Antigua and Barbuda claimed third place at the inaugural OECS Super Regional Robotics Challenge 2026, held in St. Kitts, as competitors from eight Caribbean territories vied for honours under the theme Innovating for a Sustainable Caribbean Future.
According to Antigua News Room, the national team — comprising Micah Matthew and Michael Harvey, coached by Tijah Myers — marked the country's first-ever appearance at the regional competition, which was organised by the Eastern Caribbean Robotics and Innovation Association in partnership with the St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association.
The five-day event challenged participants to programme robots to collect sargassum and coastal debris, with additional tasks centred on recycling and navigation — problems with direct relevance to the environmental challenges facing Caribbean nations.
Antigua and Barbuda advanced to the semi-finals following a strong opening round, where they fell to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The team regrouped and secured the bronze position with a decisive victory over St. Lucia.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines took the overall title, defeating St. Maarten in the final.
At the closing ceremony, regional robotics advocate Dr. Ricard O'Neill addressed participants, describing the event as the beginning of a broader movement. He noted that planning for a 2027 edition is already underway, signalling the competition's ambition to become a fixture in the regional STEM calendar.
