AGP Executive Report

Procurement Clash in Grenada: The DPM says Grenada’s government “completely ignored” procurement laws by using a “design, build and finance” approach for major road projects, arguing it sidesteps competitive bidding and leaves costs and financing unclear. Marina Legal Fight: A Privy Council ruling backs private landowners in Carriacou, pushing to remove developers tied to the Tyrrel Bay Marina after the Keith Mitchell-era lease of non-state land was ruled wrong. Public Communication Budget Cuts: French overseas professionals warn that only €1.7m is earmarked for public campaigns in Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana—far below a requested €11m—raising fears for prevention messaging on health, climate and safety. Martinique Economy Watch: Les Bienheureux is set to buy Campari’s Martinique agricole rum portfolio (Trois Rivières, La Mauny, Duquesne), pending SAFER approval. Caribbean Sports Calendar: Concacaf Nations League schedules confirm Martinique’s League B group matches (vs Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala, Suriname, El Salvador) and regional fixtures continue to shape the fall political-and-community spotlight. Culture & Tourism: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25) lines up NE-YO, Machel Montano and Martinique’s Maurane Voyer, signaling another major Creole-season draw.

Local Governance & Procurement: Grenada’s DPM says the government “completely ignored” procurement laws by using a design-build-finance approach for major road projects, raising concerns over competitive bidding and public cost transparency. Legal Accountability: The Privy Council ruling in the Tyrrel Bay Marina dispute is fueling calls to remove developers from private lands leased without state ownership, after a fence sparked fallout for boat owners. Public Communication Budget: In France’s overseas territories, professionals warn that a reduced state communications budget—€1.7m for Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana—falls far short of local needs. Digital Security: A major cyberattack on France’s tax authority DGFiP is prompting phishing warnings for taxpayers and property owners ahead of taxe foncière bills. Culture & Identity: Martinique’s Maurane Voyer is among the confirmed acts for Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25), alongside NE-Yo and regional stars. Sports & Regional Fixtures: Concacaf Nations League schedules place Martinique in League B Group B, with the wider 2026/27 competition set to run through late 2026 into early 2027. Economy & Tourism: MSC Cruises reshuffled winter 2027/28 deployments, including new South Caribbean sailings with embarkation in Fort-de-France.

French Antilles & Guiana Budget Fight: A French government plan to cut state communication spending has sparked an outcry, with only €1.7m earmarked for Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana—professionals say they need €11m to cover local realities and prevention campaigns. Procurement & Roads Controversy: Grenada’s DPM says the government “completely ignored” procurement laws by using a “design, build and finance” approach for major road projects, arguing costs and financing details aren’t transparent. Marina Legal Fallout: Grenada’s Tyrrel Bay Marina dispute is back in the spotlight after a Privy Council ruling that private land was wrongly leased—owners want developers off the property after fencing blocked boat access. Cruise Redeployments (Martinique link): MSC Cruises reshuffled winter 2027/28 deployments: MSC World Asia will sail from Fort-de-France (Martinique) in the South Caribbean, while MSC World Europa stays in the Western Mediterranean. Football Fixtures (regional): Concacaf Nations League schedules were confirmed, including League B Group with Martinique set to face Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala, Suriname and El Salvador. Culture & Music: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25) announced a star lineup including NE-YO and Martinique’s Maurane Voyer. Heritage Under Threat: Coastal erosion in the French Caribbean is exposing and destroying slave-era graves, raising urgent questions about preservation as the sea retreats inland.

Football & Regional Fixtures: Trinidad and Tobago’s Derek King says the Soca Warriors are ready after the Nations League draw, with T&T opening League A on Sept 23 in Kingston vs Haiti, then hosting the Dominican Republic on Sept 27, before matches in Curaçao on Oct 1 and Oct 4. Sports & Martinique in the Mix: Bermuda’s Nations League schedule confirms League B Group B includes Martinique, with matches set across Saint Lucia and Barbados in the Sept–Oct window. Culture & Martinique Presence: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25) spotlights a star lineup including Martinique’s Maurane Voyer alongside NE-Yo, Machel Montano, Maxi Priest, Alkaline and Skillibeng. Governance & Procurement: Grenada’s DPM alleges the government “completely ignored” procurement laws in major road projects using a “design, build and finance” approach, raising concerns over costs and transparency. Heritage Under Threat: In the French Caribbean, coastal erosion is exposing and destroying enslaved people’s graves on Guadeloupe’s Raisins-Clairs beach, with researchers warning many more may be lost. Public Communication Cuts: French overseas territories including Martinique and French Guiana face backlash over a proposed state communications budget of just €1.7m for public campaigns, with professionals calling for €11m. Maritime/Travel: MSC Cruises reshuffles winter 2027/28 deployments, moving MSC World Asia to the South Caribbean with embarkation in Fort-de-France, and keeping MSC World Europa in the Western Mediterranean. Local Economy/Industry: Campari’s agricole rum portfolio in Martinique is set to be bought by Les Bienheureux, pending SAFER approval.

