AGP Executive Report

Chlordecone Accountability: France’s lower house has unanimously backed a bill recognizing the state’s “share of responsibility” for the health, moral, environmental and economic harm caused by chlordecone (Kepone) in Guadeloupe and Martinique, where MPs cite contamination affecting nearly 90% of adults and links to cancers and other long-term effects; the law also sets goals for decontamination, compensation planning, and support for affected fishermen and farmers. Direct Jamaica Link: LIAT Air will launch the first-ever nonstop flights between Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Montego Bay (Jamaica) from July 14, with twice-weekly service timed ahead of Reggae Sumfest. Regional Air Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal effective June 1, letting travelers book on one ticket with checked baggage through across networks that include Guadeloupe and Martinique. Ferry Disruption: A fishermen’s strike in Guadeloupe has blocked Pointe-à-Pitre port, disrupting ferry services to Dominica. Aviation Oddity: Air France continues an unusual Airbus A320 route from Miami to Guadeloupe as part of its island-hopping network. Legal Memory: France also moved to repeal the slavery-era Code Noir, a symbolic step that still leaves reparations debates unresolved.

Aviation & Tourism: LIAT Air is launching the first-ever direct flights between Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Montego Bay (Jamaica) from July 14, with twice-weekly service (Tues/Sat outbound; Wed/Sun return), timed ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest to make the trip simpler for French Caribbean travellers. Regional Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes have also signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book on one ticket with through-checked baggage across networks that include Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana plus the Eastern Caribbean and onward links to Paris-Orly. Health & Accountability: France’s National Assembly has unanimously backed a bill acknowledging the State’s “share of responsibility” in the chlordecone scandal affecting Guadeloupe and Martinique, citing widespread contamination and long-term harm, while pointing to a future legal framework for compensation. Environment: A Guadeloupe-Martinique study mission under an OECS/EU-backed sargassum programme is visiting local sites to share strategies for managing seaweed and turning it into value-added uses. Culture & Sport: The SXM Drag Race in Hope Estate drew 35 riders from across the region, with Jean-Marc Chaville of Guadeloupe placing in the Streetbike A-Class.

Aviation Boost: LIAT Air will launch direct flights between Guadeloupe and Jamaica on July 14, with service from Pointe-à-Pitre to Montego Bay twice weekly and the return on Wednesdays and Sundays, timed ahead of Jamaica’s 2026 Reggae Festival. Regional Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal effective June 1, letting passengers book on one ticket with baggage checked through across networks linking Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana with the Eastern Caribbean and onward to Europe via Paris-Orly. Health & Environment: French MPs say the state shares partial blame for the long use of chlordecone (Kepone) in the French West Indies despite warnings, with contamination affecting nearly 90% of people in Martinique and Guadeloupe and linked to cancers. Legal & History: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously to repeal the Code Noir, the 1685 slavery law that kept enslaved people classified as “movable property,” though reparations are not included. Sargassum Watch: An OECS delegation is visiting Martinique and Guadeloupe (June 1–4) to study sargassum management and develop value-added uses for the seaweed. Transport Disruption: Ferry services to Dominica were disrupted after a fishermen’s strike in Guadeloupe blocked the port of Pointe-à-Pitre. Justice System Training: OHADAC’s CARO arbitration centre and the OECS will launch June 10 training to strengthen access to economic justice across the Eastern Caribbean. Crime & Courts: A Guadeloupe court authorized the extradition of an American accused in a $46 million cryptocurrency fraud.

Ferry Disruption: A fishermen’s strike in Guadeloupe has blocked the port of Pointe-à-Pitre, disrupting FRS EXPRESS des Îles ferry services to Dominica and leaving passengers to be accommodated by shipping agents. Regional Environment: A Caribbean delegation from nine OECS states is visiting Martinique and Guadeloupe (June 1–4) to study sargassum management and how to turn the seaweed into useful products, supported by the EU and OECS. Aviation Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes have signed an interline agreement taking effect June 1, letting travelers book on one ticket with through-checked baggage across networks linking Guadeloupe/Martinique/French Guiana with the Eastern Caribbean and onward to Paris Orly. French Colonial Reckoning: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, a slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as property; the move is symbolic but has renewed calls for real justice beyond symbolism. Disaster Response Training: “Operation Caribbean 26” continues until June 4, with multinational forces in the Antilles running a cyclone disaster-relief exercise involving units from Martinique and Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe in the Spotlight: A Guadeloupe-born sailing story highlights how experience gained on a solo voyage from Guadeloupe is feeding into new offshore racing ambitions.

Aviation Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes have signed an interline agreement starting June 1, letting passengers book both networks on one ticket with through-checked baggage—linking Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana with LIAT’s Eastern Caribbean routes and onward connections to Paris-Orly. Regional Response Drills: The Antilles Armed Forces continue “Operation Caraïbes 26,” a multinational disaster-training exercise running until June 4, with a simulated Category 4 cyclone and units from Martinique and Guadeloupe supporting humanitarian relief. Local Travel Shock (St. Kitts): St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson says Caribbean Airlines’ withdrawal from the St. Kitts route was announced without consultation, while the government works to secure an alternative carrier. France & the Code Noir: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, a slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” a symbolic step that still leaves reparations unresolved. Training for Justice: OHADAC and the CARO arbitration centre, with OECS, will launch regional training on arbitration and ADR on June 10, with Guadeloupe among participating territories.

Aviation Deal for Island Travelers: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes have signed an interline agreement starting June 1, letting passengers book one ticket across both networks with baggage checked through—linking LIAT’s Eastern Caribbean routes (from Antigua) with Air Caraïbes services from Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, plus its Paris-Orly link. Disaster-Response Drills: “Operation Caraïbes 26” continues until June 4, with Antilles Armed Forces training multinational teams for a simulated major cyclone, including Guadeloupe and Martinique RSMA units and specialized rescue, engineering and route-recovery capabilities. Regional Connectivity Shock in St. Kitts: Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson says Caribbean Airlines’ withdrawal from St. Kitts and Nevis was announced without consulting the government, while officials move to secure another airline partner to protect regional links. Colonial History, Legal Step in France: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir, the 1685 slavery decree that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” a symbolic move that still leaves reparations debates open. Guadeloupe in the Spotlight via Culture: A new profile highlights Guadeloupe-born poet Saint-John Perse’s legacy, tying the island’s landscapes to his diplomatic and literary influence.

Slavery Law Repeal in France: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to formally repeal the 1685 “Code Noir,” ending the last legal status that treated enslaved people as “movable property.” The move is largely symbolic but deeply emotional, with Guadeloupe MP Max Mathiasin backing the bill and lawmakers calling it a step toward remembrance and justice—while reparations remain debated and not included in the vote. Regional Aviation: In the Caribbean, LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book on one ticket with through-checked baggage, aiming to smooth travel between islands and Europe. Local Travel Shock: In St. Kitts and Nevis, Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson says Caribbean Airlines’ withdrawal from the route was announced without consulting the government, even as officials seek another partner to protect connectivity. Disaster Readiness: France’s Antilles forces are running “Operation Caribbean 26” until June 4, training for a major cyclone scenario with multinational disaster-response teams.

Disaster Response Drills: The Armed Forces in the Antilles are running “Operation Caribbean 26” until June 4, a multinational exercise simulating a major Category 4 cyclone to train forces from Martinique and Guadeloupe for cross-border humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Aviation Shock in the Leeward Islands: St. Kitts and Nevis tourism minister Marsha Henderson says Caribbean Airlines’ withdrawal from the St. Kitts route was announced without consulting the government, raising concerns for travellers and commuters while officials seek an alternative carrier. Regional Connectivity Boost: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book one ticket with through-checked baggage across Eastern Caribbean and French Caribbean routes, plus links to Paris. Historic French Legal Step: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir slavery edicts, a symbolic but long-awaited move that still leaves the Senate to approve next. Guadeloupe Court Case: A Guadeloupe appeal court authorized the extradition of American John Daghita to the United States over a reported $46 million cryptocurrency fraud.

