Victoria Mendizabal contributed research and drafting assistance to today’s newsletter.
Across the Caribbean nations are increasingly grappling with conflicts between luxury real estate developments —that governments say could be economically critical — and residents who say these projects put foreigners ahead of those countries’ citizens, reports Brian Ellsworth in Americas Quarterly.
Luxury developments offer greater revenue with a smaller footprint, argue some officials, ultimately making them a more sustainable source of income for Caribbean nations.
Nonetheless, “a central dispute over luxury tourism in the Caribbean is its impact on residents’ access to beaches for fishing and recreation. … critics say in practice, stretches of coastline can be blocked off by resort security guards or construction crews even if the law does not allow them to.”
The Caribbean and The World
The CARICOM Eminent Persons Group has resumed its mission in Haiti, aiming to facilitate negotiations for a Framework Agreement. This agreement is pivotal in establishing a transitional governance structure to guide Haiti toward conducting free and fair elections. (Caribbean Magazine Plus)
Finance and Economics
This year’s EU Tax Observatory Global Tax Evasion report makes the fundamental mistake of ignoring that every dollar “passed through the Cayman Islands into the onshore jurisdiction is taxed in accordance with the laws of that onshore jurisdiction. There is no offshore pot of untaxed gold sitting in the Overseas Territories offshore financial center”, argues Anthony Travers for IFC Review.
Barbados has been honored with the ESG Loan Deal of the Year award at the prestigious Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Latin America & Caribbean Awards for its innovative US$146.5 million Blue Term Loan. This landmark loan facilitated a debt conversion, creating funds for marine conservation and introducing a crucial pandemic clause for emergency debt deferral. (Barbados Today)
Public Health
Puerto Rico's deteriorating healthcare system resulted in a significant significant surge of deaths in 2022, according to an investigation by the Washington Post and Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism. Relevant factors underlying the increase include a shortage of medical staff, limited access to specialized care, the aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Maria, a declining population of younger individuals due to migration, and an increasingly aging population facing health complications.
Surinamese specialized healthcare personnel brain drain has not decreased, despite various government initiatives, reports Suriname Herald
Development
More than ever people that the Caribbean region are under existential threat, according to a recent Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey sponsored by CARICOM. The data collected over six survey rounds highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and the effect of natural hazards on food security and livelihoods in the region. (Barbados Underground)
Justice
Former Surinamese President Desi Bouterse has been handed a 20-year jail sentence by the Court of Justice for his involvement in the murder of 15 men in December 1982. (Loop)
Democratic Governance
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's push to expand mining activities in Guyana's forest-rich Essequibo area, claimed by Venezuela, has met strong opposition from Guyana's Indigenous peoples. Derrick John, Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), representing Indigenous leaders across Guyana, highlighted the threat posed to Indigenous lands and livelihoods by Venezuela's claims. (Climate Tracker)
Former British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie is facing serious charges related to drug importation and money laundering. (Loop)
Climate Justice and Environment
Earlier this month, The Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance released its "Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda," an inclusive roadmap of priorities to address the climate crisis in the region. Comprising over 40 civil society organizations, grassroots leaders, activists, academics, media, and other non-state actors, this alliance is calling for urgent and sustained efforts to confront climate challenges in Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS). (Petchary’s Blog)
The conclusion of COP28 in Dubai marked a significant step in addressing the climate crisis, with an agreement named the 'UAE consensus' highlighting the gradual cessation of fossil fuel use to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. While lauded as a historic achievement, it is met with mixed reactions, particularly from representatives of small, vulnerable states like Samoa, who expressed dissatisfaction with the hurriedly adopted agreement. (New Room Guyana)
Island nations, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), are deeply dissatisfied with the new Global Stocktake text from COP28. They view the diluted language on fossil fuels and adaptation as a severe threat to their survival and reject compromising the 1.5°C warming limit. (Global Voices)
“While there were encouraging moments at COP28, the outcome failed to provide a scientifically grounded and equitable blueprint for keeping the Paris Agreement’s goal alive. For SIDS, the delivery of this mandate was a red line for the 2023 climate negotiations”, according to UWI lecturer Alana Malinde S.N. Lancaster in the The Conversation.
At COP28, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) highlighted their urgent need for support in transitioning to renewable energy and climate adaptation projects. Leaders of the region expressed their support towards climate initiatives like ITA, IRENA, and GFANZ. (Global Voices)
“We should not put all our eggs in the loss and damage fund’s basket. To advance climate justice, we need to continue pursuing multiple pathways at the local, national, regional, and international levels to deliver reparations at scale”, expresses for Geneva Solutions Lien Vandamme, senior campaigner at Ciel, and Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney at Ciel.