Public Finance & Communication Cuts: A French government plan to slash state communication spending has sparked alarm in the French Antilles and French Guiana, with only €1.7 million earmarked for public campaigns—far below what local professionals say is needed (they argue for €11 million) to cover issues like health, safety, climate risks, and other sensitive topics. Procurement & Governance Dispute: In Grenada, the Democratic People’s Movement says a “design, build and finance” approach for major road projects “completely ignored” procurement laws, arguing the process sidelines competitive bidding and lacks clear public information on true costs and financing. Martinique-Linked Cruise Redeployments: MSC Cruises is reshuffling winter 2027/28 routes: MSC World Asia will sail the South Caribbean with embarkation in Fort-de-France, while MSC World Europa is pulled from the Middle East to the Western Mediterranean. Regional Sports Calendar: CONCACAF Nations League schedules are set, including Trinidad and Tobago’s League A opener against Haiti (Sept 24) and Bermuda’s League B campaign beginning Sept 25 vs Guadeloupe. Culture & Community: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25) announces a star lineup including NE-YO and Martinique’s Maurane Voyer.

Sports & Identity: Concacaf confirmed the 2026/27 Nations League schedule, with Martinique drawn in League A Group B alongside Jamaica, Honduras, Guatemala, Suriname and El Salvador—kicking off in the September-October FIFA window. Tourism & Regional Economy: MSC Cruises reshuffled its Winter 2027/28 deployments: MSC World Asia will sail the South Caribbean with embarkation in Fort-de-France (Martinique), while MSC World Europa is pulled from the Middle East and redeployed to the Western Mediterranean. Public Spending & Governance: Grenada’s Democratic People’s Movement says the government “completely ignored” procurement laws by using a design-build-finance model for major road projects, arguing costs and financing details aren’t sufficiently public. Local Culture & Youth Football: Reported FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to visit the Dominican Republic for the CFU U-14 Challenge Series, featuring Martinique among Tier I teams. Media & Public Communication: French overseas territories are alarmed by a state communication budget cut—only €1.7m earmarked for Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana—prompting calls for €11m to meet local needs. Business & Agriculture: Campari’s Martinique agricole rum portfolio (Trois Rivières, La Mauny, Duquesne) is set to be bought by French firm Les Bienheureux, pending SAFER approval.

Cruise Redeployments: MSC Cruises is reshuffling its Winter 2027/28 plans, pulling MSC World Europa out of the Middle East and sending it to the Western Mediterranean (Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina, Valletta). At the same time, MSC World Asia is moving to the South Caribbean, with embarkations in Fort-de-France (Martinique), Pointe-à-Pitre and Bridgetown, and calls across Castries, St. George’s, Philipsburg, St. John’s, Basseterre, Roseau and Kingstown. Customer Tech: Digicel says its AI assistant Ruby is now handling 55% of queries in Jamaica without human help, after more than 535,000 conversations, and is set for wider Caribbean rollout. Procurement Row (Grenada): The Democratic People’s Movement alleges the government “completely ignored” Grenada’s procurement laws in major road projects using a design-build-finance approach, criticizing lack of public cost and financing details. State Communication Budget (French Antilles/Guyane): Professionals warn France’s overseas territories face a steep drop in state communications funding—€1.7m for the French Antilles and French Guiana versus calls for €11m. Local Prices (Grenada): Grenada’s August 2026 fuel sheet shows kerosene up (to $15.84) and LPG cylinder increases for 100 lb options, while gasoline and diesel stay unchanged.

Cruise Redeployments: MSC Cruises has reshuffled its winter 2027/28 plans, pulling MSC World Europa from the Middle East and sending it to the Western Mediterranean (Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa-area ports, Messina, Valletta). At the same time, MSC World Asia is moving to the Southern Caribbean, with embarkation in Fort-de-France (Martinique), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Bridgetown (Barbados), and calls across the Leewards and Windwards. Local Governance & Procurement: In Grenada, the Democratic People’s Movement says a “design, build and finance” road approach “completely ignored” procurement laws, arguing it sidesteps competitive bidding and leaves costs/financing insufficiently transparent. State Communication Cuts: French Antilles and French Guiana professionals warn that a reduced state communications budget—€1.7m for the territories—falls far short of needs, especially for prevention campaigns. Public Finance & Cybersecurity: France’s tax authority DGFiP suffered a major cyberattack, raising phishing risks for taxpayers and property owners around upcoming bills. Culture & Sport: Martinique-linked youth football is in the spotlight as Barbados and Martinique are listed among Tier I teams for the CFU U-14 Challenge Series in the Dominican Republic; and Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival lineup includes Martinique’s Maurane Voyer. Business: French firm Les Bienheureux is set to buy Campari’s Martinique agricole rum portfolio (Trois Rivières, La Mauny, Duquesne), pending SAFER approval.

