AGP Executive Report

Education Policy Clash: Students at SVG Community College say registration fees are back at $480 for second-year learners, despite government promises of fee-free education. Vincentian Theatre Goes Global: Kevin Roderiques’ crime drama “Number Seven” will stage in Kingstown on Sept. 5, then debut Off-Broadway Oct. 24 during SVG’s 47th Independence celebrations. Youth Sailing Spotlight: The SVG Sailing Association crowned youth champions after seven tight races at Calliaqua Bay, with Nigel Tash (Optimist), Jordi Lewis (ILCA 4) and Kai Marks Dasent (ILCA 6). Swimming Success: Greyson Burrell of Blue Marlin Swim Academy won four medals at the SVG National Swimming Championship. Music Legacy: Granville Straker, founder of Straker’s Records, has died at 86, leaving a major mark on calypso and soca across the region and diaspora. Media Shift: Searchlight newspaper will end print and pause digital editions on Sept. 25 after 31 years. Sports & Community: All Athletes Inc. marks its third anniversary supporting student-athletes through events, advocacy and development.

Swimming Spotlight: Young Greyson Burrell of the Blue Marlin Swim Academy grabbed four medals at the 2026 SVG National Swimming Championship—three silvers and a bronze—in the Boys 11–12 events. Music Legacy: Vincentian music pioneer Granville Straker, founder of Straker’s Records, has died at 86, leaving a major mark on calypso and soca production and the Caribbean music diaspora. Diplomacy & Culture: Taiwan’s Youth Cultural showcase marked a diplomatic milestone with a 30-member delegation bringing dance, vocals, and shared performances to the 45-year SVG–Taiwan partnership. Sports & Youth Sailing: The SVG Sailing Association’s Youth Nationals crowned champions across Optimist, ILCA 4, and ILCA 6 after seven tight races at Calliaqua Bay. EU Blue Economy: Bequia Fish Market is set for a climate-resilient rebuild with an EU-funded EC$3.285m project aimed at boosting fisheries and opening by mid-2027. Media Change: Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause digital editions on Sept. 25 after 31 years. Education Update: CSEC performance reports are delayed due to discrepancies at two schools, though online access to preliminary grades remains available. Community Arts: Club St. Vincent’s Brooklyn cultural exposition returned after a three-year pause, featuring live entertainment and local entrepreneurs.

Caribbean Music Legacy: Granville Straker, the Vincentian-born producer behind Straker’s Records in Brooklyn, has died at 86, remembered for helping preserve and spread calypso and soca across the region and diaspora. Grenadines Travel & Lifestyle: TradeWinds’ electric catamaran “Hadali” is spotlighted on a seven-day sailing trip through the Grenadines, mixing luxury, eco-tourism and island-hopping. Diaspora Community Ties: Pastor Louis Straker Jr. says he’s “torn” after NYPD cancelled a Trinidad & Tobago Independence Day parade permit in Brooklyn, pointing to the wider challenges facing Caribbean communities abroad. Blue Economy & Local Economy: The EU-backed EC$3.285m Bequia Fish Market rebuild is underway, framed as climate-resilient support for fisheries and the “blue economy,” with a mid-2027 opening target. Youth Sailing: SVG Sailing Association’s Youth Nationals crowned champions across Optimist, ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 after seven close races at Calliaqua Bay. Media Watch: Searchlight newspaper will end print after 31 years, with final edition set for Sept 25, as its parent company reviews the future of the operation. Education Update: CSEC results publication is temporarily delayed due to discrepancies at two schools, while students can still access preliminary grades online until Sept 30. Sports & Culture Abroad: A Vincentian community cricket celebration in High Wycombe blended T20 action with Caribbean food, music and heritage stalls.

Bequia Blue Economy Boost: The government has launched an EC$3.285m EU-funded rebuild of the Port Elizabeth Fish Market, with Hutchinson Construction as main contractor, aiming for a climate-resilient, modern hub for fisherfolk and a mid-2027 opening. Youth Sailing Spotlight: The SVG Sailing Association’s KGroup National Youth Championships 2026 wrapped up at Calliaqua Bay with tight races across Optimist, ILCA 4 and ILCA 6, plus support from a World Sailing judge seminar. Education Update: CSEC results are temporarily withheld as the Ministry investigates discrepancies at two schools, while students can still access preliminary grades on the CXC portal until Sept 30. Community Input for School: Residents of Sandy Bay are being consulted on the permanent location and future role of the new Sandy Bay Secondary School after La Soufrière relocation. Local Media in Transition: Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause digital editions on Sept 25 after 31 years. Arts & Culture Recognition: Union Island’s “Union Island Culture” won Best Entertainment Item at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union Media Awards, highlighting Vincentian creative talent.