The Surinamese negotiating team at COP28 intervened to safeguard the nation's oil and gas development amid discussions about phasing out fossil fuels. Minister Marciano Dasai and Ivette Patterzon, part of Suriname's COP28 team, highlighted the importance of allowing developing countries like Suriname and neighboring Guyana to continue their oil and gas exploration while transitioning to cleaner energy sources. (Climate Tracker)
St. Lucia, despite its remarkable strides toward becoming carbon-negative, is facing severe challenges from climate change that threaten its economy and livelihoods. The island's efforts to preserve its rainforests and reduce carbon emissions are commendable, but it urgently requires international support to cope with the escalating climate-related events that are causing significant damage to its agriculture and infrastructure. (Forbes)
Vulnerable to ever-more powerful storms, Dominica is future-proofing infrastructure and tourism to mitigate the economic and environmental impacts of extreme weather, reports the Guardian.
A group of Mennonites is poised to carve big farms out of the Amazon in Suriname despite the concerns of Indigenous peoples, reports the Guardian. “In a country scarred by colonialism and the legacy of slavery, what bothers local people most is the lack of detailed information from the government about the new settlements.”
In the latest podcast Truth To Be Told, Immaculata Casimero, an Indigenous Wapichan climate activist, states that Indigenous women must be included in climate action.“Rather than asking for inputs on draft policies which are seldom taken into consideration, it may be more effective to have us be part of the drafting process. Our climate is changing for the worse and we need to change our approach to the way we want to mitigate its effects”, she affirms.
The latest episode of the De Cerca podcast, Information Officers Wanted, is out. Journalist Luis Valentín presents the story of Carlos Ramos, a lawyer at the CPI, who investigates the compliance and implementation of Puerto Rico’s public information access law. Listen.
The Caribbean island of Dominica, battered by severe storms and climate-related challenges, is actively pursuing a resilient eco-future. Despite enduring extreme weather events, the nation is making substantial strides in fortifying its infrastructure and fostering sustainable tourism. Dominica's focus on resilience, from community-led initiatives to construction standards, exemplifies its commitment to weathering climate change impacts. (The Guardian)
Listen to the new episode COP 28: Loss and Damage Pledges Not Enough of the podcast Caribbean Climate Calabash where host Hipolito Novelo discusses with Richie Ferrol, a journalist, his loss and damage story and the importance of these absent funds for countries like Dominica.
New episode of COP28 Ambitions & The Secret Souce for Caribbean Energy Resilience of the Climate Conscious Podcast where former Minister of St. Lucia and Paris Agreement negotiator James Fletcher shares his thoughts on the value of the COP process, transcending mere dialogue to foster real-world action, and addressing the urgent needs of Caribbean SIDS. Listen.
“Both the UNFCCC and (World) Bank regimes could bring unique value-add to the Loss and Damage Fund, but there are potential tensions between them. Both therefore need to come to the table next year and attempt to operationalise the Fund in good faith. If they fall short, it is the people and ecosystems that they depend on that are already experiencing climate-induced loss and damage and that will once again bear the failures of the multilateral system”, conclude Michai Robertson and Bianca Getzel in their latest article Will the World Bank make good on the loss and damage fund? for the ODI.
In a virtual round-table discussion on the second day of The Cropper Foundation and Journal of CESaRE’s Gen Z Climate Conference, experts shared their views on why communication, collaboration, and mentorship are all important aspects of any sustainable movement for change. “You are not an expert”, said Vanessa Mangroo, an entrepreneur behind Hello Green, who advocates for openness to learning and gaining new knowledge for personal and professional growth. (Cari-Bois)
The Barnes Hill Community Development Organisation revitalized a community reservoir in Antigua, transforming it from a forgotten and neglected space into a vibrant eco-park. (Cari-Bois)
“Disasters impact everyone but have a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities who continue to experience barriers to participation and societal exclusion, confirms Mami Mizutori, head of United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.
St Martin’s, battered by Hurricane Irma in 2017, finds itself unable to access international compensation designated for nations that bear minimal responsibility yet face severe climate impacts. Riddhi Samtani, an activist, urges a unified approach within the Netherlands Kingdom, highlighting the European Netherlands' climate plans' exclusion of the Caribbean islands. (Caribbean Network)
Energy
Belize lawmakers approved a bill that requires a referendum for any proposed changes to the offshore oil exploration moratorium. The amendment, responding directly to the voices of over 22,000 Belizean voters, emphasizes the importance of public input in decisions concerning the country's maritime zone. (Oceana)
Melinda Janki, a Guyanese lawyer and activist, has led a significant legal challenge against ExxonMobil and the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency, aiming to prevent oil extraction in Guyana. Janki's campaign, "A Fair Deal for Guyana — A Fair Deal for the Planet," targets the allegedly corrupt relationship between the oil company and the Guyanese government. (Clash Collective)
Human Rights
COP28 placed a spotlight on the role of gender equality in addressing the climate crisis. Caribbean feminist groups are particularly vocal about ensuring women's and marginalized groups' inclusion in discussions around just transition, climate finance, and loss and damage negotiations. (Ms Magazine)
"A national human rights institution is not a committee, and it is certainly not a parliamentary committee. It is to have pluralist representation to include civil society and universities and qualified experts”, analyzes for The Tribune Alicia Wallace, a queer Black feminist, gender expert, and research consultant.
