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Contact:
Chris Satney
Thursday, April 07, 2005 - Government representatives from St. Vincent
and the Grenadines and the Commonwealth of Dominica joined their St. Lucian
counterparts this week in signing two agreements designed to address the impact
of climate change in the three countries.
A US $300, 000-grant has been allocated for the first project which involves the
preparation of Pilot Adaptation Measures in Coastal Areas of the three Windward
Islands. An additional Japanese grant of US340, 000 has been allocated towards
the second project entitled “Implementation of Adaptation Measures to Climate
Change.”
Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre Dr. Kenrick Leslie who
signed on behalf of CARICOM says the projects will enable the three Eastern
Caribbean States to implement specific pilot adaptation measures to address the
impact of climate change on biodiversity and land degradation along coastal
areas within a space of one year.
“These two activities are essentially feasibility and preparatory studies for
much bigger projects that encompass the regions and its need to adapt to climate
change. They will help us to determine the parameters and scope of the problem
and whatever interventions are necessary. They will also ensure that the Centre
plays a pivotal role in the development and subsequent implementation of these
two projects,” Dr. Leslie said.
Representatives from the islands of Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
expressed their gratitude for being part of the agreements.
Dominica’s Minister for Agriculture and the Environment Ambrose George says the
two initiatives will assist the country in making the necessary changes that
will allow it to comply fully with various treaties on climate change of which
Dominica is a party.
“The fact that Dominica is indeed a very rugged country, mountainous by nature,
high rainfall - one can clearly understand the effects of climate change on a
country as Dominica and we see this project as n important one and one which
will benefit us to a very great extent,” the Dominican Minister said.
Meantime Permanent Secretary in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of
Health and the Environment Verlene Saunders commended CARICOM for making the
projects a reality, saying the strides made by the Caribbean Community Climate
Change Centre since its establishment three years ago, places the region far
ahead of other groupings of developing countries.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre which coordinates the regional
response to climate change is the key agency for information on climate change
issues and the Caribbean’s efforts to manage and adapt to climate change.
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