Volume 10 - Issue 9
International Community Must LEND A HAND TO SMALL ISLAND STATES
UWI IR students
VISIT ECLAC CARIBBEAN
Launch of OPCC VIRTUAL CLIMATE LEGISLATION TRACKER
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International Relations Students Visit ECLAC Caribbean
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A HUMMING BIRD FEATURE: Director Quarless: International Community Must Lend a Hand to Small Island States
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ECLAC Leads Bilateral with Norway
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UN 78th General Assembly Overview
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Launch of OPCC Virtual Platform
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Upcoming Study on Urban Planning
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Latin American and Caribbean Economies Will Maintain Low Growth Levels in 2023 and 2024
About us Issued on a monthly basis, The Hummingbird offers insights into the latest projects, publications, technical assistance missions and research carried out by ECLAC Caribbean. In addition to these, sneak previews are provided of the most salient upcoming events, alongside enriching followups to previously covered issues. With a view to featuring a variety of facets of Caribbean life and lifestyle, The Hummingbird also zooms in on cultural activities and landmark occurrences through an eye-opening regional round-up. EDITORIAL TEAM Editor: Jabari Fraser Writer: Denise Balgobin Proof Reader: Veera Deokiesingh-Fraser Design and Layout: Liseanne Martin-Subero Please see our contact details on the back cover of this magazine.
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International Days 10 November World Science Day for Peace and Development 14 November World Diabetes Day 21 November World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Upcoming Meetings 1 NOVEMBER 2023 The MonCom Seminar: Positioning the Caribbean in the knowledge economy: The role of data 3 NOVEMBER 2023 Twenty-first Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) 7 NOVEMBER 2023 Nineteenth meeting of the Regional Council for Planning of ILPES
International Relations Students VISIT ECLAC CARIBBEAN
ECLAC Caribbean recently welcomed students from UWI Saint Augustine's Institute of International Relations (IIR) to the Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean. The students engaged with Director Diane Quarless and her technical staff on the economic, environmental, social research and technical support that ECLAC provides to Caribbean governments. The students had the opportunity to discuss regional development challenges, learn about ECLAC’s structure, history and current work. They also received a tutorial on using ECLAC’s digital research repository. Accompanying the students was honorary professor at the Institute of International Relations Dr. Lancelot Cowie, who has done work with ECLAC. In his remarks, he said, “I have been very proud to be part of the ECLAC family. Thank you very much for allowing us this privilege and this honour."
UWI IIR students and ECLAC staff in discussion
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UWI IIR Students and Lecturer Dr Lancelot Cowie pose with Director Diane Quarless and ECLAC staff
Director Quarless emphasized the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS),
“The little islands get lost in the mix and what this subregional office has been attempting to do is to ensure that the voice of the Caribbean, the perspectives, the particular concerns are well-articulated and well-represented when ECLAC, the regional commission that serves Latin America and the Caribbean, goes to New York and advocates for the interests of our region at the global level.” The Institute of International Relations (IIR) does research on international challenges in the contemporary world, with a special emphasis on the Caribbean and Latin America and offers a range of courses and programs in the area.
UWI IIR students browse the ECLAC Library book display
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Director Quarless: International Community Must LEND A HAND TO SMALL ISLAND STATES
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irector of ECLAC Caribbean, Diane Quarless, says that the international community will need to contribute more to support the development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS); indeed, if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not achieved across all countries, then it is the entire global community that assumes responsibility, since the commitment to implement Agenda 2030 was made collectively by all states. Director Quarless made the point at a media breakfast in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, organized by the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean in September.
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DIRECTOR QUARLESS: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST LEND A HAND TO SMALL ISLAND STATES Speaking on revitalizing the push to achieve the SDGs by 2030, she noted that Caribbean countries face an uphill task because of burdensome debt and debt service with small, undiversified economies, exposure to devastating climate-induced natural hazards, limited technical and institutional capacity and inadequate access to affordable financing.
on us, it would be a failure of the global community, because it is a global commitment that has been made. This is why I spoke about intergenerational and intragenerational equity and the developed countries have a responsibility to lift the developing ones… and that lift means you provide the resources for them to achieve.”
