AGP Executive Report

Deep-Sea Discovery: Trinidad and Tobago’s first locally led deep-sea mission may have surfaced a previously unknown octopus species, with scientists still needing DNA and anatomy work to confirm a new species. Digital Trust & Identity: Trinidad and Tobago is building digital public infrastructure the “trust first” way with VerifyTT, while global updates show how digital identity governance is becoming the real battleground, not just the tech. AI Data Centres Debate: Intellico AI Agency CEO Gregory Fernandez is urging the government to pause on developing new AI data centres until gas supply and power questions are clearer. Cyber & Fraud Tech: A UN report warns generative AI is supercharging deepfakes and online scams across Asia-Pacific, while Essex Police’s live facial recognition deployments report arrests with no false positive matches. STEM Education: UWI-ROYTEC’s Pathway to Success programme is guiding CSEC/CAPE students into careers in IT, finance, entrepreneurship and more. Maritime & Safety: Trinidad and Tobago’s wider CARICOM ferry tragedy fallout continues as investigations and commissions expand across jurisdictions.

Digital Trust & Identity: Trinidad and Tobago’s VerifyTT is highlighted as a “trust-first” approach to digital public infrastructure, starting with verifiable credentials before building a wider digital identity ecosystem. EU Digital Wallet Standards: The EU’s EUDI Wallet ARF v3.0.0 arrives with a conformance assessment framework to speed certification and rollouts. Biometrics & Policing: Essex Police resumed Corsight AI live facial recognition, reporting 57 arrests from 353,000 face scans with zero false positive matches. Regional Legal Tech: T&T will host CARALL@40, the Caribbean Association of Law Libraries Conference, with the Chief Justice urging better access to judgments and use of emerging tech like AI. Energy & Industry Links: Methanex reports record North American production and says it’s begun restructuring in Trinidad and Tobago after idling its Titan plant. STEM Pathways: UWI-ROYTEC’s Pathway to Success programme is guiding CSEC/CAPE leavers with workshops and industry sessions. Caribbean Business Tech: Liberty Business and AWS deepen their cloud partnership for enterprise services in T&T.

Maritime Accountability: Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has appointed a five-member international Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima ferry disaster, chaired by Belizean jurist Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Nyree Dawn Alfonso and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard among the commissioners, aiming to examine every phase from loading and maintenance to certification and the search-and-recovery response. Local Governance & Safety Oversight: Opposition voices are pushing for a separate technical marine safety investigation alongside the COI, arguing the two processes should focus on different questions—public responsibility versus the exact technical causes. Cloud & Business Tech: Liberty Business and Amazon Web Services deepened their partnership to bring enterprise cloud services closer to Trinidad and Tobago businesses, as Flow T&T’s enterprise arm rolls out the launch. STEM Pathways: UWI-ROYTEC’s Pathway to Success programme is guiding 180 students through career workshops and skills sessions ahead of CSEC/CAPE transitions. Energy Policy Watch: A wider regional spotlight is on nuclear power talk after Philippines President Marcos said it may be time to revisit nuclear energy amid high electricity costs. Workforce & Telecoms: The CWU is urging TSTT to move quickly to conclude wage negotiations, pointing to the company’s strongest financial performance in 17 years. International STEM/Training: Carib Brewery sponsored three brewers to complete Germany’s World Brewing Academy diploma, covering the full brewing value chain.

Maritime Safety & Accountability: Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has named a five-member international Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima ferry disaster, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Nyree Dawn Alfonso (admiralty/maritime law) and retired Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard among the commissioners, tasked with examining causes, vessel loading and passenger boarding, onboard conditions, and the search-and-rescue response. Energy Policy: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told lawmakers it may be time to revisit nuclear energy production, promising safety and public explanation, as the country faces high electricity prices. Public Health & Regulation: Local officials in the Philippines are urging urgent passage of a Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Act to protect children and young people from secondhand smoke and vape emissions. STEM Education: The National Youth Science Camp welcomed its 2026 STEAM delegates to a three-week residential programme, including lectures on rocket propulsion and fluid dynamics plus hands-on activities. Inclusive Education: Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath called for stronger access to Trinidad and Tobago sign language at a Caribbean Deaf Education Conference, stressing “nothing about us without us.” Local Tech & Infrastructure: A Caribbean AI commentary highlights Trinidad’s data-centre MoUs and the strain they could place on the grid and water systems.

