May 22, 2024

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to scaling up programming on Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and early recovery in partner countries and territories served by its Multi Country Office in Jamaica, says Resident Representative, Kishan Khoday.

Addressing UNDP’s Disaster Risk Resilience Knowledge Exchange last week ahead of the 2024 Hurricane Season, Mr. Khoday said his organization’s offer remains strongly focused on strengthening capacities to better manage risk and achieve just and resilience development pathways.

“Today we stand in solidarity with our country partners, local officials and communities across the Caribbean, to implement the new outcomes expected from the 4^th Global SIDS Conference taking place here in the Caribbean. This includes enhanced policies and institutions that can manage increasing levels of complexity and put in place risk-informed development policies and plans. UNDP today stands as the UN’s largest implementer of grant assistance for climate action globally and we seek to support partners in the region address growing levels of climate vulnerability”, Mr. Khoday explained.

In outlining his nation’s resilience plans, The Bahamas’ Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Hon Leon Lundy, pointed to a range of infrastructural, policy and outreach interventions, including the ongoing construction of a climate resilient community shelter on Abaco financed by the government of India and implemented in partnership with the UNDP. “The shelter symbolizes our commitment to providing safe havens for our citizens during hurricanes and other disasters,” he stated. He also noted that his government will be strengthening its emergency management arrangements and disaster risk governance, prioritizing the development of a strong regulatory environment for climate, resilient infrastructure.

Jamaica’s ODPEM Acting Director-General Richard Thompson underscored the importance of social capital and community capacity building in disaster emergency response including Community Emergency Response Teams. He said training and capacity development are consistently implemented. “There’s shelter management training right throughout the year to ensure that we are building that capacity at the local level,” he stated.

And in continuation of the dialogue on governance arrangements for resilience, Chairman of The Bahamas’ Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRMA), Alex Storr highlighted the importance of a sound regulatory environment. He said his government’s recent establishment of the DRMA through a merger of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority, National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management had created an agile and flexible state-owned enterprise.

Presentations were also shared by Aarone Sargent, Managing Director (Acting) Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA), The Bahamas; Brian Been, Policy, Planning and Programme Manager in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Agriculture and Religious Affairs, Turks and Caicos Islands Government; Anila Qehaja, UNDP Information Management Specialist; and Hartley Eugene Thompson II, UNDP Engineer/Architect.

The Disaster Risk Resilience Knowledge Exchange is part two of UNDP’s Resilient Series, conceptualized to share lessons and best practices for a climate resilient future.  It also fulfils the requirement for south-south exchanges under the UNDP-implemented Abaco hurricane shelter project financed by India and is a key development solution under UNDP’s Multi-Country Programme (2022-2026) under which UNDP supports local initiatives for resilient and sustainable development in The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Islands.

#MontegoBay, May 31, 2024 – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is reminding Jamaicans of the importance of preparing for what is expected to be an active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States has forecast an above-average season, with projections of 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes of category three or higher.

Mr. Holness pointed out that this is among the highest forecasts issued by NOAA, while addressing the National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC) meeting, held at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in St. Ann, on Wednesday, May 29.

The Prime Minister, who is also Chairman of the NDRMC, said this is an appropriate time to assess the exposure of homes, infrastructure, services, productive activities, and workplaces as the hurricane season approaches.

“So, I take this opportunity to encourage all Jamaicans that as we enter the hurricane season to, first of all, do your household preparation. Put aside food stock and water as much as you can and make provisions for the protection of your important documents or valuables,” Mr. Holness explained.

“Look at your home and see what is likely to be destroyed in a hurricane, such as roof, windows, doors and even trees that are in proximity to your home. Start making preparations to cut some of those branches that might become  projectiles,” he added.

Community cooperation is another key point in preparedness, the Prime Minister underscored. He urged citizens to speak with neighbours and family members, especially those who may be alone or unable to help themselves, to develop contingency plans.

He pointed out that emergency shelters play a crucial role in disaster response and called on entities managing these shelters to ensure they are ready and operational.

Mr. Holness emphasised that individuals must prepare personal items if they need to evacuate to a shelter.

“Jamaica must live with our reality of being one of the most exposed countries in the world to multiple hazards, including hurricanes, floods, droughts, earthquakes, storm surges and landslides. In fact, models have predicted the increased impact of catastrophic natural events arising from heightened surface temperatures and global sea-level rise,” Mr. Holness outlined.

However, he noted that through efficient land-use planning, urban renewal, and building code regulation, the Government is creating safer and more resilient spaces.

Mr. Holness assured that these measures are safeguarding the nation’s development gains from being “washed away in any disaster”.

He highlighted the nation’s financial capability, organisational strength, and the will and motivation to recover stronger and better from disasters.

The NDRMC gave a review and update of Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response plans via presentations from various government agencies, departments, and stakeholders to guarantee a unified and efficient response to disasters.

The meeting also assessed current risks and vulnerabilities, and also focused on formulating and outlining policies and strategies to reduce disaster risks and enhance resilience.

Among the entities in attendance were the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Earthquake Unit, Mines and Geology Division, Ministry of Health and Wellness, among others.

Contact: Okoye Henry

Release: JIS

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#Antigua, May 29, 2024 – The Caribbean Island of Antigua and Barbuda is hosting the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which seeks to build resilience, and find solutions to the pressing challenges of debt burden, and to achieve sustainable development goals.

Opened on Monday, in St. Johns, under the theme, “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity,” the Conference which run from May 27 to 30, had addresses from 33 countries, where speakers pressed the need for actions on financing for Climate emergency, and crises such as spiraling debt, and health challenges.

Speaking via video link, King Charles III, said island nations are leading the way in confronting Climate Change, protecting biodiversity, and stewarding the global Ocean, while pointing out that there is potential for large investors to contribute to Climate financing, and the benefits of collaboration among SIDS. The King also called for “bold action” and said “your future is our future.”

Host Prime Minister, Gaston Browne told his audience that SIDS face unprecedented global challenges, that they did not create, and “large-scale polluters” bear responsibility for compensation, as he called for ending fossil subsidies.

The Prime Minister also called for   the establishment of the Commission of Small Island States (COSIS) and the recent unanimous advisory opinion from the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), which affirmed the legal duty of state parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to mitigate Climate impacts to protect the marine environment.

In the Caribbean region, PM Browne has been at the forefront of advocacy to develop a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index that truly reflects SIDS needs for development finance, and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados has spearheaded the Bridgetown Initiative to transform lending and provide inclusive, resilient finance to countries facing Climate crises.

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis urged the SIDS Conference to support a new global tax treaty to be negotiated and for financial flows to be regulated to ease the crippling debt burden impeding many SIDS from fully developing their potential.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres aid SIDS stands as a test case for Climate and financial justice, and called on all countries to align with the 1.5°C Climate targets, and for Climate finance to double by 2025, and for significant contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund. “SIDS can make an almighty noise together to deliver meaningful change to benefit the whole of humankind,” he said.

Many SIDS remain dependent on imported fossil fuels, curtailing both their environmental and economic efforts. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), some SIDS would need an investment of around US $5.9 billion annually to achieve their renewable energy targets by 2030 and reduce their fossil-fuel dependency.

The COVID-19 pandemic deepened existing fragilities and triggered the most acute economic contraction across SIDS, increasing their debt burden and depleting resources. Over 40 per cent of SIDS are now on the edge of or are already grappling with unsustainable levels of debt. Between 2000 and 2019, the external debt of SIDS rose by 24 percentage points of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The total public debt for SIDS now stands at approximately US $82 billion dollars.