AGP Executive Report

Violent Crime Update: Police have launched investigations into the killing of 84-year-old farmer Lida Lewis in Peruvian Vale, with reports she was raped still unconfirmed; at least four men are in custody and investigators are checking whether the murder links to an earlier incident at her property. Tourism Growth Watch: A regional tourism roundup highlights momentum across the Caribbean, with Anguilla leading first-quarter stayover growth (+24.6%), while the wider report notes stronger airlift and new hotel supply driving visitor numbers. Local Tourism & Hospitality: SVG Hotel and Tourism Association says Restaurant Week “Taste of Vincy” was a success, with 44 restaurants spotlighting local agriculture and fisheries, plus farm tours and mixology training. Health Alert for Visitors: Health officials report rising HIV infections, especially among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and safer sex ahead of VincyMas. Sports & Travel: SVG’s men’s senior basketball team heads to Trinidad for pre-tournament training, then to Guyana for FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers (July 6–13). Regional Tourism Strategy: OECS is pushing community-based tourism as a growth engine, training member states to turn local communities into primary beneficiaries of tourism.

Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed CEO of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, taking over from Annette Mark on July 1 as the country pushes ahead with new hotel investment and cruise plans. Cruise Development: Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the SVG–Global Ports Holdings (GPH) cruise berth deal includes termination clauses, with the government stressing it’s a lease, not a sale. Local Food & Hospitality: The SVG Hotel and Tourism Association hailed 2026 Restaurant Week “Taste of Vincy,” featuring 44 restaurants, farm and model-farm visits, and training tied to local agriculture, fisheries, and rum. Community Tourism Push: OECS is rolling out community-based tourism capacity building in Saint Lucia, aiming to put local communities at the centre of tourism growth across member states. Health Alert (HIV): Health officials report rising HIV infections, especially among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and safer sex ahead of VincyMas. Sports & Travel: SVG’s men’s senior basketball team departs July 3 for Trinidad for training before competing in Guyana at the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers (July 6–13). Safety & Security: Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a Scottish man, Daniel Vettrino, in Canouan, with a post-mortem planned and reports of arrests linked to the case.

Maritime Security: The IMO says conditions are worsening for three crews held by Somali pirates, urging urgent international action as the captain of the MT Honour 25 reports unsafe water, reduced food, and health problems after rival factions exchanged gunfire. Naval Response: In the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy says it foiled a pirate attack on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged MV Golden Arsenal, with all 21 crew safe after sheltering in the citadel. Tourism Development: OECS tourism officials in Saint Lucia rolled out community-based tourism capacity building, pushing local communities to lead and benefit from tourism. Local Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has appointed Shafia London as CEO effective July 1, as the country prepares for a new cruise era with Global Ports Holdings. Health Alert: Health officials warn HIV infections are rising ahead of VincyMas, with highest new cases among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and safer sex. Cruise Berth Deal: Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the SVG-GPH cruise and ferry berth agreement includes termination clauses if expectations aren’t met. Public Safety: Police continue investigating the shooting death of a Scottish man, Danny Vettrino, on Canouan, with a post-mortem planned and reports of detentions for questioning. Sports & Travel: SVG’s men’s senior basketball team heads to Guyana for FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifiers after a training camp in Trinidad.

Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has named Vincentian executive Shafia London as its new CEO, taking over July 1 as the country pushes ahead with stayover growth and prepares for a new cruise era with Global Ports Holdings. Cruise Berth Deal: Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the government’s 30-year cruise and ferry berth MOU with Global Ports Holdings includes termination clauses if expectations aren’t met, with major planned investment. Local Food Push: Hotel and tourism leaders are urging local hoteliers to feature more locally produced food, following Restaurant Week’s “A Taste of Vincy” push. Health & Travel Safety: Health officials report rising HIV infections, especially among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and condom use ahead of VincyMas travel and festivities. Public Safety Incident: Police are investigating the shooting death of Scottish national Daniel Vettrino in Canouan, with a post-mortem planned and reports of detentions for questioning. Regional Sports: SVG’s men’s senior basketball team will compete in FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifiers in Guyana after a training camp in Trinidad.

Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has appointed Shafia London as its new CEO, taking over July 1 as the destination prepares for a new cruise era with Global Ports Holding. Cruise Berth Deal: Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the port agreement with Global Ports Holdings includes termination clauses if expectations aren’t met, with the government stressing it’s a lease, not a sale. Local Food Push: Hotel and tourism stakeholders are being urged to plug into a national effort to promote local produce, following Restaurant Week “A Taste of Vincy.” Health Alert (HIV): Health officials report rising HIV infections, especially among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and safer sex ahead of VincyMas. Public Safety/Travel Risk: Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Scottish national Daniel Vettrino in Canouan, with reports linking the case to broader security questions. Regional Sports: SVG’s men’s senior basketball team heads to Guyana for FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifiers after a training camp in Trinidad.

Tourism & Ports: Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the new port deal with Global Ports Holdings (GPH) includes termination clauses if expectations aren’t met, as the government stresses it’s a lease (not a sale) for 30 years with major investment planned. HIV Alert for Visitors: Health officials report rising HIV infections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the highest new cases among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and condom use ahead of VincyMas. Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been named new CEO of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, with the ministry citing her marketing and administrative experience. Local Food Push: Hoteliers are being urged to join a national effort to promote local produce as Restaurant Week “A Taste of Vincy” wraps up. Safety & Travel Concerns: Police continue investigating the shooting death of a Scottish man, Danny Vettrino, in Canouan, while reports also link the case to wider regional security questions. Aviation for Farmers: Argyle International Airport says Executive Air’s new regional cargo service will help tourism and give local farmers better routes to export produce.

Local Produce Push: St. Vincent hoteliers are being urged to join a national drive to promote local produce, with the call coming from the SVG Hotel and Tourism Association president during Restaurant Week at Holiday Inn & Suites, Diamond. Cruise Port Terms: Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow says the government’s 30-year cruise ship and ferry berth MOU with Global Ports Holdings will include termination clauses if expectations aren’t met. HIV Alert for Carnival: Health officials report rising HIV infections, especially among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and safer sex ahead of Vincy Mas. Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority, set to take up the role July 1. Safety and Security: Police continue investigating the fatal shooting of a Scottish man, Daniel Vettrino, at Canouan’s Gym Hill area; reports also link the case to a missing aircraft probe. Aviation for Farmers: Argyle International Airport announces Executive Air’s new regional cargo service aimed at boosting tourism supply chains and helping local farmers export produce.

HIV Alert for Carnival Travelers: St. Vincent and the Grenadines health officials say new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging residents and visitors to get tested and use condoms ahead of VincyMas. Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed new CEO of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, with plans to strengthen and market the destination. Safety and Security at Canouan: Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are investigating the shooting death of Scottish resort worker Daniel Vettrino in Gym Hill, Canouan, with a post-mortem due and reports of arrests linked to the case. Regional Sports & Travel: The SVG men’s senior basketball team will compete in FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Guyana, departing for a training camp in Trinidad before heading to Georgetown. Aviation & Trade: Argyle International Airport says Executive Air has launched a new regional cargo service aimed at boosting tourism supply chains and helping local farmers export. Caribbean Travel Crime Link: A U.S. couple’s hijacked catamaran case is being treated as likely fatal, with Grenada and SVG police saying the occupants were disposed of during travel between islands.

Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has appointed entrepreneur Shafia London as its new CEO, with her start set for July 1, as the minister says she’ll help strengthen and market the destination. Health Alert: Ahead of Vincy Mas, the Health Ministry says HIV infections are rising, with new cases clustering among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and condom use since you can’t tell by appearance. Sports & Travel: The SVG men’s senior basketball team will travel to Trinidad for a training camp before competing in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Guyana (July 6–13). Public Safety: Police are investigating the shooting death of 37-year-old Scottish visitor Daniel Vettrino in Canouan’s Gym Hill area, with a post-mortem planned. Regional Crime Spillover: Canada’s border agency says it seized over 15kg of cocaine from a traveller arriving from SVG at Toronto Pearson, leading to an arrest and handover to RCMP. Regional Governance: OECS leaders agreed to raise the retirement age for Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court judges from 65 to 70, citing recruitment challenges.

