AGP Executive Report

Public Safety: Police in Mandeville say a shootout near the New Green roundabout led to a firearms cache being seized, with a suspect injured and taken to hospital; residents report a woman and two children were removed unharmed. Education Tech & Access: USF’s Connect A Child programme handed tablets to 630 PEP students, while NCU nursing students received laptops through hospital and AdventHealth support—plus JPS Foundation and JWN Foundation continued major scholarship funding for engineering and STEM pathways. Special Needs Infrastructure: Digicel Foundation backed classroom upgrades at Mico’s CARE Centre and plans further expansion at the Port Maria Special Education Unit. Tourism Innovation (AI included): TEF selected 15 entrepreneurs for its Tourism Innovation Incubator, adding AI-powered prototype development to help local tech and services reach market. Policy & Resilience: NaRRA says it will review Cabinet-referred reconstruction projects to plan sequencing and speed up Hurricane Melissa rebuilding. Global Tech & Climate: South African civil groups urged a pause on new data centres over water and power concerns; separate reporting says mangrove forests are expanding faster than they’re shrinking.

Climate Finance Watch: Nepal is asking the UN Loss and Damage fund for flood recovery support after a disaster that killed 1,250, but the request is still vague and the system is new and untested. Disaster Response & Safety: A video-linked review in Jamaica points to serious ambulance inspection and procedure lapses after a multi-vehicle crash in Negril. Digital Infrastructure & Water Stress: South African civil groups want a pause on new data centres, citing unclear plans for scarce water, land, and power. Education Tech Boosts: USF’s Connect A Child programme delivered tablets to 630 PEP students, while JPS Foundation and JWN Foundation pushed major scholarship and laptop support for engineering, nursing, and STEM learners. Inclusive Learning Spaces: Digicel Foundation and partners upgraded Mico CARE classrooms with flexible, sensory-friendly designs and tech. Tourism Innovation: TEF selected 15 entrepreneurs for a Tourism Innovation Incubator, adding AI-powered prototype development for tourism-ready products. Local Industry Signals: Jamaica’s manufactured exports kept growing despite Hurricane Melissa damage and high energy costs.

Disaster Recovery Planning: NaRRA says it will review Cabinet-referred reconstruction projects over the next few months, focusing on sequencing and resilience planning after Hurricane Melissa. Tourism Innovation: TEF selected 15 entrepreneurs for Cohort Three of its Tourism Innovation Incubator, with a new AI-powered prototype track, and TEF is pushing participants to build wealth from tourism ideas. Special Education Upgrades: Digicel Foundation will renovate and expand the Port Maria Special Education Unit in St. Mary, moving it from container classrooms to proper facilities, while Mico CARE Centre received upgraded inclusive learning spaces. Education & Tech Access: The Ministry of Education will keep close oversight on rebuilding hurricane-damaged schools, and the Labour Ministry targets 400 more senior citizens for digital literacy training. STEM Pipeline: SRC’s Summer Attachment Programme trained 240 teachers to deliver more practical, student-centred STEM lessons. Health & Safety Signals: A new survey reports worsening student mental health, including higher suicidal thoughts and attempts, described as a distress signal. Business & Exports: JMEA says manufactured exports are still growing despite setbacks, and urges MSMEs to strengthen quality systems and market compliance. Cybersecurity Scholarship: NCB Foundation awarded a $600,000 scholarship to a student shifting into networking with cyber security. Leadership Appointments: JN Bank named Luwanna Williams managing director, effective Sept. 7.

