Carib Scope

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  • Housing Rents Rise 2% as Utility Costs Push Living Expenses Higher in Antigua and Barbuda

    Housing Rents Rise 2% as Utility Costs Push Living Expenses Higher in Antigua and Barbuda

    New official data from Antigua and Barbuda’s statistical authorities has revealed a sustained upward trend in housing-related costs through July 2026, with steep jumps in utility prices outpacing even notable rental growth to squeeze household budgets across the island nation.

    The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, published by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics, shows that the Actual Rentals for Housing index rose by 2% over the 12-month period ending in July 2026. This rental growth was part of a much larger increase across the full housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category, which notched a 7.6% year-on-year surge by mid-2026.

    What stands out most in the new data is the dramatic gap between rental growth and the escalation of essential utility costs. Over the same 12-month window, the electricity price index skyrocketed by 42.9%, while the broader energy index recorded a 20.6% annual increase. The Statistics Division emphasized that these hikes carry outsized weight for local households, as housing and utility services count among the most non-negotiable monthly expenses for all residents.

    These housing-related price jumps are not an isolated trend, but rather a key contributor to a broader nationwide rise in consumer prices. Headline inflation across Antigua and Barbuda hit 4.4% in July 2026, and core inflation – which strips out volatile food and energy prices to measure underlying price growth – reached 4.1% over the same period.

    Taken together, the figures paint a clear picture of uneven cost pressure on Antigua and Barbuda’s households: while rental growth has remained relatively moderate, skyrocketing electricity and energy costs have created substantial financial strain for consumers across the country.

  • Restaurant and Hotel Prices Rise 6.5% in Antigua and Barbuda

    Restaurant and Hotel Prices Rise 6.5% in Antigua and Barbuda

    New inflation data published by Antigua and Barbuda’s official statistics agency shows that the island nation is navigating broad-based price pressures across its economy in July 2026, with sharp disparities in cost increases across different consumer categories. The National Bureau of Statistics, operating under the country’s Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance, released the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which pegged the annual headline inflation rate at 4.4% for July. This marks a widespread increase in the cost of living for both local consumers and international visitors to the Caribbean nation. One of the most notable overperforming categories in terms of price growth is hospitality: restaurant and hotel prices rose 6.5% year-on-year, outpacing the overall headline inflation rate by more than two percentage points. This acceleration in hospitality costs hits directly at Antigua and Barbuda’s key tourism industry, which relies heavily on competitive pricing to attract international visitors. The higher hospitality prices are far from an isolated trend. Multiple other core consumer categories saw even steeper price increases than the headline inflation rate. Clothing and footwear prices climbed 6.6% annually, while the closely watched housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category recorded a 7.6% year-on-year jump. Most striking of all is the surge in communication services, which saw prices skyrocket by 23.1% over the 12-month period. The only major category bucking the inflationary trend is food, where the CPI index actually fell by 0.8% year-on-year, providing a small amount of relief for household budgets. This mixed picture of price changes underscores that the burden of inflation is not evenly distributed, with costs rising far faster for some essential goods and services than others. As a benchmark for tracking changes in household cost of living, the CPI measures average price shifts for a fixed basket of commonly purchased goods and services, making the July 2026 data a key indicator of the current economic pressures facing Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Fontaine – ‘We have lost this battle, but certainly not the fight’

    Fontaine – ‘We have lost this battle, but certainly not the fight’

    Following the final vote count in the September 7, 2026 Roseau North by-election in Dominica, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has framed its defeat as a single setback in a broader campaign for political change, reaffirming its commitment to long-term electoral and national reform.

    The by-election, called to fill the vacant legislative seat for Roseau North, delivered a clear victory to the incumbent Dominica Labour Party (DLP). Official results show DLP candidate Ashma McDougall secured 1,473 votes, while UWP nominee Daniel Lugay finished second with 998 votes. Independent candidate Sherman Boston rounded out the field with 49 votes, far behind the two leading contenders.

    In the immediate aftermath of the result announcement, UWP political leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine struck a resolute tone, emphasizing that the party’s broader mission remained unchanged. “We may have lost this battle, but certainly not the fight,” Dr. Fontaine reiterated, echoing a message of persistence that anchors the party’s outlook going forward.