“The international community has not shown the empathy to Small Island States that have graduated… You have a per capita income that is over a threshold that says… you are big boys now; you can stand on your own. So, you are not getting access to concessionary financing.”
Addressing the gap in financing the SDGs, Resident Coordinator for the UN System in Trinidad and Tobago, Joanna Kazana, said the world has more than adequate resources to achieve sustainable development. To make her point, she compared the sum spent on defense worldwide for the last few years to the amount spent on global development challenges.
When asked about the possibility of not achieving the SDGs, Director Quarless said, “It would not be a failure
Meteorologist and climate journalist Kalain Hosein speaks with Director Diane Quarless
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“This year it is going to be almost three trillion dollars globally. We have the money, we have plenty of money, we are just spending it on activities that are completely destructive and throwing us back to the level of development that we have worked so hard to achieve. We have to change the course.”
UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, Dennis Zulu, remarked that there is a sustainable development gap between the UN and world leaders and the common person, as many people around the world do not know about the SDGs. “The member States are accountable not to us as staff members, but also to their duty to others… and those people in the countries that they come from.”
The Caribbean-focused discussion follows the recently concluded SDG Summit, and the halfway assessment point toward the 2030 Agenda. In 2024, Antigua and Barbuda will host the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, where Caribbean SIDS and others around the world will focus on practical and impactful solutions to achieve sustainable development.
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A Rum Movement IS GROWING IN ARUBA
Down a quiet street in an industrial quarter of downtown Oranjestad sits a century-old home with brown wooden shutters and a barrel out front. It’s an area that has become an increasingly hip corner of Aruba, home to a growing number of high-end eateries and the palpable feeling of urban rebirth. In the early 20th century, it was the home of Aruba’s first printing shop, and the residence of Dominica Wever and his wife Catarina Margarita Arends, a popular cook who would soon earn the moniker “Pepe Margo,” as the neighborhood Pepe, or “godmother” in Papiamento. Today, Pepe Margo’s house is the epicenter of another first for Aruba: the island’s first true rum distillery, where the distillery that bears her
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name is now the birthplace of a new rum movement on the island. It’s the brainchild of Jonathan Harms, whose portfolio also includes Curacao’s popular Ron San Pablo, and who saw the need — and the demand — for the island to boast its own premium, locallymade spirit. The new rum is produced with a German copper column still, molasses from South America and high-ester yeast, with operations kicking off just a few months ago. While the focus will be on aged rum (in a collection of ex-bourbon barrels and soon, ex sherry too), Pepe Margo is already bottling its white rum, in a blend with threeyear-old rum from San Pablo. It’s called Nautical Rum and it’s already on offer at the distillery,
joined by another distillate: Aruba’s first-ever gin, made using local Aruban fruits. The result is something eminently mixable and, on a hot Oranjestad afternoon, an ideal sipper with an ice cube and a leather chair. Beyond the small-batch distillery, the home is a destination unto itself, with comfortable, luxurious seating and a full bar, with rums, gin and other spirits and a selection of cocktails to boot. It’s the sort of place you can spend all day — or retreat to the cistern-turned-meeting room in the back, which has become a popular spot for business meetings downtown.
It’s a new attraction for downtown Oranjestad, open daily and serving up rums and cocktails through the evening hours.
“The plan is to have a good product you can be proud of,” says distiller Ric Vijsma, who is very much a jack of all trades at the still. “We’re getting a lot of good feedback.” Pepe Margo is part of a burgeoning rum renaissance on an island that has long had a rum culture – Aruba’s myriad rum shops are an essential part of local life — but has never
really produced a premium rum, with the island’s rum bottlings historically coming from imported bulk rum. Another brand, Bodegas Papiamento, has also found renown in the last two years with a premium aged product sourced from Panama and bottled in Aruba, with plans for a higher-level expression and, in time, a Papiamento distillery on the island. It’s all part of a new push to cultivate an appreciation for premium rum on the island, where rum has always been a staple but now has, well, new godparents.
