AGP Executive Report

Montserrat Arts Council Leadership: Stedroy Duberry Jr, fresh from the West End and UK theatre/TV work, has been appointed Cultural Development Manager at the Montserrat Arts Council, effective Sept 1, bringing overseas experience back to shape the island’s cultural future. Calypsonians & Festival Planning: MAC met local calypsonians to tighten the 2026 competition format (one song in eliminations; two in semis/finals, with each round judged separately) and to set clearer expectations for early writing/recording and professional show deadlines. Volunteer Call: MAC is recruiting residents for 2026 year-end festival committees, including roles for Soca Monarch, calypso competitions, ceremonies, children’s carnival, carol singing, and logistics/gate support (deadline Sept 18). Digital Arts & Local Services: Simply Alliouagana, a new free mobile directory from Montserratians, helps residents and visitors find 80+ businesses, activities, and services via search, hours, and direct calls/WhatsApp. Tourism Tech Push: Tourism Week 2026 (Sept 27–Oct 3) will spotlight technology and AI for tourism, with training, radio quizzes, tours, and school presentations. Regional Culture Spotlight: Guyana announced CARIFESTA XVI dates—Oct 8–17, 2027—promising regional art, music, dance, theatre, and literature. Health & Skills Opportunity: OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship applications open Sept 10 and close Sept 20, with tracks including AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data, fintech, UX/UI, and more. Sports Governance Shock (Local Link): FIFA handed life bans to Montserrat Football Association president Vincent Cassell and others over financial misconduct, including misuse of FIFA funds.

Film Spotlight: Mexican director Lila Avilés has wrapped production on “Cábula,” sharing an exclusive first look; set in fictional Mexicalpan, it follows a teacher whose students face an elite attempt to exploit their culture, with the film starring Teresita Sánchez and Gabriela Cartol. Football Governance: FIFA has handed life bans to Montserrat Football Association’s former president Vincent Cassell and Maldives FA chief Bassam Adeel Jaleel for serious financial misconduct, including misuse of FIFA funds; Cassell was also fined, and FIFA says the cases tie back to earlier governance scandals. Digital Skills for Montserrat: The OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opens Sept. 10 (deadline Sept. 20), offering advanced training across areas like AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, and fintech for OECS citizens including Montserrat. Local Arts & Community: The Montserrat Arts Council is recruiting volunteers for 2026 festival committees (from calypso events to children’s carnival and logistics) and recently met calypsonians to shape the 2026 competition format. Diaspora & Services: A new Simply Alliouagana app is launching as a free directory to help residents and visitors find Montserrat businesses, services, and activities via search, hours, and WhatsApp contact.

Football Governance Shock: FIFA has handed life bans to Montserrat’s long-time football leader Vincent Cassell and Maldives ex-president Bassam Adeel Jaleel over financial misconduct, including misuse of COVID-19 relief funds; Cassell’s case also ties back to a 2011 Caribbean bribery scandal. Digital Skills for the Arts Community: The OECS opens applications for its 2026 Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship (Sept 10–20), with training areas like AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and UX/UI—skills that can power local creative careers. Montserrat Festival Call: The Montserrat Arts Council is recruiting volunteers for 2026 year-end festival committees (from Soca Monarch to Children’s Carnival), with registration due Sept 18. Tourism Meets Tech: Tourism Week 2026 (Sept 27–Oct 3) spotlights technology and AI for promoting Montserrat’s culture, plus youth and social media activities. Local Business Directory App: Simply Alliouagana launches as a free app directory of 80+ Montserrat businesses and services, including WhatsApp contact and opening hours. Film Spotlight: “Pope Weather in Montserrat” premieres Sept 10, a documentary filmed over four years inside the Benedictine monastery, exploring daily life and a distinctive sense of time.

