Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority, Dr. Keith Mitchell has called for urgent and swift actions to address the threat of environmental hazards in the region.
Speaking during a Regional Dialogue on Human Mobility and Climate Change Data held at the Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski on Monday, Dr. Mitchell said the experiences of OECS countries and the available data on climate change effects have illustrated the vulnerability of small islands to environmental hazards and the significant impacts of these events.
“The recent eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 26 years after the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat, reminds all of us that our battles are not only with major hurricanes, floods, and other climate change related environmental hazards,” he said. “For all our countries, the experiences of environmental hazards are the same. Significant loss in GDP, decimation of our agricultural and tourism sectors, loss of precious lives, significant displacement of people and decades of economic development gains lost in just one major disaster.”
Cognizant of the insurmountable threats that environmental hazards can pose to Eastern Caribbean economies and the well-being of our people, Dr. Mitchel believes there is need for urgent and swift actions to address and mitigate these threats.
The international community, he said, is becoming increasingly appreciative of the reality of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like those of our region
“In particular, as a region, we continue to advocate for the incorporation of a Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index as opposed to the strict reliance on traditional global economic indicators such as GDP per capita income,” he noted. “This is in recognition of our extreme vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks.”
The OECS Chairman said access to concessionary financing to help countries in the region build back better following environmental shocks such as major hurricanes, will depend on international financial institutions giving consideration to the extreme vulnerability of SIDS, to these shocks.
“Hence, we are also pleased that amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Alliance of Small Island States and the United Nations have strongly advocated for the development of a composite vulnerability index for SIDS,” he stated.
He pointed out that various forms of support from the international community to enhance national and regional capacity to address human mobility and climate change adaptation have helped to address the resource constraints facing our countries amidst economic contractions due to the COVID-19 pandemic alongside increasing climate change threats.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mitchell revealed that over the last year, the OECS Commission, working closely with the international partners, has coordinated training needs for immigration, customs and coast guard officials to build capacity to address cross-border movements under disaster scenarios.
“The Environmental Sustainability Division through support funding from the European Union, has also advanced projects to strengthen coastal regions and their ability to adapt to climate change threats,” he noted.
Dr. Mitchell said the implementation of the regional dialogue to address Human Mobility and Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean has complemented these ongoing efforts by strengthening the capacities of national agencies and communities in this regard.
St.Jean you hypocrite,it was Skerrit who SUCCESSFULLY put Dominica back on the map after Maria.Where were you?Skerrit brought Clear Harbour to Dominica about 1,000 employed.Before Skerrit there was no stadium,no new Roseau and Marigot hospitals,no E O Leblanc and N O Liverpool highways.In Dominica under the leadership of Skerrit,no more pit toilet,no more travelling on trucks with wooden boxes,no more going to public stand pipes for water.No more blowing of conch shells at 4am to get to Roseau from LaPlaine.Under Skerrit there are 2,700 people 70yrs and above receiving $300 monthly including RATTLESNAKE Rodney father.Skerrit invented the NEP about 3,400 employed for 9 yes now.Under Skerrit out of a population of 72,000 there are 37,000 registered vehicles.What has St.Jean done?Got a degree in agriculture,married a Jamaican,left Dominica more than 40 yes ago.This guy spent all his FRUITFUL years in and,working for a foreign country,now he is old and wasted,he want to advise Dominicans
Kindergarten graduate, Dominica is not on any map put there by doctor corruption Roosevelt Skerrit, in event that may have happened due to the publicity the nation got over the kidnapping of the Indian fugitive Roosevelt allowed to be brought to Dominica.
Clown, what happened to that case?
Has Roosevelt and his cabal swept that under Roosevelt Rug?
‘Donde’ es Dominica?
Before the Mexican football team trashed and humiliated the Dominica team, the question the Mexicans asked was:
“Where is Dominica?”
We are yet unknown, still backwards all due to Incompetence and backwards mind.
