AGP Executive Report

Public Safety Tech (Tobago): TTPS launched the Active Directed Grid Patrol system at Tobago Information Technology, Signal Hill, aiming for real-time, data-driven policing by linking National Operations Fusion Centre feeds to divisional command centres and officers on the ground, with options including facial/vehicle recognition, CCTV access, and integration with e-999, traffic control, and even body-cam footage. Governance & Accountability: A commentary argues Trinidad and Tobago must strengthen the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) with “legal teeth” so misconduct investigations can lead to direct action, not just referrals. Environment & Waste: UNDP warned T&T generates about 2.6kg of waste per person per day (vs ~1.3kg elsewhere in the Caribbean), urging more responsible consumption ahead of World Environment Day. Food Security & Finance: Calls for stronger agricultural financing highlighted the need for patient, flexible capital, credit guarantees, insurance, and banks that understand farm cashflow cycles. Diplomacy & Tech: T&T was elected to the UN Security Council (2027–2028), with its campaign theme including artificial intelligence and global security. AI in Commerce: Mastercard says it’s preparing for agentic AI in payments, building rules and security frameworks for transactions initiated by autonomous AI agents. Parliament Update: Dr Margaret Satya Rose was sworn in as Opposition Senator, replacing Janelle John-Bates.

Policing Tech Upgrade (Tobago): Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and TTPS launched the Active Directed Grid Patrol system at Tobago IT, aiming to streamline communications from the National Operations Fusion Centre to divisional command and officers on the ground, with a real-time database that can pull in facial recognition, vehicle recognition, CCTV, electronic ankle monitoring, and body-cam footage. Public Accountability Push: A local opinion piece argues Trinidad & Tobago must strengthen the Police Complaints Authority with “legal teeth” so it can act independently when officers abuse power, rather than relying on speeches and internal investigations. Waste & Environment: UNDP’s Ugo Blanco warned that Trinidad & Tobago generates about 2.6kg of waste per person per day—double the Caribbean average—urging more responsible consumption as World Environment Day tree-planting took place in Chaguanas. Food Security & Finance: The Trinidad and Tobago–India Business Federation renewed calls for more patient, flexible agricultural financing, credit guarantees, and insurance tailored to farmers’ harvest-based income cycles. Health Tech (Tobago): Tobago’s Division of Health and Wellness sent an ICT team to ETH Zurich’s Personalized Health Conference to learn about AI, digital health, and data analytics to support a Tobago Public Health Observatory. Diplomacy & AI Security: Trinidad and Tobago was elected a non-permanent UNSC member for 2027–2028, with its campaign highlighting sustainable peace and security, including artificial intelligence.

UN Security Council Win: Trinidad and Tobago was elected a non-permanent member for 2027–2028, securing 181 votes and backing from all five permanent UNSC members, with the campaign highlighting small-arms curbs, women-and-children peace and security, and AI for global security. AI in Payments: Mastercard says it’s preparing for agentic AI in commerce, building rules and security frameworks so AI agents can initiate purchases on customers’ behalf. Healthy Food Policy: A Caribbean-wide push on non-communicable diseases and healthier food policy is being reviewed with PAHO/CARPHA and partners, focusing on “best buys” and policy action despite trade and climate pressures. Marine Risks from Oil & Gas: A new NGO report warns offshore oil and gas expansion could threaten marine biodiversity across licensed areas, including protected habitats. Public Service Training: CXC and the British Virgin Islands launched a customer service programme with a Trinidad-based training partner, aiming to upgrade service delivery across the public sector. Local STEM-adjacent Health Tech: Tobago’s DHW delegation joined a Personalized Health Conference in Switzerland to explore AI, digital health, and data analytics for a Tobago Public Health Observatory. Education/Community Tech: St Xavier’s Private School’s Jazz & Soca fundraiser supports library upgrades, backing student learning resources.

UN Security Council Win: Trinidad and Tobago was elected a non-permanent member for 2027–2028, winning 181 votes (95% in the first round) with backing from all five permanent UNSC members, as the country’s campaign highlights small-arms trafficking, women/children in peace, and AI and global security. AI in Local Industry: The rum sector is leaning into artificial intelligence, with West Indies Rum and Spirits producers saying AI was a major focus at a Trinidad conference that also connected producers and tech suppliers. Public Service Training (Regional): The Virgin Islands launched a CXC Excellence in Customer Service programme with a Trinidad-based training partner, aiming to upgrade service delivery across the public sector. Digital Health for Tobago: Tobago’s Division of Health and Wellness sent a delegation to a personalized health conference in Switzerland to build links on AI, digital health, and data analytics for a Tobago Public Health Observatory. STEM Skills Pipeline: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised TVET courses for CARICOM delivery, including construction, beauty services, and baking/cake technology modules. Transport Disruption Reminder: A maxi-taxi shutdown again spotlighted the need for resilient mass transit planning beyond one transport mode.

