AGP Executive Report

Immigration & Visas: PM Gaston Browne says tougher U.S. immigration rules and visa bonds of US$10,000–US$20,000 are being applied based on “risk,” and he argues Grenada is not being singled out after Antigua and Dominica were earlier targeted. Spicemas Tragedy: Police are investigating the deaths of two women after a boating incident off Grand Anse Beach on Aug. 8; witnesses say they jumped from the Kayak Princess and were struck by the propeller, with the captain detained as inquiries continue. Search Update (Liz Waddell): Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell’s husband says drowning is now the “most likely scenario,” after jet-skiers reported she insisted she was a good swimmer and gave a thumbs up before she vanished. Regional Travel Disruptions: LIAT issued updated schedules for Sunday and beyond after disruptions spilled into the weekend, advising passengers to contact its customer centre. Culture & Sports: Nexa New Dimension won its 15th National Senior Panorama title; and Grenada’s Spicemas crowned new Soca Monarchs—Sabrina Francis (Groovy) and Rio “Snakey” St Paul (Power). Local Governance: The auditor’s office sent demand letters to 10 City of Grenada officials over unverified travel advances, with some already repaid.

Spicemas Tragedy: Grenada’s Royal Police Force is investigating the deaths of two women after a boating incident off Grand Anse Beach on Saturday, Aug. 8. Witnesses say the women jumped from the Kayak Princess and were struck by the propeller—one died on the spot, the other was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead. The boat’s captain has been detained as authorities work to confirm the exact circumstances. Missing Person Update: The search for Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell continues after her disappearance while swimming near Grand Anse Beach on July 22; her husband now says drowning is the “most likely scenario,” while noting key details still don’t add up. Regional Travel Disruption: LIAT has adjusted flights after disruptions spilled into the weekend, with an updated Sunday Aug. 9 schedule affecting routes via Antigua. Local Governance & Oversight: The auditor’s office has sent demand letters to 10 City of Grenada officials over unverified travel advances, with some repayments already made. Energy & CBI Policy: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says Grenada terminated its offshore oil deal with Global Petroleum Group over alleged failures, while Parliament passed CBI amendments to strengthen oversight under a regional regulatory authority. Culture & Community: Spicemas also saw two first-time Soca Monarch finalists crowned—Sabrina Francis (Groovy) and Rio “Snakey” St Paul (Power).

LIAT Disruptions: LIAT says flight disruptions that started Friday continued into Saturday, with schedule changes now running through Tuesday and an updated Sunday network showing multiple links between Antigua and Grenada. Soca Monarchs: Bacchanal Friday crowned Sabrina Francis as Groovy Soca Monarch and Rio “Snakey” St Paul as Power Soca Monarch. Levera Golf Course: Grenada Land Actors raised concerns at a community consultation over the ESIA process, rainfall impacts, and whether construction has fully stopped as ordered. Elections Oversight: A commentary renews criticism of Supervisor of Elections Arthur Pierre, arguing discretionary powers are being abused and integrity is at stake. Drill Yard Fight Goes International: The Drill Yard demolition dispute has drawn support from an international heritage group urging an interim injunction and preservation assessments. Oil & Gas Fallout: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says the Congress administration terminated the Russian Global Petroleum Group deal for failing to meet obligations, including reporting and work commitments. CBI Reform: Grenada passed amendments to strengthen oversight and regional cooperation under ECCIRA as the EU pushes CBI phase-outs by 2028. U.S. Diplomatic Moves: Reports say the U.S. plans to close missions including St. George’s, Grenada, as part of a broader cost-cutting restructuring. School Support: Education Ministry begins distributing QR code vouchers for the School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme. Mental Health Access: St Andrew’s psychiatric outpatient services will temporarily relocate from Grand Bras to Sabb Resource and Wellness Centre starting Sept. 9.