Sports (UK/US viewing): West Ham host Wrexham on Friday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. BST (12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET), with UK coverage on Sky Sports and TalkSport, and US streaming via Paramount+. OECS Digital Skills: Applications open Sept. 10 for the OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship (Cohort II), delivered by UWI Global Campus under the World Bank-backed CARDTP, with training across AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data, UX/UI and more for eligible OECS citizens including Montserrat. Regional Justice & Safety: Minister Nickolas DaCosta highlights regional cooperation on offender rehabilitation and crime reduction after leading a Cayman Islands delegation to the CAPP conference in Turks and Caicos. Montserrat Culture & Community: The Montserrat Arts Council meets calypsonians on 2026 festival format changes and is now recruiting volunteers for festival committees (deadline Sept. 18). Tourism Push: Tourism Week 2026 runs Sept. 27–Oct. 3 on “Technology and AI,” featuring radio, social media training, tours, and school presentations. Local Tech Directory: Simply Alliouagana launches as a free app connecting users to 80+ Montserrat businesses and services via search, hours, and WhatsApp/phone contact. Aviation Update: Hampshire Air Festival 2026 is cancelled at short notice as organisers move into liquidation, leaving ticket holders scrambling for refunds.

Digital Skills Scholarships: The OECS has opened applications for the 2026 Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme (Sept 10–20), delivered by UWI Global Campus under the World Bank-backed Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, with tracks from AI and cybersecurity to UX/UI, fintech, and web development—eligible for citizens including Montserrat. Regional Justice & Rehabilitation: Minister Nickolas DaCosta reports on regional cooperation and offender rehabilitation work after the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole conference in Turks and Caicos. Health & Diaspora Ambitions: Montserratians in the US are rolling out the Emerald Healthcare Group Medical Initiative, aiming for a specialist clinic in Salem (targeting Feb 2027) and rotating specialist services. Arts Council & Festival Build-Up: MAC met calypsonians on 2026 competition changes, and is now recruiting volunteers for festival committees (deadline Sept 18). Local Tech for Everyday Life: Simply Alliouagana, a new Montserrat business directory app, is connecting residents and the diaspora to services via search, hours, and WhatsApp/phone contact. Aviation Spotlight & Setback: FlyMontserrat gets featured in Airliner World, while a planned Hampshire Air Festival linked to Montserrat Events & Festivals Limited is cancelled and moving into liquidation. Tourism Week: Montserrat’s Tourism Week 2026 (Sept 27–Oct 3) spotlights technology and AI, with training, tours, and school presentations. Music Moment: Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday is marked with global celebrations, including fan gatherings at his Montreux statue.

Film & Culture: Director Carles Prats’ Montserrat-set documentary “Pope Weather in Montserrat” took four years to make, capturing the Benedictine community’s daily rhythm—prayer, work, and a “different way of understanding time”—with a special screening in Barcelona on Sept. 10. Diaspora Health: Montserratians in the US are rolling out the Emerald Healthcare Group Medical Initiative, aiming for a rotating specialist clinic starting in Salem in Feb. 2027, with an online diaspora launch on Sept. 20. Tourism & Tech: Montserrat Tourism Week 2026 runs Sept. 27–Oct. 3, focusing on how technology and AI can boost tourism, plus training, quizzes, tours, and school presentations. Music & Community Arts: The Montserrat Arts Council met calypsonians to refine the 2026 competition format and is also recruiting volunteers for festival committees (deadline Sept. 18). Local Business Directory: The Simply Alliouagana app is connecting residents and visitors to 80+ Montserrat businesses and services via search, hours, and WhatsApp/phone contact. Aviation Spotlight: FlyMontserrat is featured in Airliner World’s September 2026 edition, highlighting its resilience and ongoing role linking Montserrat to Antigua. Rock Legacy: Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday is being marked worldwide, including fan celebrations at his Montreux statue.