    Dr. Fontaine opened his statement by extending gratitude to every Roseau North constituent who backed the UWP and its candidate in the by-election. He specifically thanked residents who opened their homes to campaign teams and engaged with the party’s policy messaging over the course of the election cycle, noting that the party deeply values the sustained trust its supporters have placed in it as it works to deliver what he described as “meaningful change” to Dominica.

    Beyond constituents, Dr. Fontaine also recognized the contributions of hundreds of UWP volunteers and party members who dedicated time and resources to the campaign. He highlighted their work canvassing across the constituency, providing much-needed financial and moral support, and working long shifts at polling stations despite challenging, less-than-ideal working conditions on election day.

    While acknowledging the UWP’s failure to secure the seat this cycle, Dr. Fontaine also drew attention to significant procedural issues that disrupted voting for many residents. He said the party formally acknowledges and regrets that a large number of eligible voters were turned away from polling locations, and that many more faced widespread confusion over where they were authorized to cast their ballots.

    These irregularities, he stressed, reinforce the UWP’s longstanding demand for comprehensive electoral reform across Dominica, aimed at guaranteeing future “free and fair” elections that allow every citizen to exercise their voting rights without unnecessary barriers.

    Looking ahead to the upcoming general election, Dr. Fontaine issued a public call to action for all eligible Dominican voters to confirm their voter registration status ahead of the October 15 deadline. “Now is a good time as ever to ensure that everyone gets confirmed before the October 15 deadline and prepare for the next general election,” he encouraged.

    He reaffirmed that the party will continue expanding its organizational strength and building support among voters across every region of Dominica, even in the wake of this by-election defeat. Dr. Fontaine concluded by noting that while significant work remains to deliver on the party’s vision, the UWP is fully prepared to take on that work. “We are equal to the task of restoring hope to our people and ensuring that together we build a future that we deserve,” he said.

  • ABFA Cuts Under-15 Training Squad to 23 Ahead of FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan

    ABFA Cuts Under-15 Training Squad to 23 Ahead of FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan

    As countdown preparations for the groundbreaking first-ever FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival kick into high gear, the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has finalized a trimmed 23-player training roster from an original group of 33 hopefuls. This new cohort, made up entirely of athletes born between 2011 and 2012, resumed intensive training sessions at the ABFA Technical Center earlier this week. The selection process is not yet complete, however: coaching staff will further narrow the group down to a 14-player traveling squad that will officially represent the island nation in the tournament. The final lineup is set to be revealed to the public on October 2, three weeks before the historic event gets underway in Azerbaijan, where matches will run from October 22 through 31. The 2026 tournament marks FIFA’s first launch of the new Under-15 global competition, a key addition to the governing body’s broadened global youth football development strategy. The 23 shortlisted players are Tiano Lewis, Anthonio Richmond, David Williams, Cole Garner, Adryl Lewis, Ethan Barton, Kalvin Willman, Marcus Thomas, Aiden Isaac, Tafari Parker, Allan Henry, Kawanie Atherly, Dnic Hadaway, Collin Wright, Aaron Alfred, Kaleil Lawrence, Joel Hajjeh, Glenord Ambrose, Kisia Joseph, Johnathon Duberry, Jariy Roberts, Jermaine Campbell and Tevon Henderson. Antigua and Barbuda earned a spot in the boys’ inaugural draw, joining a diverse field of nations from across the globe as FIFA looks to nurture emerging talent at younger age levels through this expanded programming. For the young Caribbean athletes, the opportunity to compete on this global stage represents a landmark milestone in their early football careers, and a chance to put Antigua and Barbuda’s youth football development on the international map.

  • (Youth) Op-Ed: Caribbean Wellness Day 2026 Healthy Caribbean

    (Youth) Op-Ed: Caribbean Wellness Day 2026 Healthy Caribbean

    Across the Caribbean, public health discourse has long centered on telling young people what choices to make for better wellness — what foods to eat, how much to exercise, and how to manage mental health. But a new perspective from three youth health leaders argues that meaningful change will only come when young people are given agency to shape the future of wellness in their communities, rather than being passive recipients of guidance. This shift is at the heart of the 2026 Caribbean Wellness Day theme: “Engage, Empower and Elevate Youth.