@Lin clown, I’ve tried to educate you before that I’m not a foreigner in America. I’m a citizen of the USA. Please get out from under the rock where you have been hiding. Please comment on the fact that your idol, Skerritt, had his children born in America. Do you think that even if they were not born in Dominca that they aren’t citizens of Dominca also? I’m glad I was blessed to have left with my family before Skerritt took the reigns of Dominca and has been taking the country down the path of divisiveness and skulduggery. If you aren’t red then you’re better off dead. Unlike you, I don’t have to worship at the alter of Skerritt to take care of myself and my loved ones. Keep trying to be the defender of El Supremo to collect the scraps which fall from the table set by Skerritt to take care of yourself and your family. I challenge you to use your real name and point out any error that Skerritt has committed. He’s not God so he’s made errors. Prove me wrong.
@Lin clown, one has to be a real clown to brag about the mirage under Skerritt. Remember the manufacturing sector in the country to include, Candle industries, DCP, Paul’s Pasta, Dominca Brewery, and many more, not to forget ROSS University. These companies paid good wages and they disappeared under the thumb of Skerritt. Instead you point to NEP where the government now pays and supplies workers to private businesses to mask the terrible unemployment pictures. Also Clear Harbor, paying starvation wages for rote woke in Dominca. The highway you mentioned was simply the refurbishment of an already existing road and then it was renamed. Plans and funding for a stadium we’re in place before Skerritt took over. The Marigot and Roseau hospitals would be how old if nothing was done to them? When you peel away the outer leaves of that onion there isn’t much progress to shout about in 20 years. St. Jean isn’t the leader nor the one saying there’s no need for opposition.
The Industrial Revolution began in England in 1750; since that time human activities have contributed substantially to climate change; adding CO2 and other heat trapping gases such as methane in the atmosphere.
These greenhouse gas emissions have increased the greenhouse effect, and caused the Earths surface temperature to rise!
The primary human activity affecting the amount and rate of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas that is contributing to global warming; so Mitchell; that’s not news.
You see the Caribbean islands are not major contributors to global warming; except for the fossil fuel, gasoline diesel, kerosene used; along with LPG.
The mention of the Eruption of the volcano in Montserrat and in St. Vincent have no significant impact on Global warming; if that’s the case; then we can also blame Mount Pelee which erupted on the island of Martinique in 1902 for t global warming too…
Most Caribbean people have plenty of talk about world affair; especially our Dominica people: you know; dem big doctors, solicitors, barristers; priest parson; reverent, magistrates, judge and pope too!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah!
The problem is after we make our eloquent speeches; and exit the podium no action is taken; the paper on which the speech is written are blown out to space or simple dissolve (turn to dust).
There is never a resolve; as for global warming, the Caribbean islands cannot do anything to prevent the temperature on the islands from rising; since all the CO2 do not originate in the region; though there are fossil fuel refineries in Venezuela, Trinidad and Barbados.
Shut them down; and get rid of all Motor Vehicles on the islands; that might be the resolve oui!
This is coming from the leader of a country that introduced rabid mongooses to its environment to unsuccessfully get rid of cane toads. It’s remarkable that people actually vote for these imbeciles.
Well, dem is big doctor an ting you know; doctor of fart like Roosevelt Skerrit.
Hahahhaha!
Some of them, so called doctor they talk so much crap that I am sure when and if they listen to themselves, they must feel ashamed of themselves.
Dominican citizenship is going to be sold even if Skerritt isn’t in Dubai. Why isn’t he at the conference on Climate change being held in Dominca. He likes the joyride whilst pretending to be focused on making critical decisions for safety and security of Dominca. The country has experienced devastating hurricanes in recent years and scientists have warned that climate change events will only get worse and more frequent. Dominca has the most active volcanoes in the world and we see many other volcanoes getting active recently. Covid-19 pandemic is doing a number in the country, primarily because of the unvaccinated, however, it’s serious enough that the leader show leadership. Instead he goes on a joyride. Serious world leaders postpone appearances at other events when their countries face life and death occurrence, but the playboy sees being in Dubai as his priority. Even the leader of Dubai is known as corrupt as per the recent news about his divorce and much more.
The biggest threat are Dominicans themselves. They dump. They litter. The hunt and fish illegally. They overuse pesticides,