Diaspora Health Initiative: Montserratians in the US are rolling out an ambitious healthcare plan under the Emerald Healthcare Group Medical Initiative, aiming for a specialist clinic in Salem (targeting February 2027) with rotating teams across specialties, plus training and research; an online diaspora launch is set for Sept 20. Tourism & Tech: Montserrat Tourism Week 2026 runs Sept 27–Oct 3 with “Tourism Reimagined,” spotlighting technology and AI, plus youth and stakeholder digital training, radio events, tours, and school presentations. Calypsos & Festival Planning: The Montserrat Arts Council met calypsonians to tighten the 2026 competition format (one song in eliminations; two in semis/finals) and plans contracts to set clear expectations; it’s also calling for volunteers for multiple festival committees (deadline Sept 18). Local Business App: Simply Alliouagana, a free mobile directory with 80+ businesses and services, is helping residents and visitors find contacts, hours, and activities via phone or WhatsApp. Aviation Spotlight: FlyMontserrat is featured in Airliner World’s September edition, highlighting the airline’s resilience and ongoing role connecting Montserrat to Antigua. Music Moment: Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday is marked with global tributes, including a major celebration at his Montreux statue. Arts Council Volunteers: Residents are invited to volunteer for roles spanning monarchs, children’s carnival, carol singing, gate staff, and logistics. Cultural Travel Note: A cocoa-era tourism idea for Tortuga and Gordon Village highlights how road access could make (or break) a new domestic destination.

Montserrat Tourism: Montserrat Tourism Week 2026 is set for Sept 27–Oct 3 with “Tourism Reimagined” and a big push on technology and AI, plus social media training, radio quizzes, school presentations, and tours (garden, island, and turtle-watching). Calypsos & Festival Planning: The Montserrat Arts Council met calypsonians to tighten the 2026 competition format (one song in eliminations; two in semis and finals, with judging reset each round) and is now recruiting volunteers for festival committees, including major events like Soca Monarch, Calypso Monarch, Children’s Carnival, and carol singing. Local Business App: Simply Alliouagana, a new free mobile directory, is connecting residents and visitors with 80+ Montserrat businesses, services, opening hours, and direct calls/WhatsApp. Aviation Spotlight: FlyMontserrat is featured in Airliner World’s September 2026 edition, highlighting its “Emerald Express” story and resilience through storms and volcanic disruption. Music Moment: Freddie Mercury marks his 80th birthday on Sept 5, with global fan tributes and a Zanzibar museum spotlighting his early life. Arts & Culture Beyond: Tabari Artspace DIFC opens “85 Seconds To Midnight,” a solo by Mohamed Monaiseer exploring war, occupation, and repeating histories. Travel Disruption (UK): The Hampshire Air Festival 2026 has been cancelled and the organiser is moving toward liquidation, leaving ticket holders scrambling for refunds.

Montserrat Tourism Week 2026: The Montserrat Tourism Authority is set to run Tourism Week from Sept 27 to Oct 3 under “Tourism Reimagined,” spotlighting how technology and AI can boost the sector, with radio, social media training, school presentations, and tours including turtle-watching (advance registration required). Calypsonians & MAC: The Montserrat Arts Council met local calypsonians to tighten the 2026 festival competition format—one song in eliminations, two in semis and finals—with no carry-forward points, plus plans for contracts and earlier song releases. Festival volunteering call: MAC is recruiting residents for 2026 year-end festival committees (Soca Monarch, calypso events, Children’s Carnival, Miss Montserrat, carol singing, and logistics/gate roles), with a Sept 18 deadline. Simply Alliouagana app: A new free mobile directory app is connecting users to 80+ Montserrat businesses and services via search, opening hours, and direct calls/WhatsApp. FlyMontserrat in spotlight: FlyMontserrat was featured in Airliner World’s “Montserrat’s Emerald Express,” highlighting the airline’s resilience and role as the island’s key link to the outside world. Freddie Mercury 80: Sept 5 marked 80 years since Freddie Mercury’s birth, with global fan tributes and a Zanzibar museum spotlighting his early life. Aviation event fallout: The Hampshire Air Festival in the UK was cancelled days before it was due to run after organisers moved toward liquidation, leaving ticket holders scrambling for refunds.

