CARIBBEAN NATIONS REVIEW PROGRESS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PREPARATION FOR 2004 INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

CARIBBEAN NATIONS REVIEW PROGRESS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PREPARATION

FOR 2004 INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

Call Made for Greater Transparency and Inclusion

Of Small Island Nations in Setting International Trade Standards

      PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 12 October -– More than 140 representatives including delegates from 21 Caribbean nations concluded a meeting held last week to look at ways to strengthen sustainable development in their region.

The meeting, which lasted from 6 to 10 October and ended late Friday evening, resulted in a draft report that reviews achievements and continuing challenges to put into action the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States adopted in 1994, which serves as a blueprint for small island States in pursuing their long-term development.  This Caribbean meeting was the last of three regional meetings held in preparation for next year’s International Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held in Mauritius (August/September 2004). 

The report made particular emphasis in the areas of environmental degradation, human and natural resources, national and regional infrastructure, science and technology and tourism.  The draft report also identified human security concerns -– which extended to the drug trade, crime, terrorism, and food and water -– among the new and emerging issues affecting Caribbean nations.  Another significant issue raised was the marginalization of small islands nations in international forums, particularly in the context of globalization and the formation of trading blocs.

A call was made for greater transparency and inclusion of small island States in setting international rules, codes and standards for international trade.  Arthur Gray, Regional Economic Advisor in the Port of Spain office of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), pointed out that the international environment had changed since the Barbados conference in 1994, and not necessarily in a favourable way.  He further noted that the value of exports from small island States had declined since 1995.  It was recommended that small island nations continue to lobby for special and differential treatment in various trade negotiating forums, based on their openness to trade and their inherent vulnerabilities.  

Among the achievements recorded at the weeklong meeting was the development of specific projects and policies to confront challenges in such areas as climate change, sea level rise, natural disasters, waste management, coastal and marine resources, and watershed management.  The draft report also noted the emergence of a more integrated, sustainable approach to land use planning; initiatives in the use of renewable energy sources; and the designation of protected areas towards preserving the biodiversity of Caribbean nations.

Also singled out in the draft report were the need for a regional mechanism to address intellectual property rights matters; efforts towards the economic integration of Caribbean economies; the need for stronger partnerships among all sectors to effect sustainable development; health and health education requirements (including HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education); and the importance of the region’s creative culture industries.

The principal organizer of the meeting, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), will examine the outcomes of this meeting as well as the regional meetings which have taken place in Samoa and Cape Verde in August and September respectively.  The final report of these meetings will form the basis for discussion at the interregional preparatory meeting to be held in Nassau, Bahamas in January 2004. 

In addition to UN-DESA, coordinators of this regional meeting include ECLAC, the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme in collaboration with the Caribbean Community.

For more information, please contact:  Amanda Laurence, ECLAC Information Officer (Port of Spain), tel.:  + 868-623-5595 ext 2319, fax:  + 868-623-8485, e-mail:  alaurence@eclacpos.org; Vashty Maharaj, National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (Port of Spain), tel.:  + 868-623-4813/8438, fax:  +868-623-4332, e-mail:  unicpos@unicpos.org.tt; Hetty Libert, Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment (Port of Spain), tel.:  +868-627-5272, fax:  +868-625-7003, e-mail:  environment@tstt.net.tt; Rolando Gomez, Information Officer, United Nations Department of Public Information (New York), tel:  + 1-212-963-2744, fax:  +1-212-963-1186, e-mail:  mediainfo@un.org.

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