AGP Executive Report
Last update: an hour agoTravel & Safety: The U.S. State Department upgraded Saint Lucia to Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution,” citing violent crime that can occur anywhere on the island, including armed robbery, assault, burglary and rape, with some deaths of Americans; officials also advise visitors to stay alert in tourist areas, avoid displaying wealth, and be careful at night and around ATMs. Visa-Free Europe: Spain named nine CARICOM countries for visa-free entry, including St. Lucia—while Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, Belize and Haiti were left off; the waiver covers short stays up to 90 days. Regional Security Tech: Dominica and partners signed a U.S.-backed biometric border security agreement to share fingerprints and facial scans, with officials openly linking the move to reducing risks tied to Citizenship by Investment programmes. CBI Pressure & EU Talks: Eastern Caribbean CBI countries agreed to coordinate a diplomatic push to Brussels after EU demands to phase out the programmes by June 2028. Local Culture: Saint Lucia’s Groovy and Power Soca Monarch finals crowned Kisha Kay (Groovy) and Ezra D’Funmachine (Power), each taking EC$40,000. Agriculture: Saint Lucia opened its first dragon fruit nursery in Union, Castries, to boost high-value crop planting material for farmers and the hotel sector.
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