Arts & Culture: Zanzibar’s Freddie Mercury Museum is drawing visitors to the Queen frontman’s childhood home in Stone Town, with outfits, lyrics and early instruments telling his journey from Zanzibar to global rock stages. Music & Community: Thousands of Queen fans marked Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday at his Montreux statue, turning the lakeside into a colourful street party of tributes and stage-inspired outfits. Local Arts/Exhibitions: Tabari Artspace (DIFC) opens “85 Seconds To Midnight,” a solo by Mohamed Monaiseer (Sept 11–Oct 1) using cycles of war and occupation to probe how violence repeats across generations. Film: Berlin Golden Bear winner Lila Avilés has wrapped “Cábula,” set in a fictional Mexican town and headed to the Venice Gap-Financing Market, following a teacher fighting elites who try to exploit her community. Montserrat Spotlight: Montserrat Events & Festivals Limited has cancelled the Hampshire Air Festival (Sept 12–13) and moved toward liquidation, leaving ticket holders to seek refunds through their card providers. Heritage & Justice: Jamaica’s government plans to file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles, seeking advisory opinions and discussing repatriation of cultural artefacts with the British Museum. Sports/Streaming: Valencia vs Barcelona is set for Sept 6 (LaLiga), with listings across major platforms.

Aviation & Community: Hampshire Air Festival 2026, planned for Sept. 12–13 at Thruxton, has been cancelled after Montserrat Events & Festivals Limited entered liquidation, leaving ticket holders to seek refunds through their card providers. Music & Culture: Freddie Mercury celebrations keep rolling—thousands gathered at his Montreux statue for “Freddie Day” on his would-be 80th birthday, while Zanzibar’s Freddie Mercury Museum highlights his childhood in Stone Town. Art & Conflict: Tabari Artspace (DIFC) hosts Mohamed Monaiseer’s solo “85 Seconds To Midnight” (Sept. 11–Oct. 1), using cycles of violence and the “Doomsday Clock” idea to examine war, occupation, and imperial power. Heritage & Justice: Jamaica’s government plans to file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles III, asking for advisory opinions via the Privy Council and discussing repatriation of Jamaican cultural artefacts. Regional Governance: Nevis is represented at the CPA conference in Jamaica, with a focus on maintaining parliamentary decorum in the digital age and a youth parliament session on AI.

Arts & Culture: Zanzibar’s Freddie Mercury Museum in the house where Farrokh Bulsara was born is drawing visitors with outfits, a first piano, and handwritten lyrics, tracing his path from Stone Town to Queen’s global breakthrough. Music Spotlight: In Montreux, thousands marked Mercury’s 80th birthday at the Freddie Mercury statue, with fans in flamboyant stage-inspired looks and tributes tied to his final years. Collectibles & Auctions: A leather jacket Mercury wore on stage in 1988 is set for auction in the UK, expected to fetch up to £150,000, adding fresh momentum to the Mercury legacy. Contemporary Art: Tabari Artspace (DIFC) presents Mohamed Monaiseer’s “85 Seconds To Midnight,” using cycles and repetition to examine war, occupation, and how violence echoes across generations. Film & Festivals: Mexican director Lila Avilés has wrapped “Cábula,” set for the Venice Gap-Financing Market, continuing her acclaimed “Totém” momentum with a story about education and cultural exploitation. Reparations & Heritage: Jamaica plans to file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles, seeking Privy Council advisory opinions and discussing the return of cultural artefacts with the British Museum.

