AGP Executive Report

Regional Policy & Integration: OECS leaders opened the 78th Authority Meeting in Antigua, with Dr. Gaston Browne chairing talks on economic development, climate resilience, security, food and energy security, and freedom of movement. OECS at 45: A commentary looks back at what the OECS has achieved since the Treaty of Basseterre—especially practical regional integration like the Economic Union and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. Montserrat Ferry Watch: Questions are swirling over ferry services to Montserrat as private operators move ahead, while Government says it’s still completing its ferry tender and isn’t running a service yet. Community Health & Men’s Wellness: Basil Chambers turns 60 with a July 3 Men’s Health Fair in Brades, offering free screenings and prostate checks to encourage preventative care. Women’s Growth Workshop: Seventeen women gathered at the Montserrat Public Library for EMERGE, a faith-based workshop using the butterfly stages to reflect, release fear, and step into purpose. Local Opportunity for Entrepreneurs: Montserrat entrepreneurs can apply for a four-month Green Business Incubator starting July 2026, with mentorship and planning support aimed at women and youth. Agriculture Spotlight: Shanyon McPherson received the island’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming work supporting food security and community development. Faith & Culture (Global): Pope Leo XIV’s Spain trip and his general audience reflections highlight unity, dialogue, and the Abbey of Montserrat as part of a wider message on human dignity.

Montserrat Library Workshop: Seventeen women met at the Montserrat Public Library for the free EMERGE workshop, using the butterfly stages to reflect on faith, growth, and purpose. Local Community & Culture: Montserrat farmer Shanyon McPherson received the island’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming work supporting food security and community development. Island Business: Montserrat entrepreneurs can apply for a four-month Green Business Incubator Programme starting July 2026, with mentorship, business planning support, and regional networks (aimed especially at women and youth). Transport Watch: Questions are swirling around ferry service to Montserrat as private operators move ahead while the Government says its tender process is still underway and no government-run service is operating yet. Regional Finance & Public Education: The ECCB says its Agency Offices across member states are key “on-the-ground” hubs for currency operations, regulatory oversight, and public outreach—highlighting Grenada’s office history since 1984. Faith & Media: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain trip and his June 17 general audience wrap-up put unity and human dignity front and center, while Vatican communications news includes Maria Montserrat Alvarado’s appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for Communication.

Montserrat Public Library: Seventeen women joined the free EMERGE workshop, using the butterfly stages to reflect on faith, growth, and purpose, with participants saying it helped them let go of fear and move forward with confidence. Local Economy & Green Growth: Montserrat entrepreneurs can now apply for a four-month Green Business Incubator starting July 2026, offering mentorship, business planning support, and networks across the Caribbean, with a focus on sustainable ventures led by women and youth. Ferry Future: Questions are swirling after a private ferry vessel appeared in Montserrat waters and was promoted online; the Government says it isn’t running services yet and is still completing its ferry tender, while the visit is described as a private initiative. Agriculture & Community: Farmer Shanyon McPherson received the island’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming journey and work supporting food security and community development. Regional Opportunities: Montserrat is included in an OECS-backed specialised services sector training programme across member states, aimed at strengthening trade and policy skills. Culture & Faith (global): Pope Leo XIV’s Spain trip—covering Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat Abbey, and the Canary Islands—featured messages on unity, human dignity, and condemning exploitation of migrants.

Faith & Community: Seventeen women met at the Montserrat Public Library for the free EMERGE workshop, using the butterfly stages to talk about spiritual growth, letting go of fear, and stepping into purpose. Local Culture & People: Montserrat farmer Shanyon McPherson received the island’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre journey growing onions, watermelons, sweet corn and more. Island Life & Services: Questions are swirling over ferry transport as private operators move ahead of the Government of Montserrat’s still-in-progress tender, with officials stressing no government-run service is in place yet. Entrepreneurship: Applications are open for a four-month Green Business Incubator Programme starting July 2026, aimed at supporting women and youth entrepreneurs with mentorship and planning support. Regional Health: CARICOM and PAHO are pushing to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, focusing on prevention, treatment and stronger monitoring. Arts & Craft Spotlight: Lisa Richardson-Bach’s path from aerospace engineering to award-winning stained and fused glass art highlights creativity rooted in technical skill. Vatican & Faith in Focus: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain trip and June 17 general audience wrapped up with messages on unity, dialogue and “unity in diversity,” alongside strong condemnation of criminals exploiting migrants.