Public Safety & Forensics: TTPS is investigating the death of 23-year-old Venezuelan national Alexis Enrique Pineda, found in Morvant near 1st Caledonia Road; a District Medical Officer declared him dead on-site and his body was sent to the Forensic Science Centre for a post-mortem, while Crime Scene Investigators collected items including ID, cash and jewellery. Digital Health in Tobago: The Tobago Division of Health and Wellness sent an ICT manager and health officials to ETH Zurich for a Personalized Health Conference, focusing on AI, digital health, data analytics and plans for a Tobago Public Health Observatory. STEM Skills & Training: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level Two TVET courses for CARICOM’s TVET digitalisation pilot, with programmes now available via the HEART/NSTA Moodle platform. Transport Resilience Debate: Recent maxi-taxi disruptions have reignited calls for a more dependable, state-led mass transit approach and clearer responsibility for maxi taxi hub upgrades. Climate & Health Watch: Heat advisories in the region highlight dangerous heat index conditions, underscoring the need for public health preparedness during extreme heat. UN Security Council Win: Trinidad and Tobago’s election to the UN Security Council for 2027–2028 is framed as a boost for peace, security and sustainable development planning.

UN Security Council Seat: Trinidad and Tobago has been elected as a non-permanent member for the 2027–28 term, winning a two-thirds majority in a June 3 vote alongside Zimbabwe, Austria, Portugal and Kyrgyzstan. Public Safety Tech: The TTPS has issued an Expression of Interest to buy body-worn cameras, calling for GPS/Bluetooth, live-streaming, LTE/Wi‑Fi, 1080p recording, low-light support and an evidence management platform for video archiving. Local Governance & Transport: Maxi-taxi operators say government ministries are passing responsibility for maxi taxi hubs and terminals back and forth, leaving upgrades in limbo during ongoing disruptions. Disaster Risk & Waste: Works Minister Jearlean John links flooding problems to littering and weak enforcement, arguing hazards become disasters when vulnerability is created by poor waste disposal habits. STEM Skills & Training: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level Two TVET courses for CARICOM’s TVET digitalisation pilot, with Trinidad among participating countries. STEM Leadership: Rhonda McEwen, a Trinidad-born AI/human-machine interaction researcher, has been named next president of the University of Victoria.

AI & Education Policy: UNESCO and St Kitts and Nevis are working on regulation to guide responsible AI adoption in education and creative sectors. Digital TVET in CARICOM: HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level Two TVET courses (waxing, tiling, and baking/cake tech) for delivery via CARICOM’s TVET digitalisation pilot on the HEART/NSTA Moodle platform. Public Safety Tech: TTPS issued an Expression of Interest for body-worn cameras with GPS/Bluetooth, live-streaming, connectivity, 1080p recording, and an evidence management platform for video archiving. Environment & Flooding: Works Minister Jearlean John blamed littering and weak enforcement for worsening flood outcomes, urging a culture shift in waste disposal. STEM in the Community: A robotics/AI internship push is building remote robotics learning and simulations for online students. Local STEM Leadership: UTT’s Selwyn Cudjoe legacy is being preserved with a dedicated library display, highlighting research and scholarship. International STEM Link: AMCHAM T&T welcomed Jennifer Johnson-Carroll’s US ambassador nomination, underscoring T&T’s global science/tech and policy connections.

Public Transit & Governance: Maxi taxi operators’ “rest and reflection” action continues as ministers and agencies trade responsibility for maxi taxi hubs and terminals, while calls grow for a real state-led mass transit plan instead of traffic-fixing. Policing Tech: TTPS has launched procurement for body-worn cameras, asking suppliers to bid on systems with GPS/Bluetooth, live-streaming, connectivity, 1080p recording, and an evidence management platform; submissions close July 22. AI & Law: A look at how courts are handling trade secret claims tied to AI tools, including the need for plaintiffs to name secrets clearly. Space History: A feature revisits Trinidad’s role in early satellite communications, spotlighting the Chaguaramas Tracking Station and the 1960 “Echo 1” voice transmission. STEM Leadership: UVic has named Trinidad-born telecom researcher Rhonda McEwen as its next president, starting in October. Environment & Risk Tech: Disaster Risk Management Expo coverage highlights tools for mapping utilities and flood mitigation systems, alongside renewed focus on waste and flooding drivers. Diplomacy: AMCHAM T&T backs the nomination of Arouca-born Jennifer Johnson-Carroll as US ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.

