AGP Executive Report

CARICOM & Martinique: Martinique has officially joined CARICOM as an Associate Member, effective June 16, 2026, clearing the way to take part in the 51st Heads of Government meeting in Saint Lucia (July 5–8) and strengthening ties between the French Caribbean and the wider region. Regional Unity & Civic Voice: CARICOM’s Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett used the same summit to push for deeper public participation in regional decisions, arguing that everyday citizens and civil society must have a stronger say. Education Focus (Grenada): Grenada’s 2026 CPEA results bring plenty of celebration, with strong Language Arts performance and a high overall pass rate, but the spotlight turns to a worrying dip in Mathematics that signals a need for targeted academic and administrative support. Luxury Travel (Caribbean): Aman at Sea has revealed its inaugural Caribbean season for Amangati, with voyages from late November 2027 through early January 2028 calling at ports including Martinique. Culture & Arts (Martinique): Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week theatre workshop in Martinique at Tropiques Atrium, developing his historical drama “Take Me To Mon Repos” with local actors, with plans discussed for a wider production and even a film adaptation. Cruise News (St. Kitts → Martinique): P&O Cruises’ Iona will add St. Kitts as a turnaround port, with Fort-de-France listed as a stop on November 19, 2027.

CARICOM & Martinique Integration: Martinique has officially joined CARICOM as an Associate Member, effective June 16, 2026, clearing the way to participate in the 51st Heads of Government meeting in Saint Lucia (July 5–8). Leaders used the moment to push for stronger regional unity and a louder public voice. Cruise & Local Tourism: P&O Cruises’ Iona will add Fort-de-France as a turnaround stop on November 19, 2027, as the line fast-tracks a modern terminal at Port Zante—aiming to boost UK awareness and give travelers more routing flexibility. Caribbean Travel Luxury: Aman at Sea has released itineraries for Amangati’s first Caribbean season (Nov 21, 2027–Jan 2, 2028), with calls including Martinique and other Leeward/Windward and Dutch Caribbean ports. Arts & Culture in the Region: A theatre workshop in Martinique brings Dr. Travis Weekes’ Caribbean historical drama “Take Me To Mon Repos” to local actors at Tropiques Atrium, with plans discussed for a future production and film adaptation. Education Focus (Grenada): Grenada’s 2026 CPEA results highlight strong overall performance, while Mathematics shows a notable dip—prompting calls for targeted academic and administrative support. Music & Identity: A feature explores how Paris became a nexus for Black culture, spotlighting African French sounds and community-driven visibility.

CARICOM & Civic Voice: CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett urged deeper public engagement at the 51st Heads of Government meeting, saying regional decisions must include civil society and everyday citizens to make integration feel real. Martinique & Regional Ties: Martinique officially became an Associate Member of CARICOM on June 16, 2026, clearing the way to participate in the July 5–8 meeting in Saint Lucia and strengthening links across the Caribbean. Luxury at Sea: Aman at Sea revealed Amangati’s first Caribbean season (Nov 21, 2027–Jan 2, 2028), with voyages calling at Martinique plus other Leeward and Windward islands. Theatre in Martinique: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week intensive theatre workshop at Tropiques Atrium, developing his historical drama “Take Me To Mon Repos” with local actors, with plans for a film adaptation. Art & Digital Creativity: PAMM in Miami selected 21 artists for its inaugural digital art commissions, including submissions from Martinique, with grants supporting experimental work through 2027. Sports & Respect: A spotlight on the aftermath of penalty shootouts highlights how racist abuse can follow players, with calls for football to protect athletes beyond the pitch. Culture & Music: A global music roundup celebrates Caribbean genres and their origins, from reggae and soca to dancehall and more.

CARICOM & Martinique Integration: CARICOM’s Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett urged deeper public participation as Martinique officially joined CARICOM as an Associate Member, effective 16 June 2026, with the island set to take part in the 5–8 July heads-of-government meeting in Saint Lucia—another bridge between the French Caribbean and the wider region. Regional Culture & Theatre: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week intensive theatre workshop in Martinique at Tropiques Atrium, developing his historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos with local actors, with talks also underway for a film adaptation. Art & Digital Creativity: Pérez Art Museum Miami announced 21 artists selected for its first Open Call for Digital Art Commissions, with submissions including from Martinique and themes spanning identity, migration, memory, and technology. Sports & Social Impact: After a World Cup penalty shootout, Clarence Seedorf spoke out against racist abuse aimed at players of African heritage—highlighting how sport’s aftermath can turn ugly fast. Music & Global Sounds: A concert themed “Music Across the World” is set to bring songs from every continent in 10 languages, celebrating music’s power to connect cultures. Cruise Lifestyle: Nicko Cruises revealed its 2027–28 world cruise aboard the Vasco da Gama, including a stop in Fort-de-France and a Caribbean island-hopping segment.