Regional Aviation Shake-Up: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes have signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book one ticket with through-checked baggage across Guadeloupe/Martinique/French Guiana and the wider Eastern Caribbean network. Air Connectivity Pressure: The same June 1 date also lines up with Caribbean Airlines pulling out of Dominica, St. Kitts and Ogle-Suriname and cutting frequencies to Martinique and Guadeloupe—part of a wider realignment that’s already sparked calls for better consultation and backup options. Code Noir Repeal in France: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to formally repeal the 1685 Code Noir, ending a slavery-era legal status that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” with the Senate still to vote next. Guadeloupe Court Case: French authorities approved the extradition of John Daghita, arrested in Saint-Martin, to face a reported $46 million cryptocurrency fraud case in the United States. Health Watch: France reported 92 imported mosquito-borne cases in May (mostly dengue), with links to travel abroad. Earthquake Update: A magnitude 4.3 quake was recorded late Tuesday near Antigua, with no damage or injuries reported.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to formally scrap the 1685 “Code Noir,” the slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” after nearly two centuries on the books; the bill is symbolic but also requires reporting on how colonial laws still shape racism and discrimination, with the Senate still to vote. Regional Air Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book one ticket with checked baggage through across networks linking Guadeloupe/Martinique/French Guiana to the Eastern Caribbean and onward to Europe. Guadeloupe in the Air-France Spotlight: An Air France Airbus A320 route via Guadeloupe is drawing aviation attention, highlighting the island-hopping links between the US and French overseas departments. Local Justice in Guadeloupe: A Guadeloupe court authorized the extradition of US citizen John Daghita to face a reported $46m cryptocurrency fraud case. Health Watch: France reported 92 imported mosquito-borne cases in May (dengue, chikungunya, Zika), all linked to travel abroad, as the tiger mosquito season ramps up. Earthquake Update: A magnitude 4.3 quake was recorded near Antigua with no reported damage or injuries.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to formally repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery-era decree that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” nearly 180 years after slavery was abolished—an emotional step championed by Guadeloupe MP Max Mathiasin, with debate also touching on the question of reparations. Air Connectivity Boost: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting travelers book one ticket with checked baggage through between Eastern Caribbean islands and French Caribbean routes (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana) plus connections to Paris. Regional Air Shock: In St. Kitts and Nevis, Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson said Caribbean Airlines withdrew from the federation’s route without prior consultation, while officials move to secure an alternative partner to protect connectivity. Health Alert: French authorities reported 92 imported mosquito-borne cases in May (mostly dengue), all linked to travel abroad, as the tiger mosquito remains active across many departments. Guadeloupe in Sports: Guadeloupean sprinter Melanie Roland won the NCAA D-II 400m title, capping a standout season for her team. Local Travel Interest: A new Air France A320 “Guadeloupe connection” route via Miami highlights island-hopping links between the French overseas department and the U.S.

Slavery Law Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to formally repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” with lawmakers—moved to tears—calling it a long-overdue act of remembrance and justice; the bill now heads to the Senate, while President Macron has warned against “false promises” on reparations. Mosquito-Borne Alerts: French health authorities reported 92 imported cases of dengue, chikungunya and Zika in mainland France in May (all linked to travel abroad), as the tiger mosquito is active across most departments. Regional Earthquake: A magnitude 4.3 quake was recorded late Tuesday near Antigua, with no reports of damage or injuries. Air Travel Cuts: Caribbean Airlines is scaling back routes from June 1, including discontinuing services to St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica, and reducing flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe to twice weekly. Sports Spotlight: Guadeloupe’s Melanie Roland won the NCAA D-II 400m title, adding to the island’s growing athletics profile.

Slavery Law Repeal in France: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to formally repeal the Code Noir, the 1685 “Black Code” that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” with the bill now heading to the Senate; the move is symbolic but emotionally charged, as lawmakers from the French Caribbean—including Guadeloupe’s Max Mathiasin—said it’s a step toward justice and remembrance, while reparations demands were not included. Regional Earthquake Update: A magnitude 4.3 quake was recorded late Tuesday evening, centered about 82 km northeast of Antigua, with no reports of damage or injuries so far. Air Travel Shake-up for the Caribbean: Caribbean Airlines is cutting routes and reducing frequencies from June 1, including discontinuing services to St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica, and trimming flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe—another blow for intra-Caribbean connectivity. Guadeloupe in the Spotlight: Guadeloupe athlete Melanie Roland won the NCAA D-II 400m title, adding to the island’s growing sports profile. Health & Medicines Access: PAHO/WHO and OECS-PPS will convene in Saint Lucia to strengthen access to safe medicines and health technologies across Eastern Caribbean states.

France Slavery Reckoning: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 “Code Noir,” the colonial law that treated enslaved people as “movable property” and enabled brutal punishment—an overdue symbolic step that still stops short of reparations demands, while the bill now heads to the Senate. Earthquake Watch: A magnitude 4.3 quake was recorded late Tuesday evening near Antigua, with no reports of damage or injuries so far. Air Connectivity Shock: Caribbean Airlines is cutting routes and frequencies from June 1, including ending services to Dominica and St Kitts and reducing flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe to twice weekly, citing major route losses and promising rebooking options. Health & Medicines: PAHO/WHO and OECS-PPS will hold a 28–29 May workshop in Saint Lucia to improve access to safe, quality-assured medicines and health technologies across the Eastern Caribbean. Regional Environment: SARSEA meetings in Dominica this week focus on sargassum management, with field activities planned for Martinique and Guadeloupe starting June 1.

Aviation Shake-Up: Caribbean Airlines will cut several routes from June 1, ending flights to Dominica, St. Kitts and the Ogle (Guyana)–Suriname corridor, and reducing service to Martinique and Guadeloupe to twice weekly—moves tied to losses of more than US$18.8 million on the affected network. Travel Impact: Passengers booked beyond the cut-off dates will be contacted and offered rebooking, partner connections, full refunds, or travel credit. Regional Health Cooperation: PAHO/WHO and OECS-PPS will convene a 28–29 May workshop in Saint Lucia to launch a technical working group aimed at improving access to safe, quality-assured medicines and health technologies across the Eastern Caribbean. Sport & Community: Guadeloupe’s Melanie Roland won the NCAA D-II 400m title, while Guadeloupe runners also shone at Antigua’s Run in Paradise (Christina Laurent won the 5k; Jordan Parraire took the 10k). Road Safety Weekend: SXM Drag Race returns this weekend in Grand Case with a dedicated Road Safety Village featuring simulator and anti-drink/drug workshops.

Aviation Shake-Up for the Eastern Caribbean: Caribbean Airlines will cut more regional links from June 1, ending flights to Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and the Ogle (Guyana)–Suriname corridor, while reducing service to Martinique and Guadeloupe to twice weekly; the airline says the changes target long-term financial stability and operational reliability, and passengers on affected bookings will be contacted with options like rebooking, refunds, or travel credit, as CAL works toward a codeshare deal to widen connections. Road Safety Weekend in Saint Martin: The SXM Drag Race returns this Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31 with a Road Safety Village featuring riding simulators, anti-drug/alcohol driving workshops, and public prevention activities alongside the races. Sports Tourism Milestone: Antigua and Barbuda’s Run in Paradise (10th edition) drew 380+ runners from across the Caribbean and beyond, with Guadeloupe’s Christina Laurent winning the 5k and Jordan Parraire taking the 10k, while Miami’s Alex Beach set a new half-marathon course record. Regional Environment Cooperation: More than 60 sargassum and marine stakeholders meet in Dominica under SARSEA to shape national sargassum plans, with field missions planned for Martinique and Guadeloupe starting June 1. Local Spotlight: Guadeloupean sprinter Melanie Roland won the NCAA D-II 400m national title, after a breakthrough season and a mindset shift aimed at competing like a champion.