Caribbean News
Obesity: A Caribbean problem
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
March 9, 2024 – Obesity Levels in CARICOM countries are the highest compared to the rest of the world and the prevalence of obesity in Caribbean children is two to three times higher than the World according to a 2021 report shared by the Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA on March 4, World Obesity Day that year.
Now three years later the international awareness day is again being observed and the Turks and Caicos is still particularly concerned about overweight and obesity in children.
“Childhood obesity and poor dietary intake among children are emerging as significant concerns in the region. Weight discrimination and stigma further compound these issues,” the TCI Ministry of Health and Human Services said in a press release.
They’re not the only country that should be concerned. In fact the entire region should be on high alert as CARPHA
describes our obesity levels in children as alarmingly high.
“Alarmingly, overweight and obesity prevalence levels in children aged 5-9 years in CARICOM countries are increasing, and highest in The Bahamas at 39.5 percent and lowest in Saint Lucia at 26.1 percent,” the health agency said, describing it as an epidemic.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services has its own ideas as to what’s driving up the numbers.
“As the Turks and Caicos Islands and other Caribbean nations continue to modernize, there’s a noticeable shift away from traditional diets based on plants, whole grains, beans, and fish. Instead, diets increasingly consist of processed sugars, fats, and high levels of salt. Moreover, there’s a concerning trend towards sedentary lifestyles,” it explained.
With childhood obesity comes a host of other issues, both medical and financial as the two often go hand in hand, obesity can be a precursor to dangerous diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
CARPHA also explained another potential factor.
“The future seen through the risk factor lens for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) looks dismal, as these young persons will be the future working generation but living with higher rates of NCDs,” it said
Exercising and healthy diets are proven ways to beat obesity and its side effects, but the health agency says stigma, and the obesogenic environment (high costs for healthy food, lack of exercise programs and more) can be roadblocks.
Acknowledging this, the local government says actions are needed across society to promote healthy lifestyles from schools introducing healthy lunches to communities taking part in programs like Let’s Move TCI and workplaces implementing wellness programs.
Caribbean News
Calvin James, Executive Director of PISLM, Extends Congratulations to The Honorable Stuart Young on His Appointment as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
St. George’s Grenada– March 17, 2025 – Executive Director for the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), Calvin James, extends his heartfelt congratulations to The Honorable Stuart Young SC on his swearing-in as the eighth Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which took place on Monday, March 17, 2025.
“We are honored to witness a new chapter for the leadership of Trinidad and Tobago and are confident that Young’s vision and drive, will continue to advance sustainable soil and land management, land degradation neutrality and prosperity in the country.” James also acknowledged the contributions of former Prime Minister Dr. Ketih Rowley, expressing his gratitude, for his years of devoted service to the twin island republic. “Dr. Rowley shall not be forgotten for his commitment, leadership and contributions over the years.”
The Executive Director, also places on record appreciation to the Honourable Penelope Beckles, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Political Focal Point, who resumed her portfolio as Planning and Development Minister in Prime Minister Stuart Young’s new cabinet. The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) looks forward to working with the new administration to continue the mission of attaining Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), employment of Sustainable Soil and Land Management practices within the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS), including Trinidad and Tobago.
Castries, March 2025. Saint Lucia has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring human rights for all.
This was the collective assertion, as over 20 national stakeholders participated in a two-day national Human Rights workshop. This initiative was hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Regional Caribbean office, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s satellite office in Saint Lucia, and the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs. 
The workshop, was designed to enhance awareness of the International Human Rights System, including treaty bodies and human rights mechanisms; build capacity of government officials and civil society members in data gathering and human rights reporting; and to highlight the role that respective agencies and their constituents play within this system. The Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs is the focal agency for Human Rights in Saint Lucia.
In welcoming participants, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Ms. Janelle Modeste-Stephen, noted that advancing human rights was a shared responsibility. “Government must enact policies and safeguard rights. Civil society must continue to advocate and mobilize. The private sector must embrace inclusive practices. Communities must challenge discrimination and uphold the dignity of every individual,” She urged stakeholders to use the workshop as an opportunity to learn, collaborate and commit to concrete action that will make human rights a lived reality for all in Saint Lucia. “Together, we can build a society, where justice, equality and inclusion are not just aspirations but everyday realities”, she stated.
A key objective of the workshop was to reactivate and strengthen the capacity of Saint Lucia’s National Coordinating Committee for Human Rights, which was established by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2019. The Ministry of External Affairs serves as the Chair and Secretariat of the Committee, which comprises representatives from various government ministries. The committee is responsible for analyzing the human rights situation at the national level and collaborates to report on recommendations aligned with Saint Lucai’s national priorities. The active
functioning of the National Coordinating Committee for Human Rights is crucial for promoting and protecting human rights.
Reflecting on the utility of the workshop, Ms. Bynta Ernest, the representative from the Department of Gender Affairs on the National Human Rights Committee noted that the session was essential to the Committee’s revitalization and to demonstrating its importance in advancing human rights in Saint Lucia. “The practical sessions towards reporting on the recommendations from the last Universal periodic Review (UPR) were also very useful to kick-start the process towards meeting our October 2025 UPR reporting deadline,” she added.
In fulfillment of Saint Lucia’s human rights related reporting obligations and deadlines, workshop participants prepared a draft plan of action to devise next steps to advance Saint Lucia’s human rights agenda.
The workshop was held at the Harbor Club Hotel, from March 5-6, 2025. Participants included representatives from departments of External Affairs, Health, Education, Labor, Justice, Human Services, Gender Affairs, Immigration, Equity, Economic Development, the National Statistical Office, the Parliamentary Commissioner’s Office, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Attorney General’s Office, and the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities.
Photo Captions:
1st insert: Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs
2nd insert: Bynta Ernest, Gender Affairs
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