AGP Executive Report

Caribbean-Europe Travel Boost: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes have signed an interline agreement starting June 1, 2026, letting passengers book combined itineraries on one ticket and check baggage through to the final destination, with connections linking LIAT’s Eastern Caribbean network (including Guyana) to Air Caraïbes services from Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, plus long-haul to Paris-Orly. Space Investment in Kourou: PLD Space announced a €35 million investment to develop and deploy its orbital launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, with €22 million spent in France and €13 million earmarked for more than 20 local French Guiana companies, aiming to strengthen Europe’s sovereign launch capacity. Macron Backs Guyana’s Sovereignty: French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in a letter marking Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary, pointing to the ongoing ICJ hearings over Essequibo and highlighting cooperation in the Guiana Shield. Code Noir Repealed: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir, a 1685 slavery-era decree that treated enslaved people as property; the move is widely seen as a symbolic step toward confronting France’s colonial past, with debate in the chamber turning emotional.

Repealing the Black Code: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to scrap the 1685 Code Noir, a slavery-era law that treated enslaved people as “movable property.” The move comes nearly 180 years after slavery was abolished, and lawmakers said the text’s survival was a moral offense—while supporters stress it’s only a first step toward addressing colonial legacies and inequality. Space in Kourou: PLD Space announced a €35m upgrade investment for its Kourou launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre, with €13m earmarked for more than 20 French Guiana firms, aiming to strengthen Europe’s commercial launch capacity. Guyana sovereignty: President Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a letter tied to the Essequibo dispute at the ICJ, highlighting cooperation in the Guiana Shield and noting French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana events. Caribbean-Europe travel: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book on one ticket with checked baggage through to final destinations. Sports & local ties: Guyana’s Independence celebrations also featured major athletics and cycling coverage, including standout performances and regional competition links with French Guiana.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to finally remove the 1685 slavery-era “Black Code” from law, ending a text that treated enslaved people as “movable property” and governed punishment, religion and inheritance across colonies including French Guiana. Guyana Sovereignty: President Macron sent a letter to Guyana’s president reaffirming France’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as the Essequibo dispute continues at the ICJ, pointing to growing cooperation and French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana events. Caribbean-Air Links: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book on one ticket with checked baggage through across networks connecting French Caribbean territories (including French Guiana) to the Eastern Caribbean and Paris-Orly. Regional Trade Talks: Brazil and Suriname will negotiate an expanded trade agreement later this year, aiming to broaden sectors and trade facilitation after limited current volumes. Local Sports: Guyana’s Independence 10K crowned French runner Odylson Prika and Attoya Harvey in top races, with multiple junior and masters titles decided on the holiday route.

Code Noir Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to finally scrap the slavery-era Code Noir, a 1685 law that treated enslaved people as “movable property” and stayed on the books long after slavery was abolished in 1848. Guyana Sovereignty: On Guyana’s 60th Independence anniversary, President Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid the Essequibo dispute at the ICJ, pointing to cooperation in justice, security and defence and highlighting French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana events. Caribbean-Europe Travel: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal from June 1, letting passengers book on one ticket, check baggage through, and connect more easily between the Caribbean and Paris-Orly. Regional Trade Talks: Brazil and Suriname will negotiate in the second half of the year to expand a limited trade agreement, with talks expected to cover new sectors and trade facilitation. Space & Launch Industry: After a Blue Origin mishap, ULA completed a May 29 launch from Florida, sending 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites into orbit.

Caribbean-Europe Travel Boost: LIAT (2020) Limited and Air Caraïbes have signed an interline deal starting June 1, letting passengers book one itinerary on a single ticket, with baggage checked through to the final destination—linking LIAT’s Eastern Caribbean network (including Guyana) with Air Caraïbes services from Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana to Paris-Orly. French Guiana & Regional Diplomacy: President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a letter marking Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary, pointing to the ICJ Essequibo hearings and highlighting cooperation in justice, security and defence, including French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana events. France Repeals Code Noir: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir, the 1685 slavery law that treated enslaved people as “movable property,” a move expected to go to the Senate next. Space & Connectivity Watch: After a Blue Origin test mishap, ULA completed a May 29 launch from Florida, placing 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites into orbit—part of Amazon’s plan to build a large satellite network.

French Politics & Human Rights: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir, the 1685 slavery law that treated enslaved people as property—an overdue legal cleanup that lawmakers say finally matches France’s equality claims. France–Guyana Diplomacy: President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a letter marking 60 years of ties, pointing to the ICJ Essequibo hearings and welcoming French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana-linked events. Regional Air Connectivity: LIAT (2020) and Air Caraïbes signed an interline deal to sell one-ticket, through-checked itineraries across the Caribbean, linking services from Guadeloupe/Martinique/French Guiana with LIAT’s network including Guyana. Space & Industry Watch: After a Blue Origin New Glenn test mishap, ULA still flew an Amazon Leo mission from Cape Canaveral, underscoring how launch reliability can ripple into future constellation plans. Trade Talks: Brazil and Suriname will negotiate to expand their trade agreement later this year, with energy, logistics and connectivity on the agenda.