Early Childhood Research: NYU’s Florencia Lopez Boo wins the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, highlighting home-visiting interventions (including Jamaica) and tools that help countries monitor and improve early childhood care. Health Tech & Public Guidance: Major US medical groups push updated fall flu and COVID-19 shots, amid shifting guidance and court battles over vaccine recommendations. Inclusive Education Tech: Digicel Foundation and Phoenix Tower International’s WINGS Foundation upgrade Mico College CARE Centre classrooms with flexible layouts, sensory/therapy spaces, and learning tech for special needs and autism intervention. STEM Capacity Building: Jamaica’s Scientific Research Council trains 240 teachers through its SRC Summer Attachment Programme to deliver more practical, student-centred STEM lessons. AI Governance: Jamaica’s Andrew Wheatley calls for a unified CARICOM approach to AI regulation so the region can shape rules that protect citizens. Water & Climate Resilience: Water Minister Matthew Samuda warns parts of the Corporate Area could face days without supply if Mona Reservoir and Hermitage Dam keep dropping, with possible tighter restrictions. Infrastructure Safety: Investigations follow the death of an engineer run over on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project, with contractors and agencies required to cooperate. Trade & Manufacturing: Jamaica’s manufactured exports keep growing even as total merchandise exports fall, with hurricane damage and energy costs still squeezing the sector. Digital Skills for Seniors: Labour Ministry targets 400 more seniors for digital literacy training by year end, expanding a programme already completed by 283 people. Export Readiness: JMEA urges MSMEs to strengthen internal quality systems and compliance documentation before entering international markets.

AI Governance: Minister Andrew Wheatley urged CARICOM to coordinate AI rules so the region can shape standards that protect citizens, speaking at the CPA Caribbean youth and AI discussions. STEM Education: The Scientific Research Council wrapped up a Summer Attachment Programme with 240 teachers trained to deliver more practical, student-centred STEM lessons. School Resilience: The Education Ministry says it will keep close oversight on rebuilding schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, including resilience upgrades like rainwater harvesting and solar where possible. Digital Inclusion: Labour and Social Security targets 400 more seniors for digital literacy training, with 283 already completed. Export Readiness: JMEA pushed MSMEs to strengthen internal quality systems and document how products are made, not just chase certification logos. Workplace Safety: Jamaica ordered investigations after an engineer was crushed/run over at the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project, with contractors and agencies facing scrutiny. Water Security: Water and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda warned Corporate Area areas could face days without supply if Mona Reservoir and Hermitage Dam keep falling. Tourism & Tech: A Google ads ruling orders changes to its digital advertising system while sparing a breakup.

Workplace Safety: Jamaica’s Works Minister Robert Morgan has ordered a full investigation after engineer Clifton Archibald James was fatally crushed by a truck on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project, with contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) told to cooperate and facts to be established transparently. Water Security: Minister Matthew Samuda warns parts of the Corporate Area could face days without water if Mona Reservoir and Hermitage Dam levels keep falling, with tougher restrictions possible if they drop below critical thresholds. AI Governance: Dr. Andrew Wheatley is pushing for a unified CARICOM approach to AI governance, arguing the region must coordinate to shape rules that protect citizens. Education & Skills: Jamaican students posted strong City & Guilds results, with 81% certified in Stage 3 English Skills and 66% in Stage 3 Maths Skills. Tech for Learning: A roundup of education apps highlights tools for study organisation and STEM basics, including programming-style games and focus helpers. Health Research: Jamaica’s 2026 Global School-based Student Health Survey is being released to guide policy for adolescent well-being. Diaspora Services: Jamaica Post is spotlighting services like Klick ‘N’ Ship to help Jamaicans abroad shop US retailers and send items home. Climate Science: A new study says human-caused climate change is strengthening El Niños, raising the odds of more extreme weather.