U.S. Diplomatic Shake-Up: The Trump administration says it will close five overseas missions, including the U.S. embassy branch office in Douala and the U.S. consulate in St. George’s, Grenada, as part of a cost-cutting restructuring. Travel Disruption for the Region: Delta Air Lines is “permanently” ending its nonstop service to St. Vincent, with the final flight set for Sept. 5, 2026—an immediate hit for regional air access. Grenada Accountability: Grenada’s state auditor has sent demand letters to 10 City of Grenada officials over unverified travel advances, seeking repayment of more than $165,000. Education Support: Grenada’s Ministry of Education begins distributing QR code vouchers for the School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme, redeemable at approved vendors islandwide. Health Services Continuity: Grenada’s Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic for St. Andrew will temporarily relocate from Grand Bras Health Centre to the Sabb Resource and Wellness Centre starting Sept. 9, 2026, during refurbishment. Community & Safety: Royal Grenada Police announce additional parking areas for remaining National Stadium carnival shows to keep traffic moving safely. Regional Service: Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean swears in 25 new volunteers for two-year assignments across Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, focused on early-grade literacy.

Missing Persons Update (Grenada): Liz Waddell’s husband says drowning may be the “most likely scenario” in her disappearance after she vanished while swimming off Grand Anse Beach, noting investigators found no sign she intended to leave voluntarily. Public Finance Accountability (Grenada): Mississippi’s state auditor is demanding the City of Grenada repay over $165,000 in unverified travel advances from 10 city officials, with some already repaid and others still outstanding. Regional Health (OECS): The REACH project launched a webinar series on adolescent health across Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, starting Aug. 11 with mental health stigma. Energy & Contracts (Grenada): Grenada terminated arrangements with Russian-backed Global Petroleum Group, saying the firm failed to make meaningful progress on developing an oil and gas sector. Diplomacy Watch (U.S.-Grenada): Reports say the U.S. plans to close its embassy branch office in Grenada as part of a broader “America First” downsizing of overseas missions. Youth & Justice (Grenada): A Youth Symposium in Grenada helped more than 100 young people learn their legal rights and how the justice system works. Community & Heritage (Carriacou): A summer boatbuilding class in Windward produced six Optimist boats, reviving maritime skills for the next generation.

U.S. Diplomatic Shake-Up: The Trump administration has notified Congress it plans to close several overseas posts, including the U.S. embassy branch office in St. George’s, Grenada, plus consulates in Winnipeg, Nagoya, and Medan, and an office in Douala—a move expected to save about US$4.4 million a year but raising fears of a diplomatic “void” for regional travelers. Grenada Energy: Grenada’s government has terminated arrangements with Russian-backed Global Petroleum Group, saying the firm has done little to build an oil and gas sector since agreements were signed in 2008, while the company disputes the claims. CBI Under Pressure: The EU has set a June 1, 2028 deadline for five Eastern Caribbean countries—including Grenada—to phase out citizenship-by-investment programmes or risk losing Schengen visa-free access. Youth & Justice: More than 100 Grenadian youth took part in a legal rights symposium led by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Justice Education Society, focused on courts, mediation, cyberbullying, and community safety. Tourism Recognition: Spice Island Beach Resort president Janelle Hopkin received the NABHOOD Hank Thomas Trailblazer Award in Miami.

U.S.-Grenada Diplomatic Shake-Up: The Trump administration says it will close the U.S. embassy branch office in St. George’s, Grenada, along with consulates in Winnipeg, Nagoya, Medan and an embassy office in Douala—moves framed as cost-cutting but raising fears of a diplomatic “void” and added burdens for travelers. Energy Contract Fallout: Grenada has terminated arrangements with Russian-linked Global Petroleum Group, citing years of inaction and failure to meet obligations, after audits showed little progress since a 2008 licence and a single offshore well in 2018. Caribbean Mobility Pressure: The U.S. is making a visa bond up to US$20,000 permanent for Antigua, Dominica and Grenada (plus Cuba), prompting pushback from regional leaders who call it unfair and punitive. Governance & Oversight: Grenada’s CBI amendment bill is advancing to strengthen oversight, transparency and regional cooperation through ECCIRA-aligned audits and compliance checks. Community & Youth: A Grenada youth legal symposium, supported through the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court project, trained young people on rights, the justice system and practical conflict-resolution topics.