ECLAC Leads Bilateral WITH NORWAY
Director of ECLAC Caribbean, Diane Quarless, welcomed Norway’s nonresident Ambassador designate to Trinidad and Tobago Beate Stirø to ECLAC’s Caribbean headquarters in Port of Spain recently. Speaking on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana, Director Quarless, along with members of the UN Country Team and senior ECLAC officers discussed with Ambassador Stirø some of the work being done in T&T and the wider Caribbean. In a meeting on various themes, representatives from ECLAC, the Resident Coordinator’s Office, International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), among others, provided an overview of the economy of Trinidad and Tobago, issues related to women’s rights and the protection of women and children; the importance of strengthening data infrastructure for enhanced decisionmaking and governance; the state of the subregion’s oceans and the importance
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Director of ECLAC Caribbean Diane Quarless and Norway’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Beate Stirø
of building resilience to climate change; the impact of migration trends in the sub region; development cooperation in the Caribbean and the current work being undertaken by the UN Country Team in Trinidad and Tobago. Welcoming Ambassador Stirø, Director Quarless said,
“Our showing today is really a sign of the regard that the team has for Norway as a friend to the UN System in general, and of the potential for pursuing a meaningful relationship with Norway in the Caribbean.” Ambassador Stirø spoke about Norway’s good relations with the United Nations and her country’s development cooperation priorities, among them: climate change. “I think it is good that we have established a meaningful relationship that we have gotten to know each other, and we can always keep talking.” Ambassador Stirø, who is resident in Cuba was accompanied by advisor Susane Karine Gjønnes.
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FOR GLOBAL TOURISM RESILIENCE FUND
Jamaica is continuing its call for the creation of a tourism resilience fund, one that would help vulnerable Caribbean nations build up their resilience to the effects of climate change. It’s the brainchild of Jamaica Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, who has helped to position the island as the epicenter of resilience-focused policy formulation, including the home of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center in Montego Bay.
“Imagine if each tourist were to contribute a small tip after every purchase made in their destination. This simple act could potentially generate billions of dollars, crucially needed by nations that are exceptionally vulnerable to climate change but often lack the necessary resources to enhance their resilience,” said Bartlett, who was speaking during a recent event organized by the International Society of City and Regional Planners.
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For small islands in the Caribbean, Bartlett said, climate change is an existential threat; their small side, limited resources and global isolation make them uniquely vulnerable to climatic shifts and natural disasters.
“Effectively addressing these vulnerabilities demands a multifaceted approach, including international cooperation, climate resilience initiatives, sustainable development strategies, and rigorous efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park IS EXPANDING The Moliniere Underwater Sculpture Park, the Jason deCaires Taylor-designed gem in the waters off the coast of Grenada, is expanding. The park has unveiled 31 new sculptures to be added to the park, a place that has become a symbol of art, conservation and cultural pride in Grenada and one of the region’s top diving and snorkeling destinations. Taylor contributed 25 of the new sculptures, in a collection called
“The Coral Carnival.” “The collection is steeply connected to the island’s unique culture and heritage, which includes sculpted pieces of the Jab Jab, Vieux Corps, Pretty Mas, Shortknee, and Wild Indian. What makes this installation especially unique is the painting of the sculptures
that reflects the vibrancy of Spicemas, which is a first for me in this terrain.” Taylor also created two replacement sculptures, “The Lost Correspondent” and “The Unstill Life,” for the underwater gallery. Grenada’s Tourism Minister Lennox Andrews, said recently: “We are happy to witness the culmination of this project, which is a demonstration of creativity and originality in our tourism industry and shows the continuous evolution in the quality of the products available to our visitors. As a result of this expansion project, we expect to attract more attention to our shores and to our marine environment in the coming years.” Four of the new sculptures were created by Grenadian artist Troy Lewis: La Diablesse,
Mama Glo, Bélé Dancer and Leatherback Turtle, two of which were inspired by a local design competition run by the Grenada Tourism Authority. “This is a proud moment for Grenadians, as we can now boast of our Carnival and Folklore characters underwater,” said Randall Dolland , chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority. “Upon successful installation, we anticipate increased social media attention surrounding the new additions, enticing visitors to experience these new cultural pieces. It is a great time to start exporting our culture. Additionally, the sculptures are a testament to our commitment to marine sustainability and the growth of corals and underwater life in our marine protected areas.” The Hummingbird |15
UN 78TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW The seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) marked a crucial milestone in the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the urgent need to put the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track. Heads of State and Government gathered at UN Headquarters in New York on 18 and 19 September to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs,
and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the target year of 2030. The UNGA is the main policy-making organ of the organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including: (1) appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council; (2) electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council; and (3) approving the UN budget. The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated
AMBASSADOR DENNIS FRANCIS PRESIDENT OF THE 78TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions. Sitting arrangements in the General Assembly Hall change for each session. During the 78th Session (2023-2024), North Macedonia will occupy the first seat in the Hall, and also in the conference rooms of the Main Committees (followed by all other countries, in English alphabetical order). Following are brief outlines of what took place during the high level segment of this year’s GA.
