AGP Executive Report

Regional Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers urged faster action to cut reliance on imported food and strengthen trade between member states. The meeting also marked the handover of the council chairmanship from Montserrat to St Kitts and Nevis. Priorities include regional shipping links, shared food-safety standards and protecting farmland, water and seeds. Caribbean Tourism: The OECS says too little tourism revenue reaches local farmers, fishers, artisans and small businesses, and too many communities miss out on the industry’s gains. The regional body is calling for stronger links between tourism and local livelihoods.

Regional Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers called for faster action to reduce the Caribbean’s reliance on imported food and strengthen trade between member states. The meeting marked the transfer of the council chairmanship from Montserrat to St Kitts and Nevis. Priorities include regional shipping links, shared food standards and protecting farmland, water and seeds. Caribbean Tourism: The OECS director general urged the region to keep more visitor spending at home by linking farmers, fishers, artisans and small businesses more closely to tourism.

Regional Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers called for faster action to reduce reliance on imported food and strengthen trade between member states. The meeting marked the transfer of the Council’s chairmanship from Montserrat to St Kitts and Nevis. Priorities include regional shipping links, shared food-safety standards and protecting water, soil and seeds. Caribbean Tourism: The OECS says too little visitor spending reaches local farmers, fishers, creatives and small businesses, and wants communities to share more fully in tourism’s benefits.

Regional Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers urged faster action to cut reliance on imported food and strengthen trade between member states. The meeting also marked the transfer of the ministers’ council chairmanship from Montserrat to St Kitts and Nevis. Priorities include regional shipping links, joint purchasing and harmonised food-safety standards. Montserrat Sports: Jhordan Ryan, a St John’s native and senior forward at Angelo State, was named a Lone Star Conference Player to Watch. His team was picked eighth in the league’s preseason basketball poll after Ryan averaged 6.7 rebounds last season.

Disaster Readiness: A Royal Navy drone trial over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach tested rapid damage checks and the possible delivery of emergency supplies after a hurricane. No supplies were delivered during the exercise. Water Security: The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean elected an interim steering committee and renewed its focus on water security and climate resilience, priorities with direct relevance to Montserrat. Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers called for faster action to cut reliance on imported food and improve regional trade. Montserrat’s John P. Osbourne handed the council chairmanship to St. Kitts and Nevis. Montserrat Festival: The island’s end-of-year programme runs December 4 to January 1, returning to the Montserrat Festival name. Events include calypso, steelpan, school concerts and youth pageants at the refurbished Cultural Centre.

Disaster Readiness: A Royal Navy drone trial over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach tested rapid damage assessments and the potential delivery of essential supplies after a hurricane. No supplies were delivered during the exercise. Festival: Montserrat Festival returns from December 4 to January 1, with events at the refurbished Cultural Centre, school performances and youth pageants. There will be no senior queen pageant this year. Regional Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers urged faster action to reduce reliance on imported food and strengthen trade among member states. Montserrat’s John P. Osbourne handed over the council chairmanship to St. Kitts and Nevis. Water Security: The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean elected six members to an interim steering committee and called for stronger links between water security, climate resilience and agriculture.

Regional Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers called for faster action to cut reliance on imported food and improve trade between islands. Montserrat’s John P. Osbourne handed the council chairmanship to St. Kitts and Nevis. Montserrat Festival: End-of-year celebrations run from December 4 to January 1, with the refurbished Cultural Centre hosting concerts, pageants and other events. There will be no senior queen pageant this year. Disaster Readiness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring how they could help assess hurricane damage and deliver essential supplies in future emergencies.

Food Security: OECS agriculture ministers called for faster action to cut reliance on imported food and strengthen trade between member states. The meeting marked the transfer of the council’s chairmanship from Montserrat to St. Kitts and Nevis. Regional Tourism: OECS Director General Didacus Jules urged the Caribbean to keep more visitor spending in the region and better connect farmers, fishers, artisans and small businesses to tourism. Montserrat Festival: End-of-year celebrations will run from December 4 to January 1, with the refurbished Cultural Centre hosting events including youth pageants, school concerts and the Montserrat Has Talent competition. Disaster Preparedness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach to explore rapid damage assessments and potential emergency deliveries of essential supplies.

Montserrat Festival: Year-end celebrations run from December 4 to January 1, with the refurbished Cultural Centre hosting events. The programme features calypso, steelpan, school performances and youth pageants; there will be no senior queen pageant this year. Disaster Preparedness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring rapid damage assessment and possible future delivery of medical supplies, medicine and water after a disaster. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Caribbean Tourism: OECS Director General Didacus Jules says too little visitor spending reaches local farmers, fishers, artisans and communities, urging the region to better share tourism’s rewards.

