Cruise Tourism Pressure: Opposition tourism spokesperson Andrea Purkiss says Jamaica’s cruise passenger arrivals have fallen 28% since 2019, arguing the sector is shrinking while the government stays “completely silent,” with a reported gap of nearly 438,000 visitors versus pre-pandemic levels. Barbados Drought Watch: Barbados Meteorological Services reports drought conditions persist despite the wet season start, with rainfall still below expected norms and El Niño likely to keep totals near or under average into the coming months. Digital Payments Shift: Barbados’ Central Bank data shows electronic fund transfers surged to $20.8bn in 2025, overtaking cash usage as the island prepares to go live with BiMPay. Construction Jobs Tension: C.O. Williams Construction plans redundancies amid declining competitiveness, with the Barbados Workers’ Union demanding evidence as the building boom continues. Energy & Industry: Barbados’ energy minister says seismic surveys suggest potential offshore resources of up to 13bn barrels of oil and 40+ trillion cubic feet of gas, while BLPC warns customers about renewable system isolation ahead of storms and discusses fuel-cost-driven bill impacts. Food Policy Push: Healthy Caribbean Coalition launches a campaign urging schools to reduce ultra-processed food and drink marketing, backing petitions across multiple territories. Women’s Cricket Boost: WCPL unveils a re-engineered 2026 festival in Barbados with an expanded four-team format and Jamaica Empress joining the Tridents, Amazon Warriors and Knight Riders. Maritime Training: Barbados Community College rolls out online maritime courses to prepare workers for expected growth in the sector.