECCB Banknotes Overhaul: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled redesigned EC dollar notes replacing Queen Elizabeth II with regional heroes—featuring Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble on the EC$10—at the ECCB Monetary Council meeting in Dominica. Montserrat Public Service: Montserrat appointed Paula Simone Atkinson as Chief Human Resources Officer on a three-year contract starting July 15, aiming to modernise and strengthen the public service. Regional Health Policy: Executive Director Emer Cooke addressed the European Parliament’s public health committee, as the region continues to engage on health frameworks. Travel Advisory: The US State Department upgraded its travel warning for Saint Lucia to “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” due to crime concerns.

Decolonisation Push: CARICOM’s Reparations Commission is in the UK demanding the return of the British Virgin Islands and calling on King Charles to commit to decolonising Britain’s overseas territories, with Montserrat named among the holdings. Regional Travel Pressure: Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne renewed calls for an OECS airline, pointing to hours-long delays and cancellations that strand travellers across the islands, including Montserrat connections. Currency With Local Faces: The ECCB unveiled redesigned EC banknotes that replace Queen Elizabeth II with regional heroes and nation builders; Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble is set for the EC$10 note, alongside Anguilla’s James Ronald Webster. Fuel Subsidy Caution: Montserrat’s Premier Reuben Meade and regional finance voices urged governments to balance short-term fuel subsidies against long-term fiscal strain as US-Iran tensions lift oil prices. Health & Governance: Montserrat also announced a new Chief Human Resources Officer, Paula Simone Atkinson, starting July 15 on a three-year contract. Safety Watch: The US upgraded its travel advisory for Saint Lucia to “Level 2,” citing violent crime risks for residents and visitors.

Decolonisation Push: The CARICOM Reparations Commission is urging the UK to return the British Virgin Islands and calling on King Charles to back decolonising Britain’s remaining overseas territories, warning of a “resurgence of colonisation.” Regional Air Frustrations: Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne renewed calls for an OECS airline, saying unreliable connections are leaving travellers stranded for hours, including his own six-hour wait to reach St Lucia. EC Currency Overhaul: The ECCB unveiled redesigned Eastern Caribbean banknotes replacing Queen Elizabeth II with regional heroes and nation builders; Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble is set for the EC$10 note, with circulation expected late 2027. ECCB Leadership Change: Dominica’s Dr Irving McIntyre took over the ECCB Monetary Council chairmanship as the region focuses on stability and resilience. Local Governance: Montserrat appointed Paula Simone Atkinson as Chief Human Resources Officer, starting July 15 on a three-year contract. Travel Advisory: The US upgraded its travel warning for Saint Lucia to “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” over violent crime and slower police response times.

ECCB Currency Shake-Up: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled a redesigned EC banknote family, replacing Queen Elizabeth II with regional heroes—Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble appears on the new EC$10 note—while the EC dollar’s 50-year fixed peg to the US dollar is also being marked. Regional Aviation Pressure: Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne renewed calls for an OECS airline, blaming long delays and cancellations that leave regional travellers stranded. CARICOM Governance Tension: Veteran journalist Julian Rogers condemned CARICOM leaders’ move to refer the reappointment of Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett to the CCJ, calling it political evasion. EU vs CBI Programs: Five Eastern Caribbean CBI governments agreed to push back together against EU pressure to phase out Citizenship by Investment by June 2028, including a coordinated diplomatic mission to Brussels. Montserrat Public Service: Montserrat appointed Paula Simone Atkinson as the new Chief Human Resources Officer, starting July 15 on a three-year contract. Local Land Clarity: Montserrat’s Land Registry warned residents that misinformation is spreading about the Crown Title Act and unclaimed land, stressing registered private land won’t automatically become Crown land after 2030. Health Links: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge visited St. Helena to exchange ideas on strengthening small-island healthcare systems. Travel Safety Note: The US upgraded its travel advisory for Saint Lucia to Level 2, citing crime risks including violent incidents.

Regional Governance: Veteran journalist Julian Rogers says CARICOM leaders’ move to refer CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett’s reappointment to the CCJ is “political evasion,” arguing it sidesteps contract rules. Currency & Finance: The ECCB Monetary Council met in Dominica as chairmanship passed to Dr. Irving McIntyre, with Montserrat’s Premier Reuben Meade set to represent the island; the big focus was the EC dollar’s 50-year fixed peg anniversary and the ECCB’s “Big Push” agenda. New Banknotes: ECCB unveiled redesigned EC banknotes replacing Queen Elizabeth II with regional heroes, including Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble on the EC$10 note, with rollout expected from late 2027. Local Administration: Montserrat appointed Paula Simone Atkinson as Chief Human Resources Officer on a three-year contract effective July 15. Health Partnership: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge visited St. Helena for a health systems exchange. Land Registry Update: The Land Registry warned that unclaimed land rules under the Crown Title Act do not automatically take away ownership of already-registered private land after 2030. Football Rebuild: Montserrat Football Association continues FIFA-backed recovery, including hosting the island’s first official referee training course.

