On 4th September, 2024, the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent co-organized an online public dialogue to commemorate the International Day for People of African Descent. Over 70 participants representing civil society, academia, community organizations, youth and the UN, from across region and the diaspora joined the discussion and interacted with a high-level group of discussants.Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator welcomed the Dialogue as an opportunity to dive into the work and priorities of the Permanent Forum. Reflecting on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ comments, he noted that much more needs to be done to ensure recognition, justice and development of people of African descent, as the lingering effects of historical injustices continue to obstruct their path to freedom, equality and dignity.June Soomer, Chairperson of the Permanent Forum, underscored how the Permanent Forum, despite being a new mechanism formally operationalized in 2022, has already become the largest platform for advancing the rights of people of African descent around the globe.  Ms Soomer emphasized the Permanent Forum’s engagement with youth, highlighting that the last session, held in Geneva from 16 to 19 April earlier this year, gathered over 1000 participants, of which approximately 50% were 30 and under, who collectively organized and presented a youth declaration at the closing of the session.Central topics of the discussion included critical concerns about racism, racial discrimination, colonialism, sexism, and the pressing need for reparations. The plight of some groups such as Garifuna and Rastafarians were also highlighted. Comments were also made about progress made in relation to the implementation of the CARICOM 10-point reparations plan, as well as the need for more direct civil society engagement.“We cannot view all black people, all people of African descent, as the same. We must acknowledge the differences within our communities and spaces, celebrate those differences, and ensure that no group is left behind.”  Gaynel Curry, Member of the Permanent Forum of People of African DescentGaynel Curry, member of the Permanent Forum and Professor at the University of Bahamas, emphasized on the gender dimensions of systemic racism faced by people of African descent. “For us, systemic racism is a key issue, including the sexual and reproductive health rights of Black women. For example, more and more of our women are dying in childbirth and this needs to be recognized and addressed”, she added.  Don Marshall, University Director SALISES, outlined briefly the University of West Indies’ engagement with universities in South Africa and Ghana through the Global Africa project. This initiative examines the effects of colonialism and involves several studies for a major project in reparatory justice, aiming to identify tangible projects that can bring about renewal and repair, with input from civil society and governments.Chevy Eugene, Assistant Professor in Political Science at Dalhousie University, brought attention to how feminist frameworks have been central to reparatory justice movements and underscored the importance of youth activists, researchers and the diaspora.Reflecting on the International Decade for People of African Descent (2014-2024), the event also looked forward to the work ahead, including advocacy for a second International Decade. The Permanent Forum is actively working to amplify voices of people of African descent in global discussions, particularly on environmental issues and to call attention to the legacy of colonialism in Haiti, reaffirming its commitment to reparations, justice and renewal.“We are trying to make sure it's an actionable declaration and that is why we are engaging with you and asking you to engage and contribute to the declaration.” – said June Soomer when speaking about the UN Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent, currently being drafted.In closing, Simon Springett reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting partnerships and coalitions to drive meaningful action for People of African Descent in the Caribbean. He referred to the Summit of the Future in New York, as a space to revitalize global governance for the challenges ahead, and as a pivotal opportunity to ensure that the perspectives and insights of people of African descent are not only fully included but also translated into meaningful action. 

The United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean has lauded ongoing efforts by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to strengthen awareness of the 2030 agenda, accelerate SDG implementation, and create a sustainable future for all citizens and residents through its Sustainable Island State Agenda.Specifically, the UN recognized the Department of Youth Empowerment for integrating the SDGs into the 41st edition of its annual Summer Residential  Camp, under the theme “41 Years of Summer Camp embedded in our souls; Let’s Protect its’ Future by Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”. The two-week camp targeted children ages 8 to 16 years, from low-to-middle income neighbourhoods, who typically would be unable to participate in such activities, without Government subsidization. Reflecting on the UN’s support, UN Resident Coordinator Simon Springett said the UN recognizes the importance of youth to achieving the SDGs and commends the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for supporting youth and fostering youth engagement. This initiative can serve as a model for both educating young people, but also for learning from the ideas and experiences of youth. I wish also to applaud these young campers for their creativity and willingness to put the SDGs into action," he added.  