Caribbean round-up: Antigua raises head tax, Barbados names police chief and Guyana courts Sandals

Antigua and Barbuda

The Antigua and Barbuda government has approved a US$10 increase in the passenger head tax, raising it to US$50 for passengers entering and leaving the country.

The extra revenue will help fund regional bodies including the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Cabinet said Antigua and Barbuda benefits greatly from these institutions and should contribute fairly to their upkeep.

Travel within the Caricom region will remain exempt “in keeping with the government’s commitment to promoting regional movement,” a statement said. The increase will take effect once the necessary legislative and administrative processes are complete.

Barbados

Sonia Boyce has been appointed Barbados’ Commissioner of Police with effect from July 3, 2026, replacing the retiring Richard Boyce.

The government praised her 40 years of service, leadership and integrity. She joined the then Royal Barbados Police Force in April 1986, led major murder investigations that resulted in convictions and holds a degree in political science with law from the University of the West Indies. She became acting deputy commissioner in November 2025, overseeing administration and human resources.

Regional integration

The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) will invest US$10bn by 2031 in projects promoting regional integration, including infrastructure, trade, food security, energy, tourism and logistics.

Executive president Sergio Díaz-Granados announced the commitment after a regional integration forum in Cartagena, where 15 regional organisations signed a declaration to co-ordinate their efforts. “Integration is the answer to protecting our strategic ecosystems, creating jobs, addressing informality, and defending the democratic values that underpin our coexistence,” he said.

Guyana

President Irfaan Ali has invited Sandals Resorts International to open a resort in Guyana, urging chief executive Adam Stewart to create the brand’s “number one eco-destination, an all-inclusive resort here in Guyana” in partnership with the local private sector.

Ali said local investors were increasingly confident in tourism and that Guyana’s biodiversity and culture gave it a strong competitive advantage. He said the country’s future should rest not only on oil and gas but also on tourism and long-term private sector growth.