AGP Executive Report

US–Cuba Tensions: Washington’s latest move—criminal charges against Raúl Castro—has drawn a sharp Cuban backlash, with both sides escalating rhetoric around a 1996 shootdown case. Grenada Diplomacy: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell just wrapped a 2-day Washington visit focused on energy, trade, investment, and security, lining up talks with US State/Commerce leaders and key lawmakers. Water & Utilities: Grenada’s Concord Water System will see a scheduled supply interruption Thursday (9am–6pm) for repairs, with gradual return and possible discoloration as pressure stabilizes. Tourism Push: Grenada is gearing up for “Grenada in Bloom,” a new Flower and Garden Festival set for Nov 8–15, 2026, building on recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold. Regional Climate Law: UN members backed a Vanuatu-led resolution endorsing a landmark ICJ climate ruling—climate obligations now framed as legal duties. Caribbean Hotels vs Booking.com: The region’s hotel group is pushing back on a Booking.com policy that could apply commissions to taxes too, raising costs for properties.

UN Climate Push: A UN General Assembly resolution backed by Vanuatu sailed through, endorsing the ICJ’s landmark climate ruling that countries have legal duties to cut greenhouse gases—framing climate action as law, justice, and human rights. Grenada Tourism & Culture: Grenada is set to launch its new Flower and Garden Festival, “Grenada in Bloom,” running November 8–15, 2026, with gardens, spice and culinary experiences, and sustainability programming—another boost after fresh RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold recognition. Regional Politics: Cuba hit back hard at US DOJ criminal charges against Raúl Castro, calling the move illegitimate as tensions between Washington and Havana keep escalating. Energy & Trade: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell wrapped up a key Washington visit focused on energy, trade, and security alliances, while Caribbean hotels continue pushing back against Booking.com’s reported plan to apply commissions to taxes too. Local Watch: Grenada’s cricket tourism moment is already in motion after the Pure Grenada Masters tournament, and water users in St George’s and nearby areas face a scheduled Concord Water System interruption on Thursday.

Diplomatic Push: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell wrapped up a two-day Washington visit (18–19 May) lining up US support across investment, energy, trade, infrastructure, and security, with meetings at State, Commerce, and key congressional leaders. Sports Tourism: Grenada’s Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament drew 60 visiting players and delivered a direct boost to hotels, restaurants, and tourism businesses. Water & Utilities: Nawasa issued a Concord Water System interruption notice for Thursday 21 May, 9am–6pm, for St George and surrounding areas. Tourism Industry Pressure: Caribbean hotels are pushing back against a Booking.com commission proposal that would apply commissions to taxes like VAT/GST—raising costs and legal-compliance concerns. Climate Readiness: Regional forecasts point to fewer hurricanes, but officials warn one storm can still devastate the Eastern Caribbean. Culture & Community: Grenada’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show display again won gold, while regional Carnival debate flared after Mr Killa’s comments on Jab Jab culture.

Regional Finance Push: UTC says its regional presence is now “operating reality,” moving from entry to integration across Jamaica and the ECCU, with its Global Balanced Fund active in six ECCU states and expanding further into Antigua and Barbuda. Tourism Friction: Caribbean hotels are pushing back against Booking.com’s plan to charge commissions on total booking amounts including VAT/GST, warning it could quietly raise costs and trigger compliance headaches. Fisheries Pressure: Ice shortages and compressor failures are still biting fisherfolk, with calls for better market oversight after some boats were forced to source ice in Grenada or from private suppliers. Weather Watch: T&T’s meteorology team expects fewer hurricanes but warns one storm can still devastate the Eastern Caribbean, including Grenada. Culture & Community: Preston’s Caribbean Carnival returns this weekend, with Grenadian soca star Skinny Banton headlining. Grenada Spotlight: Grenada keeps racking up global wins—another RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold—while the spice sector gets a fresh boost via the National Spice Replanting Programme.

Oireachtas Spotlight on RTÉ Pay: RTÉ executives faced another media-committee grilling over its latest pay controversy, with DG Kevin Bakhurst saying the issue was a “categorisation” decision—not secret payments—after the broadcaster restated top-earner lists to include presenter Derek Mooney, and described how a 2020 instruction had counted Mooney as a producer “per DG.” World Cup Heat Pushback: Players are calling on FIFA for stronger temperature protections for World Cup 2026 after warnings of “hazardous heat,” with Grenada among the signatories. Grenada on the Global Stage: Grenada won gold again at London’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, while the GFA president Marlon Glean represented the country at Soccerex Europe. Spice and Jobs Moves: Government launched the Grenada Decent Work Country Programme 2026–2031, and a second phase of the spice replanting push is set to support estates and larger farms. Dry-Season Pressure on Water: Nawasa says production is down sharply at multiple plants, with some facilities non-operational as river flows and recharge fall.