AI Governance: Minister Andrew Wheatley is pushing CARICOM to coordinate AI rules so the region can shape standards while protecting citizens, speaking at the CPA Caribbean conference in Ocho Rios. Digital Parliaments: Nevis leaders are also weighing how to keep parliamentary decorum in the digital age, with youth parliamentarians set to discuss AI’s impact. Road Safety Tragedy: An engineer, Clifton James, was killed after being run over by a truck while working on the Montego Bay bypass; police are investigating. Adolescent Health Data: Health Minister Christopher Tufton urged Jamaica to use the 2026 Global School-based Student Health Survey to guide policy, after surveying 3,058 students nationwide. Emergency Services Funding: Queens’ EMS and firefighters received $568,000 for a new command vehicle and gear shed to improve response and reduce contamination exposure. Tourism Tech & Policy: Edmund Bartlett says Parliament must stay a trusted, fact-based institution online, and he’s backing safeguards for tourism workers’ housing and longer-term financing. Education Results: Jamaican students posted strong City & Guilds Stage 3 results—81% in English and 66% in Maths. Health Philanthropy: Supreme Ventures Foundation donated $2.1 million to Chain of Hope Jamaica to help cover paediatric heart surgery costs.

Parliament in the Digital Age: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference that Jamaica’s Parliament must become a trusted, fact-based institution online, with resilient, accessible systems that keep democracy accountable. Digital continuity planning: Bartlett also floated a Parliamentary Resilience and Digital Continuity Centre so legislatures can keep functioning during pandemics, hurricanes and other crises. Education tech push: The Universal Service Fund Connect-a-Child programme delivered Samsung tablets to 630 Primary Exit Profile students, aiming to boost participation in a more digital society. Road traffic modernization: The Island Traffic Authority welcomed Lt. Col. Sheldon Bryan as new director-general, promising a digitally enabled, standards-based regulator and faster public service. IoT expansion: Amber Group says it’s targeting an early 2027 rollout of its IoT network in Jamaica after surpassing one million devices deployed across Africa. Tourism booking shift: Google AI Mode is rolling out hotel booking inside AI, compressing the search-to-reservation journey—potentially reshaping how Jamaicans and visitors plan trips. Health support: Supreme Ventures Foundation donated $2.1m to Chain of Hope Jamaica to help cover paediatric heart surgery costs.

Parliament Goes Digital (with guardrails): Speaker Juliet Holness and PM Andrew Holness used Jamaica’s CPA regional conference to push digital transformation for parliaments—while warning that democracy must stay human-led and protected from misinformation. Digital Continuity Plan: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett proposed a Parliamentary Resilience and Digital Continuity Centre so legislatures can keep operating during pandemics, hurricanes and other crises. Education Tech Push: The USF Connect-a-Child programme handed tablets to 630 PEP students, aiming to widen access to learning in an increasingly digital society. Youth Building Apps: LASCO-backed Creative Design Camp helped a 12-year-old create a skincare app, showing how early design and app skills can turn into real products. Jamaica IoT Momentum: Amber Group says its Africa IoT rollout has topped one million devices and it’s eyeing an early-2027 Jamaica network launch. Tourism Booking Gets AI: Google AI Mode is rolling out hotel booking inside its assistant, potentially compressing Jamaica’s tourism search-to-reservation journey. Health Tech & Care: Supreme Ventures Foundation donated $2.1m to Chain of Hope Jamaica to support paediatric heart surgery. Local Infrastructure: Old Hope Road trenches will be temporarily covered to reduce school-reopening traffic disruption during the NWC pipeline works.

Digital Democracy Watch: PM Andrew Holness warned that AI and social media are supercharging misinformation and reputation attacks, urging parliaments to strengthen human-centred democratic safeguards as “seeing is no longer believing.” Parliament Tech Upgrade: Jamaica’s Parliament website overhaul—aimed at better public access and accessibility for people with disabilities—has been pushed back to October. Water Infrastructure: Old Hope Road trenches in St Andrew will be temporarily covered to reduce hazards and traffic disruption as the Old Hope Road/Monroe Road pipeline expansion moves into back-to-school operations. Education Pathways: Knockalva Polytechnic College is offering a free Sixth-Form Pathways Programme combining CSEC subjects with practical skills certification to support further study and work. Telecom Leadership: Digicel appointed Salvador “Salva” Hierrezuelo as group chief business officer, bringing Telefónica enterprise and cloud/security experience. Climate & Food Tech: A drought study links early wet-season rainfall drops in Jamaica to human-driven climate change, while Jamaica’s food production is reported down 15%, with hydroponics and aquaponics promoted. IoT Export Milestone: Amber Group says its Amber IoT hardware has surpassed one million devices manufactured, sold and deployed across Africa, powering utilities, logistics and security.