Maritime Safety & Accountability: Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has named a five-member international Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima ferry disaster, with Trinidad and Tobago represented by admiralty/maritime lawyer Nyree Dawn Alfonso and retired Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard; the panel will examine causes, loading and boarding procedures, onboard conditions, and the search-and-recovery response, while critics argue a separate technical marine safety probe is still needed. AI & Digital Infrastructure: Trinidad and Tobago’s push for AI infrastructure is in the spotlight after the country signed major data-centre and related agreements—raising big questions about power and water capacity as hyperscale demand moves from “signed MOU” to real operations. Inclusive Education: Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath urged Caribbean-wide consultation for deaf learners at the Caribbean Deaf Education Conference 2026, stressing “nothing about us without us” and better access to Trinidad and Tobago sign language. STEM Workforce & Skills: Tobago’s hospitality sector is being pushed toward formal certification via the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute, as the island prepares for a tourism surge. Regional AI Governance: The Caribbean Artificial Intelligence Forum 2026 at UWI St Augustine launched a Caribbean AI Task Force Report, focusing on governance, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, ethics, and resilience. Earth Science Watch: A magnitude 3.8 earthquake hit northern New Mexico near the Colorado line, with weak shaking reported and no injuries or damage.

Tobago Tourism Skills Push: As the new ANR Robinson International Airport terminal nears, the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (THTI) is urging hospitality workers to get certified, arguing that customer service and formal culinary training matter more than “sweet-hand” talent alone. Maritime Safety Probe (T&T in the mix): Guyana has appointed a five-member international Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima ferry disaster, including two Trinidad and Tobago experts—attorney Nairi Dawn Alfonso and retired Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard—tasked with examining causes, loading, passenger boarding, onboard conditions, and search-and-rescue. Regional AI Governance: The Caribbean Telecommunications Union and UWI St. Augustine opened the 1st Caribbean AI Forum, launching a Caribbean AI Task Force Report focused on responsible AI, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, education, ethics, and resilience. Local Telecom Results: TSTT reported its highest annual profit in 17 years—TT$214 million after tax for FY ended March 31, 2026—citing stronger revenue growth and disciplined execution. STEM Pathways: Point Lisas Industrial Apprenticeship Programme (PLIAP) was aligned with Trinidad and Tobago’s national apprenticeship framework, giving it formal policy recognition.

Maritime Safety & Accountability: A decorated Trinidad and Tobago Rear Admiral, Hayden A. Pritchard, has been appointed to a five-member Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy, bringing deep maritime operations and crisis-management experience to the probe. AI Governance: Management scientist Dr Kevin Fleary argues that T&T’s proposed data centres should be treated as catalysts for industrial growth, but stresses that AI success depends on first-class governance. Digital Infrastructure: T&T can become the region’s data-centre hub, with CAF’s “digital embassies” model pointing to a broader digital agenda beyond just building facilities. Regional AI Policy: The Caribbean Artificial Intelligence Forum (CAIF 2026) opened in partnership with UWI and the AI Innovation Centre, launching a Caribbean AI Task Force report focused on governance, cybersecurity, data sovereignty and education. Telecoms & Jobs: TSTT posted its strongest profit in 17 years—TT$214 million after tax—while the union presses for long-delayed wage settlements. Deep-Sea Science vs Mining: As T&T’s deep-sea expedition explores largely unobserved ecosystems, commentators warn that deep-sea mining talks are moving faster than science can map what’s at stake. Skills Pipeline: The Point Lisas Industrial Apprenticeship Programme (PLIAP) has been formally aligned with T&T’s national apprenticeship framework, strengthening education-to-industry links.

Cyber & Telecom Policy: TSTT reported its highest profit in 17 years, posting TT$214 million after tax for FY ended March 31, 2026, as it pushes a “future-ready digital powerhouse” strategy. AI for the Region: The Caribbean Telecommunications Union, with UWI St. Augustine and the AI Innovation Centre, opened the 1st Caribbean Artificial Intelligence Forum (CAIF 2026), launching a Caribbean AI Task Force Report focused on governance, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, ethics, education and resilience. Skills & Industry Link-Up: The Point Lisas Industrial Apprenticeship Programme (PLIAP) was formally aligned with Trinidad and Tobago’s national apprenticeship framework, strengthening education-to-workforce connections. Health Security: CARPHA launched an Antimicrobial Resistance Regional Reference Laboratory in Jamaica to complete a regional lab network for stronger Caribbean health security. Local STEM Pipeline: Brightstar’s Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp is giving Trinidad and Tobago youth an early start in tech learning. Deep-Sea Discovery: T&T scientists surfaced a possible new deep-sea octopus species, adding to the country’s growing marine research profile. Sports STEM Angle: Sean McCann, a chemical engineering student, booked a Commonwealth Games 400m freestyle final spot for Scotland.