Public Safety Tech: TTPS has moved ahead with body-worn cameras, issuing an Expression of Interest for suppliers (GPS/Bluetooth, live-streaming, LTE/Wi‑Fi, 1080p, 6+ hours battery, 32GB storage) plus an evidence management platform; submissions close July 22. Flood Risk & Waste: Works Minister Jearlean John told the Disaster Risk Management Conference that littering and weak enforcement worsen flooding, calling for a culture shift in waste disposal and drain management. Disaster Tech Showcase: The TTDRM Expo highlighted tools for prevention and mitigation, including utility locating and flood barrier systems, as the focus shifts from response to risk management. STEM Leadership & Talent: Rhonda McEwen—an AI and telecommunications engineer from Trinidad and Tobago—was named the first female and first Black president of the University of Victoria, starting October. Local Transport Disruption: Maxi-taxi operators held talks with Transport Minister Eli Zakour but remained dissatisfied, with a “rest and reflection” day planned after the first day of a three-day action. Caribbean Tourism Tech Push: TIATT and YTEPP discussed using AI and digital tools to modernise tourism operations and training.

Disaster Tech & Resilience: The Trinidad and Tobago Disaster Risk Management 2026 Conference and Expo is spotlighting tools for earlier risk detection and flood protection, including surveying and utility-location equipment plus flood barrier systems, with speakers stressing planning and public education. Public Safety Tech: TTPS says it supports body-worn cameras and has started procurement, issuing an Expression of Interest for suppliers ahead of a July 22, 2026 deadline, with emphasis on privacy, training, and proper data handling. UWI Research & Health: UWI promoted eight senior lecturers to Professor, including St Augustine academics in veterinary public health and epidemiology, applied mathematics, applied econometrics, and music—highlighting research spanning dementia, climate finance, and steelpan scholarship. Food Security in Action: CARDI showcased a successful black-eyed peas pilot in Warrenville, reporting strong germination and harvest in about 56–60 days, positioning the crop for agro-processing and school feeding support. Tourism + AI Push: YTEPP and TIATT discussed how tourism businesses can adopt AI and digital tools, alongside workforce training, to improve customer service and competitiveness. Local Tech for Transport: Tobago developer launches a real-time bus tracking app, aiming to make public transport easier to use. Sports & Community: TG Titans Cricket Team set for a Tobago tour (June 3–8) with matches against Club Crusoe Cuzins and Tobago Legends.

Body-Worn Cameras Rollout: TTPS says it fully supports body-worn cameras and has started procurement, issuing an Expression of Interest for suppliers; submissions close July 22, 2026, with plans covering policies, training, privacy protections, and data management. Public Safety & Policing Context: UWI criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad says police-involved killings during the state of emergency don’t show a major surge, estimating roughly 50 per year as a long-run average. Tourism Tech Push: YTEPP and TIATT discussed how the tourism sector should embrace digital transformation and AI for customer engagement and business processes, alongside workforce training. Food Security Research: CARDI reports a successful black-eyed peas pilot in Warrenville, with germination above 96% and harvest in about 56–60 days, aimed at boosting local production and school feeding. Agriculture & Water Stress: El Niño fears are driving urgent irrigation fixes in La Trinidad, with officials coordinating repairs and exploring water storage options. Disaster Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake rattled parts of the eastern Caribbean; UWI Seismic Research Centre reported no immediate damage and urged felt reports. Green Fund Funding Gap: A report says less than 1% of the Green Fund was disbursed over a decade, with NGOs and community groups warning of funding shortfalls.

AI & Tourism Push: YTEPP and TIATT met to urge Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism sector to adopt AI and digital tools for better customer service and operations, with plans for workforce training and industry-specific programmes. Food Security in Action: CARDI, with the Ministry of Agriculture and partners, showcased a black-eyed peas pilot in Warrenville, reporting germination above 96% and harvest in about 56–60 days, aimed at boosting local supply and school feeding. Agriculture Under El Niño: La Trinidad (Benguet) reported an irrigation water shortage for farmers, coordinating repairs to a long-idle spring project and exploring storage options with science and agriculture agencies. Earthquake Monitoring: UWI Seismic Research Centre reported a 6.0 quake in the eastern Caribbean felt across Trinidad and Tobago, with no immediate damage reported. Green Fund Funding Gap: FOIA documents say less than 1% of the Green Fund’s value has been disbursed over a decade, raising concerns about NGO and community project closures. Export Strategy Debate: Economist Vaalmikki Arjoon backed the push to grow non-energy exports, while business leaders warned plans need more detail for real implementation.

