Caribbean News
Jamaica saw two new Senators sworn in
#Jamaica, October 21, 2017 – Kingston – Newly appointed Opposition Senators, Donna Scott-Mottley and Damion Crawford, were sworn in today (October 20), during the Senate’s sitting at Gordon House. Both, who took the Oath of Allegiance during a brief swearing-in ceremony, fill the vacancies that were created following the resignation of former Opposition Senators, Councillor Dr. Angela Brown Burke and Mark Golding.
Dr. Brown Burke and Mr. Golding are candidates in the upcoming by-elections for South West St. Andrew and South St. Andrew respectively, which will be held on October 30.
Acting Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., welcomed Mrs. Scott-Mottley and Mr. Crawford to the Upper House. He expressed confidence that both will contribute to the rigorous debates that are a feature of the Senate’s sittings.
“(I hope) they will certainly fall in line with the high standards that we try to keep as a review chamber. We look forward to the kind of cooperation and coordination that we all seek, and we certainly wish you both all the best throughout your term,” he said.
For his part, Senate President, Hon. Tom Tavares-Finson, expressed confidence that the new appointees will contribute to the high standards of the sittings.
“We trust that your stay here will be (as) long as you desire, and we trust that you will enjoy your stay with us and participate. The persons who have left us, Senator Brown Burke and Senator Golding, have left their mark here, and we know that you will also,” he said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Opposition Senator, K.D. Knight, in his welcome.
In her response, Mrs. Scott Mottley, who has also been appointed as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, said she and Senator Crawford are committed to the people of Jamaica, and pledged to uphold the dignity of the Senate.
“Mr. President, I did not swear that Oath lightly, it means a lot to me. I pledge cordiality, even where we might have disagreements, and I am honoured to have been so warmly welcomed by the Senators on both sides. It is indeed something that my colleague (and I) take very seriously,” she said.
Mrs. Scott Mottley, who is an attorney-at -law, served as Government Senator in the early 1990s and again in 2005, while Mr. Crawford, who is a lecturer and businessman, served as Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew from 2011 to 2016.
Release: JIS
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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