Cybersecurity Boost: Trinidad and Tobago has joined the Latin American and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4) to strengthen national cyber resilience and protect critical infrastructure as threats grow more sophisticated. Public Health Lab Upgrade: CARPHA launched an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Regional Reference Laboratory in Jamaica, expanding the Caribbean’s lab referral network to improve AMR surveillance and diagnostic capacity. Local Science Discovery: T&T scientists helped lead a deep-sea expedition that surfaced what appears to be a new deep-sea octopus species, with only one known specimen so far. STEM Education Push: Brightstar’s Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp trained students across the region, including T&T, using AI model building and VEX robotics to build future-ready skills. Regional Policy on AI: The Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence called for a united Caribbean approach to responsible AI adoption, highlighting T&T’s VerifyTT and community AI centres. Trade Pressure (Regional Impact): The US imposed forced-labour tariffs affecting Trinidad and Tobago (10%) and other Caribbean countries, adding new compliance pressure on supply chains.

Cybersecurity Boost: Trinidad and Tobago has joined the Latin American and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4) to strengthen national cyber resilience and protect critical infrastructure, with officials stressing cyber risk as a national security issue. Public Health Lab Upgrade: CARPHA launched an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Regional Reference Laboratory in Jamaica, modernising the Caribbean lab referral network to improve AMR surveillance and diagnostics. Marine Discovery: T&T scientists helped lead a deep-sea expedition that retrieved what appears to be a possible new octopus species—only one known specimen—highlighting how little of T&T’s deep waters has been explored. STEM for Youth: Brightstar’s Coding & Robotics Rock! Camp ran across T&T and the wider region, teaching students to build websites and train AI models while programming robots. Biodiversity Under Threat: Experts warn the pet trade is pushing Caribbean parrots closer to extinction, calling for urgent action against illegal capture and habitat pressures. AI Governance: The Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence called for a united Caribbean approach to responsible AI adoption, including skills and governance frameworks. Trade Policy Shock (Global): The US imposed new 10%–12.5% forced-labour tariffs on 60 economies, including T&T, as partners dispute the justification.

US Tariffs on Forced Labour: The US has imposed new 10%–12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, including Trinidad and Tobago (10%), after alleging weak enforcement of forced-labour bans; trade partners pushed back on the rationale as the temporary global tariff expired. Tobago Manufacturing Push: Tobago agro-processor Carlon Kennedy says small manufacturers need more support to scale up and fulfil larger regional orders, even when trade-show interest is strong. CARPHA AMR Lab: CARPHA launched an antimicrobial resistance reference lab in Jamaica to strengthen Caribbean surveillance and diagnostic capacity. AI in Education: Trinidad and Tobago’s PEARL Programme will start diagnosing hearing and visual impairments from age four (from September 2026), with an AI-supported learning interface planned for students with disabilities. Digital Government Spotlight: iGovTT highlighted VerifyTT and Trinidad and Tobago’s digital public infrastructure progress at an international webinar. Chemistry Breakthrough: Trinidad and Tobago won its first International Chemistry Olympiad medal, a bronze by Reginald Mohammed (UWI-led programme). AI Data Centre Debate: Local commentary continues over whether proposed AI data centres can deliver real benefits without overloading water and electricity systems.

Digital Government & Trust: Trinidad and Tobago showcased VerifyTT at an international 50-in-5 webinar, with iGovTT highlighting how Digital Public Infrastructure can cut duplication and speed up secure access to services. Responsible AI in the Region: The Caribbean AI Forum opened with a push for regional cooperation and responsible AI development, while CTU urged shared standards for innovation and resilience. Education Tech for Inclusion: The PEARL Programme will start diagnosing hearing and visual impairments from age four (from September 2026), and “Learning Without Limits” will add an AI-supported interface for students with disabilities. STEM Achievement: T&T won its first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad—Bronze for Reginald Mohammed—through the UWI-led National Chemistry Olympiad programme. AI Data Centre Debate: Commentary and policy discussion continued around whether proposed AI data centres can deliver lasting local value, especially amid concerns about water, electricity, and accountability. Regional Skills Upgrade: CARICOM’s Digitalisation of TVET Delivery project reported pilots integrating digital solutions across member states, aiming for a country-owned model.