2023 SDG Summit The 2023 SDG Summit took place on 18-19 September 2023 in New York. It marked the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs, with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030. Convened by the President of the General Assembly, Trinidad & Tobago diplomat Ambassador Dennis Francis, the Summit marked the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. It was the centerpiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly. It responded to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected
to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda.
General Debate (19-23 and 26 September)
further action.
Climate Ambition Summit (20 September)
World leaders gathered to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.” Heads of State and Government and ministers explored solutions to the complex, interdependent global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.
Alongside the SDG Summit, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, convened the Climate Ambition Summit, with an exhortation to every leader from Governments, business, cities and regions, civil society, and financial institutions to step up. The UN chief urged individuals or organizations participating in the event to present credible, serious and new climate action and nature-based solutions that will move the needle forward and respond to the urgency of the climate crisis.
High-level Dialogue on Financing, for Development (20 September)
High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (20 September)
The High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, took place on the heels of the SDG Summit, providing political leadership and guidance on the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda – a UN framework for mobilizing resources to achieve the SDGs – as well as identifying progress and emerging challenges and mobilize
The President of the General Assembly, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), convened Heads of State and Government for a one-day meeting to adopt a political declaration aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
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Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future (21 September)
A ministerial meeting to prepare for the September 2024 Summit of the Future, was convened. This unique summit will mark a oncein-a-generation opportunity to enhance global cooperation to tackle critical challenges, address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments, including to Agenda 2030 and the UN Charter, redoubling efforts to make the multilateral system better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (21 September)
The High-Level Meeting presented an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to renew efforts and accelerate progress toward achieving health for all. The meeting served as the foundation for executing policies and ensuring responsibility for strengthening health systems for the future, building on the 2019 Political Declaration.
High-level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis (22 September)
The General Assembly held the second high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis on 22 September 2023, under the theme, “Advancing science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global tuberculosis epidemic, in particular, by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.”
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SABA TO HOST A CARIBBEAN RUM FESTIVAL
It’s the Caribbean capital of luxury and glamour: the tiny French Caribbean of Saint Barth, a well-known premier jet-set stop in the subregion and a popular vacation spot. Every November, the island kicks off its high season with an exclusive rum party in the Caribbean: the Caribbean Rum Awards Saint Barth, a weeklong celebration of fine artisanal rums from around the Caribbean. In many ways, it’s the Cannes of Caribbean rum. The festival, which includes an international panel that votes on the year’s best rums, includes everything from poolside cocktail parties to rooftop rum fetes to rum-pairing dinners on the beach.
“It’s the ultimate rum event in the world,” said Alexander Britell, co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards Saint Barth. “If you like rum, or you’re a fan of rare bourbons and whiskies, this is paradise.” Many of the region’s top producers personally attend, meaning you have a chance to learn and hobnob with the people producing some of the rarest expressions of rum in the world: from Gregory Vernant of Rhum Neisson to high-level team members from Flor de Cana.
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Climate Change, Debt Relief Tops Caribbean Island Nations’ Priorities… AHEAD OF UN CONFERENCE ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
A major meeting of the 16 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Caribbean was held recently in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), to assess development progress and agree on priorities for next year’s United Nations conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda. From 8 to 10 August 2023, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) convened the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Caribbean region. Caribbean SIDS, which are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican
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Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, gathered to discuss their unique challenges. These challenges include rising sea levels, extreme weather events and changing weather patterns that are threatening ecosystems and damaging economies. SVG’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Keisal Melissa Peters, in her address to the gathering, affirmed a special bond among Caribbean SIDS born of shared experiences from their
small size, geographic positioning and unique vulnerabilities. “The effects of a changing climate and intense natural disasters, the impacts of various exogenous economic shocks and cascading impacts of global political instability are major factors on our development. This is a signal moment, we must assess where we are, with a clear-eyed vision for where we want to go; and define how we are to get there.” ECLAC Caribbean Director Diane Quarless, accompanied by Sustainable Development Officer, Laverne Walker, presented a
report on the Progress made by the Caribbean in implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway. This report assesses the status of implementation of the SAMOA Pathway by Caribbean SIDS between 2014 – 2023, outline any challenges and emerging issues faced by Caribbean SIDS during that period and identify new and emerging priorities. Small islands are in the crossfire of multiple crises: climate change and the economic and social repercussions of COVID-19, especially related to rising debt.
