AGP Executive Report

Water Security: St. Lucia’s long-running water woes are back in the spotlight, with residents facing intermittent supply for more than a decade and fresh emergencies disrupting hygiene and food prep despite major spending. Air Quality & Health: The Meteorological Services issued a Saharan dust advisory as hazy conditions reduce air quality; health officials urged people with asthma, COPD, allergies and other respiratory issues to limit outdoor exposure and protect airways. Sea Moss & Mangroves: At Savannes Bay, stakeholders are pushing standards to revive the sea moss industry while protecting the mangrove environment, including marine debris removal and safer raft systems for farmers and marine life. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: Saint Lucia is hosting a regional mission from IICA and CATIE to kick off a “Green Revolution” push aimed at modern, climate-resilient agriculture and food security. Regional Integration: Incoming CARICOM chair Philip J. Pierre says the bloc must move closer to people—showing up in schools, homes and everyday opportunities—while prioritizing climate action and resilience. OECS Capacity Building: The OECS Commission launched a three-part gender mainstreaming staff training series, tied to sustainable land and marine ecosystem work under the EC-STEMS project. Public Safety: A multi-stakeholder working group has been formed to tackle crime and violence in Soufriere, following community walkthroughs and police-led coordination.

Water Security: St Lucia’s long-running intermittent water supply crisis is still biting hard, with residents relying on tanks, rainwater harvesting and bottled water even after rains begin—while experts warn that a “super El Niño” could limit relief and keep surface-water risks high. Regional Leadership: Incoming CARICOM chair Philip J. Pierre says integration must deliver tangible, people-centred benefits in everyday life as the bloc tackles climate pressures and social challenges. Agriculture & Resilience: An IICA and CATIE technical mission is underway to strengthen Saint Lucia’s agriculture for climate resilience and sustainability. Sea Moss & Mangroves: Stakeholders are pushing upgraded standards for the sea moss industry at Savannes Bay, alongside marine debris removal and sustainable raft systems to protect livelihoods and the mangrove environment. Air Quality Alert: Saharan dust is reducing air quality across the Eastern Caribbean, with health guidance urging vulnerable people to limit outdoor exposure and use protective masks. Sargassum “Blue Gold”: A regional environmental group backs turning sargassum into fertiliser and other products, arguing it can support food security while tackling beach invasions. Security in Soufriere: Police and community stakeholders formed a working group to tackle crime and violence in Soufriere through coordinated, practical solutions.

Saharan Dust & Air Quality: Saint Lucia Meteorological Services says a dense plume of Saharan dust is bringing hazy, breezy conditions and occasional brief showers, while the Ministry of Health warns fine particles can irritate airways—especially for people with asthma, COPD, sinusitis or severe allergies—urging residents to limit outdoor exposure and use protective masks. Sea Moss & Mangrove Protection: Stakeholders in Savannes Bay are tightening sea moss farming standards and launching marine debris removal and sustainable raft systems to clear abandoned materials, reduce harm to the mangrove environment, and support safer, more resilient livelihoods. Water Security for Farmers: A rehabilitation project in Babonneau cleared silt from a community dam, improved filtration, and upgraded irrigation lines, restoring more reliable supply for about 50 farmers across roughly 100 acres. Blue Gold Sargassum Plan: A Trinidad-based environmental group backs the push to turn the annual sargassum invasion into “blue gold,” proposing processing that could convert harvested biomass into organic fertilisers and compost alternatives. Regional Climate Resilience: OECS staff and partners marked the 45th anniversary with fire-resilient tree planting at Point Vierge, Micoud, as part of efforts to combat land degradation and desertification. Caribbean Cooperation: Canada and CARICOM renewed a results-focused action plan spanning climate action, competitive economies, and regional security, with measurable targets and financing.

Saharan Dust & Air Quality: Saint Lucia issued a dust advisory as hazy conditions reduce air quality, urging people—especially those with asthma, COPD, allergies, and sinus issues—to limit outdoor exposure and wear protective masks. Sea Moss & Mangrove Protection: At Savannes Bay, stakeholders are pushing upgraded sea moss standards and a Marine Debris Removal and Sustainable Raft Systems project to clear abandoned materials, improve safety, and protect the mangrove setting. Water Worries: A report highlights how St Lucia’s intermittent supply and drought risk are hitting households, with experts warning that climate swings can quickly disrupt surface-water drinking sources. Recycling Push in Schools: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the Green Champions Challenge 2026 after students collected e-waste and aluminum cans, part of a national push to divert hazardous waste. Connectivity & Resilience: Regulators in Dominica and St Lucia asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage, and urged customers to keep backup communication plans. Regional Climate & Security Cooperation: Canada and CARICOM renewed a results-focused action plan spanning climate action, resilient economies, and regional security. OECS Leadership: Antigua’s PM Gaston Browne took over OECS Authority chairmanship as leaders reaffirmed climate resilience and regional integration priorities.

