AGP Executive Report

New Direct Flights to Guadeloupe: Air Canada will launch a new nonstop Quebec City–Pointe-à-Pitre route, weekly on Thursdays from Dec. 17, 2026 to Apr. 8, 2027, adding to its growing Caribbean network. Regional Connectivity Boost: LIAT Air announces a new direct Guadeloupe–Jamaica service starting July 14, 2026, with flights between Pointe-à-Pitre and Montego Bay timed for the July 12–18 Reggae Festival. Health & Justice in the French West Indies: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously to have the state acknowledge “partial responsibility” for chlordecone (Kepone) contamination in Guadeloupe and Martinique, linked to long-term harms including prostate cancer. Colonial Memory, Still Unfinished: France also repealed the Code Noir in a unanimous vote, but critics say it’s symbolic without real reparations—an issue that resonates strongly in the Caribbean. Culture on the Global Stage: Even without qualifying, India’s FIFA 2026 presence will be felt through Bollywood star Nora Fatehi’s opening-ceremony performance and cross-border music and choreography. Travel Beyond the Resort: A new travel show highlights how village-led access around St. Lucia’s Gros Piton can protect culture and local livelihoods against mass tourism. Caribbean Airlift Fix: New airline partnerships across the region aim to reduce costly, fragmented island-hopping by enabling smoother connections.

Airlift & Tourism: Air Canada will add a new weekly nonstop Quebec City–Pointe-à-Pitre route, starting Dec. 17, 2026 (Thursdays) through April 8, 2027, joining its growing Guadeloupe network. Regional Connectivity: LIAT Air announces direct Pointe-à-Pitre–Montego Bay service from July 14, 2026 (Tuesdays/Saturdays outbound; Wednesdays/Sundays return), timed ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Festival (July 12–18). Culture & Identity: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously to repeal the Code Noir (the 1685 slavery decree), but commentators warn it’s symbolic “memorial theater” without real justice—while Guadeloupe and Martinique still live with long-term harms like chlordecone contamination. Arts & Screen: Antonin Baudry’s “De Gaulle: Résistance” lands as Pathé’s next big historical epic, continuing France’s push for large-scale event filmmaking. Music at FIFA 2026: Even without qualification, India’s cultural presence will be visible at the World Cup opening via Bollywood star Nora Fatehi’s live performance of “Siir Siir.”

Health & Justice in the French Caribbean: France’s National Assembly has voted unanimously to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that legally treated enslaved people as property—an important symbolic step, but one that still leaves reparations and real accountability on the table. Toxic Legacy Accountability: Lawmakers also backed a bill recognizing the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) use in Guadeloupe and Martinique, despite health warnings—linked to cancers and long-term environmental damage affecting nearly 90% of residents. Culture & Memory: A new “Mast of Fraternity and Memory” memorial in Nantes highlights the slave trade’s human cost, with descendants from Guadeloupe and Martinique and descendants of slave traders working side by side. Travel & Lifestyle: LIAT Air will launch direct flights between Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) from July 14, timed to boost arrivals for Jamaica’s 2026 Reggae Festival. Regional Connectivity: New airline partnerships across the Caribbean aim to ease fragmented airlift, making island-hopping less costly and more practical. Caribbean Media Ambition: A fresh look at how the region could grow as a film and TV media hub beyond “resort-only” tourism.

Colonial Health Reckoning: French lawmakers voted unanimously to acknowledge the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) use in Guadeloupe and Martinique, with MPs citing long-term health and environmental harm after the pesticide was allowed despite warnings. Legal Symbol Turn: France’s National Assembly unanimously repealed the Code Noir, the 1685 “Black Code” that treated enslaved people as property—an overdue step that still leaves reparations questions open. Air Connectivity for Culture & Travel: LIAT Air announced direct flights between Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) starting July 14, timed ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Festival and expected to boost tourism and easier movement for visitors and families. Culture on Screen: Antonin Baudry’s “De Gaulle: Résistance” lands as Pathé’s big historical epic, continuing France’s push for large-scale cinema that links past narratives to today. Caribbean Media Dream: A New York-based piece argues the Caribbean could become a stronger global media hub beyond resort tourism, pointing to talent, production capacity, and diaspora reach. Memory & Activism: A report highlights the “Mast of Fraternity and Memory” in Nantes, honoring enslaved Africans shipped to the Caribbean and linking remembrance to present-day responsibility.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that legally treated enslaved people as property—an overdue step after slavery was abolished in 1848, but still seen by many as largely symbolic without reparations. Health & Justice in the French Caribbean: Lawmakers also acknowledged the state’s partial responsibility for allowing chlordecone (Kepone) to be used in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite warnings, with nearly 90% contamination reported and links to cancers and long-term harm. Local Memory & Culture: A Nantes memorial project, the “Mast of Fraternity and Memory,” ties today’s activism to the transatlantic slave trade—using a ship’s mast as a public reminder and call for responsibility. Travel & Lifestyle: LIAT Air will launch direct flights between Guadeloupe and Jamaica in July, boosting connectivity for culture and tourism, while new airline partnerships aim to ease the Caribbean’s fragmented airlift. Caribbean Media Ideas: A new discussion asks what it would take for the Caribbean to become a stronger media hub for film and digital storytelling.

