Happy Teacher’s Day ! 2022
Wishing all our Teachers a Happy Teacher’s Day, We would be nothing without your support.
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Earth Day 2022
Everyday is Earth Day- Let us celebrate this special day by doing our part to keep earth safe!
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Meeting with World Bank
Yesterday I also had a very productive meeting with Lilia Burunuic, Director at World Bank. I was pleased to be introduced to Gail Richardson, the acting Head of office for Jamaica and the Operations Manager for World Bank.
The World Bank has made it their point of duty to support Jamaica with developing the revised NDC and is currently supporting the development of a NDC Implementation plan and a 2050 low carbon and climate resilient strategy. the team at MEGJC look forward to working on future initiatives with the World Bank and tackling the issues surrounding Water, the Environment, Climate Change and the Blue and Green Economy.
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Meeting with European Union Ambassador, Marianne Van Steen on April 13, 2022.
Yesterday I met with the European Union Ambassador, Marianne Van Steen, to discuss the Jamaica – EU cooperation within the context of Climate Change and its effect on the environment.
Also was in attendance were head of the Cooperation, Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, and Project manager, Virginie Andre, and Principal Director from the Climate Change Branch, Una May Gordon.
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Denzil Douglas, Former Prime Minister and current Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition of St. Kitts and Nevis
I had an opportunity yesterday, to sit with Dr. Denzil Douglas, former Prime Minister and current leader of the Parliamentary Opposition of St. Kitts and Nevis. He is currently visiting Jamaica.
We discussed the general, and urgent infrastructure needs of the region not least of all water and housing.
I extended him well wished on behalf of the Prime Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, the Government and the people of Jamaica.
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More Trees, More Water Initiative
The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation has a plethora of events lined up to commemorate World Water Day 2022. One of such is the “More Trees, More Water” initiative led by National Water Commission, supporting the target of planting three million trees by planting two thousand trees on National Water Commission land.
Today, I delivered remarks at the Tree Planting ceremony hosted at the Mona Reservoir here in Kingston and indulged in some planting myself.
Statement from the Final day of UNEA-5.2
I had the opportunity to address the special plenary session of UNEA6 on the Occasion of the special session to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of UNEP.
The Government & people of Jamaica extend congratulations to UNEP;
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the Government and people of Jamaica extend congratulations
to the United Nations Environment Programe (UNEP) at this special session to commemorate its
fiftieth anniversary. UNEP is the major pillar of the UN Multilateral System’s case for society in
harmony with nature and has co-ordinated the worldwide effort to confront the planet’s biggest
environmental challenges.
For 50 years, UNEP has provided the necessary science-policy interface to allow for interdisciplinary
exchanges, with the ultimate objective of enhancing decision-making on the global environment
agenda.
The fiftieth anniversary celebrations provide an opportunity to reflect on the past and there have
been significant successes. But there have also been a number of critical targets that have been
missed, that the global community had previously committed to. Undoubtedly the next fifty years
will be similarly challenging, there are opportunities to define new pathways to success.
We would like to suggest 3 critical actions as part of the process of transformation and renewal.
Firstly, there must be all inclusive representation, including strong engagement from highly
vulnerable economies. Engagement processes, particularly at the national and local levels, have
proven to be inadequate to meet the goals originally established for the organization.
Secondly, there is need to simplify funding mechanisms that target scaled- up interventions at the
regional and sub-regional levels. This modality requires the strengthening of existing regional
coordinating bodies such as the UNEP Sub-regional office for the Caribbean; and the UNEP
Caribbean Environment Programmes Regional Coordination Unit (CAR RCU), Secretariat to the
Cartagena Convention. Jamaica hosts both entities which have played a significant role in regional
environmental governance, but could be more rigorous in effecting change at the policy level.
Thirdly, there is strong evidence of a gap between policy acceptance and implementation at the
national, regional and international levels. The strategic approach must therefore be focused on
how the Science-Policy Interfaces can be more solution-driven, implementable and equitable.
The triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution can only be
addressed with unity of purpose and collective bold action. UNEP is uniquely positioned and has a
crucial role to play to reinvigorate international cooperation and spur collective action.
I again extend congratulations to UNEP on behalf of the GOJ, and invite the international community
to continue its support beyond this golden jubilee year.
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UN Environmental Programme
Yesterday, myself and Anthony Mckenzie from NEPA, met with Sonja Leighton-Kone ( she is proudly Jamaican) Acting Deputy Executive Director of UNEP and Jacqueline Alvarez, Director and Representative of UNEP in Latin America and the Caribbean.
We discussed how Jamaica can accelerate the reform of its Environmental Legislative and Policy Framework, status of UNEP funded projects in Jamaica and future collaboration.
the meeting also focused on issues of Pollution, Climate change, Protection of Biodiversity and not least of all the way forward with plastics.
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His Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta
I joined Pres. of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta at this morning’s opening session of UNEP 50. With the auspices of UNEP. I thanked them for hosting both UNEP50 and the upcoming Un Ocean Conference. He reiterated the close ties and friendship with Jamaica.
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Ash Wednesday 2022
Dear God,
watch over us with tender love, as today we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of this Lenten season. We sign with a cross – ashes on our foreheads to remind us that there is a part of ourselves that is of this earth and that one day will return to dust.