Human Rights & Industry Accountability: A new report revisits how industrial meatpacking—rooted in exploitation and unsafe conditions—has long carried human rights abuses, echoing the grim realities Sinclair exposed in The Jungle. Freddie Mercury Celebrations: Thousands of Queen fans gathered at Freddie Mercury’s statue in Montreux, Switzerland, for his 80th birthday, dressing in iconic looks and leaving tributes at the lakeside site tied to his final years. Music Memorabilia at Auction: Mercury’s cropped leather biker jacket from his 1988 stage appearance is set for auction in the UK, expected to fetch up to £150,000. Jamaica Reparations Push: Jamaica plans to file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles III, asking for advisory opinions on key questions and also meeting the British Museum about returning cultural artefacts. Regional Governance & Youth: Nevis is represented at the CPA conference in Jamaica, focusing on parliamentary decorum in the digital age, with youth parliamentarians set to discuss AI’s impact. Film Spotlight: Spanish series La Mesías continues to draw attention for its genre-melding, family-and-faith horror style, with Los Javis also preparing their next work.

Freddie Mercury 80th Birthday: Thousands of Queen fans gathered at Mercury’s statue in Montreux, Switzerland, singing and partying in flamboyant outfits, with tributes and bottles left at the lakeside landmark. Freddie Mercury Auction Buzz: A leather jacket Mercury wore during his last live performance is set for auction in the UK, expected to fetch up to £150,000, alongside related letters. Jamaica Slavery Reparations Push: Jamaica’s culture minister Olivia Grange leads a delegation to file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles, asking for advisory opinions on three questions and also meeting the British Museum about repatriating Jamaican cultural artefacts. Regional Governance & Youth: Nevis is represented at the CPA conference in Jamaica, with a focus on maintaining parliamentary decorum in the digital age and a virtual youth parliament on AI. Film Spotlight: Lila Avilés has wrapped production on “Cábula,” sharing a first look ahead of Venice’s gap-financing market, following her acclaimed “Totém.” Sports Viewing Guides: Fans can catch Valencia vs Barcelona and Newcastle vs Bournemouth via major broadcasters and streaming platforms listed by country.

Freddie Mercury celebrations: Queen fans packed the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux for what would have been his 80th birthday, leaving tributes and celebrating the legacy of the singer who recorded his final vocals in the Swiss town. Jamaica reparations push: A Jamaican delegation is set to file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles in London, using a legal route that could refer key questions to the Privy Council, alongside talks with the British Museum about repatriating cultural artefacts. Montserrat arts & education spotlight: A Montserrat run for Texas House District 49 highlights Latino leadership and education roots, while a Nevada fifth-grader named Montserrat Franco Hernandez won the 2026–2027 Adventure Pass art contest. Film industry buzz: Mexican director Lila Avilés has wrapped production on “Cábula,” sharing a first look ahead of Venice’s Gap-Financing Market, with the teacher-led story centered on creativity and community. Regional governance (Nevis): Nevis is represented at the CPA conference in Jamaica, with a focus on keeping parliamentary decorum in the digital age and youth discussions on AI.

Caribbean Reparations Push: Jamaica says it will file a slavery reparations petition with King Charles during a London visit, asking for Privy Council review of key questions on transatlantic chattel slavery and also raising plans to discuss repatriating cultural artefacts. Film & Festival Buzz: Mexican director Lila Avilés has wrapped “Cábula,” sharing a first look ahead of Venice’s Gap-Financing Market; the teacher-centered story follows students confronting elites who exploit their customs. Regional Governance & Youth: Nevis is represented at the 48th CPA conference in Jamaica, with Assembly President Michelle Slack-Clarke speaking on keeping parliamentary decorum in the digital age, alongside a virtual youth parliament focused on AI leadership. Arts Spotlight (Music History): Freddie Mercury’s cropped leather jacket from his final live performance is set for auction in London, with the sale also including related letters. Community Culture: A revived “Tacos y Tequila” festival in Hillyard brought live music, vendors, and fundraising for a local cultural and behavioral health centre. Local Arts/Youth Recognition: Nevada’s 5th Grade Adventure Pass winner is Montserrat Franco Hernandez, whose “Starlit Skies” design will appear on the pass.