The reigning Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) champions from Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) are set to depart this weekend for Dominica, where they will compete in the highly anticipated 2026 CARILEC Lineworkers Symposium and Rodeo. This three-day regional gathering, running from April 24 to 26, 2026, will draw over 100 skilled lineworkers from across the Caribbean, centering its mission on advancing industry training, reinforcing safety protocols, and celebrating technical mastery across the regional energy sector.
In a statement ahead of the event, APUA confirmed that its competing team has entered the final stages of preparation for the annual regional gathering, noting that the squad is eager to represent Antigua and Barbuda with demonstrated expertise, national pride, and unwavering determination. The utility extended its best wishes to the team for a successful competition.
The 2026 event is co-hosted by CARILEC, the Caribbean’s leading regional energy industry association, and Dominica Electricity Services Limited, marking a key milestone in cross-border energy sector collaboration. Unlike traditional athletic competitions, the symposium and rodeo are structured to blend hands-on technical education with structured competitive challenges, creating a space where utility professionals from across the region can exchange innovative practices, refine their on-the-job skills, and showcase their capabilities through a series of practical, field-based tests.
During the symposium portion of the event, attendees will dive deep into cutting-edge solutions currently deployed in power grid maintenance and operations. These discussions and demonstrations will cover emerging industry tools, new energy technologies, and updated safety frameworks designed to reduce risk for lineworkers, who carry out one of the most dangerous roles in the energy sector.
Following the symposium, the rodeo competition will put participating teams to the test through simulated real-world power system scenarios. These exercises are designed to evaluate core performance metrics: operational precision, speed of response, team coordination, and unwavering adherence to critical safety standards. All competitive activities will be held at Dominica’s Benjamins Park, and the event is open to the general public. This open-door policy gives local residents and visiting tourists a rare opportunity to witness the high-skill, high-stakes work that lineworkers perform every day to keep regional power grids operational.
Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director of CARILEC, emphasized that the annual event is a powerful testament to the strength of collaborative efforts across the Caribbean energy sector. “The Lineworkers Symposium and Rodeo represents the very best of regional collaboration, bringing together skilled professionals from across the Caribbean to strengthen safety practices, share knowledge, and elevate the standards of our industry,” Bertin said. He added that holding the 2026 event in Dominica offers unique benefits beyond competition, giving the local community an up-close look at the critical work done by utility crews across the region.
“Hosting this event in Dominica provides a valuable opportunity for the local community to see firsthand the expertise required to keep electricity systems operating safely and reliably, while also highlighting the important role utilities like Dominica Electricity Services Limited play in powering regional development,” he explained.
For context, CARILEC functions as a regional membership association that brings together electric utilities, independent power producers, and other key energy sector stakeholders across the Caribbean. The organization’s core mandate is to support the regional energy industry through coordinated training programs, cross-border technical collaboration, industry-wide knowledge sharing, and unified coordination for disaster response when extreme weather impacts regional power infrastructure.