Chamber Leadership: Celia Samuel of Go To Enterprises has been elected president of the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce for 2026–2027, with Dr. Errol Samuel as first vice president and Tamara Lowe-James as second vice president, as the chamber pledges to back businesses of all sizes through innovation, partnerships and advocacy. Carnival Countdown: Antigua Carnival 2026 is one month away, running July 25 to Aug. 4 under the “Feel the Rhythm” theme, with 11 days packed with soca, mas, steelpan and major events across St. John’s. Tourism Jobs & Training: Hammock Cove Resort & Spa workers have secured ABWU union representation, including a $0.50 hourly wage increase from July 1, 2026, while ABHTA completed kitchen management training to strengthen hospitality leadership and operations. Tourism Investment: Cabinet approved a public-private partnership to develop a new hotel at Yepton’s (about 15 acres), with government investment up to EC$40 million and local private participation, aiming to keep more tourism earnings in-country. Agriculture Water Boost: Antigua and Barbuda secured an approx. US$9 million grant to build dams and water catchment infrastructure to expand irrigation and improve food security amid drought. Coastal Project Move: Government has engaged a coastal engineering firm for the Fort James Renaissance Park, starting with coastal assessment and preliminary engineering design. STEM Pipeline: The Education Ministry announced its STEM InFuSED summer camp (July 6–Aug. 11) and the ECCB will also run a free 2026 STEM Camp starting July 6 for ages 14–18. Sports Development: Cricket West Indies is moving ahead with procurement for an Antigua High Performance Centre and plans a full-time cricket academy where academics and elite training go together.