U.S. Diplomatic Shake-up: The State Department has notified Congress it plans to close five overseas missions, including the U.S. embassy in St. George’s, Grenada, as part of an “America First” cost-cutting push—reportedly saving about US$4.4 million a year, though no clear Grenada service timeline has been published. Visa Bond Pressure: The U.S. is also making a US$20,000 visa bond requirement permanent for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and Cuba, drawing criticism from regional leaders who say it unfairly targets Caribbean travellers. CBI Oversight in Focus: Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was debated in the Senate, strengthening oversight and aligning the programme with ECCIRA standards. EU Schengen Warning: The EU has told five Eastern Caribbean states, including Grenada, to phase out CBI programmes by June 1, 2028 or risk losing visa-free Schengen access. Grenada Energy Contract Fight: Global Petroleum Group has given Grenada seven days to rescind its termination of the production sharing agreements, while Grenada’s government says it acted lawfully in the national interest. Education Ties: Cuba and Grenada signed education memoranda covering special education and the “Yes, I Can” literacy project. Sports: Grenada’s Anderson Peters remains third in the men’s javelin world rankings after Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage’s rise to No. 1.

U.S. Diplomatic Shake-Up: The U.S. State Department has notified Congress it plans to close five overseas missions, including the U.S. embassy in St. George’s, Grenada, as part of a cost-cutting “streamline” push. Energy Contract Fallout: Grenada has terminated its agreements with U.S.-based Global Petroleum Group (GPG) after 18 years without commercial production, while GPG says the move is unlawful and demands action be reversed. CBI Oversight Upgrade: The Senate debated the Grenada Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to strengthen oversight, audits, and regional cooperation under ECCIRA. Regional Education Links: Cuba and Grenada signed MOUs to expand special education and the “Yes, I Can” literacy programme, including teacher training. Justice for Youth: The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) and Justice Education Society held a youth symposium in Grenada to boost understanding of rights and the justice system. Sports & Culture: Grenada’s Peters is listed among top javelin names for the Lausanne Diamond League; and Minister Delma Thomas offered condolences after the death of Francis Rennie following the La Fillette incident.

U.S. Diplomatic Shake-up: The Trump administration has notified Congress it plans to close five smaller U.S. missions, including the U.S. Embassy in Grenada, plus posts in Winnipeg (American Presence Post), Nagoya, Medan and Douala—framed as cost-cutting, with an estimated $4.4 million saved annually. Visa Bond Pressure on the Region: A separate U.S. policy makes the visa bond programme permanent for nationals of 50 countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and Cuba, with case-by-case cash bonds up to US$20,000 for certain B1/B2 applicants. Electricity Relief in Grenada: Grenlec says the Government is offering temporary relief from Aug 1 to Dec 31, 2026—$50 credits for eligible low-usage domestic customers, VAT relief on the non-fuel electricity component, and removal of a 6% customs charge on diesel used for power generation. Sports Spotlight: Grenada’s Anderson Peters is listed among top javelin names for the Lausanne Diamond League on Aug 21, where Neeraj Chopra and Commonwealth champion Rumesh Pathirage are also set to compete.

U.S.-Grenada Diplomacy: The Trump administration has notified Congress it plans to close five smaller U.S. overseas missions, including the U.S. embassy in St. George’s, Grenada, as part of a cost-cutting “America First” push, with the closures expected to save about US$4.4 million a year. Caribbean Travel Watch: A separate report says Delta is ending flights to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines starting September 2026, raising fresh concerns for tourism planning. Sports—Javelin Spotlight: Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and Commonwealth Games silver-winner Neeraj Chopra are set for the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21, with Grenada’s Anderson Peters also in the star-studded field. Regional Games Results: Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago led the Caribbean medal count at the Commonwealth Games, while Grenada won a gold. Security/Crime: A supervisory FBI counterintelligence agent faces charges over a nearly US$1 million crypto theft, allegedly using memorized “seed phrases” from FBI systems.