Colonial Reckoning in France: France’s National Assembly has unanimously voted to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that legally treated enslaved people as property—an overdue step after slavery was abolished in 1848, but one that still leaves many demanding real reparations and deeper change. Health & Justice in the French Caribbean: Lawmakers also acknowledged the state’s partial responsibility for the long use of chlordecone (Kepone) in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite warnings, with research cited saying nearly 90% of residents were contaminated and linking the pesticide to cancers and other long-term harms. Guadeloupe in the Spotlight: A ceremony tied to the Taubira law’s anniversary in France highlighted the tension between patriotic symbolism and the lived consequences of slavery and colonial policy for overseas descendants. Travel & Lifestyle: LIAT Air will launch direct flights between Guadeloupe and Jamaica in July, while new airline partnerships across the region aim to make island-hopping less costly and more seamless. Culture & Media: A new push argues the Caribbean could become a stronger media hub for film and TV—building on talent, locations, and global audience reach.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to formally repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” a long-awaited symbolic step that now heads to the Senate. Colonial Reckoning in France: Port cities and memory groups are renewing debate over plaques, museums, street names, and how to face slavery’s legacy beyond gestures. Chlordecone Accountability: French lawmakers also backed a bill recognizing the state’s partial responsibility for allowing the toxic pesticide chlordecone (Kepone) to be used in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite warnings, with health harms affecting large shares of residents. Guadeloupe in the Spotlight: A Baku Initiative Group controversy keeps mentioning Guadeloupe among territories tied to anti-colonial activism, while French lawmakers’ colonial decisions continue to reverberate. Travel & Lifestyle: LIAT Air will launch direct Montego Bay–Pointe-à-Pitre flights from July 14, and new airline partnerships aim to ease fragmented Caribbean airlift—good news for island hopping and culture tourism. Caribbean Media Idea: A new discussion asks what it would take for the Caribbean to become a stronger media hub for film and digital storytelling.

Colonial Reckoning in France: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that legally treated enslaved people as “movable property.” The repeal is symbolic but lands with force for descendants in Martinique and Guadeloupe, where the law’s Caribbean roots are still felt. Memory on the Ground: In Nantes, activists from both sides of the slave trade history are helping keep the “Mast of Fraternity and Memory” standing—an 18-metre reminder of the thousands shipped to the Americas and Caribbean. Health & Justice for Guadeloupe/Martinique: French lawmakers also backed a bill acknowledging the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) use in the French West Indies, linking contamination to cancers and long-term harm. Culture & Identity: A spotlight on Guadeloupe-born poet Saint-John Perse links Caribbean landscapes to his world-literature legacy. Travel & Lifestyle: LIAT Air will launch direct Guadeloupe–Jamaica flights from July 14, boosting connectivity ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Festival.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” a rare legal step after slavery was abolished in 1848—now headed to the Senate, with many in Guadeloupe and across the Caribbean calling it a necessary but still symbolic move. Colonial Harm Accountability: French MPs also backed legislation recognizing the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) pesticide use in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite health warnings, with contamination affecting nearly 90% of people in both islands and links to cancers and long-term health damage. Regional Air Links: LIAT Air announced direct flights between Guadeloupe and Jamaica starting July 14, with service between Pointe-à-Pitre and Montego Bay timed around the July 12–18 Reggae Festival. Culture & Memory in Public Space: In Nantes, activists and descendants are pushing the “Mast of Fraternity and Memory,” a memorial to enslaved Africans shipped to the Americas and the Caribbean, turning history into a call for justice today. Literature Spotlight: A profile highlights Saint-John Perse, born in Guadeloupe, linking his island upbringing to his diplomatic and Nobel-winning poetic legacy. Cruise Lifestyle: Emerald Cruises announced a December 13–20, 2026 culinary sailing with chef Rachel Hargrove, including stops in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Colonial Justice & Memory: In Nantes, activists and descendants—one from Martinique, one from slave-trader roots—are keeping the “Mast of Fraternity and Memory” standing, using a ship’s mast to link past transatlantic slavery to today’s fight against racism. West Indies Health Accountability: France’s lawmakers voted unanimously to acknowledge the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) in Guadeloupe and Martinique, where nearly 90% are contaminated and the pesticide is linked to cancers and long-term harm. Slavery Law Finally Repealed: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir, a 1685 decree that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” with the Senate next. Culture & Literature: Saint-John Perse—born in Guadeloupe—gets renewed spotlight for how his exile and diplomacy shaped his world literature legacy. Travel & Lifestyle: LIAT Air will launch direct flights between Guadeloupe and Jamaica from July 14, boosting access ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Festival.