ECCB Currency Overhaul: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled a redesigned EC banknote family in Dominica, replacing Queen Elizabeth II with regional national heroes—Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble appears on the new EC$10 note—while the full rollout is set for late 2027 as existing stocks run down. ECCB Leadership Handover: Dominica’s Dr. Irving McIntyre takes over chairmanship of the ECCB Monetary Council, with Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade set to represent the island at the 113th meeting in Dominica. Local Land Clarity: Montserrat’s Land Registry pushed back on misinformation about the Crown Title Act, saying registered private land won’t automatically become Crown land after Dec. 31, 2030. Montserrat Football Rebuild: FIFA’s normalisation committee work is showing momentum, including Montserrat’s first official referee training course (with 25 trainees, six women) and continued grassroots Under-14 efforts. Regional Governance: CARICOM’s 51st Heads of Government meeting in Saint Lucia included Montserrat’s Premier Reuben Meade, while Martinique officially joined CARICOM as the seventh associate member after a decade-long process. Health Exchange: Montserrat officials are visiting St. Helena to share small-island healthcare solutions, including mental health and emergency services.

ECCB & EC Dollar Redesign: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled a new family of EC banknotes, replacing Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with regional heroes and nation builders— including Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble on the EC$10 note— with circulation expected from late 2027. ECCB Monetary Council Leadership: Dominica’s Dr. Irving McIntyre takes over the ECCB Monetary Council chairmanship, with Montserrat’s Premier Reuben Meade set to represent the island at the 113th meeting in Dominica. Local Governance & Land Rights: Montserrat’s Land Registry is correcting misinformation about the Crown Title Act, stressing it does not automatically transfer registered private land to the Crown after 2030. Regional Diplomacy: Martinique officially joins CARICOM as the bloc’s seventh associate member after a decade-long process. Health Exchange: Montserrat’s CMO Dr. Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge visit St. Helena to share small-island healthcare solutions. Sports Development: Montserrat football continues rebuilding—hosting its first official referee training course and restarting youth focus under FIFA’s normalisation push.

CARICOM Power Play: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar scored a diplomatic win at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Lucia by pushing for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to give an advisory opinion on the reappointment of Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, arguing the process was unconstitutional and calling for interim steps while the matter is reviewed. ECCB Money Matters: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled a redesigned EC banknote family in Dominica, replacing Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with regional heroes— including Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble on the EC$10—while also marking 50 years of the EC dollar’s fixed US peg. Local Governance: Montserrat’s Land Registry moved to correct misinformation about the Crown Title Act, stressing that registered private land will not automatically become Crown land after 2030. Health Exchange: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge are visiting St Helena to share small-island healthcare solutions. Sports & Community: Montserrat Football Association continues rebuilding with a first official referee training course, and the island’s men’s health push saw Basil Chambers’ 60th birthday weekend raise EC$5,000 for Meals on Wheels.

ECCB Currency Overhaul: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled redesigned EC banknotes that replace Queen Elizabeth II with regional national heroes—Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble appears on the new EC$10 note—while the full rollout is expected to begin in late 2027. Regional Finance Leadership: Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade will represent the island at the ECCB Monetary Council meeting in Dominica, where the Governor’s report and the “Big Push” agenda will be discussed alongside the new banknotes and coins. CARICOM Talks: The 51st CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Saint Lucia (5–8 July) included Montserrat’s Premier Reuben Meade among attending leaders. Local Land Clarity: Montserrat’s Land Registry says misinformation about the Crown Title Act is wrong—registered private land won’t automatically become Crown land after 2030, and only specific unclaimed parcels from the 1978–1982 adjudication process are covered. Health Exchange: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge visited St. Helena to share small-island healthcare solutions, including emergency services and mental health care. Football Rebuild: Montserrat Football Association progress continues with an official referee training course (3–5 July) and ongoing grassroots rebuilding after FIFA’s normalisation steps.

ECCB Banknotes Overhaul: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has unveiled a redesigned EC banknote family that replaces Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with regional national heroes and icons, including Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble on the EC$10 note; the new series is set to roll out starting late 2027 as existing stocks run down. ECCB Monetary Council: The ECCB’s 113th Monetary Council meeting in Dominica reaffirmed the EC dollar’s role as a stable anchor and discussed the “Big Push” agenda, including priorities like human capital, energy resilience, digital transformation, tourism, and trade logistics. Montserrat Representation: Premier Reuben Meade will represent Montserrat at the ECCB Monetary Council meeting, where the Governor will present the annual report on monetary and financial conditions. Local Land Clarity: Montserrat’s Land Registry says misinformation about the Crown Title Act is wrong—registered private land will not automatically become Crown land after 2030, and only specific unclaimed parcels from the 1978–1982 adjudication fall under the Act. Football Rebuild: Montserrat Football Association progress continues with the island’s first official referee training course, building a formal pathway for officiating alongside renewed grassroots youth efforts. Regional Rights Watch: A final appeals hearing in England could decide whether Trinidad and Tobago decriminalises gay sex, a case that Caribbean activists are watching closely for wider regional impact. Health Exchange: Montserrat’s CMO and a parliamentary secretary are visiting St. Helena to share small-island healthcare solutions, including emergency care and mental health support.