The collapse in tourism due to the pandemic left large holes in the coffers of Caribbean islands and severely set back efforts to invest in the SDGs and climate change adaptation and mitigation. SIDS are responsible for only 0.2 per cent of global carbon emissions and yet suffer most from the impacts of climate change. The constant cycle of disaster and recovery leaves them weakened and unable to implement adequate resilience measures.
on the path to the Fourth International Conference on SIDS, taking place in Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024. Next year, the global conference will conduct a thorough evaluation of the progress made in implementing the SAMOA Pathway, a significant international development agreement reached in 2014, and shape a new development framework to guide SIDS progress for the next ten years.
The Caribbean meeting is the second regional review meeting
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Launch of Parliamentary Observatory ON CLIMATE LEGISLATION
ECLAC recently organized the Launch event of the OPCC Virtual Platform and Legislative Data Monitor in virtual format, with live transmission on ECLAC's YouTube channel and simultaneous translation.
launch, the OPCC is in the process of preparing its inaugural legislative report. This report will cover legislation related to climate change, utilizing a comparative approach that facilitates the identification of best practices.
OPCC, which is the Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean, was also supported by the Open Society Foundations (OSF), launched the platform in mid-September.
For LAC, the OPCC Virtual Platform and Legislative Data Monitor is an online tool that innovates in compiling and presenting information on the status of legislation and draft laws on the environment, on climate change, and on just transition.
The OPCC is a joint initiative of members of parliaments from 15 Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. It constitutes an information platform and forum that promotes open access to bills and legislation on the environment, climate change, and just transition, as well as disseminating information on parliamentary activities from across the region on those issues. In conjunction with the platform’s
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Among other objectives, the virtual platform will promote OPCC’s support on the free and transparent access to information on environmental legislative activities across the region. It will also introduce analysis of the legislative data on environment, climate change, and just transition in LAC among legislators and the general public, and foster the exchange
of legislative information on the environment, climate change, and just transition, both regionally and on a global scale. Participating in the virtual launch were Parliamentarians from the 15 above-mentioned LAC countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, Guatemala, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Mexico, Montserrat, Panama, and Uruguay); Ministerial teams from Caribbean countries represented within the OPCC Virtual Platform; civil society organizations, researchers focused on climate change and just transitions, and the general public. Check out the new domain, which went live from 20 September.
opcc.cepal.org
Caribbean Volcano is Now A UNESCO HERITAGE SITE
The Mont Pelée volcano in Martinique is now the newest UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Caribbean. Mont Pelee is a volcano in the northern area of Martinique whose eruption in 1902 killed 30,000 people, in what was at the time the “Paris of the Caribbean.”
Now officially on UNESCO’s global list, Mont Pelée is joined in the distinction by the Pitons mountains of Northern Martinique.
‘We are excited to celebrate the recognition of the global significance of the land, and we take great pride in our magnificent volcanic island and express our sincerest gratitude to all of the people who continually contribute to its protection,” the Martinique
Tourism Authority said in a statement.
Mont Pelée is set at the northern tip of the island, towering over the city of Saint Pierre. Beyond the historical significance of the mountain, the volcano and its forests are home to globally threatened species like the Martinique Volcano Frog, the Lacépède’s Ground Snake and the indigenous Martinique Oriole, among others.
