Regional Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines is running limited-time one-way discounted fares between Barbados and Guyana for select September 2026 dates, with Lite fares starting around US$170–US$189 (taxes included), aiming to make regional travel more accessible for business and leisure. CARICOM Expansion: Martinique has officially joined CARICOM as its seventh associate member after a decade-long process, gaining the right to attend CARICOM meetings and summits. Cost-of-Living Push: CARICOM leaders and the private sector agreed on measures to ease affordability pressures, including lowering import and logistics costs, removing trade barriers, and advancing a regional ferry service to improve movement and reduce expenses. Reparations Drive: The CARICOM Reparations Commission will travel to the UK from July 13–16 to build support for reparatory justice, including meetings with diplomats and a presentation at the UK Parliament. Barbados Politics & Infrastructure: The DLP is demanding urgent action over persistent flooding on the St Peter highway, warning public safety is being compromised and questioning drainage planning. Local Business & Environment: Barbados vendors say sargassum is making Enterprise’s “Miami Beach” less attractive and threatening livelihoods, urging faster removal and better use of the seaweed. Public Service & Youth: Barbados is placing 92 young interns into real-world public service roles starting Monday through a summer internship programme led by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General. Housing: Ground has been broken for Vineyard Meadows in St Philip, a public-private partnership to build about 1,100 affordable homes over the next five to six years, with initial house-and-land packages starting at $170,000.