Caribbean Tourism Awards & Leadership: Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. CEO Andrea Franklin was named CTO Director of Tourism of the Year 2026, while BVI’s Luce Hodge-Smith won Minister/Commissioner of Tourism of the Year at CTO’s Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards in New York. Regional Tourism Strategy: CTO also recognised media excellence at its Caribbean Media Awards and launched CTO TV to boost Caribbean tourism storytelling with a library of 700+ videos. Energy & Storm Readiness (Barbados): BLPC says fuel costs drive most bills, but it has FCA permissions for temporary generation; separately, it warns solar owners to properly isolate systems and not restart damaged panels after storms. Skills & Training (CARICOM): HEART/NSTA Trust digitised three Level 2 TVET courses (waxing, tiling, baking/cake) for CARICOM-wide delivery via Moodle. Climate Finance Push (SIDS): Barbados’ Santia Bradshaw urged faster, simplified climate funding for small island states, saying late money can’t deliver real protection. Governance & Business Controls: Cayman proposes letting Cabinet suspend licences for foreign-owned businesses in sectors deemed in the public interest. Anti-Corruption Drive: Jamaica’s Integrity Commission chief calls for aligned regional anti-corruption laws and coordinated action. Mobility & Congestion (CDB): CDB warns road expansion alone won’t fix Caribbean traffic; it wants integrated mobility planning and tech coordination. Local Business & Culture: Marcus Garvey Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition opens with $30,000 in prizes for cultural-industry innovators. Branding in Sport: BYD signed on as Official Car Sponsor of CPL 2026, rolling out fan activations and a vehicle-wrap design challenge.