AI & Democracy: Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned Caribbean leaders that fast-moving AI and social media are fuelling misinformation that can undermine democracy, stressing that technology must stay “the servant of democracy.” Education Tech & Access: Campus Without Walls named a new CEO to expand virtual statewide classes, using technology to connect students and teachers and add more course options. Coral Science & Climate: NEPA begins coral spawning observation dives, saying reef health has slipped to “critical” and resilient corals are being targeted for restoration. Jamaican Tech Export: Amber Group says its Amber IoT hardware has now surpassed one million devices deployed across Africa, supporting utilities, logistics, security and smart monitoring. Drought Impacts: A study links the Caribbean’s early wet-season drought to human-caused climate change, with Jamaica’s rainfall down and dry spells more likely. Health Research Funding: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health awarded $48 million to support public health research through its Research for Wellness Fund. Food Security: Jamaica’s food production fell 15% due to drought, with farmers urged toward water-saving tech like hydroponics and aquaponics. Digital Justice (Regional): Barbados plans Zoom hearings at magistrates’ courts to modernise proceedings and cut remand and transport burdens.

Jamaica’s IoT push: Amber Group says its Amber IoT hardware has now topped one million devices manufactured, sold and deployed across Africa, with its Kingston-based team designing devices and linking them to its cloud and AI platforms. Climate & food security: A World Weather Attribution study links the Caribbean’s early wet-season drought to human-caused climate change, cutting rainfall in Jamaica and Puerto Rico and raising the odds of extreme dry spells; Jamaica’s food production is also down 15% as farmers face water stress. Health research funding: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness awarded about $48M to health researchers under its Research for Wellness Fund, aiming for applied studies that improve care and decision-making. Cardiology spotlight: The Heart Institute of the Caribbean is bringing Jamaican cardiovascular research to ESC Congress 2026, including work tied to Hurricane Melissa and an ECG network. Education capacity: MoE Region 4 was praised for high teacher certification and strong exam performance despite Hurricane Melissa disruptions. Public safety tech: Jamaica’s casino regulator is training with anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism partners as the island prepares for a new casino opening. Scholarship & skills: A JDF Coast Guard officer, Ricardo Hunter, won a 2026 Commonwealth scholarship to study engineering and commercialising new technology.

Health Research Funding: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has awarded $48 million to five researchers under the Research For Wellness Fund, pushing applied studies aimed at practical fixes for local public health challenges. Cardiology Breakthroughs: The Heart Institute of the Caribbean is bringing Jamaican heart research to the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026 in Munich, including work tied to Hurricane Melissa and a cloud-based ECG network. Innovation Awards Push: Jamaica’s Office of the Prime Minister has extended the deadline for the 2026 National Science, Technology and Innovation awards (National Medal for Science and Technology plus National Innovation Awards), with nominations feeding into commercialization support via partners like the SRC and DBJ. STEM for Youth: UTech’s STEM Summer Camp and Week of Welcome activities are putting AI, robotics, engineering and climate-focused learning in front of hundreds of students, building early tech talent. Tech in the Courts (Regional): Barbados is rolling out virtual magistrates’ court hearings via Zoom, a modernization move that could shape how the region thinks about justice tech. Fisheries Resilience: Jamaica’s National Fisheries Authority and CRFM are teaming up for a forum during Caribbean Week of Agriculture, spotlighting climate-smart tech and resilience for fisheries and aquaculture. Housing Digitisation: ALTRUHOMES is using a digital buyer platform to streamline property selection, financing, documentation and signing for its Wick Hall Estate project in Spanish Town.

