Regional Mourning: CARICOM and the Caribbean community of leaders marked the death of Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana, who died Sept. 30 at Cayenne University Hospital; Serville, a mathematics teacher turned politician, pushed for greater autonomy and helped French Guiana become CARICOM’s eighth Associate Member on July 7, 2026. Cross-Border Indigenous Cooperation: Tribal leaders in French Guiana met in Maripasula to tackle illegal gold mining, pollution along the Marowijne River, and border issues with Suriname, agreeing to convene joint talks and revive the “River Council” with government participation. Illicit Mining Crackdown Pressure: In Guyana, APNU MP Sharma Solomon urged authorities to investigate who finances illegal gold mining after an INTERPOL warning that cocaine profits are being laundered through gold operations—calling for action beyond seizing dredges or shipments. Spaceport & Industry in Kourou: PLD Space and CNES signed an agreement to assess adding a second launch pad at the ELM-Diamant complex at the Guiana Space Centre, aiming to boost launch throughput for MIURA vehicles and support Europe’s push for more diversified access to orbit. Digital Connectivity for the Region: EllaLink advanced its Caribbean Gateway into the development phase, planning an open, carrier-neutral fibre route from Cayenne to Martinique/Guadeloupe and onward to Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, targeting service by end-2029.