Tourism & Hospitality: Royalton Vessence Barbados (Autograph Collection All-Inclusive by Marriott) officially opened on the Platinum Coast with a ribbon-cutting attended by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, adding a 220-suite adults-only option to the island’s growing all-inclusive market. Aviation & Skills: Barbados is expanding aviation maintenance capacity via a General Aviation and Aircraft Maintenance short course and internship with Barbados Aircraft and Aviation Services Ltd. and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology. Food Security Debate: The DLP is challenging Government’s Vineyard, St Philip plan to convert about 80 acres into roughly 1,100 affordable homes, warning it undermines agricultural output and Barbados’ food resilience. Energy Transition (Regional): Barbados-based CDB funding backs Grenada’s utility-scale battery storage at Maurice Bishop International Airport to strengthen grid stability and support renewable integration. Consumer & Business Policy: Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) supports the transfer pricing review aimed at supermarket pricing practices, while questioning how consumer protection is being framed. Regional Integration: Martinique and French Guiana formally joined CARICOM as associate members, expanding the associate group to eight. Climate Risk: CariCOF warns El Niño strengthening plus warmer Caribbean seas could mean more intense heat, drought risk, and flooding threats during the 2026 wet season. Education & AI: CXC is changing its School-Based Assessment framework for CSEC and CAPE starting 2027 to protect exam integrity as generative AI use grows.