Montserrat Festival: The end-of-year programme runs December 4 to January 1, with the refurbished Cultural Centre reopening for concerts, pageantry and community events. This year’s festival has no senior queen pageant, but includes teen and tween competitions. Disaster Preparedness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring aerial damage checks and possible future delivery of emergency supplies. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Regional Water Security: The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean elected an interim steering committee and renewed its focus on climate resilience and water security across the region. Tourism: OECS Director General Didacus Jules urged Caribbean destinations to keep more visitor spending in local communities and connect farmers, fishers, artisans and small businesses to the tourism industry.

Caribbean Tourism: OECS Director General Didacus Jules says too little visitor spending reaches local farmers, fishers, creatives and small businesses, urging a tourism industry that shares its rewards more widely. Montserrat Festival: The celebrations return December 4 to January 1, with the refurbished Cultural Centre hosting events, youth pageants and school performances; there will be no senior queen pageant this year. Disaster Readiness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring rapid damage checks and possible future delivery of emergency supplies. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Island Spotlight: Montserrat is among Lonely Planet’s recommended destinations for 2027, recognised alongside places across the world. Regional Opportunity: Anguilla’s .ai internet domain has become a lucrative asset amid global interest in artificial intelligence, bringing an unexpected revenue stream to the small Caribbean island.

Caribbean Tourism: The OECS is urging the region to keep more visitor spending at home and bring farmers, fishers, artists and small businesses into the tourism economy—a challenge relevant to Montserrat as it promotes its own visitor offer. Disaster Readiness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring how they could assess storm damage and deliver essential supplies in future emergencies. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Festival 2026: Montserrat’s end-of-year celebrations will run from December 4 to January 1, with calypso, steelpan, pageantry and school performances. The refurbished Cultural Centre returns as a venue, though there will be no senior queen pageant this year. Travel Spotlight: Montserrat is among Lonely Planet’s recommended destinations for 2027, featured for its volcanic coastline.

Caribbean Tourism: The OECS says too little visitor spending reaches local farmers, fishers, creatives and small businesses, renewing calls for communities to share more of tourism’s rewards. Festival Season: Montserrat Festival runs December 4 to January 1, with calypso, steelpan, school concerts and events at the refurbished Cultural Centre. There will be teen and tween pageants, but no senior queen pageant this year. Montserrat in 2027: The island made Lonely Planet’s list of places to visit next year, highlighted for its volcanic coastline. Disaster Response: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring rapid damage surveys and possible future delivery of emergency supplies. Football: Montserrat will face Nicaragua in a Gold Cup qualifying play-in tie in November.

Montserrat Festival: The end-of-year celebrations return December 4 to January 1 under the Montserrat Festival name, with events spanning calypso, steelpan, pageantry and Christmas concerts. The refurbished Cultural Centre will host several events, including Miss Teen Montserrat and Miss Tween; there will be no senior queen pageant this year. Disaster Readiness: During HMS Trent’s visit, drones flew over the exclusion zone to demonstrate rapid damage assessment and landed at Rendezvous Beach to test a potential way to deliver emergency supplies. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Gold Cup Qualifying: Montserrat will face Nicaragua in a play-in tie for a place in the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary round. Tourism Spotlight: Montserrat is among Lonely Planet’s recommended destinations for 2027, listed for its volcanic coastline.

Disaster Readiness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring how aerial surveys and future emergency supply deliveries could support disaster response. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Festival: Montserrat Festival returns from December 4 to January 1, with events at the refurbished Cultural Centre and a programme spanning calypso, steelpan, pageantry and school performances. The senior queen pageant will not be held this year. Football: Montserrat will face Nicaragua in a Gold Cup qualifying play-in, one of several Caribbean matchups shaping the route to the 2027 tournament. Tourism: Tourism Week put technology and AI in the spotlight, with workshops and activities focused on using digital tools to promote the island while keeping its people, culture and natural beauty at the heart of tourism.

Disaster Readiness: HMS Trent tested drones over Montserrat’s exclusion zone and at Rendezvous Beach, exploring how they could assess hurricane damage and carry essential supplies in a future emergency. No supplies were delivered during the trial. Festival Season: Montserrat Festival returns from December 4 to January 1, with calypso, steelpan, concerts and youth pageants at the refurbished Cultural Centre. There will be no senior queen pageant this year. Tourism: Lonely Planet named Montserrat among its Best in Travel destinations for 2027, spotlighting the island’s volcanic coastline. Tourism Week also explored how AI and digital storytelling could support the sector, while keeping local people and culture at its heart. Football: Montserrat will face Nicaragua in a November play-in tie for a place in the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminaries.