Just Caribbean Updates

The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was held last week, in Antigua and Barbuda, and focused on urgent actions and financing needs for SIDS. Organizers emphasized the urgent need for climate and financial justice for small island nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the “two-speed financial world” and emphasized support for climate adaptation and resilience. (United Nations)

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne criticized wealthy nations for making “empty” and “grossly inadequate” climate pledges. He emphasized the need for more substantial climate financing, a global carbon tax on oil companies, and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies. Browne urged rich countries to honor their $100 billion annual commitment to help poorer nations mitigate climate impacts. (Reuters)

The general debate featured 33 countries discussing climate action, debt reduction, and the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. (IISD)

Haiti’s New PM disembarks

The new presidential transitional council appointed Haitian prime minister, Garry Conille, a U.N. development specialist, disembarked in Port-au-Prince over the weekend. Conille, who was UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, begins in a challenging situation — to put it lightly — amidst ongoing gang violence in the capital and ahead of the delayed deployment of multinational security force led by Kenya. (Associated Press)

Conille faces the dual challenge of curbing gang control, which affects 80% of the capital, and addressing severe economic issues, including record inflation. (PBS)

“Conille’s first leadership test will be to choose a chief of staff and put a government together. With political parties vying to get an edge in the upcoming elections, how much leeway he gets in making appointments to key government posts that parties will want to control will help set the tone on the political front,” reports the Miami Herald.

Conille’s appointment comes in the midst of criticism regarding the transitional council’s modus operandi The drawn-out selection process has been criticized by many, including the Montana Accord, a Haitian civil society group that has a representative on the council. In a statement the group accused the council of not taking any “consequential measures” since being installed as “the suffering of the people is getting worse, while the gangs are taking control of more territory and committing more crimes.” (Le Monde)

From the conference

• Caribbean and Pacific nations reiterated the need for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This initiative aims to phase out fossil fuel production, ensure a just transition for affected workers, and promote renewable energy. The Republic of the Marshall Islands joined the coalition, emphasizing the urgent threat posed by fossil fuels. (Global Voices)
  
  
• Dr. James Fletcher, founder of the Caribbean Climate Justice Project, emphasized the urgent need for climate justice and international support for SIDS. Reflecting on the past decade since the Samoa Pathway, he highlighted the lack of progress due to insufficient international support. “There are so many elements of sea level rise, coastal erosion and climate change that I don’t believe we are not paying any attention to, not even sufficient attention to. Climate change is already impacting every single sector in the Caribbean and every aspect of our lives in the Caribbean,” he said. (Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)
  
  
• 80 young delegates from various regions created a “wall of commitment” made from recyclable materials to urge global leaders to take more action against climate change. Organized by UNICEF Youth Advocate Ashley Lashley and supported by partners, the summit highlighted themes of resilient recovery, environmental integrity, secure futures, and sustainable societies. (United Nations)
  
  
• The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and Antigua and Barbuda launched the SIDS Global Data Hub. The initiative aims to improve national data centers, enhance decision-making, and track progress on sustainable development goals for SIDS. It will also focus on innovation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building to boost socio-economic and environmental resilience in small island states. (Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)

Climate and Environmental Justice 

• Addressing the stranding of fossil energy assets in resource-rich developing countries is crucial for climate governance, explains a new analysis article published in Frontiers. These countries face significant risks due to their dependence on fossil fuels, leading to broader societal impacts. A comprehensive, problem-oriented policy mix is needed to manage these challenges effectively. 
  
  
• The world has a “moral responsibility” to aid small island developing states (SIDS) in surviving the climate crisis, says Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of UNOPS. These vulnerable economies, contributing less than 1% to global carbon emissions, face severe debt and environmental challenges. Da Silva emphasizes the need for increased financing, technical support, and long-term planning to build resilience. (The Guardian)
  
  
• Barbudan environmental activist John Mussington emphasizes the need for regional governments to protect indigenous interests in climate and development issues. During a webinar organized by the Cari Bois Environmental News Network, he criticized the exploitation of natural disasters for land acquisition and highlighted ongoing government disputes in Barbuda. Mussington stressed the importance of climate justice and voiced concerns about the impact of hurricane damage and development projects. (Observer)
  
  
• The Global SIDS Debt Sustainability and Investment Support Service, spearheaded by leaders from Antigua and Barbuda and the Maldives, aims to address the unique financial and climate challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The initiative, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, focuses on debt alleviation, economic protection, resilience investment, and advisory support to ensure sustainable development and climate resilience for SIDS. 

Reparations and Decolonisation

• Documents from Lambeth Palace reveal that in the 18th century, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Secker approved payments for the purchase of enslaved people for sugar plantations in Barbados owned by the Church of England’s missionary arm, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). (The Guardian)
  
  
• The Church of England’s Codrington sugar plantations in Barbados were infamous for their extreme brutality, involving beatings, brandings, and high mortality rates among enslaved workers. Current Archbishop Justin Welby has acknowledged the church’s historical complicity in slavery and emphasized the importance of further research and reparative actions to address these grave historical injustices. (The Guardian)

Women and LGTBQ+ Rights 

• Caribbean leaders, along with UN Women and Our Secure Future, convened in Trinidad and Tobago to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. The event emphasized the development of National Action Plans to integrate women’s leadership in peacebuilding efforts, particularly in the context of high crime and regional security challenges. (United Nations)

Justice

• Canadian YouTuber Chris Must List has been charged with sedition by Trinidad and Tobago police. Hughes was arrested after filming videos featuring men with weapons in gang-prone areas of Port-of-Spain and posting them on his YouTube channel. (Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)

Culture

• Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert, Professor of Hispanic Studies at Vassar College, has been awarded a Long Term Fellowship by the John Carter Brown Library for her project, “The Mighty Ceiba: Sacred Tree of the American Tropics.” Her research focuses on the cultural and religious significance of the ceiba tree across the American tropics, its historical role, and its importance in environmental conservation. The ceiba is revered in various traditions, including Maya, Arawak, Santería, and Haitian Vodou. (Vassar)
  
  
• The exhibition “The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York features works by African American artists and includes paintings by Germaine Casse, who depicted the landscapes and faces of Guadeloupe. Curated by Maria Elena Ortiz, this exhibition highlights the impact of the Harlem Renaissance on modern art. (Repeating Islands)
  
  
• The Commonwealth Foundation has announced the regional winners of the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, selected from a record 7,359 entries. Their stories cover themes such as love, loss, and complex family relationships. (Repeating Islands)

Opportunities 

• Climate Analytics is seeking a Senior Scientist on Loss & Damage to lead research and policy analysis on climate change impacts, particularly for vulnerable developing countries. Apply. 
  
  
• UMass Amherst’s Slavery North Initiative is seeking Artists-in-Residence for their fellowship program. Apply. 
  
  
• The 2025 Tilting Axis Fellowship, in partnership with Nieuwe Instituut, invites applications from Caribbean-based researchers, designers, writers, curators, or cultural producers. Apply. 

Events

• June 4-7: International Congress of Researchers in Afro-Latin American Studies will be held from June 4 to 7, 2024, at the University of Cartagena, Colombia. Register. 

Just Caribbean Updates/Jordana Timerman
https://caribbeannewsupdates.blogspot.com 05/28/2024