    For too many young Caribbeans, the barriers to healthy living go far beyond a lack of knowledge. Even when young people understand the benefits of nutritious eating, affordable, accessible healthy food remains out of reach for many. When encouraged to prioritize physical activity, they often lack safe, well-maintained public spaces to be active. And when it comes to mental health, systemic stigma and unclear pathways to care still leave many young people struggling to find support. These systemic gaps mean that simply telling young people to “make better choices” ignores the structural obstacles that stand in their way.

    Wellness is not an individual responsibility alone; it is a collective undertaking that requires cross-sector collaboration, supportive social cultures, enabling physical environments, accessible healthcare services, and inclusive policies that create space for young people to thrive. Engaging young people means more than just soliciting their input once a policy is drafted — it requires centering their voices from the earliest stages of decision-making, creating spaces where their lived experiences can shape policy and drive community change.

    Empowering young people means equipping them with the knowledge, confidence, and support to make informed choices about their health. It also means normalizing help-seeking behavior and open conversations about mental health, recognizing that invisible struggles deserve the same attention and care as visible physical health conditions. Elevating youth, meanwhile, means reframing their role: young people are not just beneficiaries of public health interventions — they are change ambassadors, innovators, advocates, leaders, and equal partners in advancing better health outcomes across the region.

    The Healthy Caribbean Coalition’s Hope for the Future 3.0 initiative offers a working model of this approach in action. Across six Caribbean islands, the youth-centered program invites children and young people to explore the impacts of ultra-processed foods, food marketing, and the systemic forces that shape their daily choices. In Trinidad and Tobago, for example, the program does not just lecture young people on what is healthy or unhealthy. Instead, it encourages them to critically analyze food marketing, question the food environments they encounter daily, and imagine what a healthier school environment would look like through the initiative’s “My Dream School” component. This approach avoids blaming young people for the systemic barriers they inherit and instead gives them the tools to transform those barriers for the better.

    Caribbean wellness must be elevated to a top regional priority. Policymakers, private sector businesses, educational institutions, and civil society organizations all have a role to play in collaborating to build environments where healthy choices are not just encouraged, but practical, affordable, and accessible enough to become the norm. The Caribbean faces converging challenges — a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), growing food insecurity, and the growing impacts of climate change — that unite communities across the region around a shared goal of developing tailored, context-specific solutions.

    In the end, a healthier Caribbean cannot be built by simply telling communities to make better choices. It must be built by centering the people who will inherit the region: young people. They are not waiting to become the future of the Caribbean — they are already shaping it today.

  • One Communications developing interior coverage plans; financial viability a key factor

    One Communications developing interior coverage plans; financial viability a key factor

    On Friday, September 11, 2026, One Communications — the rebranded former GTT telecommunications provider in Guyana — revealed key details of its long-planned network expansion into the country’s low-population hinterland regions, highlighting financial sustainability as the core barrier to widespread rollout. CEO Abraham Smith shared updates on the firm’s strategy during an official press briefing, noting that the full three-year investment roadmap covering 2027 through 2029 will be finalized by the middle of 2027. At this stage, he declined to specify an exact number of underserved communities that will gain access to the provider’s services, as internal planning is still ongoing.

    Right now, many remote hinterland communities located close to Guyana’s border with Venezuela, including the small settlement of Imbotero, remain almost entirely disconnected from coverage offered by the country’s major telecom firms. Local residents who can afford satellite service rely on Starlink for basic internet access, while even reliable mobile phone service remains out of reach for most. Responding to questions from Demerara Waves Online News, Smith confirmed that national security considerations are factored into the company’s expansion planning, but said that any project must ultimately pencil out financially to move forward. To unlock expansion in commercially unviable areas, he proposed a public-private partnership model, where targeted projects could be developed jointly with the Guyanese government rather than relying solely on the company’s regular capital allocation.

    “In a competitive market landscape, we have to carefully assess funding structures and projected returns on every investment we make,” Smith explained. “We are open to collaborating with the current administration on one-off dedicated projects to extend service, but for our standard capital planning process, financial and operational factors have to take priority.”

