Consular Boost for Nationals: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Consul General in New York, Roland “Patel” Matthews, says the consulate is expanding beyond passports and documents to link Vincentians with universities, businesses and government opportunities in the US. Independence Unity Push: Prime Minister Godwin Friday and Youth Minister Kaschaka Cupid kicked off the 47th independence celebrations with a “Hand in Hand, Uplifting our Nation” message, urging year-round solidarity at home and with the diaspora. Tourism and Cruise Momentum: Tourism Minister Kishore Shallow expects cruise calls to rise from about 250 to over 350 this season, with Kingstown Enhancement Project work aimed at improving first impressions for visitors. Clean Energy for Women Entrepreneurs: The Caribbean Development Bank launched a US$500,000, three-year SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility (2026–2028) to support women-led businesses developing clean energy solutions, including in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Agriculture Skills Spotlight: At Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Jamaica, SVG secured CARICOM youth agriculture video honours, while a separate FAO mission focused on strengthening the coconut value chain through training and production support. Security vs Tourism Balance: Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock signalled possible localized curfews and requests for regional troop support if gun violence persists, stressing the need to protect the country’s tourism and investment image. Connectivity Plans: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development phase, targeting service by end-2029 and linking territories including St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Tender for Smart Farming Tech: A tender invites IoT equipment for AIoT weather stations and drip irrigation/control systems, with chip sourcing restrictions noted.