World Cup Heat Safety: Players are urging FIFA to strengthen protections for World Cup 2026 after warnings of “hazardous heat,” with an open letter signed by athletes including Grenada’s representatives. Carnival Culture Clash: Mr Killa’s comments comparing Trinidad Carnival’s “commercialized” scale with Grenada’s Jab Jab sparked a regional online debate on authenticity and tradition. Standards & Trust: The Grenada Bureau of Standards marked World Metrology Day 2026, tying accurate measurement to fair trade, consumer protection, public health, and policy decisions. Spice Push: Government and the Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Association are moving into phase two of the National Spice Replanting Programme, targeting estates and larger farms with EC$500,000 in support. Decent Work Plan: The Ministry of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs announced the official launch of Grenada’s Decent Work Country Programme 2026–2031 on 19 May. Water Worries: Nawasa says dry-season pressure is worsening, with multiple treatment facilities operating at critically reduced levels.

Football Diplomacy: Grenada’s GFA President Marlon Glean is in Amsterdam as a speaker at Soccerex Europe 2026, pitching “Football Without Borders” and reinforcing his fresh second-term mandate after re-election. Spice Push: The Ministry of Agriculture and the Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Association are rolling out the second phase of the National Spice Replanting Programme with about EC$500,000 to estates and larger farms, aiming to lift production beyond Hurricane Beryl levels. Decent Work Plan: The Ministry of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs announces the official signing of Grenada’s Decent Work Country Programme 2026–2031 on 19 May at the Grenada Trade Centre, with ILO and tripartite partners. Tourism Momentum: Grenada’s Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up with Guyana’s North Soesdyke winning, framed as a sports-tourism boost for hospitality and local business. Water Pressure: Nawasa warns dry-season strain is worsening, with multiple facilities facing critical production cuts and some areas hit by supply reliability issues.

Labour Policy Rollout: Grenada is set to officially launch and sign its Decent Work Country Programme 2026–2031 today (19 May) at the Grenada Trade Centre, Morne Rouge, with the ILO and tripartite partners guiding a push on jobs, labour governance, social protection, and workplace safety. Spice Boost: The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry and the Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Association are injecting about EC$500,000 into the second phase of the National Spice Replanting Programme, prioritising estates and large farmers with technical support and grants to help Grenada move beyond pre-Hurricane Beryl production levels. Water Pressure: Nawasa warns dry-season strain is worsening, with some treatment facilities operating at critically reduced output and deficits reported as high as 60%, threatening supply reliability if conditions persist. Tourism & Sports Visibility: GFA President Marlon Glean represented Grenada at Soccerex Europe 2026 in Amsterdam, while the Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up as a sports-tourism win for local hospitality. Market Context: A new report pegs global cinnamon growth from US$858.1m (2026) to US$1,099.2m (2033), underlining the wider demand backdrop for Grenada’s spice push.

Wellness Tourism Push: Grenada is leaning hard into the wellness-and-culinary travel boom, pitching itself as more than “sun and sand” with holistic experiences and eco-luxury stays—highlighting Silversands Collection’s Grand Anse expansion, including the 28-room Silversands Beach House with beachfront dinners, sunset cruises, and locally sourced dining. Water Stress: Meanwhile, dry-season pressure is tightening: Nawasa says multiple Grenada water facilities are at critically reduced output, with some deficits reaching 60% and communities facing reliability hits as river flows and spring yields fall. Sports Tourism Momentum: The Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up with 60 visiting players and a Guyana team taking the title, with organizers saying the influx boosted hospitality and local business activity. Regional Policy Watch: Elsewhere in the ECCU orbit, a new push for trade liberalisation readiness is underway via CARICOM consultations, with Grenada among the next stops.

ECCU Strategy Reset: A new op-ed argues the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union has successfully recovered tourism since the pandemic, but diversification is uneven—agriculture and Citizenship by Investment moved, while healthcare largely didn’t—while a tougher energy era (including the Guyana oil boom) forces a fresh ECCU playbook. Customs Crackdown: Grenada stopped a ganja smuggling attempt when a Customs officer inspected a barrel at Compass Shipping and alerted the Drug Squad. Fisheries Under Pressure: Fisherfolk leaders say Grenada has lost 30+ fish species, pointing to past pesticide runoff and mangrove loss. Water Woes: Nawasa warns dry-season strain is cutting production at multiple treatment plants, with some facilities near non-operational levels. Tourism Push: The Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up with Guyana’s North Soesdyke winning, framed as a sports-tourism boost for hotels and local businesses. Housing Progress: Project 500 has begun selling homes in the first Dunfermline phase for qualifying families. Regional Trade Talks: CARICOM continues consultations on member readiness for further trade liberalisation, with Grenada slated for talks later this month.