US–Grenada Diplomacy: The U.S. State Department has notified Congress it plans to close five overseas missions, including the embassy in St. George’s, Grenada, alongside posts in Japan (Nagoya), Indonesia (Medan), Cameroon (Douala), and Canada (Winnipeg)—a rare peacetime downsizing tied to cost-cutting under the “America First” push. Renewables Funding: IRENA opened a funding call for renewable energy projects across Central America and the Caribbean, with Grenada among eligible countries, prioritizing proposals before September 1. Grenada Sports Spotlight: Grenada’s Lindon Victor won a record-breaking third straight Commonwealth Games decathlon gold, giving Grenada its first Glasgow 2026 gold. Javelin on the World Stage: After Commonwealth Games silver, Grenada’s Anderson Peters is set to face a star-studded field at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21, including Neeraj Chopra, Rumesh Pathirage, and Arshad Nadeem. FBI Case With Global Reach: An FBI counterintelligence agent was arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $1 million in crypto, then reportedly using ChatGPT to plan how to flee.

U.S. Visa Policy: The U.S. has made its Visa Bond programme permanent, effective 3 August, meaning consular officers may require eligible applicants from 50 countries—including Grenada—to post a refundable bond of up to US$20,000 before certain new B-1/B-2 visitor visas are issued. Local Energy Governance: The Government of Grenada has terminated its development licence and production sharing agreement with Global Petroleum Group, citing long-standing failure to bring reserved offshore blocks into commercial production. Missing Visitor Appeal: Friends and family of missing American woman Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell (44) say she may have been captured in the background of vacation photos/videos and are urging anyone who visited Grand Anse Beach and nearby areas around July 22 to check footage and share details. Commonwealth Games Spotlight: Grenada’s Lindon Victor won a third straight men’s decathlon gold at Glasgow 2026, finishing with 8,096 points.

Commonwealth Games Spotlight: Grenada’s Lindon Victor made history by winning his third straight men’s decathlon gold at Glasgow 2026, finishing with 8,096 points ahead of Canada’s Damian Warner (8,036) and India’s Tejaswin Shankar (7,976), giving Grenada its first gold of the Games. Grenada in Athletics: Anderson Peters finished fourth in the men’s javelin final for Grenada with 83.88m, just off the podium behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage (gold) and India’s Neeraj Chopra (silver). Commonwealth Games Crash: A brutal cycling pile-up at the velodrome left seven riders down; Grenada’s Red Walters was reported with a suspected collarbone fracture, while staff even searched for teeth lost in the crash. US Travel Rules: The US has made its visa bond programme permanent, with consular officers able to require refundable deposits up to US$20,000 for certain B1/B2 visa applicants from 50 countries—now including Grenada—aimed at improving compliance and reducing overstays. Local Culture & Craft: Akilah’s Jewellery highlights eco-fashion rooted in nature and African heritage, based at the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project in St Ann’s.

Commonwealth Games Glory for Grenada: Lindon Victor made history by winning his third straight men’s decathlon gold at Glasgow 2026, finishing with 8,096 points after a 1,500m finale; Damian Warner took silver and India’s Tejaswin Shankar won bronze. Grenada’s Javelin Near-Miss: Anderson Peters finished fourth in the men’s javelin final with 83.88m as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won gold and Neeraj Chopra took silver. Cycling Crash Hits the Velodrome: A mass pile-up in the men’s 10km scratch race left seven riders down; Grenada’s Red Walters was treated for a suspected collarbone fracture, while others were stretchered and staff even searched for lost teeth. U.S. Visa Bond Rule Goes Permanent: The U.S. will permanently require refundable visa bonds for certain B1/B2 applicants from 50 countries, including Grenada, with deposits up to $20,000 depending on the case. Missing Visitor Update: The family of Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, reported missing in Grenada, has returned to the U.S. while authorities continue the search; her husband says there is no suspected foul play.

US Visa Policy: The United States is making its visa bond programme permanent from Aug. 3, meaning some B1 business and B2 tourist applicants from 50 countries—including Grenada—may be asked to post a refundable deposit of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 before a visa is approved. Commonwealth Games—Grenada in Athletics: Grenada’s Lindon Victor won a historic third straight men’s decathlon gold at Glasgow 2026 with 8,096 points, while Anderson Peters finished fourth in the men’s javelin final with 83.88m. Commonwealth Games—Cycling Crash: A brutal men’s 10km scratch race pile-up left seven cyclists unable to finish, with Grenada’s Red Walters reported to have a suspected broken collarbone; staff even searched for teeth lost in the crash. Missing Person—Grenada: The family of missing North Carolina mother Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell has returned home, saying no foul play is suspected, as the search in Grenada continues.