Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

#TheBahamas, December 5, 2023 – The Bahamas government highlighted its intentions for the upcoming Cop28 conference which includes taking part in the negotiation process, advancing investment programmes and the launching of major projects.

According to Dr. Rochell Newbold, Climate Advisor, for  negotiations, there are three potential outputs the country is looking to follow and they include loss and damage, the technical assistance that will be offered to countries within the loss and damage space and following up on the issues of global stocktake.

For the loss and damage fund, she speaks to the efforts of small island developing states since Cop27, to enhance matters relevant to the loss and damage fund.

This intention, that is to encourage dialogue around this issue, comes as there are geopolitical issues going on globally and global finances are going to those issues and not to global issues of climate change.

In fact, referring to actual statistics, she expressed that in as little as a few months, more than $200 billion dollars were raised and distributed to the issue of war and yet, for years there has been talks around $100 billion needed to address the climate agreement.

For issues of investment opportunities, opportunities which Newbold says would bring great success for The Bahamas, she referred to a current investment project in the country that is a financial grant to address energy and water needs on nine islands within the archipelago, which they are looking to expand.

Furthermore, at Cop28, The Bahamas will launch its BlueCo Caribbean project, driving the blue economy and investment strategy, Newbold said.

This program comes after a regional meeting last year where it was highlighted that the region needs a program to address the needs of island states as well as the fact that less than 0.1 percent of global investments go to the marine environment.

Regarding global stock take, it addresses everything related to the world’s position on climate action and support, identifying the gaps, and working to chart a better course forward to accelerate climate action, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Additionally, Newbold made another revelation that they will be unveiling The Bahamas Sustainable Investment programme, which has been worked on since Cop 27.

Described as a sleek and tactical delegation, the advisor said  less than 20 people will be attending Cop28 including the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister with Responsibility for Energy and Transportation.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

December 5, 2023 – Irregular rates of migration across the Latin America and Caribbean region continue and with it there is a growing rate of sexual violence.

This is according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)  in its Weekly Situation Update for November 20th, 2023 and it informs that Organizations indicate growing reports of sexual violence which is affecting women and children who take on what has been time and time again, described as a “treacherous journey across the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama.

The migrants, the report says, include nearly 460,000 people with almost 100,000 children.

Regarding the sexual violence affecting these migrants, the report refers to humanitarian medical care charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) which says it has treated 397 survivors of sexual violence which includes many children, that is after they successfully reach Panama.

In October 2023, MSF saw a decrease in the number of migrants crossing the Darien gap, 49,256 people compared to September which saw 75,268.

However, despite the drop in number, there was an increase in the number of survivors of sexual assault looking for assistance, the weekly update says.

In October, MSF helped 107 people. In one week, 59 people reach out for help from the charity which is equivalent to one event of sexual violence every three hours, the report pointed out. Speaking to child victims of sexual assault, it said three of the rape survivors were children aged 11, 12 and 16.

To help put a stop to this immoral behavior, the OCHA states that humanitarian organizations, the MSF included, UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group and Plan International and others, are calling on relevant governments to make it a priority to protect migrants and their human rights, as well as strengthen humanitarian capacities and improve comprehensive response strategies such as increasing legal and safe channels for migration and looking into the cause of movements, with the intention to remove them or help reduce their impact of the people’s decision regarding migration.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

#Barbados, December 5, 2023 – Global pop star and business owner Rihanna called on Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary and Ajay Banga, World Bank Chief, to join the fight against climate change for communities most affected.

The Barbadian singer and businesswoman took to her twitter in June this year to confront the need for action from Yellen and Banga.

She said, “Hey @SecYellen & #Ajay Banga, will you join @miaamormottley and step up for communities hit hardest by climate emergencies? We need you to make bold commitments to finance & debt reforms.”

She continued to point out her efforts to help address the climate crisis with her Clara Lionel Foundation

“I address climate with @ClaraLionelFdn, now it’s your turn.”

The singer also put in here appeal, the link to ‘action platform’ organisation Global Citizen, which is campaigning for global financial reform to address the interconnected crises of climate change, hunger and inequity.

Mia Amor Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados, Rihanna’s home country, thanked Rihanna for her tweet, reports say, expressing that the Bridgetown Initiative is the “opportunity” that world leaders need to take.

Rihanna’s foundation, named after her grandparents, prioritizes climate resilience and climate Justice work and has donated millions in grants since being founded in 2012.

In fact, in 2019, after launching its Climate Resilience Initiative (CRI), to enhance emergency preparedness, it donated $1million in grants to The Bahamas, providing emergency food and medicine following Hurricane Dorian.

Also, last year, her foundation donated €13 million (USD$15 million) to the climate movement.

She said the donation to 18 climate justice organisations would contribute to seven Caribbean nations and the US, including the Climate Justice Alliance, the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Movement for Black Lives.

The grants, reports say, made in partnership with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s StartSmall philanthropic initiative, target groups with female, LGBT, Black and Indigenous leaders given that because their communities are most at risk.