Madame Chair
Dr. Greene
Ms. Recio
Mr. Barnwell
Representatives of International Organisations
Members of the Media
Special Invitees
Good morning all. It is my pleasure to welcome you - those visiting as well as our local colleagues to this workshop. I understand that for the coming days, this forum would be addressing needs prioritization as they relate to Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat with the assistance of the European Commission (EC), is seeking to build the capacity of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, to comply with the implementation of Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). This is expected to boost those countries’ management of their environment and natural resources.
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General of the CARIFORUM Member States who because of conflicting obligations could not be here today. I bring you greetings in his name and on behalf of CARIFORUM, which comprises six small island developing and low lying coastal states, each with distinct characteristics, but all being apart of the family we know as the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat will be engaged in a car pooling exercise and a Walk on World Environment Day which is being observed Thursday, 5 June 2008 under the theme_ Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Environmental concerns and food security are two new issues which the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) have identified as growing risks to the Regional youth population, and plan to play a more active role in these areas.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Twenty-Fifth Special Meeting of the Council For Trade and Economic Development [Environment] (COTED) was held in Georgetown, Guyana, from 17-18 April 2008, under the Chairmanship of Guyana.
This Twenty-Fifth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) is significant as much for the fact that it is actually taking place, as it is for its ultimate goal in helping to fashion a Caribbean Environment and Natural Resource Policy Framework. This is not an easy task given the multifaceted ambit of environmental issues, its widespread impact on the social and political landscape and on the lives and livelihood of the citizens of the Caribbean, and indeed on the future of the Region as a whole.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The recognition of the need to focus on the governance of the various strands of the environment and natural resources issues was one of the most instructive outcomes of the meeting of officials of the Twenty-Fifth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Integration (COTED) on the Environment.
This Twenty-Fifth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) is significant as much for the fact that it is actually taking place, as it is for its ultimate goal in helping to fashion a Caribbean Environment and Natural Resource Policy Framework. This is not an easy task given the multifaceted ambit of environmental issues, its widespread impact on the social and political landscape and on the lives and livelihood of the citizens of the Caribbean, and indeed on the future of the Region as a whole.
At a time when the world is grappling with climate change and its consequences, this 25th special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (Environment) is timely. Our Agenda Items speak to critical issues facing the Region, and our deliberations in Georgetown will seek to charter a course for meaningful action for the future.
Within this context, it is appropriate that this COTED Meeting will discuss the development of a Regional Policy on Environment as a direct response to the common challenges and opportunities we face.