Eastern Caribbean Currency: The ECCB has unveiled a redesigned family of EC banknotes that replaces Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with Eastern Caribbean national heroes and nation builders, with Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble featured on the new EC$10 note alongside Anguilla’s James Ronald Webster; the full set includes EC$100 (Sir William Arthur Lewis and Sir John Compton), EC$50 (Sir K Dwight Venner and Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw), EC$20 (Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr and Dame Mary Eugenia Charles), and EC$5 (Robert Milton Cato and Sir Kirani James). Regional Finance & Governance: The announcement came during the ECCB Monetary Council meeting in Dominica, where Montserrat’s Premier Reuben T. Meade is set to represent the island as the Governor presents the annual report and the council discusses priorities under the “Big Push” agenda. Local Land Clarity: Montserrat’s Land Registry is urging residents to ignore misinformation about the Crown Title Act, stressing that registered private land won’t automatically become Crown land after the 2030 deadline. Health Exchange: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge are in St. Helena for a health systems exchange focused on prevention, emergency care, mental health, and vaping. Football Rebuild: Montserrat Football Association progress continues with an island-first official referee training course, building a formal pathway for match officiating.

ECCB Currency Update: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank unveiled a redesigned family of EC banknotes and coins in Dominica, featuring national heroes and regional icons— including Montserrat’s William Henry Bramble on the EC$10 note—during the Monetary Council’s unveiling ceremony. ECCB Leadership Switch: The ECCB Monetary Council chairmanship moves from Antigua and Barbuda’s Gaston Browne to Dominica’s Dr Irving McIntyre on 9 July, with the handover ceremony also spotlighting the 50th anniversary of the EC dollar’s fixed US peg. Montserrat at ECCB Meeting: Premier Reuben T. Meade will represent Montserrat at the 113th Monetary Council meeting in Dominica on 10 July, where ECCB Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine presents the annual report and updates on the “Big Push” agenda. Local Land Clarity: Montserrat’s Land Registry issued a notice to correct misinformation about the Crown Title Act, stressing it does not automatically take registered private land after 2030 and applies only to specific unclaimed parcels from the 1978–1982 adjudication. Health Partnership: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge are in St Helena for a health systems exchange focused on prevention, emergency care, mental health, and community programmes. Football Rebuild: Montserrat Football Association continues its recovery with a first official referee training course (3–5 July) in partnership with Concacaf, building a formal pathway for new referees.

Health & Community: Veteran broadcaster Basil Chambers marked his 60th birthday with a Brades men’s health fair that drew 120 men and raised EC$5,000 for Meals on Wheels, with free prostate and general screenings led by visiting urologist Dr Dwayne Thwaites. Regional Finance: Premier Reuben T. Meade will represent Montserrat at the ECCB Monetary Council meeting in Dominica on July 10, where Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine presents the “From Stability to Resilience” report and updates the “Big Push” agenda, including CAPSS and fast payments. Currency Milestone: The ECCB is also marking 50 years of the EC dollar’s fixed exchange rate to the US dollar, and the July 9 handover ceremony in Dominica will feature the unveiling of new EC banknotes and coins. Healthcare Exchange: Montserrat’s CMO Dr Sharra Greenaway-Duberry and Parliamentary Secretary Crenston Buffonge are visiting St. Helena to swap ideas on community health, emergency services, mental health, and vaping prevention. Land Registry Clarification: The Land Registry says misinformation is circulating about the Crown Title Act and unclaimed land, stressing registered private land won’t automatically become Crown land after December 31, 2030. Football Rebuild: Montserrat Football Association momentum continues with the island’s first official referee training course (July 3–5) and ongoing grassroots rebuilding after FIFA’s normalisation push. Tourism Push: Montserrat Tourism Authority reports strong SMART 2026 participation, with 35 business meetings and expanded regional trade links.

ECCB & Regional Finance: ECCB Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine will present the “From Stability to Resilience” report at the 113th Monetary Council meeting in Dominica today, with focus on the ECCU’s monetary and credit conditions plus the “Big Push Agenda” (human capital, food and nutrition, energy resilience, digital transformation, financial inclusion, tourism, and trade logistics). Currency Milestone: The ECCB is also marking 50 years of the EC dollar’s fixed US peg at EC$2.70 to US$1, and the next phase is about using that stability for “transformation and shared prosperity,” alongside updates on payment systems like CAPSS and fast payments. CARICOM Governance Dispute: Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar is pressing for CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett’s reappointment to be referred to the CCJ for an advisory opinion, arguing procedural and constitutional flaws and calling for interim steps. Tourism Partnerships: Montserrat is expanding its tourism reach after SMART 2026, where the island’s delegation held 35 business meetings with regional and international partners. Regional Sports: St. Kitts and Nevis won the OECS Athletics Championships with 180 points, edging Antigua and Barbuda (171); Montserrat finished with 11 points. Human Rights Watch: A London court hearing could decide a final appeal on Trinidad and Tobago’s colonial-era “buggery” law, with potential knock-on effects across the region.