Caribbean Cruise Routes: MSC Cruises is reshuffling its winter 2027/2028 plans, cancelling planned Middle East itineraries for the MSC World Europa and keeping it in the Western Mediterranean, while the MSC World Asia is reassigned to the South Caribbean with 7- and 14-night trips starting in Fort-de-France (Martinique), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Bridgetown (Barbados), calling at Castries, St. George’s, Philipsburg, St. John’s, Basseterre, Roseau and Kingstown. Public Procurement Clash: In Grenada, the Democratic People’s Movement says the government “completely ignored” procurement laws in major road projects using a design-build-finance model, arguing costs and financing details are not publicly clear. Overseas Communication Budget: France’s plan to cut state communication spending is drawing fire in the French Antilles and French Guiana, where professionals say only €1.7m is earmarked—far below what they argue is needed for local campaigns. Tax Office Cyberattack: A major cyberattack hit France’s tax authority, DGFiP, raising phishing fears for taxpayers and property owners around upcoming taxe foncière bills. Rhum Agricole Deal (Martinique): Les Bienheureux is set to buy Campari Group’s Martinique agricole rum portfolio (Trois Rivières, La Mauny, Duquesne) pending SAFER approval. Fuel Prices (Grenada): Grenada’s August 2026 prices show no change for gasoline and diesel, but kerosene and some LPG cylinder sizes rise. Aviation Tax Legal Questions: The Dutch Council of State is challenging how a new flight tax would treat Caribbean destinations differently, with Martinique and Saint Barthélemy flagged for higher rates despite similar distances to Amsterdam.

Overseas Budget Clash: France’s plan to cut state communication spending is drawing fire in the French Antilles and French Guiana, where only €1.7 million is earmarked for public campaigns—far below professionals’ call for €11 million to cover local needs in places like Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana. Aviation Tax Legal Challenge: The Dutch Council of State is questioning the Netherlands’ proposed aviation tax differentiation, warning that neighboring Caribbean destinations could face very different rates based on legal status—highlighting how Martinique could be hit at the highest category while Sint Maarten lands in the lowest. Rhum Agricole Deal in Martinique: Campari Group has confirmed the sale of its Martinique agricole rum portfolio (Trois Rivières, La Mauny, Duquesne) to French buyer Les Bienheureux, pending SAFER approval tied to agricultural land transfers. Cybersecurity & Tax Alerts (France): A major cyberattack on France’s tax authority DGFiP is raising phishing fears for taxpayers and property owners, especially around upcoming taxe foncière bills. Local Culture & Events: CSIFF26 announced its 2026 official film selection—47 films from 14 countries including Martinique—set for Oct 9–11 in New York.

Overseas Communications Budget Row: France’s plan to cut state communication spending is hitting the French Antilles and French Guiana hard, with only €1.7 million earmarked for public campaigns—prompting an open letter from ten communications professionals who argue the territories need €11 million to cover local geography, social realities, media habits, and languages. Public Finance & Cybersecurity: A major cyberattack on France’s tax authority (DGFiP) has raised alarms for taxpayers and property owners, with warnings to watch for phishing and fake tax messages—especially around the period when taxe foncière bills are due. Aviation Tax Legal Challenge: The Dutch Council of State is questioning the Netherlands’ proposed flight tax differentiation, flagging how Martinique could be placed in the highest rate category while nearby Caribbean destinations get lower rates based on their constitutional status. Rhum Agricole Ownership Update: Campari’s agricole rum portfolio in Martinique is set to move to French buyer Les Bienheureux, pending SAFER approval tied to agricultural land transfers in Rivière-Pilote. Culture & Community Spotlight: CSIFF26 has unveiled its 2026 official selection, with 47 films from 14 countries including Martinique, ahead of Oct 9–11 in New York.

Overseas Communications Budget: France’s planned cut to state communication spending has hit the French Antilles and French Guiana hard, with only €1.7m earmarked for public campaigns—far below the €11m professionals say is needed for local realities like geography, media access, and language. Cybersecurity & Tax Administration: A major cyberattack on France’s tax authority (DGFiP) is raising phishing fears for taxpayers and property owners, especially around upcoming taxe foncière bills. Energy Prices Watch: Grenada’s latest fuel pricing update shows kerosene rising (to $15.84/IG) while gasoline and diesel stay flat, alongside LPG cylinder increases. Rhum Agricole Deal in Martinique: Campari Group’s agricole rum portfolio in Martinique is set to move to French buyer Les Bienheureux, pending SAFER approval, covering brands including Trois Rivières, La Mauny, and Duquesne. Aviation Tax Legal Challenge: The Dutch Council of State is questioning the legality of different aviation tax rates for Caribbean destinations under a new flight tax plan—highlighting potential mismatches for Martinique versus nearby islands. Cultural Memory & Resistance: A new spotlight on Nellie Ebou recounts an early-1800s enslaved woman’s resistance in the Grenadines, with her execution underscoring the brutal colonial order.