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Upcoming Study on CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBAN PLANNING
ECLAC Caribbean is preparing a study on urban expansion, with a focus on spatial planning policies, legislation and institutional frameworks, in two countries Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The study has two main goals: to assess urban sprawl in the selected case studies by analyzing the rate of land consumption visà-vis population growth; and to explore how policy and legislative instruments or institutional frameworks may have contributed to or failed to contain urban sprawl. The findings are expected to support future research on the
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direct implications of specific policies in the countries' urban land markets, including costs associated with planning failure related to increased vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change and disaster vulnerability.
are located – such as commercial centers, tourism-related services, transportation hubs, government offices, and manufacturing enterprises - being hubs of employment, public services and goods.
The study was motivated by the fact that in 2018, some 70% of the Caribbean population lived in urban areas, an indicator projected to reach 82.5% in 2050 (UNDESA, 2018).
Given their demographic and economic relevance, Caribbean urban centers are at the forefront of climate adaptation challenges. A significant number of Caribbean cities are located in lowelevated coastal zones (Mycoo and Donovan,2017) that are particularly prone to the effects of extreme climate events – flooding, storm surges, sea level rise; and
Caribbean urban centers are concentrated with housing and other critical infrastructure. They are where vital economic sectors
hurricanes – and to the slow onset climate events – such as land loss resulting from rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Therefore, the adaptation design regarding urban centers and corresponding infrastructure is critical for Caribbean SIDS’ successful adaptation to climate change. The work will include exploratory research, spatial analysis, and policy, legislative and institutional assessment. The study is expected to be completed and published by the end of this year. ECLAC ASSOCIATE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER JÔNATAS DE PAULA MAKES A POINT WHILE LOOKING AT THE PORT OF SPAIN CITYSCAPE.
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Latin American and Caribbean Economies WILL MAINTAIN LOW GROWTH LEVELS IN 2023 AND 2024
In a new flagship annual report, ECLAC has indicated that the region’s countries will continue to face low growth. It is expected that regional Gross Domestic Product will grow 1.5% in 2024, slightly below the 1.7% estimated for the current year. This information is contained in ECLAC’s annual report, entitled “Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2023: Financing a sustainable transition: investment for growth and climate change action”. The report forecasts that the region’s economies will maintain low levels of growth this year and next year, affected by a negative global outlook. One of the institution’s main economic reports, published annually since its beginnings in 1948 – the publication estimates that average regional Gross Domestic Product is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2023. Meanwhile, a slight decline is projected in the growth rate for 2024, leading to an increase of 1.5% of the regional GDP growth. It says that the global economy’s dynamics remain on a path of low economic and international trade growth. Despite declines in the inflation rate, developed countries will likely continue contractionary monetary policies, which means no significant cut to external interest rates is expected this year and financing costs countries will remain high.
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Although the public debt of the countries of the region has fallen, it is still elevated as a proportion of GDP, which, coupled with the increase in external and internal interest rates and an expected decline in tax revenue due to lower growth, will result in limited fiscal space for the region as a whole. In addition, less dynamism in job creation is anticipated, along with growing social demands. “Latin America and the Caribbean’s low growth may be aggravated by the negative effects of an intensification of climate shocks, if the investments that countries need in climate change adaptation and mitigation are not made,” stated ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs. In 2023, ECLAC forecasts that all the subregions will have lower growth than in 2022: South `America is seen growing by 1.2% (versus 3.7% in 2022), the group made up of Central America and Mexico by 3.0% (3.4% in 2022), and the Caribbean (excluding Guyana) by 4.2% (6.3% in 2022). The projections for 2024 indicate that low economic performance will persist in the region. It is forecast that the international context will continue to be unfavorable, with
growth in global GDP and trade far below the historical averages. At the same time, in the domestic sphere, fiscal policy space will continue to be limited, although reduced inflation in the region creates more room for countries’ monetary policies. In these circumstances, ECLAC forecasts average growth in 2024 of 1.2% for South America, 2.1% for Central America and Mexico, and 2.8% for the Caribbean (excluding Guyana). “Given the challenges of boosting growth and tackling climate change, it is essential to enhance public and private investment. Public investment in the region is low in comparison with advanced economies, and even other developing regions. This low level of investment has translated into a stock of public capital – infrastructure – that is insufficient for boosting economic growth and promoting productive development,” ECLAC’s report emphasizes. The macroeconomic impacts of climate change could be very significant for the region’s countries. The estimates presented in the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2023 indicate that by 2050, the GDP of a group
of six countries could be between 9% and 12% lower than what would correspond to a scenario of trend growth if investments are not made to offset climate shocks. The volume of additional investment needed is exceptionally large, between 5.3% and 10.9% of GDP per year. This would represent a significant increase from current investment levels. Finally, the report warns that in order to confront the macroeconomic effects of climate change, national, regional and global efforts will be needed in four main areas: 1) Fiscal space, through an increase in revenue and in the progressive nature of the tax structure, green public spending and access to new financing mechanisms, such as thematic bonds; 2) Management of financial and foreign-exchange risks through macroprudential policy; 3) Mobilization of concessional financing and development banking, to deepen climate finance, through multilateral, regional and national development banks and to foster Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows to fight climate change; and 4) New Debt relief mechanisms, for restructuring, and the inclusion of clauses linked to disasters and hurricanes among others.