Guyanese journalist Travis Chase narrowly avoided an attempted execution when unidentified assailants fired shots at him while he was near his car. The attackers fled, leaving three bullet holes in his vehicle. (Kaiteur News)
The Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign, spearheaded by the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area (UNIC Caribbean), marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by translating it into Jamaican Patwa and Saint Lucian Kwéyòl. (UN Caribbean)
Decolonisation and Reparations
“An apology on behalf of those who did oppress enslaved and newly freed Africans (in the Morant Bay War, for example), would go some way to heal the wounds of the past and allow all of us to reconcile our differences and sign a realistic 21st-century Peace Treaty”, UWI Centre for Reparation Research Verene A. Shepherd told The Gleaner .
The European Union faces mounting pressure to confront the enduring impacts of European colonialism and advocate for reparations to address ongoing injustices. A draft resolution to be presented to the European Parliament's development committee emphasizes the need for urgent action to acknowledge and rectify the lasting effects of colonialism, marking the first formal push for reparations for slavery and colonialism on the EU's agenda. (The Guardian)
Culture
Haiti’s Sol Scène aims to promote conscious social change through art. Their project, RCHD, focuses on fostering dialogue, cooperation, and fraternity between Haitians and Dominicans. Led by Daphné Menard, the association emphasizes the transformative power of art in addressing longstanding divisions between these neighboring communities. (C&America Latina)
Claudia Acevedo-Quiñones’ debut book, “The Hurricane Book: A Lyric History,” intricately weaves together Puerto Rican history, personal narratives, and the impact of colonialism on the island through a compelling blend of poetry, maps, conversations, and essays. Focused on six hurricanes spanning 1928 to 2017, the book delves into the enduring effects of colonial relationships, particularly with the United States, on Puerto Rican lives, recovery from disasters, and familial connections. (Repeating Islands)
The Inter-American Development Bank announced the official release of the single "Call Meh", a project in collaboration with globally recognized Soca music artiste, Machel Montano, and talented artistes, Hey Choppi, and 5ILVA, from his Monk Music record label in Trinidad and Tobago which aims to highlight the country’s music potential, boosted by the ever-increasing role of digital transformation in Trinidad’s creative and knowledge-based service sectors.
Renowned reggae singer-songwriter Winston Rodney, known universally as Burning Spear, emerges as a stalwart figure in the roots reggae scene, his profound impact resonating across generations. Eric Doumerc's October 2023 publication delves into the life and trajectory of this musician, a study that illuminates the compelling narrative of an artist whose roots run deep in Jamaica's cultural fabric. (Repeating Islands)
Events
From May 21st to May 24th, UNCTAD and the Government of Barbados have joined forces to organize the inaugural Global Supply Chain Forum in Bridgetown, Barbados. The forum will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the development of innovative strategies to optimize supply chain operations in a rapidly changing global business landscape. More information.
Opportunities
Applications for the 2024 Global Program on More Than Human Hights (MOTH) are now open until 10th March 2024. The program will be held from May 6, 2024, to May 10, 2024, at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Quito, Ecuador) in collaboration with the NYU MOTH Project. More information. Apply.
Applications for "Data Journalism for Citizen Security", an exclusive online training by the University of Texas that runs from January 15th to February 11th, 2024, and is taught by Sandra Crucianelli, investigative journalist and instructor specializing in digital resources and data journalism, and Alejandra Monteoliva, Infosegura specialist in security, data and information management, and criminal analysis are now open. Apply.
United Nations Human Rights is looking for a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change. Individual applications, including a motivation letter, must be submitted and received by 19 January 2024 at 12 noon Geneva time through the online application procedure, which consists of an online survey and an application form in Word format. More information.
Climate Finance Acces Network and ARMI are looking for two advisors in the Caribbean region. The full-time and remote position will require the selected candidate to provide technical expertise for the development of project/program and structure financing for accessing public and private finance for building resilience and/or mitigating climate change. Apply for Barbados. Apply for Grenada.