Regional Integration: Martinique officially becomes an Associate Member of CARICOM, effective June 16, 2026, clearing the way to take part at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Saint Lucia (July 5–8) and strengthening ties across the wider Caribbean. Art & Identity: Pérez Art Museum Miami announces 21 artists selected for its inaugural Open Call for Digital Art Commissions, with grants supporting experimental works exploring identity, migration, history, memory, technology, and place—submissions included from Martinique. Culture & Theatre: Dr. Travis Weekes leads a two-week intensive theatre workshop in Martinique at Tropiques Atrium, developing the Caribbean historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos with local actors, with talks about staging and a film adaptation. Cruises & Lifestyle: Nicko Cruises reveals its 2027–28 world cruise aboard the Vasco da Gama, including a stop in Fort-de-France and Caribbean island-hopping segments. Sports & Respect: After a World Cup penalty shootout, Clarence Seedorf speaks out against the racial abuse aimed at players of African heritage—spotlighting how online and stadium racism follows sport. Diplomacy & Education: OECS formalizes a renewed bond with France via Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, focusing on climate resilience, public health, maritime security, and educational mobility.

Cruise & Travel: Nicko Cruises just unveiled its 2027-28 world cruise on the Vasco da Gama, a 172-day “Big World Tour” starting Nov 4, 2027 in Lisbon and looping through 41 countries—then hopping from Martinique to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and more. Culture & Arts: Pérez Art Museum Miami announced 21 artists selected for its inaugural Open Call for Digital Art Commissions, with submissions from 50 countries including Martinique, and grants supporting experimental work through 2027. Theatre in Martinique: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week intensive theatre workshop at Tropiques Atrium, adapting his Caribbean historical drama “Take Me To Mon Repos” (set in 1794 Saint Lucia) with local actors, with plans for a film adaptation. Regional Diplomacy: OECS formalized a renewed bond with France by accrediting Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, highlighting shared priorities like climate resilience, public health, maritime security, and educational mobility. Sports & Society: A World Cup penalty miss sparked a wider conversation after racist abuse targeted players of African heritage—raising alarms about what happens online and in stands after big moments. Food & Lifestyle: A legal case questions “cage-free” egg labeling, adding fuel to the debate over animal welfare claims and what shoppers actually get.

Cruise & Caribbean Travel: Nicko Cruises unveiled its 2027–28 world cruise on the Vasco da Gama, a 172-day “Big World Tour” starting Nov 4, 2027 in Lisbon and returning Apr 24, 2028—featuring a stop in Fort-de-France, plus a 14-day Martinique-to-Dominican Republic segment and other Caribbean, Central America, and Panama Canal highlights. Theatre & Local Culture: Dr. Travis Weekes (UWI) is in Martinique for a two-week intensive theatre workshop at Tropiques Atrium, working with Martiniquan actors David Erbel and Syringa Jean-Baptiste on his historical drama “Take Me To Mon Repos,” with plans discussed for a Martinique/Saint Lucia staging and a film adaptation. Regional Diplomacy: France and the OECS deepened ties with the accreditation of Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, stressing shared work on climate resilience, public health, maritime security, education mobility, French language training, and innovation—highlighting the close links with nearly 800,000 French nationals in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin. Sports & Respect: After a World Cup penalty shootout, Clarence Seedorf spoke out against the racial abuse aimed at players of African heritage—spotlighting how online and stadium racism can follow sport’s toughest moments. Arts & Digital Creativity: PAMM announced 21 artists selected for its inaugural Open Call for Digital Art Commissions, with themes including identity, migration, memory, and technology—receiving submissions from 50 countries including Martinique. Community & Learning: Sandals National Learn to Swim Week is set for Grenada (6–10 July), with instructor training and lessons across 15 locations including Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Football & Society: After the Netherlands’ World Cup Round of 32 penalty loss to Morocco, Clarence Seedorf spoke out against the racist abuse aimed at Dutch players of African heritage—highlighting how online and stadium hate often follows missed spot-kicks. Digital Arts: Pérez Art Museum Miami named 21 artists for its first Open Call for Digital Art Commissions, with grants up to $15,000 and themes including identity, migration, and memory; submissions included from Martinique. Theatre in Martinique: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week theatre workshop at Tropiques Atrium with Martiniquan actors, developing his Caribbean historical drama “Take Me To Mon Repos,” with talks to stage it locally and adapt it for film. Caribbean Culture & Music: A feature celebrates 15 Caribbean music genres and their origins, from reggae and soca to dancehall—good weekend reading for culture lovers. Regional Diplomacy: France and the OECS formalized renewed ties, with Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris presenting credentials and stressing cooperation on climate resilience, public health, education mobility, and maritime security—relevant for Martinique’s regional links.