Montserrat Library & Women’s Wellness: Seventeen women joined the EMERGE workshop at the Montserrat Public Library, using the butterfly stages to reflect on spiritual growth, letting go of fear, and stepping into purpose. Local Agriculture & Community: Shanyon McPherson received Montserrat’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming journey, boosting food security and local enterprise. Green Business Push: Montserrat entrepreneurs are invited to apply for a four-month Green Business Incubator Programme starting July 2026, with mentorship and planning support for women and youth-led ventures. Ferry Future Uncertainty: Questions remain as private operators move ahead of the Government of Montserrat’s ferry tender, with officials stressing no government-run service yet. Regional Training & Services: OECS-backed specialized services sector training is set for June 29–July 2, aiming to strengthen policy and negotiating skills across member states including Montserrat. Vatican & Faith in Culture: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain visit—Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat Abbey and the Canary Islands—featured messages on unity, dignity, and migrants, plus major cultural moments like Mass at Sagrada Familia. Arts & Profiles: Influential women and creators get spotlight, including award-winning glass artist Lisa Richardson-Bach and educator-mentor profiles. Music History (July 2): Remember Marvin Rainwater’s rise, Jazz at the Philharmonic’s debut, and Elvis’s “Don’t Be Cruel”/“Hound Dog” recording day.

Montserrat Library & Women’s Wellness: Seventeen women joined the EMERGE workshop at the Montserrat Public Library, using the butterfly stages to reflect on growth, release fear, and step into purpose, led by Vanessa I. Farrell. Local Agriculture Recognition: Farmer Shanyon McPherson received Montserrat’s inaugural Governor’s Award for backyard-to-five-acre farming that supports food security and community development. Green Business Push: Montserrat entrepreneurs can apply for a four-month Green Business Incubator (starting July 2026) offering mentorship, business planning help, and regional networks, with a focus on women and youth. Ferry Future Uncertainty: Questions remain over Montserrat’s ferry plans as private operators market services while the Government says its tender process is still underway. Regional Skills & Services Training: OECS-backed specialized services sector training is set for June 29–July 2, with Montserrat included among member states. Culture & Faith Spotlight (Global): Pope Leo XIV’s Spain visit—featuring Montserrat Abbey and major public moments—also included strong remarks condemning traffickers exploiting migrants.

Faith & Women’s Wellness: Seventeen women met at the Montserrat Public Library for the free EMERGE workshop, “Trusting God in Every Stage of Your Becoming,” using the butterfly stages to guide reflection, journaling, and encouragement toward purpose and confidence. Local Culture & Community: Montserrat farmer Shanyon McPherson received the island’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming journey supporting agriculture, food security, and community development. Montserrat Business & Sustainability: Applications are open for a four-month Green Business Incubator Programme starting July 2026, backing women and youth entrepreneurs with mentorship, planning support, and Caribbean-wide networks. Regional Training: OECS services-sector stakeholders get a boost through an Antigua-hosted training programme (June 29–July 2) aimed at strengthening policy and negotiating skills across member states including Montserrat. Transport Watch: Questions linger over Montserrat ferry plans as private operators move ahead while the Government says its long-awaited tender is still being completed. Global Faith Spotlight: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain visit—featuring Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat Abbey, and the Canary Islands—kept returning to unity, human dignity, and a hard line against traffickers exploiting migrants. Music History: Today in music history (July 2): Elvis recorded “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” in 1956, and jazz impresario Norman Granz launched “Jazz at the Philharmonic” in 1944.

Montserrat Ferry Watch: Questions are swirling over Montserrat’s ferry future as private operators move ahead while the Government of Montserrat says its long-awaited tender isn’t finished yet, after a vessel appeared in local waters and was promoted on social media. Faith & Community Spotlight: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain visit put Montserrat Abbey and the island’s wider Catholic ties in the spotlight, with his June 17 general audience reflecting on Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands. Local Agriculture Pride: Shanyon McPherson won Montserrat’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming journey, boosting local food security and community development. Women’s Workshop: Montserrat Public Library hosts EMERGE, a free faith-centred workshop for women on June 13, focused on purpose, growth and spiritual renewal. Entrepreneurship Push: Applications are open for a four-month Green Business Incubator (starting July 2026), backing women and youth entrepreneurs with mentorship and planning support. Regional Culture & Skills: A&B to host an OECS services sector training initiative, building policy and negotiating skills across member states.