Youth Sailing: The SVG Sailing Association wrapped its KGroup National Youth Championships 2026 at Calliaqua Bay with seven tight races in Optimist, ILCA 4 and ILCA 6, crowned by Nigel Tash, Jordi Lewis and Kai Marks Dasent, with a World Sailing Judge Seminar boosting rules and protest training. Caribbean Culture in the Diaspora: Club St. Vincent’s 2026 cultural exposition returned to Brooklyn after a three-year pause, featuring live music and performances plus 33 entrepreneurs, while Union Island’s “Union Island Culture” earned a regional CBU Media Award for Best Entertainment Item (Digital). Education Updates: CSEC results are temporarily delayed as the Ministry flags discrepancies at two schools, while a Sandy Bay Secondary School relocation plan is now in community consultation ahead of the new build. Sports & Talent: A Canadian-Vincentian footballer, Tyrique Clarke (“Ty”), signed a multi-year pro deal with Inter Toronto in the Canadian Premier League. Media Shift: St. Vincent’s Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause digital editions on Sept. 25 after 31 years. Community & Safety: Police charged five men with affray after a public disturbance, and residents in Clare Valley are calling for action on an African snail infestation.

Caribbean Tourism Push: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism leadership is in the spotlight after Minister Dr Kishore Shallow joined regional officials at the ASTA Caribbean Showcase in St Kitts, underscoring fresh momentum for travel trade growth. Community & Culture Through Sport: In High Wycombe, the Barbadian and Vincentian communities came together for a cricket celebration with Caribbean food, music, and a tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers—plus local health outreach at the grounds. Media & Entertainment: Searchlight newspaper is set to end after 31 years, with its final print edition and digital pause scheduled for Sept 25—another blow to regional journalism. Regional Arts Recognition: Union Island Culture earned Best Entertainment Item at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union Media Awards, with API staffer Yinka Chambers credited for the award-winning production. Education & Exams: CSEC performance reporting is delayed while CXC and local officials review discrepancies at two schools, though the CXC Student Results Portal remains open until Sept 30. Youth Skills & Tech: ECCB’s Generative AI and Python Summer Camp is expanding across the Eastern Caribbean with real business projects, aiming to boost digital-ready talent. Local School Planning: Sandy Bay residents are being consulted on the permanent home and curriculum direction for the relocated Sandy Bay Secondary School. Music Legacy: The Caribbean music world mourns Granville Straker, founder of Straker’s Records, who helped shape calypso and soca across the diaspora.

Caribbean culture & sport in the diaspora: High Wycombe’s Caribbean Festival brought Barbadian and Vincentian communities together at the cricket club, with a one-minute silence for Sir Garfield Sobers and a lively marketplace of Caribbean food, crafts, and island fashion. Music legacy: The family of Granville Straker—pioneering Caribbean music producer and founder of Straker’s Records—mourns his passing at 86, marking the end of an era for calypso and soca history. Media spotlight: Vincentian broadcaster Yinka Chambers won Best Entertainment Item (Digital) at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union Media Awards for “Union Island Culture,” while Searchlight newspaper announced it will end print after 31 years and pause digital editions on Sept. 25. Education & youth: CSEC results are delayed for a joint critical subject review, and a Sandy Bay Secondary School relocation consultation is underway as the new campus plan takes shape. Sports pathway: A Canadian-Vincentian teen, Tyrique “Ty” Clarke, signed a multi-year pro contract with Inter Toronto’s first team. Para-sports push: SVG Paralympians completed an IPC-backed capacity workshop to strengthen governance and athlete development.

Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for possible support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing—covering solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, bioenergy, e-mobility, and green supply chains. Education Update: The Ministry of Education says the 2026 CSEC performance report is delayed while CXC and local officials review discrepancies at two schools; students can still check grades via the CXC portal until Sept. 30. Local School Planning: Sandy Bay residents are being consulted on a permanent home for the new Sandy Bay Secondary School after La Soufrière’s 2021 eruption, with the project tied to an EC$73 million school improvement plan. Arts & Media: Vincentian media talent scored regionally—API staffer Yinka Chambers’ “Union Island Culture” won Best Entertainment Item (Digital) at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union Media Awards. End of an Era: St. Vincent’s Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause digital editions on Sept. 25 after 31 years. Sports Spotlight: A Vincentian teen, Tyrique Kevonte Clarke (“Ty”), has signed a multi-year professional contract with Inter Toronto in Canada’s Premier League.