    Currently, One Communications and other major local providers are waiting on the Guyanese government to finalize timelines for activating the long-planned universal service obligation fund. This fund is designed to collect contributions from telecom operators to finance service rollout in low-density regions where commercial returns are too low to attract private investment on its own. Smith noted that the Telecommunications Agency is currently working to operationalize the fund, and referred questions about specific timelines to the regulatory body. As of the briefing, no active projects are utilizing the fund, and the company has not set aside contributions in an escrow account, pending the fund’s formal launch. “We are simply waiting for the fund to get up and running,” Smith confirmed.

    The update comes just over a week after Guyanese President Irfaan Ali publicly criticized the country’s top telecom providers — including One Communications, Digicel, and ENet — for failing to invest sufficiently in hinterland connectivity. Speaking at the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month on September 2, Ali expressed clear dissatisfaction with the current pace of expansion. “We are unhappy with Digicel, GT&T (now One Communications), ENet and every other service provider,” the President stated. “They need to invest far more in the hinterland. They have to close the digital and communication divide, and I am calling on them to follow through on these investments.”

    For its part, One Communications highlighted recent progress it has already made in network upgrades across Guyana. Company officials confirmed that the firm has invested $25 million to expand and upgrade mobile, fixed, and subsea infrastructure across the country. To date, 35 existing cell sites have been upgraded to support 4G LTE technology, bringing faster internet speeds to subscribers spanning a wide swathe of the country: from Moleson Creek in Corentyne on the eastern edge, to Anna Regina in Essequibo on the west, to Linden in the southeast, as well as multiple interior communities. Looking forward, Smith confirmed that the company will cease all new 2G and 3G network development in Guyana, shifting its full focus to modern 4G and next-generation infrastructure going forward.

  • St. Kitts and Nevis outlines sustainable development push at OAS forum

    St. Kitts and Nevis outlines sustainable development push at OAS forum

    In an international forum hosted in Washington D.C., the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has placed its long-term sustainable development strategy in the global spotlight, outlining a clear roadmap to build a more resilient, self-sufficient island nation by 2040.

    Jacinth Henry-Martin, the country’s permanent ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), delivered a comprehensive update on the national Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) during a recent sitting of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), sharing the federation’s progress and priorities with regional representatives from across the Western Hemisphere.

    Since the Drew administration took office in 2022, the SISA framework has anchored the government’s top policy priorities, designed to strengthen the small island nation’s capacity to adapt to shifting global geopolitical conditions and maximize the utility of its constrained natural and economic resources. Already, targeted investments are flowing into seven critical priority sectors: utility-scale renewable energy development, national water security, climate-adapted smart agriculture, disaster-resilient housing, expanded public health infrastructure, and the transition to a circular economy that cuts waste and boosts reuse.

    Speaking to the council, Ambassador Henry-Martin emphasized that the success of St. Kitts and Nevis’s agenda depends on collaborative international partnerships to bridge the persistent gap that small developing states face between policy ambition and on-the-ground implementation. She noted that required support extends far beyond traditional direct financing, highlighting that access to green technology, specialized technical expertise, support for early-stage project preparation, and cross-institutional partnerships are equally critical to advancing the country’s goals. Where financing is needed, she called for innovative, flexible funding structures tailored to the unique constraints of small island developing states, rather than one-size-fits-all models that do not align with local context.

    The ambassador also made a pressing appeal to international partners to revise how development needs are assessed, arguing that relying solely on per capita income masks the unique vulnerabilities of small island nations. “It bears repeating that for small island developing states such as St Kitts and Nevis, a single external shock can have an economy-wide impact, while the per capita cost of building resilient infrastructure is disproportionately high,” she told attendees.

    Her presentation at the CIDI forum forms part of a sustained diplomatic push by the St. Kitts and Nevis government to build a global coalition of partners aligned with the SISA agenda, and to secure the blended technical, institutional, and financial resources required to deliver on the federation’s 2040 sustainable development targets.

  • Police confirm 12.5 years prison sentence for Dr. Vance Gilbert

    Police confirm 12.5 years prison sentence for Dr. Vance Gilbert

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Officials from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force have formally issued confirmation that Dr. Vance Gilbert has been sentenced to 12 and a half years of incarceration at His Majesty’s Prison in Basseterre following his conviction on two counts of sexual violence: rape and indecent assault.

    Court documents and the official police statement outline that both criminal offenses for which Gilbert was prosecuted took place between March 1 and March 31, 2020. After a week-long criminal trial held from May 7 to May 12 this year, a jury returned guilty verdicts for both counts against Gilbert on May 27, 2026.

