Caribbean News
St. Elizabeth Parish Disaster Preparedness Committee Gets Ready for Hurricane
#MontegoBay, July 1, 2024 – The Parish Disaster Preparedness Committee for St. Elizabeth met on Monday (July 1) to discuss and finalise preparations for the impending passage of Hurricane Beryl, which is forecasted to impact Jamaica on Wednesday, July 3.
Mayor of Black River and St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation Chairman, Councillor Richard Solomon, conducted the meeting at the entity’s office in the town.
He told JIS News that the parish is well prepared for Hurricane Beryl and other potential disasters.
Councillor Solomon informed that all 87 shelters across St. Elizabeth are ready to accommodate residents who may need to evacuate their homes.
Additionally, shelter managers have been deployed and equipped with the necessary resources to ensure the smooth operation of these facilities, he added.
“We are also going to be posting all the shelters on our social media pages for persons to be able to identify with them. We will be posting information out there. This includes all the relevant contact information in terms of the Superintendent of Police, Jamaica Fire Brigade and others,” the Mayor outlined.
The parish has established an emergency line – 876-965-2740 – for residents to report any storm-related incidents or concerns.
Councillor Solomon pledged that the Committee will respond promptly to these reports as the situations evolve.
Meanwhile, the authorities are urging residents in flood-prone areas to consider relocating if necessary.
Councillor Solomon encouraged persons to exercise “sound judgement”, especially in situations where immediate assistance from authorities may be delayed due to severe weather conditions.
“Currently, we are doing some fine tuning. So we are going to be doing a little tour of the Emergency Operations Centre to make sure that we have everything in place. The Centre is located at the Black River Fire Station. If we have a full-scale disaster, then we will expand to the Municipal Corporation,” he indicated.
The meeting’s participants included representatives from key agencies, such as the St. Elizabeth Infirmary, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jamaica Public Service, National Water Commission, Social Development Commission, and St. Elizabeth Health Department.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecasted to be above average, with 17 to 25 named storms expected.
Contact: Okoye Henry
Release: JIS
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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