Sargassum “Blue Gold” Push: A Trinidad-based environmental group says St. Lucia’s new sargassum beach-clearing tractors (with UNDP and Japan support) could kick-start local processing into organic fertiliser and compost, turning an annual nuisance into food-security value. Air Quality Alert: The Meteorological Services issued a Saharan dust advisory as hazy, breezy conditions reduce air quality; health officials urged people with asthma, COPD and allergies to limit outdoor exposure and use masks. Sea Moss Upgrade at Savannes Bay: SLUNCF and the Fisheries Department are moving to restore and standardise sea moss farming, including marine debris removal and sustainable raft systems, while tackling abandoned farm materials and protecting the mangrove environment. Water Woes in Focus: Reporting highlights how St. Lucia’s intermittent supply and drought risk are worsening as the rainy season begins, with experts warning that climate extremes can strain surface-water sources. Flow Outage Scrutiny: Telecom regulators in St. Lucia and Dominica asked Flow for a detailed report after a major fibre-linked outage left customers offline for nearly a day, and urged backup communication plans. Recycling Win for Schools: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the Green Champions Challenge for collecting e-waste and aluminium cans, part of a wider push to divert hazardous waste from Deglos Landfill. Blue Economy Knowledge Hub: A new open-access Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub launched with CRFM and partners, including St. Lucia, to share fisheries and marine planning tools.

Water Security: A new global map shows safe drinking water is still out of reach for more than 2 billion people, with many low-income countries below 20% access—highlighting the scale of the clean-water gap St. Lucia and the wider Caribbean still face. Climate & Health: Saint Lucia issued a Saharan dust advisory as hazy conditions reduce air quality, urging people—especially those with asthma, COPD, and allergies—to limit outdoor exposure and protect airways. Sea Moss & Mangroves: Stakeholders are moving to upgrade Saint Lucia’s sea moss industry at Savannes Bay, including marine debris removal and sustainable raft systems, to boost livelihoods while protecting the mangrove environment. Fisheries Restoration: The Fisheries Department fully endorsed the Savannes Bay restoration project, tying ecosystem recovery to better long-term use of coastal resources. Disaster Risk & Infrastructure: OECS staff helped replant fire-prone Point Vierge, Micoud, using hardy, fire-resilient species to help defend degraded land against repeated wildfires. E-Waste Recycling: The Green Champions Challenge crowned Carmen René Memorial Primary School after students collected e-waste and aluminium cans for proper recycling. Regional Connectivity: Telecom regulators in Dominica and St. Lucia asked Flow for a detailed report after a major outage, with preliminary indications pointing to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua.

Climate & Health: Saint Lucia issued a Saharan dust advisory as hazy conditions cut air quality, urging people—especially those with asthma, COPD, allergies, and sinus issues—to limit outdoor exposure and wear protective masks. Blue Economy & Fisheries: The Department of Fisheries fully endorsed the Savannes Bay restoration push, while a Marine Debris Removal and Sustainable Raft Systems project targets abandoned seamoss farms and cleaner, safer cultivation areas. Water Security: A new report highlights how St. Lucia’s intermittent supply and drought risk are worsening daily life, with experts pointing to climate-driven pressure on surface water sources. Biodiversity & Land Restoration: OECS staff and partners planted fire-resilient trees at Point Vierge, Micoud, to help stop recurring wildfire damage and desertification pressures. Waste & Recycling: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the Green Champions Challenge after students collected e-waste and aluminium cans for proper recycling. Connectivity Resilience: Regulators urged Flow customers to plan backups after a major outage linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua. Regional Climate Action: Canada and CARICOM renewed a partnership action plan focused on climate action, resilience, and regional security.

Air Quality Alert: Saint Lucia issued a Saharan dust advisory as hazy conditions reduce air quality, with health officials warning vulnerable people to limit outdoor exposure and protect airways. Sea Moss & Mangroves: The SLUNCF and Fisheries Department are pushing standards for Savannes Bay sea moss, including marine debris removal and new raft systems, plus plans to map and zone farming areas. Fisheries Restoration: The Fisheries Department fully endorses the Savannes Bay restoration push, tying livelihoods to healthier coastal waters. Water Security: With intermittent supply still hurting daily life, reporting highlights how drought risk and “super El Niño” uncertainty keep pressure on St Lucia’s surface-water system. E-Waste Recycling: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the Green Champions Challenge after students collected e-waste and aluminum for proper recycling. Regional Cooperation: Canada and CARICOM renewed a climate-resilience and security-focused action plan, while OECS leaders marked 45 years of integration and reaffirmed Dr Didacus Jules’ leadership. Health Systems: Saint Lucia strengthened immunization policy planning after a GAVI workshop in Copenhagen, and a new MoU with RestoringVision targets presbyopia screening and eyeglass distribution for up to 50,000 people.