Racism in Football: After the Netherlands’ World Cup Round of 32 penalty loss to Morocco, former star Clarence Seedorf condemned the racist abuse aimed at Dutch players of African heritage, calling out the ugly online and stadium backlash that follows missed spot-kicks. Digital Arts in the Caribbean: Pérez Art Museum Miami named 21 artists for its first Open Call for Digital Art Commissions, with grants up to $15,000 and themes spanning identity, migration, memory, and technology—submissions included from Martinique. Theatre in Martinique: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week intensive workshop at Tropiques Atrium with Martiniquan actors, developing his Caribbean historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos and discussing a possible film adaptation. France–OECS Links: OECS and France deepened ties with Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris’s accreditation, highlighting cooperation on climate resilience, public health, education mobility, and regional connectivity. Diplomacy & Culture: Saint-Martin took part in the ACS Council of Ministers in Panama City, pushing regional cooperation and trade/investment support for Caribbean SMEs. Lifestyle & Wellbeing: A St Lucia move story from an Essex woman highlights mental health, citizenship, and building a new life—plus the wider “escape and restart” trend.

Theatre & Culture in Martinique: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week intensive theatre workshop at Tropiques Atrium, working with Martiniquan actors David Erbel and Syringa Jean-Baptiste on his Caribbean historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos—with talks underway to stage it locally and even develop a film adaptation. Regional Diplomacy (France–OECS): France has renewed its ties with the OECS by accrediting Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, highlighting shared priorities like climate resilience, public health, maritime security, and education mobility—especially relevant for Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin’s large French population. Music & Identity: A spotlight on how Paris has become a hub for Black culture, shaped by African and Caribbean communities and their influence on major public celebrations. Arts & International Scene: AKAA 2026 returns to Paris (23–25 Oct) with a focus on photography and works on paper, continuing its push for contemporary African art. Sports & Lifestyle: World Cup fever is building around the final 32, with early upsets and standout goalkeeping moments drawing attention.

World Cup Fever: The USA stormed through the group stage with a game to spare, while the tournament’s early upsets included 0-0 stalemates like Cape Verde vs Spain and Ghana vs England, plus standout goalkeeper performances. Surrealist Literature: A fresh, more readable translation of André Breton’s Nadja (1928) is drawing attention for finally making the classic feel clearer and truer to Breton’s original. Global Choral Night: Pangbourne Choral Society is staging “Music Across the World,” with songs from every continent in 10 languages—an easy cultural escape without leaving home. Theatre in Martinique: Dr. Travis Weekes is running a two-week workshop at Tropiques Atrium, shaping Caribbean historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos with local actors, with hopes for a Martinique and Saint Lucia production and even a film adaptation. France–OECS Links: OECS has formalized a renewed diplomatic bond with France, highlighting shared priorities like climate resilience, public health, maritime security, and education mobility for the French Caribbean. Cultural Spotlight: Paris’s Black diaspora is reshaping the city’s music scene and visibility, from African French sounds at major street events to deeper community networks. Music & Identity: Trinidad-born composer Etienne Charles talks about music as living cultural memory—migration, belonging, and Caribbean rhythms meeting contemporary jazz.

Theatre & Identity: Dr. Travis Weekes, Theatre Coordinator at UWI and Artistic Director of TÉYAT KARAIBE, is running a two-week intensive workshop in Martinique with local actors at Tropiques Atrium, based on his historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos (set in 1794 Saint Lucia, exploring love, resistance, colonial power, identity and creolization). Regional Culture & Diplomacy: France and the OECS are deepening ties with the accreditation of Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, highlighting shared work on climate resilience, public health, maritime security, education mobility, French language training and innovation—especially relevant for Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin’s nearly 800,000 French residents. Arts in Focus: AKAA 2026 returns to Paris (23–25 Oct) with a photography spotlight and a works-on-paper programme, continuing its push for contemporary African art. Music as Memory: Trinidad-born composer/educator Etienne Charles talks about how Caribbean music carries migration stories and cultural memory—rooted in tradition, but always improvising forward. Culture & Black Paris: A look at how Black French culture reshaped Paris beyond stereotypes, with African and Caribbean communities driving new rhythms and visibility. Food & Lifestyle Law: A “cage-free” eggs dispute raises questions about what labels really mean for animal welfare claims.