    More than three months after the conviction, High Court Justice Patrick Thompson Jr. handed down the official sentencing order on September 9, 2026. Under the terms of the ruling, Gilbert received a 12.5-year prison term for the rape conviction, and a five-year prison term for the indecent assault charge. Justice Thompson ruled that the two sentences would run concurrently, resulting in an effective total custodial sentence of 12 years and six months.

    In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Gilbert to pay a total of 9,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars in victim compensation. The compensation sum is split into two equal 4,500 Eastern Caribbean dollar installments, with the first payment due to the complainant by the end of 2026, and the second installment required by December 31, 2027. The court added a strict penalty for missed payments: if Gilbert fails to pay either installment by its deadline, he will face an additional six months of imprisonment that will run consecutively to his existing 12.5-year sentence, extending his total time behind bars.

    The confirmation of the sentence closes a more than six-year legal process that began with the initial reporting of the offenses in 2020, marking a final resolution to the criminal prosecution in the St. Kitts and Nevis judicial system.

  • LA COUR DES ARTS DE LA play DOMINIQUE INC presents its latest play ‘Fly on the Wall’

    LA COUR DES ARTS DE LA play DOMINIQUE INC presents its latest play ‘Fly on the Wall’

    Theatre enthusiasts across the Caribbean and beyond are gearing up for a compelling new theatrical experience, as the non-profit Dominica-based arts collective La Cour Des Arts De La Dominique is set to stage the sharp satirical work *Fly On The Wall* later this month. The production will run for two nights only, September 25 and 26, at St. Gerard’s Hall, with each evening’s performance kicking off at 8 p.m.

    Penned by celebrated Antiguan playwright Dorbrene O’Marde, *Fly On The Wall* marks the second full-length work from O’Marde, who plans to complete five full stage plays in total. Rooted firmly in Caribbean cultural context, this provocative production pulls back the curtain on the hidden inner workings of political power. Its core imaginative premise asks: what would unfold if everyday citizens could silently and invisibly watch the off-camera dealings of their elected leaders, just like an unobserved fly on the wall?

    When politicians speak behind closed doors, convinced no member of the public is listening, they lay bare their true priorities and motivations. This creates a striking, often uncomfortable contrast between the soaring, promise-filled speeches they deliver to voters and the self-serving conversations they hold away from the public eye. Through razor-sharp dialogue, biting, well-timed humor, and a foundation of local idioms and region-specific cultural references, O’Marde delves into the chasm that often separates politicians’ public pledges from their hidden private agendas. The play also interrogates how unaccountable power is able to consolidate itself in opaque spaces, challenging audiences to scrutinize the actions of their leaders and demand greater transparency and accountability from those in office.

    Beyond his work as a playwright and author, O’Marde is a towering cultural and political figure across the Caribbean. Born in Antigua, he currently serves as Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission and Vice-Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, and has spent more than 20 years at the forefront of the global reparatory justice movement. In 2022, he was appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary for Antigua and Barbuda’s Reparatory Justice Programme, cementing his role as a leading voice for the region’s calls for redress for the transatlantic slave trade. As a cultural creator, his contributions have earned widespread recognition: he is a recipient of the International Sunshine Award as “Friend of the Arts”, the UWI Pelican Award for his outstanding contributions to Caribbean arts, and most recently a Lifetime Achievement Award honoring decades of dedicated service to theatre arts in Antigua and Barbuda.

    *Fly On The Wall* is brought to audiences by La Cour des Arts De la Dominique Inc Fwijé Teyát, a registered non-profit theatre collective dedicated to centering local art and preserving Caribbean cultural heritage. The group traces its origins back to 1997, when it launched as the Alliance Française Drama Group before earning official registration as a non-profit in 2003. In 2006, the collective launched a key outreach initiative, establishing the Joint Secondary Schools Drama Group with a vision to nurture “A Generation of Dramatists Through Opportunity”, opening up access to theatrical training for young people across the region.