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The Nassau Paradise Island WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL RETURNS
The Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Festival is set to return next year. The festival, which debuted to broad praise last March, will be returning from 13 to 17 March 2024.
(that includes a performance by Wyclef Jean) and even a sushi-making class with Nobu Matsuhisa, who has an outpost of his renowned Nobu restaurant at Atlantis.
The five-day event, hosted at Atlantis Paradise Island, highlights world-renowned chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and TV culinary stars.
Participating Atlantis restaurants include Cafe Martinique, Shake Shack, Paranza and Silan, the first-ever Caribbean restaurant by Israeli Chef Alon Shaya.
It puts a spotlight on Nassau Paradise Island’s growing position as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, with a vast number of celebrity chefs, high-level eateries and a thriving local food culture. The 2024 edition will include everything from a Beachside Bootcamp to a Jerk Jam
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The largest culinary extravaganza in Bahamian history, this five-day festival will showcase the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs, and culinary personalities, all at an unforgettable destination, Atlantis.
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THE KITCHEN Diri Kole THE NATIONAL DISH OF HAITI [Haitian rice + beans] Diri Kole (Kreyòl for rice and beans) is the official national dish of Haiti. It’s a humble comfort food, packed with flavor and excellent on its own or together with a myriad of other dish options. For Haitians who have all grown up on it, it’s one of the first solid foods introduced to infants. Seeing an infant eating diri kole is like glory to every Haitian adult! It can be enjoyed any time of the day - with butter and parsley for breakfast, with broiled fish for lunch, or with Haitian stewed vegetables (legim) for dinner.
What you will need: • • • • • • •
8 cups water 1/3 cup dry red beans - rinsed (common beans options: kidney, pinto, adzuki) 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 medium onion - finely chopped 3 sprigs parsley - finely chopped 1 tbsp dry mixed spice
• • • • • • • •
3 cloves garlic - crushed and minced 1 cup rice 2 cups liquid from cooked beans 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper 5 whole cloves 1/4 green bell pepper - cut into 4 large pieces 4 sprigs thyme 3 whole sprigs parsley
How to Make it: Step 1: In a large pot, combine water, beans, and salt; cover pot with lid remaining loose and slightly ajar. Step 2: Cook over medium heat for 45 minutes or until beans are tender, not soft. Check beans after 30 min - add water if level in pot has reduced significantly. Once cooked, drain beans, making sure to reserve liquid which will be used to cook rice. Step 3: In a medium pot with heavy bottom, add oil; sauté onions, garlic, chopped parsley, and spice over low-medium heat. Continue until onions have caramelized. Step 4: Add the beans and 2 cups of liquid from cooked beans. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Step 5: Stir in rice. Toss in sprigs of parsley and thyme, bell pepper, scotch bonnet pepper and cloves (press cloves into pepper to avoid having loose cloves in dish). Step 6: Cook uncovered over medium-high heat until water has reduced to below the level of rice (observe small pockets of bubbling water through rice). Step 7: Cover tightly and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Once cooking is done, turn off heat and let sit covered for 10 - 15 min. Step 8: Remove and discard parsley, thyme, green pepper, and habanero with cloves. Step 9: Serve according to your palate – and the options above.
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ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, 1 Chancery Lane, P.O. Box 1113, Port of Spain,
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MEDIA1CONTACT Telephone: 868 224 8000 Tel.: 1 868 224 8075 E-mail: registry@eclacpos.org
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