Air Quality Alert: Saint Lucia’s Meteorological Services says a dense Saharan dust plume is bringing fair but hazy, breezy conditions and may trigger brief, localized showers, while the Ministry of Health warns vulnerable people to limit outdoor exposure and consider masks to reduce irritation from fine particles. Water Stress: With intermittent supply still a concern, officials warn this rainy season may not fully ease shortages as “super El Niño” could limit relief, leaving households and tourism facing ongoing pressure. Marine & Land Risks: A lecture at UWI Saint Lucia flags WWII shipwrecks across the Caribbean as a ticking oil-spill threat, while OECS staff at Point Vierge, Micoud, plant fire-resilient species to help stop wildfire-driven land degradation. Waste & Recycling Push: The Green Champions Challenge ends with Carmen René Memorial Primary School winning after students collected e-waste and aluminum for proper recycling. Regional Resilience: Regulators say Flow’s recent outage in Dominica and Saint Lucia was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, urging backup communication plans.

Water Security: St Lucia’s water squeeze is still biting residents and tourism, with experts warning that a “super El Niño” could limit rainy-season relief after years of intermittent supply. Recycling & Waste: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the inaugural Green Champions Challenge after students collected e-waste and aluminium cans, part of a wider push to divert hazardous waste from Deglos Landfill. Marine & Fisheries: A new Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub was launched as an open-access home for fisheries, aquaculture and marine planning tools, built for policymakers and communities across the region. Climate & Land Restoration: OECS staff helped restore wildfire-scarred Point Vierge, Micoud, planting fire-resilient species to defend degraded land. Disaster Risk & Safety: A WWII shipwreck warning raised alarm over hundreds of underwater wrecks that could leak oil, with no regional mitigation plan in place. Connectivity Resilience: Regulators urged backup communication plans after a major Flow outage linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua. Regional Policy: Saudi Arabia launched a maritime sustainability project for 14 Caribbean countries, aiming to strengthen sea-related laws and implementation.

Water Security: St Lucia’s long-running water squeeze is still front and centre as the rainy season brings only partial relief, with officials warning this year’s “super El Niño” could limit how much surface water rebounds. Agriculture & Water Access: In Babonneau, farmers received a water lifeline after rehabilitation work cleared silt, improved filtration, and upgraded irrigation—helping about 50 farmers access roughly 30,000 gallons through the system. E-Waste Recycling Push: The inaugural Green Champions Challenge wrapped up with Carmen René Memorial Primary School winning after students collected 2,460 e-waste items and aluminium cans for proper recycling. Wildfire Recovery: OECS staff and St Lucia agriculture partners planted fire-resilient species at Point Vierge, Micoud, to help break the cycle of degraded, wildfire-prone land. Marine Safety Warning: A new warning flags more than 300 WWII shipwrecks across the Caribbean that could leak oil, with tankers reportedly corroding in regional waters. Connectivity Resilience: Telecom regulators urged Flow customers to plan backups after a fibre fault disrupted service in Dominica and St Lucia for nearly 19 hours. Regional Climate Governance: Saudi Arabia launched a maritime sustainability project for 14 Caribbean countries, aiming to strengthen laws and capacity for safer, more sustainable seas.

Disaster Response: CARICOM and regional leaders, including Saint Lucia’s PM Philip J. Pierre, extended condolences and support to Venezuela after twin “monster” earthquakes left at least 188 dead and 1,600 injured, with major damage reported in La Guaira. Water Security: A new report asks why St. Lucia is running out of water, as families rely on tanks and rainwater and officials warn this year’s “super El Niño” could limit relief. Wildfire Recovery: OECS staff and Saint Lucia agriculture partners replanted fire-prone Point Vierge in Micoud with hardy, fire-resilient species to help stop land degradation. Recycling Push: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the inaugural Green Champions Challenge after students collected e-waste and aluminum cans for proper recycling. Marine Safety: A warning at UWI Saint Lucia highlighted WWII shipwrecks that could leak fuel, urging action for assessment and mitigation. Regional Connectivity: Telecom regulators urged backup communication plans after a Flow outage hit Dominica and Saint Lucia for nearly 19 hours. Blue Economy: CRFM, FAO and CAF launched an open-access Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub for fisheries and marine planning.