Theatre & Identity: Dr. Travis Weekes is in Martinique for a two-week intensive workshop at Tropiques Atrium, working with Martiniquan actors David Erbel and Syringa Jean-Baptiste on his historical drama Take Me To Mon Repos (set in 1794 Saint Lucia), exploring love, resistance, colonial power, and creolized memory—plus talks are underway to stage it locally and develop a film adaptation. Black Culture in France: A new look at how Paris became a hub for Black culture highlights African French and Caribbean communities reshaping the city’s music scene, from street celebrations like Fête de la Musique to wider cultural visibility. Regional Diplomacy (France–OECS): The OECS formalized a renewed bond with France via Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, stressing shared priorities like climate resilience, public health, maritime security, and educational mobility—grounded in the close ties of nearly 800,000 French citizens across Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin. Lifestyle & Learning (Swimming): Grenada’s Sandals National Learn to Swim Week (6–10 July) rolls out after instructor training, with lessons across 15 locations (including Petite Martinique), aiming to boost how children learn to swim.

Caribbean Music Spotlight: Even after Caribbean American Heritage Month ends, a new roundup reminds us how reggae, soca, dancehall and more grew from African, European and Indigenous roots into global soundtracks of identity and resistance. Regional Diplomacy (France–OECS): France has renewed its ties with the OECS by accrediting Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris, with leaders pointing to shared work on climate resilience, public health, maritime security, education mobility and French-language training—especially relevant for the nearly 800,000 French nationals living across Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin. OECS “Renaissance” Talk: At the 78th OECS Authority meeting, chairmanship shifted to Antigua and Barbuda’s PM Gaston Browne, who urged bold, transformative leadership and faster implementation to keep the Eastern Caribbean resilient. Grenada Diaspora Homecoming 2026: Returning Grenadians were welcomed at Belmont Estate for a two-week programme mixing culture, community, investment dialogue and professional exchange, with Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Andall stressing purpose, belonging and development. Lifestyle & Wellness (Aman at Sea): Reservations opened for Amangati’s inaugural Caribbean season (Nov 21, 2027–Jan 2, 2028), with short luxury voyages across the Leeward, Windward and Dutch Caribbean. Sports/Community (Swim Week): Grenada’s Sandals National Learn to Swim Week runs 6–10 July, backed by instructor training aimed at improving how young swimmers learn across multiple island locations.

Regional Diplomacy: Saint-Martin’s First Vice-President Alain Richardson and External Action lead Cyrielle Cuirassier attended the 31st ACS Council of Ministers in Panama City, highlighting fresh momentum for trade and investment via the new TIPO network. France–OECS Partnership: The OECS formalized a renewed diplomatic bond with France as Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris presented her Letters of Credence, with a focus on climate resilience, public health, maritime security, education mobility, and innovation. OECS Leadership Push: At the 78th OECS Authority meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, leaders marked 45 years of integration and called for an “OECS renaissance” under new chair Gaston Browne, stressing bold implementation for resilience and shared goals. Lifestyle & Travel: Aman at Sea opened reservations for its inaugural Caribbean season aboard Amangati (Nov. 21, 2027–Jan. 2, 2028), with itineraries across the Leeward, Windward, and Dutch Caribbean, including stops in Martinique and Saint Lucia. Culture Spotlight: Euzhan Palcy was revisited in a Paris conversation with June Givanni, reflecting on her Martinique roots and the enduring creative bond between the two filmmakers.

Regional Diplomacy: Saint-Martin sent First Vice-President Alain Richardson and external action commissioner Cyrielle Cuirassier to the 31st Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States in Panama City, highlighting fresh momentum for trade and investment via the new TIPO network. France–OECS Partnership: The OECS formalized a renewed diplomatic bond with France as Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Duris presented her Letters of Credence, with cooperation flagged for climate resilience, public health, education mobility, French language training, agriculture, connectivity and innovation. OECS “Renaissance” Push: At the 78th OECS Authority meeting (45 years of integration), leaders called for bold, transformative leadership and tougher implementation, with chairmanship shifting to Antigua and Barbuda’s Gaston Browne. Culture & Film: Euzhan Palcy, born and raised in Martinique, is spotlighted in a Paris conversation with June Givanni, revisiting her breakthrough “Sugar Cane Alley” and her enduring creative bond with the filmmaker. Lifestyle & Travel: Aman at Sea opened reservations for Amangati’s inaugural Caribbean season (Nov. 21, 2027–Jan. 2, 2028), with itineraries across the Leeward, Windward and Dutch Caribbean including Martinique stops.