AGP Executive Report

Regional Air Links: interCaribbean Airways will launch nonstop Barbados–Martinique flights on January 25, operating three times a week. The 55-minute service will connect Fort-de-France to the airline’s wider Caribbean network through Barbados. Clean Energy: Danish company Wavepiston has secured local-government backing for a proposed 12-megawatt wave-energy farm off Martinique, following six months of site measurements. Grenada’s New Term: Dickon Mitchell was sworn in for a second term after his party won 14 of 15 seats. He has named the 2027 budget and advancing local government within 100 days as priorities for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Caribbean Culture: Dominican producer Smokiller’s bouyon remix, shared by rapper Coi Leray, has neared one million TikTok views; the genre also has audiences in Martinique. Martinique Talent: Fort-de-France-born UCF student Elio Balthazar was selected for Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy Leadership Conference.

Regional Air Links: interCaribbean Airways will launch nonstop flights between Barbados and Martinique on January 25, 2027. The 55-minute service will run three times a week, with connections available through the airline’s Barbados hub. Renewable Energy: Danish firm Wavepiston has secured a letter of support from Martinique’s territorial authority for a proposed 12-megawatt wave-energy farm. Early measurements at the site showed slightly stronger waves than forecast. Student Achievement: Martinique-born UCF student Elio Balthazar was selected for a competitive Harvard Kennedy School public policy conference, joining 48 other undergraduates.

Regional Air Links: Starting January 25, interCaribbean Airways will fly nonstop between Barbados and Martinique three times a week. The 55-minute service will also connect Fort-de-France to destinations across the airline’s Barbados hub. Clean Energy: Wavepiston has secured a letter of support from Martinique’s territorial authority for a proposed 12-megawatt wave-energy farm, following six months of measurements at the site. Sailing: French skipper Tom Laperche set a Route du Rhum record on his way to victory; he also won the 2025 Transat Café L’Or, which finished in Fort-de-France. Island Spotlight: A new travel feature highlights Tartane’s fishing village, surf beaches, fresh catch and historic rum distillery on the Caravelle Peninsula. Martinique Abroad: Fort-de-France-born UCF student Elio Balthazar was selected for Harvard Kennedy School’s public policy leadership conference, among 49 undergraduates chosen.

Wave Energy: Danish company Wavepiston has signed a letter of support with Martinique’s CTM for a planned 12-megawatt wave-energy farm, advancing a local renewable-power project. Martinique Talent: Fort-de-France-born UCF student Elio Balthazar was selected for Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy Leadership Conference, among 49 undergraduates chosen nationwide. Route du Rhum: French skipper Tom Laperche set a race record with his victory in Guadeloupe; he also won the 2025 Transat Café L’Or, which finished in Fort-de-France. Tourism: Celebrity Cruises’ 2028–29 plans include Martinique on Southern Caribbean sailings, while a travel feature spotlights Tartane’s fishing village, surf beaches and rum-distillery rooftop bar.

Clean Energy: Danish firm Wavepiston has signed a letter of support with Martinique’s territorial government for a proposed 12-megawatt wave-energy farm. The company says early measurements at the site show slightly stronger waves than its simulations predicted. Martinique Talent: Elio Balthazar, a Martinique-born University of Central Florida student and founder of Caribbean student network Caribico, was selected for a fully funded Harvard public-policy leadership conference. Sailing: French skipper Tom Laperche won the Route du Rhum in record time, finishing in Guadeloupe after six days, 13 hours and 27 minutes. He also won the 2025 Transat Café L’Or, which finished in Fort-de-France. Cruise Tourism: Martinique is expecting 275 cruise ship calls during the 2026–27 season.

Wave Energy: Danish firm Wavepiston has secured support from Martinique’s territorial government for a proposed 12-megawatt wave-energy farm. Six months of buoy readings found wave heights slightly above forecasts, offering an encouraging sign as development advances. Tourism: Martinique expects 275 cruise calls in the 2026–27 season. Celebrity Cruises’ 2028–29 schedules also include the island on longer Southern Caribbean sailings. Sailing: Tom Laperche set a Route du Rhum record with a 6-day, 13-hour crossing to Guadeloupe. He won last year’s Transat Café L’OR, which finished in Fort-de-France. Martinique Diaspora: Elio Balthazar, who spent his first eight years in Fort-de-France, was selected for Harvard Kennedy School’s public policy leadership conference.

Route du Rhum: French skipper Tom Laperche won the race to Guadeloupe in a record 6 days, 13 hours and 27 minutes. He also claimed the 2025 Transat Café L’Or, which finished in Fort-de-France. Cruise Tourism: Martinique expects 275 cruise ship calls in the 2026–27 season. Celebrity Cruises has also included the island in several Southern Caribbean itineraries planned for 2028 and 2029. Island Escape: Tartane offers visitors a taste of Martinique’s Atlantic coast, from fresh fish and surf beaches to a historic rum distillery overlooking the sea.

Route du Rhum: French skipper Tom Laperche won the race to Guadeloupe in a record 6 days, 13 hours and 27 minutes, leading from near the start to the finish. Grenada Election: Dickon Mitchell’s party won 14 of 15 seats, securing a second term. The result also covers Petite Martinique, part of Grenada’s tri-island state; regional leaders, including Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit, offered congratulations. Cruise Tourism: Martinique expects 275 cruise ship calls in the 2026–27 season, while cruise lines have added the island to several Caribbean itineraries planned for 2028. Island Life: A travel feature spotlights Tartane, where visitors can find fresh-caught fish, surf beaches and a historic rum distillery on the Caravelle Peninsula.