Abolition of Slavery Laws: France has officially repealed the 1685 Code Noir, the “Black Code” that treated enslaved people as property and allowed beatings, sales, rape and killings—kept on the books for nearly 180 years after slavery ended. The National Assembly backed the repeal unanimously (254-0), with lawmakers shocked it survived so long. Guyana Diplomacy: President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid the Essequibo dispute with Venezuela, pointing to ongoing ICJ proceedings and highlighting cooperation under the Guyana Shield, including French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana-linked celebrations. Regional Security & Energy: Suriname’s president visited Brazil for state talks expected to produce defense, energy, security and connectivity agreements. Space from French Guiana: ESA’s SMILE mission launched from French Guiana with key soft X-ray imaging sensors supplied by Teledyne.

France–Guyana Diplomacy: President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, citing the Essequibo case at the ICJ and pointing to cooperation in the Guyana Shield, including French Armed Forces participation in French Guiana’s Independence events. Slavery Law Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the Code Noir, a centuries-old decree that treated enslaved people as property; the bill now heads to the Senate. Indigenous Repatriation: France moves to return remains of six Kalina people from colonial-era “human zoo” displays in Paris to French Guiana after the Senate approved the repatriation legislation. Regional Security Exercise: Guyana’s GDF concluded Operation ZEUS ATLANTIC 2026, with partners including French Guiana, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation against transnational organized crime. Sports (French Guiana link): Guyanese cyclist Brighton John won the Grand Prix Cycliste de l’Ouest time trial in French Guiana; Guyana also marked Independence with major athletics and road-race results. Culture/Film: Wil Aime’s self-funded thriller “Who” is in theaters across France and Belgium, with inspiration drawn from “Attack on Titan.” Sports (Local): Guyana mourns former national basketball player Merton Fitzalbert, remembered for shaping early national competition.

Slavery Law Repeal: France’s National Assembly voted 254-0 to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, ending a slavery-era decree that treated enslaved people as “movable property” and governed colonies including French Guiana; the bill now heads to the Senate, with supporters calling it a long-overdue step toward confronting France’s colonial past and possible reparations. Indigenous Repatriation: France’s Senate has also approved a law to return the remains of six Kalina Indigenous people from colonial-era “human zoo” displays in Paris to French Guiana for burial within a year. French Guiana Space Link: ESA’s SMILE mission launched from Kourou, with Teledyne CCD370 sensors supplied for soft X-ray imaging to study solar wind–Earth interactions, part of China-Europe cooperation. Local Security Staffing: France launches a recruitment drive for customs officers, with postings possible in French Guiana and the West Indies to strengthen checks and fight trafficking and smuggling. Wildlife Tech: A new AI model, TropiCam-AI, is designed to identify tree-dwelling species from camera-trap images, aiming to fill a gap in canopy wildlife detection.

Space in French Guiana: ESA’s SMILE mission lifted off from Kourou on a Vega-C rocket, with Teledyne CCD370 sensors onboard to study solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere—key for understanding space weather impacts on satellites and communications. Local Security & Cooperation: Guyana’s Defence Force wrapped up Operation ZEUS ATLANTIC 2026, with French Guiana among participating partners, targeting regional cooperation and countering transnational organized crime. Indigenous Rights: France moved to return remains of six Kalina people from a colonial-era “human zoo” in Paris to French Guiana after a Senate vote approving repatriation legislation. Customs Hiring: France launched a recruitment drive for customs officers, with postings possible in French Guiana and the West Indies to strengthen controls against trafficking and smuggling. Sports (Guyana–French Guiana link): Guyanese cyclist Brighton John won the Grand Prix Cycliste de l’Ouest time trial in French Guiana, setting the fastest time and challenging the overall leader. Diplomacy: Guyana’s PM Mark Phillips praised Guyana–France ties at a Diamond Jubilee reception aboard the patrol vessel La Résolue.

Space & Science from Kourou: The ESA–China SMILE mission launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on a Vega-C rocket, aiming to use new X-ray imaging to study how solar wind and storms interact with Earth’s magnetosphere, with aurora monitoring and improved space-weather forecasting. Local Jobs & Security: France has opened a nationwide recruitment drive for customs officers, with postings across the French West Indies and French Guiana to strengthen checks and fight drug trafficking and smuggling. France–French Guiana History: France is moving to return the remains of six Indigenous Kalina people from a colonial-era “human zoo” in Paris to French Guiana after a Senate vote authorizing repatriation. Regional Cooperation: Guyana’s Defence Force and partners concluded Operation ZEUS ATLANTIC 2026, including French Guiana, targeting transnational organized crime through coordinated regional exercises. Aerospace Industry Watch: Spain’s PLD Space is pushing toward MIURA 5’s launch from Kourou, as Europe’s small-launch race heats up with new funding and sovereign ambitions. International Diplomacy: France’s president Macron said reparations for slavery’s legacy must be addressed, while stopping short of concrete proposals.