Media & Culture: Searchlight newspaper is set to end after 31 years, publishing its final print edition and pausing digital editions on Sept. 25, as Interactive Media Limited reviews the future of the operation. Music Legacy: Vincentian music producer Granville Leonard Straker (Straker’s Records) has died at 86, remembered for helping preserve and distribute calypso and soca across the Caribbean and diaspora. Education: The Ministry of Education says the 2026 CSEC performance report is delayed for a joint CXC review of two local schools, while online access to preliminary grades stays open until Sept. 30. Community Schools: Residents are being consulted on a permanent home for the relocated Sandy Bay Secondary School, part of an EC$73m improvement project. Sports & Talent: A Canadian-Vincentian footballer, Tyrique “Ty” Clarke, signs a multi-year pro deal with Inter Toronto in the Canadian Premier League. Arts Spotlight: Union Island Culture wins Best Entertainment Item (Digital) at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union Media Awards. Infrastructure: Bequia’s Port Elizabeth Fish Market rehabilitation breaks ground with an EU-funded $3.2m project.

Media & Culture: Searchlight, a Vincentian news staple for 31 years, says its final print edition will run Sept. 25, pausing its digital editions as Interactive Media Limited reviews the future of the operation. Education: CXC CSEC/CAPE results were temporarily withheld after discrepancies at two local schools, with the Education Minister saying work is underway with CXC to fix the issues. Community & Youth Learning: CPEA Success Hub wrapped up a three-week Boot Camp for Grade 5 and 6 students, aiming to turn exam anxiety into confidence ahead of the new term. Arts & Entertainment Recognition: Union Island Culture earned a regional CBU Media Award for Best Entertainment Item (Digital), with API staff celebrating the win. Sports & Talent: A Canadian-Vincentian footballer, Tyrique “Ty” Clarke, signed a multi-year pro deal with Inter Toronto in the Canadian Premier League. Sports Development: The National Paralympic Committee completed a three-day capacity workshop to strengthen governance and athlete pathways. Local Life: Residents in Clare Valley are calling for action against an African snail infestation. Public Services: The Ministry of Water in Jamaica pushed multi-hazard early warning upgrades via a CAP workshop.

Media & Culture: Club St. Vincent’s cultural exposition in Brooklyn returned after a three-year hiatus, drawing 33 entrepreneurs and a packed live entertainment lineup featuring SVG talent. Press Freedom: Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause digital editions on Sept. 25, 2026, after 31 years—another blow to regional media sustainability. Aviation & Growth: Argyle International Airport has started work on a master plan to guide infrastructure and investment through 2046. Tech for Youth: The ECCB’s Generative AI and Python Summer Camp (with Taiwan support) is placing participants with real enterprise clients to build digital skills. Sports & Youth Development: Saint James School of Medicine launched an international track letting students complete clinical rotations locally in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Tourism & Community: Kids’ Tourism Summer Camp is giving ages 8–13 eco-adventure learning across Kingstown, Windward, and Leeward. Arts/Entertainment Spotlight: Black Island Girl Multimedia launched a Caribbean-wide video contest for an emerging correspondent to cover the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards red carpet in Trinidad.

Media Industry: St. Vincent’s long-running Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause its digital editions on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, after 31 years, as Interactive Media Limited reassesses the future of the operation. Immigration & Travel: The US has suspended new visa processing globally, with applicants reportedly getting appointment cancellations and later rescheduling emails. Education & Medicine: Saint James School of Medicine launches an international medical track letting students complete clinical rotations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and a mental health centre) while still meeting the same core curriculum and internal exam standards. Community & Youth: A town hall is set to shape the future of a new Sandy Bay secondary school, while the SVG Netball Association rolls out a grassroots “Game Changers” programme for ages 4–14 in Fancy. Arts & Culture: Vincentian authors Shefflorn and Ann-Marie Ballantyne officially launch I Do Not Consent, documenting the Vincentian chapter of the 2021 vaccine mandate controversy. Sports: A youth sailing Vincentian, Marks-Dasent, heads to the next stage after competing at the ILCA 6 Youth World Championships in Denmark.