Cruise Tourism: Martinique expects 275 cruise-ship calls in the 2026–27 season. Looking further ahead, Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for 2028 sailings, including Southern Caribbean trips that call at Martinique. Island Getaways: Tartane offers a quieter coastal escape, with a fishing-village waterfront, nearby surf beaches and a rooftop bar in a historic rum distillery. Music and Culture: Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul have announced a new album, Mainland Madinina, and shared the track “From Healer to Dealer.”

Regional Politics: Grenada’s National Democratic Congress won 14 of 15 seats, giving Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell a second term. The result also covers Petite Martinique, part of the tri-island state. Cruise Tourism: Martinique is expected to receive 275 cruise calls in the 2026–27 season. Celebrity Cruises has also included Martinique on several longer Southern Caribbean sailings planned for 2028 and 2029. Culture: Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul have announced an album titled Mainland Madinina, bringing Martinique’s name into a new music release.

Cruise Tourism: Celebrity Cruises’ expanding 2028–29 Caribbean programme includes Martinique on summer sailings aboard Celebrity Silhouette, alongside new seven-night trips from Miami on Celebrity Xcite. Island Outlook: Martinique expects 275 cruise calls during the 2026–27 season, with new luxury ships among the arrivals. Travel: Tartane offers visitors a taste of everyday Martinique, from fresh fish sold by the waterfront to surf beaches and a rooftop bar in a historic rum distillery.

Cruise Travel: Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for 2028–29 sailings that will bring ships to Martinique, including eight- to 12-night Southern Caribbean trips aboard Celebrity Silhouette. Island Tourism: Martinique is expecting 275 cruise calls in the 2026–27 season, with new luxury ships among the visitors. Tartane: A new travel feature spotlights the Caravelle Peninsula village’s fishing waterfront, surf beaches and rooftop bar in a historic rum distillery. Music: Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul recorded their upcoming album Mainland Madinina in Martinique and Ghent; “Madinina” is the island’s Indigenous name.

Tartane Escape: Martinique’s Atlantic coast offers a taste of village life, with fishermen selling the day’s catch, nearby surf beaches and a rooftop bar in a nearly 200-year-old rum distillery. Boutique hotel French Coco adds a private-pool stay and acclaimed restaurant. Cruise Tourism: Celebrity Xcite bookings have opened for 2028 sailings, while Celebrity Silhouette is slated for summer trips to Martinique, Barbados, Saint Lucia and Grenada. The island expects 275 cruise calls from 65 ships this season, up from 244 last year. French Navy: France has qualified Airbus’s VTOL Aliaca drone for naval service. The system is planned for overseas support vessels, including those operating from Martinique, and could support maritime security missions in the Caribbean.

Regional Elections: Grenada’s general election went ahead Thursday after the High Court rejected a bid to stop the vote. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell is seeking a second term, with jobs, healthcare and his push for slavery reparations among the campaign issues. Cruise Season: Martinique expects 275 cruise calls in 2026–27, up 12.7% from last season, with 65 ships from 30 cruise lines. Five ships are scheduled to homeport on the island, and calls will reach ports from Fort-de-France to Saint-Pierre and Le Marin. More Caribbean Sailings: Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028–29 season. New summer itineraries on Celebrity Silhouette will include Martinique, alongside Saint Lucia, Barbados and Grenada. Maritime Security: France has cleared Airbus’s ship-launched Aliaca drone for French Navy service. The VTOL version is planned for overseas support vessels, including those operating from Martinique. Arts and Culture: Martinique is among the territories represented in the Caribbean Culture Fund’s 100 awarded grants, supporting projects on topics including heritage, social justice and environmental resilience.

Arts & Culture: The Caribbean Culture Fund has awarded 100 grants across 28 territories, including Martinique, supporting projects focused on culture, social justice and environmental resilience. Maritime Security: France has cleared Airbus’s ship-launched Aliaca drone for Navy service; the VTOL version is slated for overseas missions from Martinique and other French bases. Cruise Tourism: Martinique expects 275 cruise calls in 2026–27, up 12.7% from last season, with 65 ships from 30 lines. Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for 2028 sailings, including summer routes calling at Martinique. Regional Travel: FRS Express des Îles added a temporary €5 one-way, €10 return fuel surcharge on international ferry routes, including those serving Martinique. Island Identity: Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul wrote parts of their upcoming album Mainland Madinina in Martinique, drawing on the island’s Indigenous name.

Cruise Season: Martinique expects 275 cruise calls in 2026–27, up 12.7% from last season, with 65 ships from 30 cruise lines. Five ships are set to homeport in Fort-de-France, while calls will also reach Saint-Pierre and southern communities. Cruise Routes: Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028 debut ship, Celebrity Xcite, on seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami. The line’s wider program includes summer sailings to Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados and Grenada. Maritime Security: France has qualified Airbus’s ship-based Aliaca VTOL drone for Navy service. The system is planned for overseas support vessels, including those operating in the Caribbean and from Martinique. Arts and Culture: Martinique is among 28 Caribbean countries and territories represented in the Caribbean Culture Fund’s 100 awarded grants. Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul also drew on Martinique while writing their upcoming album, Mainland Madinina.