AI Data Centres & Policy Debate: A local ICT consultant and infrastructure voices are pushing for clearer rules on Trinidad and Tobago’s proposed AI data centres, stressing that memorandums of understanding aren’t the same as approved, build-ready projects—and that “lasting value” for locals must come first. Digital Government: Minister Dominic Smith says VerifyTT is set to anchor Trinidad and Tobago’s Digital Public Infrastructure, aiming to cut duplication and speed secure access to public services. Procurement AI Readiness: TSTT and Amplia ran an AI readiness workshop for procurement staff at Queen’s Park Oval, focusing on trusted data, workable processes, and people readiness before deploying AI tools. STEM Achievement: The UWI-led National Chemistry Olympiad programme helped Trinidad and Tobago win its first International Chemistry Olympiad medal, with Naparima student Reginald Mohammed taking Bronze. Earthquakes: UWI Seismic Research Centre confirmed two quakes (5.1 and 5.0) about an hour apart, urging public preparedness and reporting. Agriculture Research: The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries marked a successful pilot corn harvest under its Black Eye Bean, Corn and Soya programme, targeting stronger feed-grain production and food security.

STEM Achievement: Trinidad and Tobago won its first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad, with Naparima College student Reginald Mohammed taking bronze at the 57th IChO in Tashkent. The UWI-led National Chemistry Olympiad programme (with the Ministry of Education) supported the team, which also included Leon Copilah, Soren Narine and Zeeshan Lall. Digital Skills & TVET: CARICOM’s Digitalisation of TVET Delivery Project says it boosted regional capacity for digital training, with pilot countries integrating solutions into their own platforms and building a more sustainable, country-owned model. Public Tech & AI: Minister Dominic Smith says VerifyTT is a key pillar of Trinidad and Tobago’s Digital Public Infrastructure, aiming to reduce duplication and improve secure access to government services, alongside e-ID, interoperability and the CareTT benefits wallet. Data Centres Debate: Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales claims the PNM rejected an AI data centre bid over proposed reliance on subsidised water and electricity. Regional Tech/AI Marketing: Omni Channel Solutions launched OMNI 360, an AI visibility framework to measure how brands are discovered and recommended by AI search and answer engines.

STEM Breakthrough: Trinidad and Tobago won its first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad, with Naparima College student Reginald Mohammed taking bronze in Tashkent—an achievement built through the TT Chemistry Olympiad programme led by UWI St Augustine. AI & Governance: Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales says the PNM rejected an AI data centre bid because the company wanted to benefit from subsidised water and electricity rates, while debate continues over US proposals for data centres in T&T. Regional Digital Skills: CARICOM’s Digitalisation of TVET Delivery Project wrapped up, training instructors and building online learning units for digital technical and vocational education across member states including Trinidad and Tobago. Earthquake Preparedness: After two quakes shook T&T, UWI Seismic Research Centre data shows frequent moderate tremors; seismologists warn this is not proof a “big one” is coming and stress preparedness. Public Safety & Response: ACP Richard Smith says the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is strengthening home-invasion response through tighter community and divisional coordination. Disaster Watch (Regional): Guyana’s MV Barima ferry tragedy death toll rose to 53 as an independent commission of inquiry is planned.

STEM Breakthrough: Trinidad and Tobago wins its first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad, with Naparima College student Reginald Mohammed taking bronze at the 57th IChO in Tashkent, after a two-year evaluation process and steady improvement since joining the competition in 2021. Regional Skills Upgrade: CARICOM’s Digitalisation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Delivery Project wraps up with new online learning units and training for instructors across Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen digital workforce readiness. AI Procurement Push: TSTT and Amplia accelerate corporate AI readiness in procurement and supply chain via a CIPS workshop focused on data, process, and people—mapping steps to integrate AI tools while protecting vendor privacy. Earthquake Preparedness: UWI Seismic reports two significant quakes in Trinidad and Tobago about an hour apart (magnitude 5.1 and 5.0), with experts urging residents not to assume a “bigger one” is imminent and to prioritize preparedness. Local Infrastructure Update: Colorado DOT replaces aging Weigh-In-Motion equipment at the Trinidad Weigh Station this week, using highway-speed weighing to improve road safety and reduce idling.