Education & Careers: Saint James School of Medicine has launched an international medical track that lets students complete clinical rotations locally in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, with exams aligned to core competencies. Media & Culture: Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause its digital editions after 31 years, with Interactive Media Limited reviewing the future of the operation. Maritime Business: A public online auction is set for the PSV Bourbon Explorer 504 with a bareboat charter. Community & Tourism: Kids’ Tourism Summer Camp (ages 8–13) ran across Kingstown, Windward and Leeward under an eco-adventure theme, mixing hikes, crafts and farm visits. Sports Grassroots: The SVG Netball Association launched its Game Changers programme in Fancy for ages 4–14, with safeguarding and safe-sport training built in. Diplomacy: Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are in talks on funding a national development bank and social empowerment projects. Health & Society: A renewed push for stronger mental health care and public treatment of people living with mental illness is raised amid high-profile incidents.

Caribbean Music Awards media hunt: Dominican producer Jael Joseph’s Black Island Girl Multimedia launched a Caribbean-wide video contest to find an emerging red-carpet correspondent for the Sept. 19, 2026 awards in Trinidad & Tobago—winner gets flights, accommodation, and the assignment to interview regional artists. Crime & policing: Acting Police leadership says a strengthened crime-fighting plan is coming, with officers deployed using intelligence and crime patterns as gun violence remains a top concern. Livestock politics: SVG cattle farmers are mobilizing against a proposed ban on live cattle exports to Grenada, arguing it threatens livelihoods and the regional livestock trade. Mental health spotlight: A public call is renewed over how people with mental illness are treated, after high-profile violent incidents involving mentally ill residents and police response. Tourism education: Kids across SVG (ages 8–13) took part in an eco-tourism summer camp with hikes, crafts, and farm visits, building early interest in tourism careers. Diplomacy with Taiwan: Taiwan and SVG are in talks on funding a national development bank and social projects, with details still under discussion. Netball grassroots: SVG Netball Association launched its Game Changers programme in Fancy for ages 4–14, adding safeguarding and safe-sport training alongside skills development.

Caribbean Music Awards Media Search: Black Island Girl Multimedia has launched a Caribbean-wide video contest to find an emerging media correspondent, with the winner set to travel to Trinidad & Tobago for the Sept. 19, 2026 Caribbean Music Awards red carpet—flights, accommodation, and the chance to interview regional artists. Crime & Police Accountability: The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is rolling out a strengthened crime-fighting strategy, with Acting Commissioner Brenton Smith taking strategic command for gun-violence response and promising greater accountability. Mental Health Call-Out: A new local commentary is urging better treatment and care for people living with mental illness, after high-profile violent incidents and court outcomes sparked public concern. Livestock & Trade Pressure: SVG cattle farmers are mobilizing against a proposed ban on exporting live cattle to Grenada, warning it could derail livelihoods and the local livestock push. Taiwan Development Talks: Taiwan and SVG are in discussions on funding a national development bank and social empowerment projects, with details still under active review. Kids’ Tourism Eco-Camp: A summer camp for ages 8–13 is giving children hands-on eco-tourism experiences across SVG’s zones, with community and tourism partners backing the programme.

Taiwan Talks & Funding: Taiwan says it’s in active discussions with St. Vincent and the Grenadines on support for a national development bank plus social empowerment grants, with nothing finalized yet. Education Reality Check: A new commentary challenges CPEA-style “pass counting,” asking whether students can truly read, write, reason, and apply skills beyond exams. Crime & Guns: Police leadership outlined a strengthened crime-fighting plan, while officers reported recovering three firearms tied to recent shootings across Kingstown and nearby areas. Public Outrage Over Minibus Fight: A viral audio and images of a minibus altercation involving a conductor and a primary school-aged child has sparked widespread anger and calls for accountability. Heritage & Culture: The OAS hosted a Virtual Heritage Expo for Indigenous Peoples across several Caribbean states, spotlighting roots, traditions, and cultural contributions. Sports for the Community: Netball launched its Fancy grassroots “Game Changers” programme for ages 4–14, with safeguarding and safe-sport training built in. Arts & Media: Vincentian authors launched a new book on the 2021 vaccine mandate, and a Caribbean-wide search is underway for a new media correspondent for the Caribbean Music Awards.