Deficiencies in Barbuda airport permit due process
Nov. 15, 2023
Questions about the integrity of the process through which approval was granted for the construction of the international airport in Barbuda dominated last week’s UK-based Privy Council hearing on the matter, reports the Antigua Observer. (See last week’s post.)
The hearing has highlighted several critical deficiencies in the due process surrounding the construction of a new international airport runway on the island of Barbuda.
Held in London, the is a culmination of almost five years of legal battles and sought to determine whether two Barbudans have standing to pursue judicial review proceedings against the decision of the Development Control Authority and the Antigua and Barbuda airport to grant development permits to companies which were tasked with constructing the runway. (Island Press Box)
Land Rights
The majority of Members of Parliament in the Lower House of Antigua & Barbuda have voted in favor of advancing amendments that will grant Barbudas the right to claim ownership of their lands. The move overturns centuries of communal landownership on the island. (Island Press Box)
The Caribbean and the World
Guyana “urged judges at the United Nations’ highest court to call for a halt to parts of a Venezuelan referendum about a territorial dispute that Guyana representatives called an “existential threat” designed to pave the way for the annexation of a large part of the country,” reports the Associated Press.
Culture
While hip-hop is an American-born genre, its roots are intertwined with immigrant histories and diasporic cultures, particularly from the Caribbean. Black artists from the islands, particularly pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa, brought key aspects of their culture, such as sound clash competitions and DJ techniques, to shape the early hip-hop scene. (Time)
Economics and Finance
Economist Marla Dukharan criticizes the EU's classification of Caribbean nations as money laundering hubs, pointing out the exclusion of major economies with similar issues. Critiques arise as the EU's strict measures are perceived as safeguarding their interests while unfairly targeting smaller nations aspiring for competitive tax structures. (Barbados Today)
Climate Justice
While carbon pricing is a significant tool in mitigating climate change, it's not the sole solution, explains an article from the Boston University Development Policy Center. The expansion of this focus is crucial because neglecting other non-pricing measures can have adverse effects on developing countries, particularly in terms of trade impacts and misjudged revenue expectations.
A new episode of the podcast Loss & Damage Finance Now, featuring Christine Samwaroo, a Guyanese gender and environmental justice professional, in which they discuss climate change from the lens of youth in the Caribbean and Latin America, is available online. Listen.
“On one hand, women on a global scale are vulnerable to climate change impacts and are experiencing those impacts more acutely. But on the other hand, we are seeing women take a leadership role in climate change. We are seeing more women in leadership roles on a national scale”, states Bahamian Adelle Thomas, Senior Scientist at Climate Analytics, in her recent research and investigation according to The Tribune.
Supported by The Ocean Foundation and Open Society Foundations, the Deep Sea Youth Symposium hosted by EcoVybz Environmental Creatives SOA Caribbean and Daniel Caceres has equipped the youth participants with newfound tools, knowledge and a robust network useful to spread their campaigns and lead the conversations in their own countries, states a new report about the encounter.
A new guide COP 28 Know the Law and Holistic Security Guide was published to assist climate advocates and activists participating in COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It aims to provide essential information regarding the local legal framework, available resources, and guidelines to navigate the legal landscape within the UAE.
Gender-Responsive Climate Budgeting in the Caribbean: Closing the Gender and Climate Budget Gap, a report “guidance” published by UN Women, helps stakeholders close a significant gender and climate budget gap at the national and sectoral level through initiatives such as Enhancing their awareness of the benefits of gender-responsive climate budgeting (GRCB) and the value it can bring to efforts at the sectoral level.
One of the ways in which risk and losses can be reduced is through multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) which enable individuals, communities, governments, business, and the society at large to take timely action and prepare for impact, states a new report Mult-Hazard Early Warning Systems´ Capacities in the Caribbean Region.
The informal sector in Paramaribo, Suriname, is as a vital yet vulnerable part of society, facing profound challenges exacerbated by climate change impacts. Entrepreneurs within this sector, integral to their communities' fabric, contend with climate-related adversities like heavy rains and flooding, significantly impacting their livelihoods. Lacking formal recognition and governmental support, they face vulnerabilities without access to compensation or aid during challenging weather events. (Climate Tracker)
The latest conference “Is climate change increasing disasters?” organized by UCL and featuring Ilan Kelman, Ph.D., Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London and a Climate researcher is now available. Watch.
Reparations
The United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent recently issued a report advocating for global reparations for the Black diaspora, addressing historical injustices that have affected Black communities worldwide for centuries. The report calls on countries globally to enact legislation aimed at rectifying systemic discrimination and uplifting marginalized Black communities. (Black Enterprise)
Human Rights
The first episode of Law and Disability Rights where Attorney Ria Mohammed-Davidson, a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago answers the question, “What laws are in place for people with disabilities in T&T?” and Senator Dr. The Honourable Paul Richards explains why laws specific to people with disabilities are important in society is now available. Watch.
“Ensure independent, regular, and unhindered access to all places of deprivation of liberty, including military, immigration, and national security facilities, by independent monitoring and oversight mechanisms, without prior notice and on an unsupervised basis”, stated the review of UN Human Rights Committee on Trinidad and Tobago implementation of the ICCPR.
Estimating the economic costs of the violence against women and girls (VAWG) enables governments to understand the importance of enacting legislation, policies, action plans, and programs aimed at ending the issue, and allocating an appropriate budget to support effective implementation of such initiatives and provision of quality essential services to survivors and their children, reports a National Study on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls in Jamaica Report published by UN Women.
Gender Equality
The representation of women in political leadership across the Caribbean falls short of the critical 30% mark, except in two countries—Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, according to data presented by Tonni Brodber from UN Women. The discussion, part of an EU-UN Spotlight Initiative event, emphasized the necessity of women's inclusion in leadership roles to achieve sustainable development goals.
The joint statement Stronger Together: Propelling Sustainable Development, Gender Equality, and an End to Violence Against Women and Girls in the Caribbean emanating from a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Saint Lucia gathered parliamentarians, national gender machinery representatives, civil society members, and experts from 17 Caribbean countries and territories. Their discussions revolved around advancing inclusive and sustainable development, gender equality, and ending violence against women and girls in the region. (UN Women)
Public Security
Trinidad and Tobago's National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, expressed deep concern over the country's low murder detection rate of 16% for the period between 2022 and 2023. He highlighted the government's proactive steps to improve crime response and investigation capabilities, particularly through advancements in forensic science and police operations. (Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
Events
15th November, The Caribbean gender empowerment forum will be held in the Guyana Marriot Hotel. Register.
18 November, Congotay!, a climate justice-themed micro-theatre festival organized by The Cropper Foundation in partnership with the Micro-Theatre Festival of T&T, with the support of Open Society Foundations will be held at Brazil Secondary School. Tickets.
18-19 November , Securing Guyanas Future Through Diaspora Engagement conference will take place in London. Tickets.