Caribbean News
Caribbean Women make history
Rashaed Esson
May 10, 2023 – Three Caribbean-born black women made history with their ceremonial roles during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla; this marks the second time these women are making historic accomplishments.
Valerie Ann Amos, British politician and diplomat from Guyana, who holds British nobility ranks, as entrusted by the King, joined Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury during the act of recognition at the start of the ceremony. Amos held The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Dove, a gold and silver rod decorated with the white dove of the Holy Ghost.
The priceless relic has encrusted rose diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and spinels. According to experts, it is also known as “the Rod of Equity and Mercy,” as it represents the king’s spiritual role.
Carrying the title Baroness Amos of Brondesnbury, (Baroness is a female member of the House of Lords, equivalent in rank to Baron), she already made history when she invested in the Order of the Garter last year and when she became the first Black woman to serve in a British cabinet and as leader of the House of Lords from 2003 to 2007.
Additionally, Floella Benjamin, a Trinidadian-British politician and businesswoman, who also holds British nobility ranks, was given the responsibility, by the King, to carry The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.
Also carrying the title of Baroness, Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham, the chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee, made history last year by becoming the first black actress to have a place as a peer in the House of Lords in 2010.
Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Jamaican-British Anglican prelate, serving as Suffragan Bishop of Dover in the Diocese of Canterbury, was tasked with carrying The Queen Consort’s Rod with Dove, a sceptre of an ivory rod and gold, also featuring the white dove of the Holy Ghost.
Wilkins already had historical achievements as the first Black woman to become a bishop in the Church of England in 2019.
There is some irony behind the history of the relics these women were tasked to hold, which dates back to slavery. They were supplied to the Royal Family by Robert Vyner, who was involved in, and benefitted from, the transatlantic slave trade, as a signatory of the Royal African Charter in 1672.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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