Disaster & Climate: Nepal and Tibet flash floods have killed 903 and left 4,000+ missing, a stark reminder that climate breakdown is turning extreme events into recurring threats. Health Accountability: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health says it will intensify action after 1,000+ patient complaints, with accountability data due in September. Roads & Resilience: Spring Mount road repairs in St James are moving toward rebuilding, but residents are still waiting on timelines after Hurricane Melissa damage. STEM for Youth: UTech’s STEM Summer Camp trained about 100 students in AI, robotics, engineering and climate-focused projects. Science Funding: SRC and DBJ partner with OPM to push 2026 National Innovation Awards winners toward commercialization, plus Health & Wellness is funding $48m in research projects. Tech & Education Policy: UTech research finds most students and faculty already use generative AI, prompting clearer rules on academic use. Infrastructure Planning: Port Authority tenders design studies for a mixed-use port at Yallahs (St Thomas) and a marina at Lucea (Hanover). Digital Services: ALTRUHOMES rolls out an online platform to streamline home buying from selection to signing. Education Costs: Calls for accountability grow after thousands of students missed CXC exams, raising concerns about wasted public exam fees.

Science & Innovation Funding: Jamaica’s Office of the Prime Minister has extended the application deadline for the 2026 National Medal for Science and Technology and National Innovation Awards to Monday, September 14, with universities, research institutions and industry groups eligible to nominate. Innovation-to-Market Push: The Scientific Research Council and Development Bank of Jamaica are partnering with OPM to move award winners from recognition to commercialization via technical help, development support, financing and market testing. Health Research Boost: The Ministry of Health & Wellness awarded nearly $48 million for five Research for Wellness Fund projects tackling mental health, breast cancer, air pollution and NCD wellness. STEM Youth Pipeline: UTech’s STEM Summer Camp trained about 100 students in AI, robotics, engineering and climate-focused sustainability, including a field trip to the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard base. Tourism Resilience on Global Stage: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett was named co-chair of World Economic Forum Tourism Day 2026, aiming to strengthen people-focused resilience and real-time risk intelligence. Port Planning: Port Authority of Jamaica opened a tender for design studies for a mixed-use port at Yallahs (St Thomas) and a marina at Lucea (Hanover). Education Accountability: Calls for accountability grew after thousands of students missed CXC exams, raising concerns about wasted public subsidies.

Health Research Funding: Jamaica’s Ministry of Health & Wellness has awarded nearly $48M for five health research projects, targeting mental health, breast cancer, air pollution, and wellness for people living with non-communicable diseases. Education & Accountability: CXC exam absenteeism is raising alarms after 10,481 students reportedly failed to show for May/June 2026 sittings, with calls for stronger accountability as taxpayers may be left covering costs. AI in Schools: UTech research says AI use is widespread among students and faculty, pushing Jamaica’s education sector to tighten AI policy and assessment rules. Teacher Supply & Exchange: A US J-1 teacher recruitment agency says it’s not “stealing” Jamaican teachers, framing its programme as cultural exchange and skills-building for educators returning home. Housing Tech: ALTRUHOMES is rolling out a digital buyer journey for its Wick Hall Estate development, aiming to streamline selection, financing, paperwork, and signing. Ports & Infrastructure: The Port Authority of Jamaica has opened tenders for engineering design studies for a mixed-use port at Yallahs (St Thomas) and a marina at Lucea (Hanover). Renewables Finance: IRENA is calling for renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Jamaica, with possible support via its financing platforms. Business Tech: Ocho Rios entrepreneur Kingsley Jair Harrison’s SnapTap is expanding across the region as an AI-powered all-in-one platform for small businesses. Road Safety Tech Angle: A new push for road safety reform highlights how better infrastructure and smarter monitoring could reduce repeat crash hotspots.