Wildfire recovery & land restoration: OECS staff and Saint Lucia’s agriculture ministry helped replant fire-prone Point Vierge in Micoud, using hardy, fire-resilient species like fat poke, aloes and sea grapes to break recurring burn cycles. Water stress spotlight: A new report asks why St Lucia is running out of water, pointing to intermittent supply, reliance on tanks and rainwater, and warnings that a “super El Niño” could limit rainy-season relief. Community water for farmers: In Babonneau, a rehabilitation project cleared silt, improved filtration and upgraded irrigation, restoring more reliable supply for about 50 farmers. Recycling push: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won the inaugural Green Champions Challenge for collecting e-waste and aluminum cans for proper recycling. Digital resilience after outage: Telecom regulators urged Flow customers to plan backups after a major service disruption linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua. Regional climate & blue economy tools: CRFM, with FAO and CAF, launched an open-access Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub for fisheries, aquaculture and marine planning. Solar PV procurement: GIZ opened an expression of interest for design, supply and installation of 10 grid-tied solar PV systems across St Lucia.

Water Security for Farmers: Babonneau and Chassin farmers are getting a boost after a Seven Crops Project rehabilitation cleared silt from the community dam, added filtration, and upgraded irrigation lines—supporting about 50 farmers across roughly 100 acres with access to around 30,000 gallons of water as the dry season bites. Network Resilience: Telecom regulators in Dominica and Saint Lucia say Flow customers should plan backup communication after a major outage left many without service for nearly 19 hours; Flow traced the disruption to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua and is now reviewing routes and adding alternative paths. Student Recycling Push: Carmen René Memorial Primary School won Saint Lucia’s inaugural Green Champions Challenge, with 2,400+ students collecting e-waste and aluminium cans for proper recycling under the Integrated E-Waste Management effort. Regional Blue Economy: The Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub was launched as an open-access home for fisheries, aquaculture, and marine planning tools, including content for Saint Lucia. CARICOM Outreach: Government announced a public sensitisation campaign ahead of CARICOM chairmanship, aiming to show how regional work affects daily life—education, health, disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and more.

Telecom Resilience: Saint Lucia and Dominica regulators say Flow’s major outage (June 21–22) was linked to a fibre fault between Guadeloupe and Antigua, and they’re pushing the operator to strengthen backup routes and add alternative connectivity. CARICOM Outreach: Ahead of CARICOM talks, the St. Lucia government is rolling out a public sensitisation campaign on how regional work affects daily life—health, disaster preparedness, security, trade, climate resilience and more. School Recycling Drive: Carmen Renee Memorial Primary School won the inaugural Green Champions Challenge, after students collected e-waste and aluminum cans for proper recycling. Vision Care Access: Government signed an MoU with US non-profit RestoringVision for a 12-month pilot to screen for presbyopia and distribute near-vision eyeglasses, potentially reaching up to 50,000 people. Blue Economy Knowledge: The Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub was launched as an open-access home for fisheries, aquaculture and marine planning tools, with Saint Lucia among participating countries. Gender-Based Violence Support: A refurbished counselling and interview room at Vieux Fort Police Station was handed over under a France-funded STOP GBV project. Maritime Sustainability: Saudi Arabia launched a two-year maritime sustainability project with the IMO for 14 Caribbean countries, including Saint Lucia, to improve maritime laws and policy capacity. Solar Push: GIZ is seeking bids for design, supply and installation of 10 grid-tied solar PV systems across Saint Lucia.

Vision Care Access: Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre signed an MoU with US non-profit RestoringVision to expand presbyopia screening and near-vision eyeglass distribution in Saint Lucia, starting with a 12-month public-health pilot and potentially reaching up to 50,000 people. Youth-Led Recycling: Carmen René Memorial School won the inaugural Green Champions Challenge, diverting e-waste and aluminum cans from landfills and pushing safer recycling habits across participating schools. Tourism + Utilities: Saint Lucia’s tourism sector leaders re-emphasized that growth must move hand-in-hand with water, energy, internet and sewage planning, warning that utilities can’t be treated as an afterthought. Solar Push: GIZ is inviting bids for design, supply and installation of grid-tied solar PV systems at 10 Saint Lucia locations, aimed at a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Regional Climate Reality: A wider Caribbean look highlights how extreme weather is rising and why islands must rethink energy, food, water, land and tourism before the next disaster hits. OECS Focus: OECS leaders met in Antigua to prioritize economic development, climate resilience, food and energy security, and practical regional integration.