Montserrat Ferry Watch: Questions are swirling over the island’s ferry future after a private vessel appeared in Montserrat waters and was promoted online, while the Government of Montserrat says its ferry tender is still being completed and the visit was not government-backed. Faith & Culture in Spain: Pope Leo XIV’s weeklong Spain visit put Montserrat Abbey, Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, and the Canary Islands on the global cultural map, with his messages stressing unity, human dignity, and “lift up your gaze.” Migration & Human Dignity: In the Canaries, the pope sharply condemned traffickers and those who profit from migrants’ desperation, urging repentance and warning of “divine justice.” Local Recognition: Montserrat farmer Shanyon McPherson received the island’s inaugural Governor’s Award for her backyard-to-five-acre farming work supporting food security and community development. Women’s Growth: A free EMERGE workshop invites women on Montserrat to reflect, journal, and find purpose through faith-based guidance at the Public Library. Entrepreneurship: Applications are open for a regional Green Business Incubator Programme for Montserrat entrepreneurs, with mentorship and planning support starting July 2026. Arts & Craft Spotlight: Influential Women profile: Lisa Richardson-Bach, an award-winning glass artist and educator blending aerospace engineering precision with stained and fused glass creativity.

Montserrat Business & Sustainability: Montserrat entrepreneurs, especially women and youth, can apply for a four-month Green Business Incubator starting July 2026, offering mentorship, business planning support, and Caribbean-wide networks. Faith & Community (Montserrat): Women on Montserrat are invited to the free “EMERGE” workshop at the Public Library (June 13), blending biblical teaching, journaling, and guided reflection for purpose and spiritual growth. Vatican Communications: Maria Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado, COO of EWTN News, has been appointed prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, taking effect Nov. 1. Pope Leo XIV on Migration: During his Spain visit, Pope Leo condemned traffickers and urged “repent” for those exploiting migrants, while calling integration a “reciprocal journey.” Culture in Spain: Pope Leo blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus at Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, marking Gaudí’s death centenary with Mass, music, and a major light-and-fireworks finale.

Vatican Communications Shake-Up: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado, head of EWTN News, as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, starting Nov. 1—an appointment that puts a South Florida media leader at the helm of the Church’s global messaging. Montserrat Business & Jobs: Montserrat entrepreneurs—especially women and youth—can apply for a four-month Regional Green Business Incubator launching July 2026, offering mentorship, planning support, and Caribbean-wide networks. Regional Training for Services: OECS-backed services sector training is set for June 29–July 2 in Antigua and Barbuda, with Montserrat included among participating member states. Faith & Community Workshop: Women in Montserrat are invited to the free “EMERGE” workshop at the Public Library on June 13, blending biblical reflection, journaling, and guided discussion. Health & Rights Focus: CARICOM and PAHO are pushing to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B across the region. Culture Spotlight: The Nerja Caves festival is returning in 2026 after a 2025 cancellation tied to tender delays.

Vatican Communications: Pope Leo XIV appointed Maria Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado—EWTN News president and COO—as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, making her a 39-year-old laywoman and the youngest such leader in the Roman Curia, with a Nov. 1 start. Regional Training: Antigua and Barbuda will host an OECS Specialized Services Sector Training Programme (June 29–July 2) to boost trade officials’ skills and strengthen services-sector policymaking across OECS member states including Montserrat. Health & Mothers: CARICOM and PAHO pushed to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, focusing on scaling prevention and treatment, improving monitoring of pregnant women and exposed infants, and strengthening lab and surveillance systems. Faith & Women’s Growth (Montserrat): A free EMERGE workshop—“Trusting God in Every Stage of Your Becoming”—invites women to the Montserrat Public Library (June 13, 2:00–4:30 p.m.) for biblical teaching, reflection and journaling. Culture Spotlight (Montserrat): The Escolania de Montserrat sings for Pope Leo XIV in Spain, highlighting the abbey’s living musical tradition during his visit. Arts & Travel: Barcelona’s Sagrada Família crowned its new Tower of Jesus Christ as Pope Leo marked Gaudí’s 100th death anniversary, calling the basilica an “eloquent catechesis” of stones, colors and light.