In keeping with this year’s theme, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office supported  sensitization sessions on the SDGs and the Sustainable Island State Agenda at the camp, educating campers about their role in environmental protection, showing respect and tolerance for others and responsible consumption (energy, food, and water) while at camp. They were also encouraged to become SDG advocates applying these values at home, school, and in their respective communities. Support was also provided to an SDG Dorm Door Decoration Competition, with gift baskets awarded to winning male and female dorms. A competitive SDGs Quiz, which featured five teams representing the five SDGs Pillars – People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace and Partnerships, was also among the camp’s highlights. The exercise sought to evaluate participants’ knowledge of the SDGs, as well as their understanding of how, as young people, they could contribute to the sustainable growth and development of St. Kitts and Nevis for generations to come. While the “Partnerships” team eventually emerged victorious, and received SDG-branded gold medals, all participants were winners, by virtue of their demonstrated knowledge and appreciation for SDGs, as well as their pledge to apply them in their everyday life.Director of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Camp Coordinator, Mrs. Sahira Joseph, thanked the UN for its support for Summer Camp 41, while citing plans for extending the SDG sensitization among youth. “We confidently believe that even if our Campers were exposed to information surrounding the SDGs prior to Camp, their knowledge and eagerness to support has definitely increased. They thoroughly enjoyed each activity but the icing and highlight for them was certainly the SDG Quiz. Campers would have stated themselves just how fun and exciting that evening was. We are hopeful to have that experience again with a new group of youth across more programming set for the remainder of 2024,” she stated. The UN RCO extends its gratitude to the Director of the Department of Youth Empowerment and her team for coordinating the camp and for their strong partnership. Special thanks are also extended to Mr. Cosbert Woods, UN Country Coordination Officer in St. Kitts and Nevis and to Ms. Nekirah Nicholls, UN Youth Advisory Group representative for St. Kitts and Nevis , for ably facilitating the sensitization sessions and SDGs Quiz. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Country Office in Antigua and Barbuda, have partnered to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the nation's 2024 Carnival Celebrations.This initiative, which takes the form of a carnival float promoting food security through a simulated backyard garden, highlighting the associated SDGs, is the brainchild of the Honourable E. P Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who until just prior to the start of the carnival celebrations, held the ministerial responsibility for the Ministry of Agriculture.  He explained the rationale behind his idea:"Sustainable development is the pathway to preserving a bright future for all our people as it offers a framework promoting inclusivity, economic growth generation, prosperity, poverty alleviation, zero hunger, partnership good health and well- being amongst others."  Boasting a kaleidoscope of colours, the float  is representative of a typical Antiguan and Barbudan backyard consisting of several fruit trees, including banana trees, the world famous Antigua Black Pineapple and seedlings, a water source and catchment facilities, a pond for fishing and the world renowned frigate bird flying overhead. Dominating the  front of the float is a majestic colour wheel referencing the seventeen United Nations SDGs. Additionally, the SDGs goals directly linked to food security , SDGs 2, 3, 5, 6,8,10, 14 and 15,  are separately highlighted.Director of International Trade and SDGs Focal Point for Antigua and Barbuda, Joy-Marie King, explained, "the float was unveiled during the opening carnival parade and will grace the streets of St. John's again during the closing of the Caribbean's greatest summer festival on 6th August, 2024. " Participating in the parade were representatives from the respective Ministries as well as UN agencies and Offices including the Resident Coordinator Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, UN WOMEN, and UNESCO. The United Nations is committed to continue supporting SDG acceleration and advocacy efforts in Antigua and Barbuda and pledges its continued support for SDG initiatives. As the agency with the mandate tor intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information, UNESCO office for the Caribbean, through its Advisor for Communication & Information, Dr. Paul Hector, shared a special message for carnival. Carnival is a vibrant celebration of our rich cultural heritage. It underscores the synergy between culture, creativity, and technological innovation. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Roadmap for the Caribbean, particularly its emphasis on creativity and culture, is a testament to UNESCO’s dedication to fostering sustainable development and enhancing well-being through innovative and inclusive approaches. "By responsibly harnessing AI, we can not only preserve and promote our diverse cultural expressions but also drive forward-thinking solutions that support the Sustainable Development Goals. Together with our national and regional partners we are shaping a future where technology and tradition coexist harmoniously, enriching the lives of our communities and contributing to wellbeing and a more equitable world," he added.Here's to hoping that SDG Floats become a permanent feature of carnivals around the region, as week seek to make these global goals more real to ordinary citizens.     