    The collective’s current roster includes members whose theatrical experience ranges from 10 to 50 years, with backgrounds spanning stage productions, film projects, and radio drama. For decades, the group has centered drama as a tool for public education, using performance to spread information about critical public issues spanning health, social justice, and environmental protection. The group earned early widespread recognition for its 1998 domestic violence awareness television series *Wake Up Call*, which was funded by the Women’s Bureau; six of the collective’s members remain well-known today for their roles in the groundbreaking series. Most recently, the group collaborated with the Alwin Bully Foundation in 2023 to stage Alwin Bully’s celebrated thriller *Nite Box*, and followed that production with the dramatic work *STREAK!* in 2025.

  • Planning and development of the Haitian territory

    Planning and development of the Haitian territory

    Against the backdrop of Haiti’s ongoing efforts to advance economic recovery and balanced national development, senior government leaders held a key working session this week to align strategies for territorial planning and regional growth. The gathering, focused on strengthening inter-institutional coordination, brought together Sandra Paulemon, Haiti’s Minister of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE), her Chief of Staff Paul Ruddy Mentor, and Marie-Christine Stephenson, Executive Secretary of the Interministerial Committee for Territorial Planning (CIAT).

    Opening the session, Minister Paulemon underlined her administration’s firm commitment to deepening synergies between the MPCE and CIAT. The shared goal, she emphasized, is to build a more structured, cohesive framework for public land-use planning and ensure that national development priorities are rolled out in a consistent, aligned manner across all levels of government.

    The meeting opened with a comprehensive stock-taking of CIAT’s core priorities, active ongoing projects, the institutional and operational challenges the body currently faces, and the resources required for it to fully deliver on its mandated role. A major focal point of the discussions was the National Territorial Development Plan, with participants reviewing its current progress status and outlining the critical actions needed to update the plan and move forward with full implementation.

    Ministry and CIAT leaders also delved into the National Master Plan for Territorial Development, examining how the framework aligns with broader national public policy goals and Haiti’s National Economic, Social and Territorial Stabilization and Recovery Program (PNSREST). The conversation extended to master plans for Haiti’s largest urban centers, including Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes, Gonaïves, Jérémie and Hinche, with reviews of each plan’s progress and outstanding urban planning needs.

    Beyond national and city-level planning, the working group prioritized discussions around identifying strategic regional development assets: growth poles, economic corridors, and specialized zones for industrial production, agriculture, tourism and logistics. These targeted zones are designed to drive national economic expansion, generate new employment opportunities for Haitians, and narrow persistent development gaps between different regions of the country. The talks also covered longstanding territorial management challenges, including land governance, land use regulation, sustainable urban expansion, cracking down on unplanned, anarchic urbanization, and strengthening land tenure security for communities.

    Participants also agreed on the critical need to integrate resilience into all territorial planning efforts. They mapped out plans for strategically locating key infrastructure—including transportation networks (roads, ports, airports), energy systems, water and sanitation networks, and social infrastructure—through a territorial approach that prioritizes community safety. Better planning, they noted, is key to boosting Haitian territories’ ability to withstand recurring natural hazards, from floods and landslides to earthquakes, as well as the growing impacts of climate change.

    The crisis of internally displaced persons in Haiti also took a prominent spot on the meeting agenda. Both institutions explored place-based solutions to support post-disaster and post-crisis reconstruction, develop new planned housing centers, and build new growth zones tailored to the specific needs of displaced populations. Leaders also reviewed the technical tools CIAT has developed to improve evidence-based policymaking and public policy monitoring, including advanced mapping systems, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), centralized territorial databases, and spatial monitoring mechanisms.

    As part of her presentation, Executive Secretary Stephenson shared an updated national city map with Minister Paulemon that clearly identifies which municipalities already have active development plans, urban frameworks, or Communal Development Plans (PCD), and which jurisdictions still lack formal planning instruments. This baseline assessment will help guide targeted resource allocation to close gaps in local planning capacity across the country.

    Another key outcome of the session was a joint agreement to move forward with developing a centralized portfolio of high-priority structuring projects, which will be prepared for submission to international technical and financial partners to secure funding and support. Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening decentralization efforts, through stronger capacity building for local authorities and expanded support for developing municipal and departmental-level development plans.

    To sustain alignment and collaboration moving forward, the two institutions have agreed to formalize a permanent partnership framework. This will include the creation of a joint technical working committee, the designation of dedicated institutional focal points, regularly scheduled coordination meetings, and ongoing sharing of strategic planning data to keep both bodies aligned on national development goals.