ECCU Strategy Debate: A fresh op-ed argues the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union has already bounced back on tourism, but diversification is uneven—agriculture has shifted, Citizenship by Investment has transformed, while healthcare remains largely untouched—while a tougher external mix (energy shocks and the “decade of decision” framing) raises the stakes for what ECCU leaders do next. Grenada Drug Bust: Customs stopped a Crochu man at Compass Shipping in the Lagoon after a suspicious barrel package was opened, triggering a Drug Squad investigation. Fisheries Alarm: Fisherfolk say Grenada has lost over 30 fish species, blaming past banana-field spraying runoff and mangrove cutting. Water Pressure: Nawasa warns dry-season strain is worsening, with some treatment facilities operating at critically reduced levels. Tourism Push: Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up with Guyana’s North Soesdyke winning, framed as a boost for hospitality and the wider sports-tourism calendar.

ECCU Strategy Review: A new look at the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union’s “decade of decision” argues tourism has bounced back and often beat pre-pandemic levels, but diversification is uneven—Citizenship by Investment has changed the game, agriculture has shifted, and healthcare still lags—while energy shocks and Guyana’s oil boom reshape the region’s priorities. Customs Crackdown: At Compass Shipping in the Lagoon, a Customs officer stopped a Crochu man from smuggling high-grade ganja hidden in a barrel, with the Drug Squad moving in after the discovery. Fisheries Under Pressure: Southern Fishermen Association head James Nicholas says Grenada has lost over 30 fish species, blaming pesticide run-off from past banana spraying and mangrove cutting. Water Worries: Nawasa warns Grenada’s dry-season strain is worsening, with some treatment facilities operating at critically reduced output. Tourism Push: Grenada Tourism Authority says the Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament drew 60 visiting players and boosted hospitality and dining. Housing Progress: Project 500 has opened sales for phase-one homes in Dunfermline, targeting first-time buyers with climate-smart options.

Cuba’s Fuel Collapse: Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel-oil reserves, with blackouts reportedly stretching beyond 20 hours a day, after U.S. pressure choked off cheaper oil deliveries from Venezuela and Mexico and tankers faced new hindrances—setting up what’s being described as a de facto blockade and pushing Havana into talks with Washington. Grenada Water Stress: Closer to home, Nawasa says the dry season is biting hard: some treatment facilities are down sharply, with Après Tout non-operational and other plants operating at critical reductions, as stream and spring flows fail. Tourism Push in Grenada: The Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up with Guyana’s North Soesdyke taking the title, and the Grenada Tourism Authority says the week boosted hospitality and local business activity. Caribbean Tourism Policy Watch: Caribbean hotel groups are pushing back against Booking.com commission changes that would charge commissions on government taxes and fees.

Centennial Spotlight: Granada Hills marked 100 years with a packed Centennial Banquet Gala at The Odyssey Restaurant, featuring a historical walk-through, live string quartet, and mariachi performances—plus a 12-minute community video looking back from 1926 to 2026. Tourism & Culture: Grenada’s Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament wrapped up with Guyana’s North Soesdyke taking the title, framed by the Grenada Tourism Authority as a sports-tourism boost for hospitality and local businesses. Water Woes: Nawasa says the dry season is biting hard—multiple treatment plants are down sharply, with some areas facing reliability risks as production deficits reach around 60%. Regional Push: CARICOM is continuing consultations on member readiness for further trade liberalisation, with Grenada among the next stops. Digital Economy: A report flags Jamaica as a fast-growing OnlyFans spending market, while Grenada’s tourism also gets a visibility lift from creator-led Caribbean livestream tours.

Fisheries Fix in Motion: Bridgetown Fisheries Complex users say things are “looking brighter” after Environment/Fisheries Minister Santia Bradshaw visited Tuesday night over broken ice machines that were forcing fishermen to travel to Grenada or pay more at Glacial Ice. A Wednesday meeting reportedly produced short-term stock measures and longer-term plans covering security, infrastructure, staffing and procedures. Tourism Pressure Point: The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is pushing back on Booking.com’s proposed commission changes, warning the policy could cost hotels millions and add strain by charging commissions on government taxes and fees. Digital Economy Buzz: Jamaica is flagged as one of the region’s fastest-growing OnlyFans spenders, with per-capita spending rising sharply in 2025. Grenada Watch: The week’s tourism calendar stays active with Pure Grenada “Spicetivities” and the Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament, while water stress remains a live concern across the southern Caribbean.

Digital Economy: Jamaica is surging in OnlyFans spending, with a new “OnlyFans Wrapped 2025” report estimating per-capita spend rising to about US$10,249 in 2025 (up 18.4% from 2024), and roughly US$2.87 million in total spend—part of a wider Caribbean creator-economy boom. Tourism Pulse (Grenada): Grenada’s “Spicetivities” returns for island-wide food, music and beach culture from May 11–17, while the Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament just wrapped as a sports-tourism boost that drew 60 visiting players and fed hospitality demand. Water Stress: Nawasa says Grenada’s dry-season pressure is worsening, with multiple treatment facilities cutting output and some areas facing reliability hits. Regional Watch: Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil reserves, deepening blackout hours and protests. Policy/Business: CARICOM is continuing consultations on trade liberalisation readiness, with Grenada and T&T sessions scheduled later this month.