Scholarships & Education: Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s GNTC Foundation awarded 48 scholarships worth over US$37,000 to 47 northwest Georgia high school graduates, including students from Chattooga and Murray County, with awards spanning multiple family-named scholarships. Aviation & Rights: The EU has agreed on major reforms to airline passenger rights, keeping compensation for delays over three hours, cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice, and denied boarding—payments still tied to distance, with limits for “extraordinary circumstances.” Faith & Culture in the Caribbean Diaspora: Montserrat women can join EMERGE, a free faith-centred workshop led by Vanessa Farrell at the Montserrat Public Library on June 13, using the stages of a butterfly’s growth for reflection, journaling, and encouragement. Papal Spotlight on Montserrat: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain visit included a Montserrat connection—entrusting his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat and featuring the Escolania de Montserrat in Barcelona. Arts & Heritage: Spain’s Nerja Caves festival is set to return in 2026 after a 2025 cancellation, with the lineup due soon and the event running mid-July to early August.

Faith & Culture in Montserrat’s Orbit: Pope Leo XIV’s Spain trip kept circling back to Montserrat—he entrusted his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat (“La Moreneta”), tied it to his own parish in Peru, and urged “justice and peace” during a pilgrimage to the Black Madonna shrine. Sacred Architecture: In Barcelona, he blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Família, calling Gaudí’s masterpiece “stones, colors and light” and framing the basilica as a living journey. Migration & Social Values: In Tenerife and Barcelona, Leo sharply criticized “monsters” in the seas—traffickers and those who profit from despair—while urging migrants to integrate and warning of a “silent shipwreck” after arrival. Local Lifestyle & Community: Montserrat women are invited to the free EMERGE workshop (June 13, Montserrat Public Library) with Vanessa Farrell, using a butterfly-growth framework for faith-led reflection and purpose. Education Opportunity: AUACAS announced a free bootcamp pathway to medical school, including tuition support for eligible students from Montserrat and across the region. Regional Arts & Events: Spain’s Nerja Caves festival is set to return in 2026 after a 2025 cancellation tied to tender delays. Environment & Heritage: Jamaica’s critically endangered Jamaican iguana is projected to reach 3,000–4,000 within a decade as conservation efforts expand.

Faith & Culture in Focus: Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his Spain visit with a final message urging people to “lift up your gaze,” after a return flight rerouted due to a technical issue—this time on King Felipe VI’s aircraft. Sacred Architecture: In Barcelona, he blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Família, calling the basilica “stones, colors and light” and framing the unfinished work as a living journey of faith. Peace, Migration, and Social Justice: Across Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, Leo sharply criticized war and urged compassion for migrants, warning against traffickers and describing integration as a “reciprocal journey.” Montserrat Connection: In Barcelona, he entrusted his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat (“La Moreneta”), citing a personal parish link from Peru. Local Community Notice: Women in Montserrat are invited to the free EMERGE workshop (June 13) at the Public Library, led by wellness coach Vanessa Farrell, blending biblical reflection with personal growth.

Pope Leo XIV in Spain: Pope Leo wrapped up his June 6–12 visit with a final message from Tenerife—“Lift up your gaze”—after a week packed with Masses, prison visits, and big public moments. Sagrada Família milestone: In Barcelona, he blessed the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ at the world’s tallest church, calling the basilica “stones, colors and light” and urging people to look to Christ for peace and hope. Migration and human dignity: Across the trip, he sharply criticized “monsters” behind deadly sea crossings and warned of a “silent shipwreck,” while also calling for newcomers to integrate with language, laws, and community life. Montserrat connection: He entrusted his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat (“La Moreneta”), citing a personal parish link from Peru and highlighting the abbey’s role in justice and peace. Local women’s faith event: Montserrat Public Library hosts EMERGE, a free June 13 workshop for women with wellness coach Vanessa Farrell, using a butterfly-growth framework for spiritual reflection and purpose. Education pathway: AUAACAS announced a free bootcamp aimed at a direct route to medical school, with free registration and support for eligible students.