Maritime Safety: A U.S. couple’s catamaran was hijacked in the Caribbean by three escaped prisoners; police in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines now say Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are presumed dead and likely thrown into the ocean, though no bodies have been found. Local Crime: Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are investigating the shooting death of 37-year-old Scottish national Danny Vettrino in Canouan, with a post-mortem planned and reports of two men detained for questioning. Public Health: St. Vincent and the Grenadines reports a spike in HIV cases, with new positives clustering among men aged 60+ and young adults 25–29, as officials urge safer sex ahead of carnival. Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority, with public debate over the recruitment process prompting a “record straight” response from former CEO Annette Mark. Tourism & Travel: Argyle International Airport announces Executive Air’s new regional cargo service to boost tourism and exports, while Restaurant Week 2026 runs with 45 local restaurants taking part.

Canouan Safety Alert: Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are investigating the death of 37-year-old Scottish technical services manager Daniel Vettrino, found in the Gym Hill area after reports of gunshots on June 24; a post-mortem is planned and local media say two men were detained. HIV Update: The Ministry of Health says HIV cases are rising, with clusters among men aged 60+ and young adults 25–29, urging condom use ahead of carnival. Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority (effective July 1), with officials highlighting a results-driven mandate; the move also sparked public debate over recruitment and transparency. Grenadines Travel Push: The “Go Grenadines” campaign launches a $100 “Go Grenadines Passport” to boost domestic travel in August, with vouchers usable across participating island experiences. Aviation & Cargo: Argyle International Airport announced Executive Air’s new regional cargo service aimed at improving tourism supply and helping farmers export. Health System Strain: Staffing shortages at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre are worsening patient-to-nurse ratios, with limited psychiatric-trained nurses. Regional Crime Link: Canada seized over 15kg of cocaine from a traveller arriving from SVG at Toronto Pearson, leading to an arrest.

HIV Update: St. Vincent and the Grenadines health authorities report an uptick in HIV cases, with new infections clustering among young adults (25–29) and older men (60+), as women still test in higher numbers; officials urged condom use ahead of carnival and warned you can’t tell by appearance. Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority, set to start July 1, with the board praising her and London outlining a results-driven plan focused on visitor growth and better guest experiences; the appointment also sparked public debate over recruitment transparency. Domestic Travel Push: The “Go Grenadines Passport” launches to boost local travel in August, offering a $100 voucher for stays, dining and tours across the Grenadines. Aviation & Cargo: Argyle International Airport announced Executive Air’s new regional cargo service aimed at strengthening trade links and supporting tourism, hospitality and farmers’ exports. Border & Safety: Canada’s CBSA seized over 15kg of cocaine at Toronto Pearson from a traveller arriving from SVG. Regional Policy: OECS leaders agreed to raise the retirement age for judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court from 65 to 70. Travel Access: UAE visa-free and visa-on-arrival options expand for more nationalities, with entry rules varying by passport and residency.

Tourism Leadership: Shafia London has been appointed CEO of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, starting July 1, with a results-driven mandate to grow arrivals and exceed visitor expectations; her appointment has also sparked public debate over the earlier recruitment process and transparency. Tourism Numbers & Strategy: SVGTA reports 196,513 visitors in Q1 2026 and highlights Grenadines yachting growth, while the authority pivots toward targeted, higher-value tourism rather than mass volume. Domestic Travel Push: The “Go Grenadines Passport” campaign launches to boost local and regional travel in August, offering $100 vouchers usable across participating Grenadines experiences. Aviation & Trade: Argyle International Airport announces Executive Air’s new regional cargo service, aimed at strengthening tourism and helping farmers export more easily. Safety & Health: Police investigate a serious Grenville Street crash; meanwhile, the Ministry of Health rolls out a new blood donation engagement platform to improve voluntary donor follow-up. Community & Inclusion: A 12-year-old blind student, Faith Grant, becomes the first of her kind admitted to Girls’ High School after excelling in CPEA exams. Regional Governance: OECS leaders agree to raise the retirement age for judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court from 65 to 70. Border Security: Canada’s CBSA seized over 15kg of cocaine from a traveller arriving from SVG at Toronto Pearson, leading to an arrest.

Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has appointed Shafia London as its new CEO, effective July 1, with Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow praising her marketing and administrative experience and outlining a results-driven mandate focused on growing visitor arrivals and meeting expectations. Local Tourism Push: The SVGTA is rolling out the “Go Grenadines Passport” campaign to boost domestic travel in August, with vouchers usable at participating tourism providers across the Grenadines. Tourism Debate: Former CEO Annette Mark and others are publicly disputing claims about how London was selected, while separate commentary warns that mass tourism could strain SVG’s infrastructure and environment. Aviation & Trade: Argyle International Airport announced Executive Air’s new regional cargo service, aimed at improving imports for tourism and helping farmers export produce. Regional Governance: OECS leaders agreed to raise the retirement age for Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court judges from 65 to 70. Public Safety: Canada’s CBSA seized over 15kg of cocaine at Toronto Pearson from a traveller arriving from SVG, leading to an arrest and transfer to the RCMP. Health: The Ministry of Health launched “Blood Text” and a new blood bank website to improve voluntary blood donation engagement. Community & Education: A blind student, Faith Grant, became the first of her kind admitted to Girls’ High School after excelling in CPEA exams.

Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has appointed Shafia T.T. London as CEO effective July 1, with her mandate focused on driving visitor growth and meeting expectations from arrival to departure; the appointment has also sparked public debate over recruitment, with former CEO Annette Mark and Minister Kishore Shallow trading claims about whether the process was “hand-picked” or followed a robust interview route. Domestic Travel Boost: The SVGTA launched the “Go Grenadines” campaign for August, including a $100 “Go Grenadines Passport” voucher to encourage locals and regional visitors to book accommodations, dining, tours and cultural experiences across the Grenadines. Aviation & Trade: Argyle International Airport announced Executive Air’s new regional cargo service, aimed at improving imports for tourism and hospitality and helping farmers export produce to international markets. Regional Governance: OECS leaders agreed to raise the retirement age for Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court judges from 65 to 70, while Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday handed over the OECS Authority chairmanship to Gaston Browne. Public Safety & Health: Police are investigating a serious Grenville Street road crash; and the Health Ministry rolled out a new blood donation engagement platform (“Blood Text”) to lift voluntary donor participation. Crime & Borders: Canada’s CBSA seized over 15kg of cocaine at Toronto Pearson from a traveller arriving from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, arresting the suspect and turning the case over to the RCMP.

UAE Travel Boost: The UAE has expanded visa-on-arrival to citizens of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa and Kenya (with qualifying residence permits), with airlines and routes now making spontaneous trips to Abu Dhabi and Dubai easier. Tourism Leadership: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority has appointed Shafia London as CEO effective July 1, with her mandate focused on results and visitor experience, while outgoing CEO Annette Mark and the minister’s office trade public claims about how the recruitment process was handled. Grenadines Push: The SVGTA is rolling out the “Go Grenadines Passport” to drive domestic travel in August, offering $100 vouchers for stays, tours and dining across the islands. Carnival Demand: Hotels and Airbnb are reporting full occupancy ahead of Carnival, with visitors urged to book early. Airport & Trade: Argyle International Airport announced Executive Air’s new regional cargo service aimed at helping tourism, hospitality and farmers export more easily. Public Safety & Health: Police are investigating a Grenville Street road crash; meanwhile, the Health Ministry launched a new blood donation engagement platform to improve voluntary donor participation. Border Security: Canada seized over 15kg of cocaine from a traveller arriving from SVG.