Earthquake Monitoring: A magnitude 6.0 quake rattled parts of the eastern Caribbean on May 30, with the UWI Seismic Research Centre reporting a depth of 53 km and tremors felt in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia and St Vincent—no immediate damage reported. Food & Agri-Tech: CARDI, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, showcased a Black-Eyed Peas Pilot Project in Warrenville, reporting germination above 96% and harvest in about 56–60 days, aimed at cutting import dependence and supporting school feeding. AI & Tourism Skills: YTEPP met TIATT to push digital transformation in tourism, including possible AI tools for customer engagement and hospitality operations, alongside workforce training. Export Strategy Debate: Economist Vaalmikki Arjoon backed the push to double non-energy exports, while business leader Diane Hadad said the government’s plan still needs more detail for real implementation. Public Services Tech: Delays in passport e-appointments are driving an EOI to upgrade Trinidad’s machine-readable passports to e-passports, with a June 19 deadline. Public Health (Vet-Human Link): A call to strengthen veterinary public health programmes highlights zoonotic disease risks across the Caribbean, stressing surveillance and lab capacity.

Earthquake Update: A moderate quake hit Trinidad and Tobago Friday evening, first reported around magnitude 5.1 and later refined to 5.0 by UWI-SRC, with the epicentre about 93 km northwest of Port of Spain at roughly 98–112 km depth; residents across North and Northwest Trinidad and parts of Grenada felt a low, prolonged rumble, and authorities reported no injuries, structural damage, or utility disruptions. AI in Government & Education: The “Future Ready TT” programme was officially launched via a partnership agreement to bring AI tools (including ChatGPT and Grammarly) into the education system and public sector, with an emphasis on efficiency and human oversight. Police Tech & Accountability: TTPS says it supports body-worn cameras and has begun procurement steps for more units, noting about 120 active cameras currently. Food Security Pilot: CARDI and the Ministry of Agriculture marked a black-eyed peas pilot in Warrenville, showing strong germination (over 96%) and harvest in about 56–60 days, aimed at reducing import reliance. Local Tech for Tourism: YTEPP met TIATT to discuss using AI and digital tools to boost tourism operations, customer service, and workforce training. Regional Research Funding: Jamaica-linked institutions are set to receive £450,000 (about J$91m) under the PASSAGE programme to advance transatlantic slavery research and archival access. Banking Deal: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC’s 91.7% stake in CIBC Caribbean in a US$1.79b transaction, targeting a larger regional banking and digital capability platform.

Police & Forensics Under Scrutiny: Home Affairs Minister Roger Alexander urged TTPS officers to “keep the fight” and protect integrity as public pressure grows around the Kaia Sealy case, while the DPP (Roger Gaspard) warned media and social users to avoid commentary that could prejudice ongoing proceedings tied to Joshua Samaroo, noting forensic evidence from the Forensic Science Centre is part of the investigation. Protest Policing: Organisers held a “silent” “Justice for Kaia Sealy” protest near the Forensic Science Centre with heavy police presence and restricted access, as authorities moved to prevent a repeat of earlier disruptions. Body-Worn Tech Rollout: TTPS says it supports body cameras and has begun procurement steps for more units, with about 120 active cameras currently reported. Agriculture Pilot for Food Security: Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram highlighted a CARDI-led black-eyed peas pilot in Warrenville showing strong germination and fast harvest potential, aimed at reducing import reliance and supporting nutrition programmes. AI in Public Services & Tourism: Future Ready TT is rolling out AI tools (including ChatGPT and Grammarly) across education and the public sector with human oversight, while tourism stakeholders are urged to adopt AI and digital transformation to boost efficiency and customer service. Banking Tech & Digital Push: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean’s controlling stake in a deal creating a ~US$29bn platform, with plans to expand cross-border payments and digital banking capabilities.

AI in Tourism: YTEPP and TIATT discussed how Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism sector can use AI and digital tools to boost customer service and efficiency, with training and apprenticeships flagged as key. Future Ready TT AI Programme: Government signed on to a new AI partnership for education and the public sector using tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly, with an emphasis on human oversight and ethical use. Public Safety Tech: TTPS says it’s moving to expand body camera rollout, with procurement steps underway and about 120 active cameras currently. Food Security Pilot: CARDI’s black-eyed peas pilot in Warrenville showed strong germination (over 96%) and harvest in about 56–60 days, supporting local farming and school nutrition goals. Disaster Planning Finance: TEMA warned Tobago recovery can take years without proper financial and property resilience planning. STEM Community Tech: A Tobago developer launched a real-time bus tracking app to modernise transit. Space Watch: A bright night-sky sighting over T&T was linked to a SpaceX Starship test flight. Rubik’s Speedcubing: UWI St Augustine hosted the first sanctioned Rubik’s speedcubing event in T&T, enabling official world rankings. Banking Tech & Digital Push: Butterfield agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean Bank (US$1.794b), aiming to expand cross-border payments and digital banking across the region.