Aviation Tax Legal Fight: The Dutch Council of State has questioned the Netherlands’ plan to tax Caribbean destinations differently under a new flight tax system, flagging how Martinique could be hit with the highest rate while nearby islands like Sint Maarten get the lowest—raising constitutional fairness concerns. Caribbean Rhum Business: Campari Group has found a buyer for its Martinique agricole rum portfolio: French firm Les Bienheureux will purchase BBS (behind Trois Rivières, La Mauny and Duquesne), pending SAFER approval tied to agricultural land transfers. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Elk Grove Village residents raised concerns about a proposed WGN transmitter data center site, citing noise, wildlife and water impacts, and pushing for studies into low-frequency effects. Culture & Community: Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF26) announced its 2026 official selection, with films from Martinique among 47 titles across 14 countries. Regional Youth Sports: Martinique is listed among the teams for the ITF/COTECC Under-12 Team Competition Sub Region Four in Trinidad and Tobago (Aug. 18–21).

Aviation Tax Legal Challenge: The Dutch Council of State has flagged legal questions over the Netherlands’ plan to set different aviation tax rates for Caribbean destinations, warning that places at similar distances from Amsterdam could be taxed very differently due to their constitutional status—an issue that could put Martinique and Saint Barthélemy in the highest bracket while Sint Maarten lands in the lowest. Rhum Agricole Ownership Shift: Campari Group has confirmed a buyer for its Martinique agricole rum portfolio: French firm Les Bienheureux will purchase BBS (behind Trois Rivières, La Mauny and Duquesne), pending SAFER approval tied to agricultural land transfers in Rivière-Pilote. Culture & Regional Links: The Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF26) unveiled its 2026 official selection, with 47 films from 14 countries including Martinique, set for Oct 9–11 in New York. Sports Development: Martinique is among the teams heading to Trinidad and Tobago for the 2026 ITF/COTECC Under-12 Team Competition Sub Region Four (Aug 18–21), a Davis Cup-style youth tournament. Environment Watch: A Jamaica report highlights plastic waste washing in from other islands—citing debris labeled from places including Martinique—pushing calls for regional coordination to tackle the cross-border flow.

Aviation Tax Clash (Netherlands–Caribbean): The Dutch Council of State has flagged legal questions over how the Netherlands plans to set aviation tax rates for Caribbean destinations, warning that islands with similar distances from Amsterdam could face very different charges because of their constitutional status—an issue that could hit Martinique and Saint Barthélemy at the top rate while Sint Maarten lands in the lowest category. Regional Culture & Exchange: The Waitukubuli Artist Association says a three-week Martinique–Dominica residency by visual artist JKing (Kevin Jérémie) has wrapped, producing a permanent mural, school workshops, and driftwood sculptures tied to climate resilience and biodiversity. Connectivity Push (US–Caribbean): The U.S. State Department unveiled a submarine-cable initiative for the Caribbean and Central America, urging governments to use “trusted” providers and offering legal help—while Cuba is left out. Caribbean Infrastructure (Grenada): Carriacou’s Herbert A. Blaize Airport cleared a major hurdle toward 24-hour operations after a successful night-landing test, with licensing steps now underway to enable scheduled night landings. Caribbean Arts Spotlight: CSIFF26 (Conch Shell International Film Fest) announced 47 films from 14 countries for its Oct 9–11 run in New York, including Martinique entries.

Caribbean Aviation Tax Fight: The Dutch Council of State has flagged legal questions over the Netherlands’ proposed aviation tax “differentiation,” warning that nearby Caribbean destinations could be taxed very differently based on their constitutional status—highlighting Martinique’s and Saint Barthélemy’s placement in the highest category versus Sint Maarten in the lowest. Decolonization Politics: The International Decolonization Front adopted the “Corte Declaration,” condemning French colonial exploitation mechanisms and alleging repression of anti-colonial activists. Martinique–Dominica Cultural Exchange: Dominica’s Waitukubuli Artist Association says a three-week residency brought Martinican artist JKing to work on climate resilience, biodiversity, and cultural identity, including school workshops and a permanent mural. Regional Connectivity Push: The U.S. announced a submarine cable initiative for the Caribbean and Central America, urging governments to use “trusted” providers—while Cuba is excluded. Infrastructure Update (Grenada): Carriacou’s Herbert A. Blaize Airport cleared a night-landing readiness test, moving toward regulatory approval for 24-hour operations.