Space Launch Momentum: Europe’s space-weather push just scored a win: the ESA–China SMILE satellite lifted off from Kourou on a Vega-C rocket, with solar panels deployed and systems working normally, aiming to use X-ray imaging to watch Earth’s magnetic “armor” as solar storms hit. Local Industry & Jobs: Spain’s PLD Space is also in the spotlight, raising €210m in 2026 as it prepares MIURA 5—its next step toward more independent small-satellite launches from Kourou. Regional Security Drills: In Guyana, Operation ZEUS ATLANTIC 2026 wrapped up with partners including French Guiana, focused on countering transnational organized crime. Culture & Justice: France has moved to return remains of six Kalina people from colonial-era “human zoo” displays in Paris to French Guiana after Senate approval. Public Service: Customs is recruiting for posts in French West Indies and French Guiana to strengthen controls against trafficking and fraud.

Cycling Spotlight: Briton John (Guyana) took the win in the time-trial stage of the French Guiana cycling meet, putting local-region talent in the spotlight Diplomacy & Ties: Guyana’s PM Mark Phillips used the Diamond Jubilee reception aboard the French patrol vessel La Résolue to praise a “stronger and more strategic” Guyana–France partnership Space Weather Watch: ESA and China’s SMILE mission launched from Kourou on a Vega-C rocket, aiming for the first X-ray view of Earth’s magnetic shield and better forecasts for solar-storm disruptions Public Service Push: France’s customs authority has opened recruitment for officers across the French West Indies and French Guiana, targeting staffing needs tied to drug trafficking, fraud and inspections Historical Reckoning: France is moving to return the remains of six Kalina people from colonial-era “human zoo” displays in Paris to burial in French Guiana.

Guyana–France Ties: Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips praised the “enduring” Guyana-France friendship, saying it has grown into a more strategic partnership as he spoke at a Diamond Jubilee reception aboard the French patrol vessel La Résolue. Regional Security Exercise: The Guyana Defence Force wrapped up Operation ZEUS Atlantic 2026, bringing together partners including French Guiana to strengthen cooperation against transnational organized crime. Colonial Reckoning: France moved to return the remains of six Kalina Indigenous people—died after being displayed in Paris “human zoos”—with Senate-approved legislation paving the way for repatriation to French Guiana. Space From French Guiana: The ESA–China SMILE mission launched from Kourou on a Vega-C rocket to study solar storms and Earth’s magnetic shield, with new soft X-ray imaging sensors supplied for the project. Customs Hiring: France launched a recruitment drive for customs officers across the French West Indies and French Guiana to boost capacity against drug trafficking, fraud, and smuggling.

Space Weather Breakthrough: The ESA–China SMILE mission has successfully launched from Kourou on a Vega-C rocket, starting a new effort to “see” how solar storms and charged particles interact with Earth’s magnetic shield—using a soft X-ray imager and ultraviolet instruments to improve forecasts that can affect satellites, radio links, navigation and power systems. Local Recruitment Push: France’s customs service is opening a nationwide competitive exam to hire new officers for the French West Indies and French Guiana, targeting staffing needs tied to drug trafficking, fraud and goods inspections. Colonial Justice in Focus: France is moving to return the remains of six Kalina Indigenous people from colonial-era “human zoo” displays in Paris to French Guiana, after a Senate-approved law clears the way for repatriation within a year. Regional Security Drills: Guyana has wrapped Operation ZEUS Atlantic 2026, bringing together regional partners including French Guiana to strengthen cooperation against transnational organized crime. Sports & Identity: A French Guiana-born player says he turned down a World Cup chance to avoid feeling “not legitimate,” while still holding out hope for France.

Space Weather Breakthrough: The ESA–China SMILE mission has successfully launched from Kourou on a Vega-C rocket, starting a new push to “see” how solar storms hit Earth’s magnetic shield, with early signals and solar panels deployed and a Soft X-ray Imager now set to capture the first X-ray view of the magnetosphere. Local Science & Industry: Teledyne Space Imaging supplied key CCD370 sensors for SMILE’s Soft X-ray Imager, underlining how French Guiana keeps pulling in high-end space supply chains. Regional Security Exercise: Operation ZEUS ATLANTIC 2026 wrapped up with partners including French Guiana, aiming to strengthen cooperation against transnational organized crime. Colonial Reckoning: France moves to return the remains of six Kalina people from a colonial “human zoo” in Paris to French Guiana after Senate approval. Customs Hiring: A new recruitment drive targets customs officers for French West Indies and French Guiana to boost controls against trafficking and fraud. Sports Note: A French Guiana-born player says he declined a World Cup call-up to respect the qualification effort.