"Carriacou and Petite Martinique have to be rebuilt from scratch."With these stark words, Joseph Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development of Grenada, captured the extent of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Beryl, in opening remarks delivered virtually to a briefing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, 19 July 2024.Hosted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the briefing aimed to address the severe humanitarian crisis caused by Hurricane Beryl, which has left nearly 60,000 people across Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in need of humanitarian assistance.Hurricane Beryl struck Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada on 1 July as a Category 4 hurricane that subsequently increased to a Category 5, making it the earliest Category five Atlantic hurricane on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Mr. Andall described the ongoing recovery as a “herculean task” and stressed that “we will need all the outside assistance we can get.”The briefing, broadcast live on UN Web TV, featured contributions from senior government officials, and representatives of regional entities and the United Nations. Speakers underscored the urgent need for coordinated international support to aid the stricken communities.  “Today's briefing is about people – people who are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters – whose lives, livelihoods, and life paths have been disrupted, in many cases permanently,” remarked Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Hurricane Beryl's Impact in the Eastern CaribbeanThe economies of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, two islands of the Grenadian State, have been virtually obliterated by Hurricane Beryl, Mr. Andall said, pointing to substantial damage to the agriculture, marine industries, and crucial infrastructure.  "Boats, fishing equipment, mangroves, livestock, the entire agriculture sector, and the marine industry businesses, forests—almost everything in Carriacou is totally wiped out.”Mr. Andall further stated that 98% of all buildings in these two islands and Isle de Ronde, another island of Grenada, were destroyed to varying degrees.In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the impact was similarly devastating. Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, said that close to 10,000 houses needed repair or reconstruction, with the number growing as assessments continue. Prime Minister Gonsalves emphasized that lack of insurance coverage was a major issue, particularly on Union Island in the Grenadines, where only 79 out of 1,300 structures were insured.He detailed ongoing efforts to restore vital services, and progress to date, stating that the situation had been stabilized: “Food, water, health – all the basic facilities – have been secured, he said, “and we are doing the cleaning up.”  Dr Gonzalves thanked the personnel of the United Nations Agencies on the ground for “remarkable” and “heroic work” in support of recovery efforts.Restoring electricity was a slower process, however, which was still ongoing and would happen in phases in the southern Grenadines. “Union island may not have electricity until early next year,” said Dr Gonzalves. UN Support for Regional Response on the Ground “I had the sobering opportunity to see first-hand the scale of the destruction and the immediate impacts on families and communities as I visited the islands of Union, Mayreau, Canouan, as well as the three northern affected parishes of Grenada,” noted Simon Springett, the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.He described how the UN and its partners had been cooperating with governments to support the immediate response to Hurricane Beryl on the ground and added that his office had also deployed “self-sustaining UN disaster coordination and assessment teams across the islands as well as debris management and waste management experts.” The Resident Coordinator and the CDEMA Executive Director co-chair the Caribbean Development Partners Group (CDPG) —a sub-regional coordination platform for preparedness and response to disasters. Ms. Riley emphasized the importance of this partnership:“The reality is that we can accomplish so much more working together than working apart,” she stated, thanking Mr. Springett and the UN entities he coordinates in the Eastern Caribbean for supporting CDEMA’s regional response mechanism, through which humanitarian aid and surge support has been delivered.François Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations echoed this sentiment and praised the effectiveness of the UN Resident Coordinator system in delivering a response for the Eastern Caribbean.“My country has been making the case here in the UN that the Resident Coordinator system and its spinoffs is one of the success stories within the UN system and within the reform of the UN system and that we must do all that we can to shore up this system give it what it needs to do the kind of excellent work that it's doing in our region right now and not allow it to suffer from the kinds of funding and resource constraints under which it's presently laboring.”OCHA’s response plan estimates that an initial USD $9 million is needed to support humanitarian efforts. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has allocated USD $4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Comprehensive Recovery and Future Preparedness“This recent catastrophic event makes clear to us, even to the doubters, that the climate crisis is not imminent, it is here, it is now, it is destructive, and it is more destructive for those who have done the least to provoke it: we the small island developing and coastal states,” said Mr. Andall.The WMO has forecast 17 to 25 named storms for the Atlantic hurricane season — exceeding the typical 14 — with up to seven potentially developing into major hurricanes.“Beryl epitomizes the reality of climate change and the resulting loss and damage which unfortunately is now our norm,” said Ms. Riley, adding, “it is possible for us to choose a different path.”Mr. Andall emphasized the necessity for a systemic approach to funding and rebuilding in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Grenada, calling for the introduction of a system to “provide the necessary grant and concessional funding with minimal red tape.” in the wake of a hurricane or any other natural disaster.The sentiment was echoed by Dr. Gonsalves, who further highlighted the severity of the danger for SIDS on the frontline of the climate crisis.“We find ourselves facing extremely high public debt burdens and are caught in a spiral web of a vicious debt disaster debt cycle constantly borrowing, often at exorbitant commercial rates, simply to recover with just little time before the next hurricane or natural disaster strikes.”A call to global solidarityDr. Gonsalves highlighted the resilience of the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, reminding the international community of the barrage of setbacks his island nation had faced, from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to 2021, to the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano in April 2021, to Hurricane Elsa which made landfall in July of that very year. This, however, has not dimmed spirits on the island. “The people are quite hopeful, our people are quite resilient,” he said. Mr. Andall spoke to “the conscience of the world,” urging solidarity towards ensuring that, “justice be done for and by these small vulnerable states.”Resident Coordinator Springett, supported their pleas, urging climate justice. "I would like to also stand behind the governments of both Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in their demands for climate justice."Ms. Riley highlighted the need for systemic change at the global level to address the recurring devastation. "As a humanitarian and development organization, CDEMA urges the acceleration of climate action and utilizing the spaces of the upcoming Summit of the Future and COP 29 to reset this pathway." The Summit of the Future is a high-level event taking place in September 2024 that will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how to deliver a better present for all and safeguard the future._________________________________________
 This story was first published by United Nations in the Caribbean