Caribbean Updates

Grenada’s Environment Minister Simon Stiell will be the next UN climate chief. He is in charge of organizing the geopolitical discussions around the climate change goals as countries prepare to meet in Egypt for the COP27 climate summit in November. 

At last year’s COP in Glasgow, Scotland most countries agreed to cut down greenhouse gas emissions but the war in Ukraine has sent gas prices skyrocketing.  

The Guardian reports.

Climate Justice

• Where is the Justice?: An Anthology of Caribbean Youth Perspectives on the Climate Crisis Paperback, edited by James Fletcher is officially on Amazon for purchase. Where is the Justice is a collection of poetry, short stories and pictures by young people across the Caribbean discussing their feelings about climate change. Buy here on Amazon.

• This article, Climate justice for small island developing states: identifying appropriate international financing mechanisms for loss and damage by Jamaican Stacy-Ann Robinson and others qualitatively analyzed the appropriateness of airline travel, fossil fuel extraction, GHG emissions, bunker fuel usage, and financial transactions to see if they are fair, dependable, feasible, and/or suitable for providing SIDS adequate funding. Read this journal paper on Taylor and Francis Online.

• Climate change is having a detrimental impact on sea turtles where a warmer climate has resulted in increasing numbers of female turtles. The sex of the turtles is determined by the tempreture during incubation process. The Bermudian explains.

• The Planners Association of Dominica is calling on Government authorities to halt the degradation of Indian River Wetlands. It is a natural habitat for crabs, birds, iguanas, and orchids. The Association said the area is gradually being destroyed by a private landowner who cuts down freshwater vegetation. Dominica News Online reports a press release from the association. 

Oil and Gas

• Glenn Lall an advocate for getting a better oil contract for Guyana, described ExxonMobil as having a  “slave master” mentality with how it is dealing with Guyana. He pointed out a problem with a recent interview an official from the company had describing the Production Sharing Agreement as “the best deal ever.” Kaieteur News reports

• This Kaieteur News’ editorial describes Guyana’s oil contract with ExxonMobil as “criminal” as it “enslaves Guyana to ExxonMobil.” The paper calls for a renegotiation of the contract. It said, “Renegotiation affords some relief, some reversal, of this unspeakable crime that ExxonMobil has committed on the Guyanese people, and the ones unborn as of today.” Read more here.

• In the midst of rising oil and gas prices globally, the Government of Dominica has decided to subsidize petroleum in an attempt to keep fuel prices under control. Caribbean countries have to import oil and gas and the smaller the island, the more expensive it is for the country. Dominica News Online reports. 

Food Security 

• CARICOM citizens have been affected by spiraling food prices because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine war. That war has caused consumers to beg for relief as they experience an increase in the retail cost of flour and its by-products. Basic food items are skyrocketing in Trinidad and Tobago. The T&T Guardian discusses in its editorial. 

• Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, warned of further supply chain disruption to imported food that could persist into 2023. This is because of droughts in North America, China and other parts of the world. She said the Caribbean’s food security plans cannot only be medium-term but ramp up food production to scale. Jamaica Gleaner reports

Human Rights

• In The Bahamas, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee has  allowed for 54 people to have their criminal records expunged. After five years, first time offenders could apply for their records to be expunged. People who committed murder, manslaughter, treason, armed robbery, rape or possessed dangerous drugs with the intent to supply are not elligible. Eyewitness News reports.

Gender and Reproductive Rights 

• In The Bahamas there was a referendum to amend the constitution to allow for gender equality in 2016. The majority voted no. In this opinion piece, Alicia Wallace discusses how there was a need for more explanation on the voting points and what can be done to provide gender equity in The Bahamas outside of changing the constitution. The Tribune reports.

• Many Caribbean countries have legal and cultural restrictions on termination of pregnancies. Barbados and Guyana have decriminalised abortion and Belize, St Lucia, and St Vincent have expanded access only in medically-needed situations. In other countries access to safe abortions either available to those with means or severely restricted to medical exceptions. Stabroek News reports. 

• In Cuba, abortion is institutionalized and regulated. Article 36 of the Public Health Law speaks of “ensuring services of voluntary interruption of pregnancies.” While abortion is not illegal, it is not legal, because abortion is not part of a law in Cuba. On Cuba News reports.

LGBTQI Right

• Gay men in Dominica fear being stigmatized and accused of being carriers of Monkey pox. Similar to the HIV epidemic, gay men are facing ostraziation and taunting because people in the general public assume they are vectors of the disease. Sun Dominica report. 

• The annual Pride parade returned to the streets of Trinidad and Tobago. Rudy Hanamji, co-chair of Pride TT, said while the community is celebrating the contributions of queer people in the country, members still faced violence and discrimination and are not protected by the Equal Opportunity Act. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reports

Haiti 

• This month is the one year anniversary of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the south-western side of Haiti. Eleven years prior, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the Caribbean country. The 2021 earthquake destroyed many homes and damaged vital infrastructure. It killed more than 2,200 people and injured 12,500 more. The EU gave €3 million in emergency funds to deal with the most urgent needs. Read more from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

• In Haiti gangs continue terrorize the country, violating humanitarian and protection principles. Violence is soaring in Port au Prince. On August 14 in Carrefour, armed men broke into a hospital, took a patient out of the emergency room and killed him. Read more from the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre here.

Drug Policy

• In mid-August, Guyana passed the Industrial Hemp Bill in the National Assembly. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the cultivation of industrial hemp will help create lucrative industries that will boost the economy. Newsroom Guyana reports.

Opportunities:

• The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) is holding an Open consultation: Identification of the Caribbean priorities towards the 2023 United Nations Water Conference. In preparation for the conference, CEPAL wants to know what are the priorities surrounding sustainable water management. Click here to participate. 

Events

• Affirming Fatherhood and Parenting Partners Caribbean is jointly hosting a conversation of paternity leave in the region. This is a discussion on fatherhood and the role that companies play in father’s involvement in the early development of their children’s life. The webinar is on August 24 from 6pm to 7.30pm Jamaican time. Register here.

• The Caribbean Climate Network  is having a training session on How to take action for climate adaptation in the Caribbean on  August 24 at 6pm AST.  Register here.

• 350.org is hosting three sessions on September 1-3 to reconnect with their global community. Join them to learn about the state of the movement, how they sustain activism in the long run, and organizing after climate impacts.  

• On October 1-8 Action for Adaption will mobilize across the Caribbean to demand leaders adapt our homes, communities and cities for the changing climate and create a safer future. Join them for a Regional Week of Climate Action

Just Caribbean Updates
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