Colonial Accountability: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that legally treated enslaved people as “movable property,” with lawmakers moved to tears as the Senate now has to confirm the change. Public Health & Justice: MPs also backed a bill recognizing the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) use in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite health warnings, with research cited saying nearly 90% of residents were contaminated and linking the pesticide to cancers and other long-term harms. Regional Mobility: LIAT Air announced direct flights between Guadeloupe and Jamaica starting July 14, aiming to boost tourism and connect Creole cultures around reggae and zouk. Culture & Arts: A Guadeloupean artists’ buzz is spilling across the islands, with young Martinicans talking about the chance to see homegrown talent without needing mainland travel. Travel Lifestyle: A travel feature highlights “deeper” Caribbean tourism led by local communities, while cruise coverage points to longer, repositioning voyages and a chef-led Emerald Cruises sailing that includes Guadeloupe.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery law that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” with lawmakers moved to tears as the bill now heads to the Senate. Colonial Accountability: In parallel, French MPs backed a bill acknowledging the state’s partial responsibility for the long-term harm caused by chlordecone (Kepone) in Guadeloupe and Martinique, where contamination affects nearly 90% of people and links to serious cancers are cited. Regional Air Links: LIAT Air announced direct flights between Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) starting July 14, timed ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Festival. Culture & Travel Deeper: A travel show spotlights “Beyond the Resort” tourism, urging visitors to support local access and communities tied to Caribbean heritage. Arts in the Caribbean: Martinique teens talk up Guadeloupean artists 1T1 and Theomaa, showing how mainland access still feels out of reach. Cinema Spotlight: Antonin Baudry’s “De Gaulle: Résistance” lands in French theaters, adding another large-scale historical epic to France’s summer slate.

Abolition & Memory: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that legally treated enslaved people as “movable property.” The move is widely seen as historic for Guadeloupe’s shared colonial past, but lawmakers and descendants stress it’s still mostly symbolic, with reparations and deeper reckoning still unresolved. Health & Justice: French MPs also backed state “partial responsibility” for the pesticide chlordecone (Kepone) used in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite warnings, with contamination affecting nearly 90% and links to cancers and long-term harm. Regional Mobility: LIAT Air announced direct flights between Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) starting July 14, with twice-weekly service timed ahead of Jamaica’s Reggae Festival. Culture & Travel: A new “Beyond the Resort” travel show highlights community-led access in St. Lucia, while cruise news points to more Caribbean itineraries calling at Guadeloupe.

Regional Air Links: LIAT Air will launch direct flights between Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) from July 14, with two weekly departures each way—timed ahead of Jamaica’s 2026 Reggae Festival and set to boost tourism and cultural exchange. Culture & Travel Beyond the Resort: A new YouTube travel show, Beyond the Resort, spotlights “deeper” Caribbean tourism through St. Lucia—highlighting village-led access around Gros Piton (Fond Gens Libres) and the push for tourism that sustains local culture and livelihoods. Colonial Justice in France: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery-era law that legally treated enslaved people as “movable property”; the move is symbolic but lands with emotion in Guadeloupe and across the French Caribbean as debates continue over lasting harm and reparations. Health & Accountability: French lawmakers also backed state “partial responsibility” for chlordecone (Kepone) pesticide use in Guadeloupe and Martinique despite warnings, citing widespread contamination and links to serious cancers.

Regional Air Links: LIAT Air will launch a new twice-weekly direct service between Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) from July 14, 2026, with flights on Tuesdays/Saturdays and Wednesdays/Sundays—timed ahead of Jamaica’s 2026 Reggae Festival and expected to boost tourism and connectivity. Colonial Justice & Memory: In France, lawmakers voted unanimously (254-0) to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as “movable property”; the move is widely seen as symbolic but emotionally charged for Guadeloupe and the wider French Caribbean, with calls for more than gestures. Culture on the Move: A Guadeloupe-to-Caribbean arts spotlight is building momentum as Guadeloupean artists 1T1 and Theomaa prepare to perform in Martinique—highlighting how island audiences still feel the sting of limited access to major shows. Lifestyle & Travel: Emerald Cruises announced a culinary-focused Caribbean sailing featuring celebrity chef Rachel Hargrove, with stops including Martinique and Guadeloupe, blending island culture with onboard food experiences.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted unanimously (254-0) to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, the slavery-era decree that legally treated enslaved people as “movable property.” The move is historic and emotional, but it still needs Senate approval and is widely seen as symbolic rather than a full reckoning. West Indies Pesticide Accountability: Lawmakers also backed a bill recognizing the state’s partial responsibility for chlordecone (Kepone) contamination in Guadeloupe and Martinique, where most people are affected and links to cancers and other long-term harm have been reported. Culture & Identity: A spotlight on Guadeloupe-born poet Saint-John Perse traces how his upbringing in Guadeloupe shaped his world literature legacy. Travel & Lifestyle: Emerald Cruises announced a December 2026 “Culinary Collection” sailing with chef Rachel Hargrove, with stops including Martinique and Guadeloupe.