Black Immigrant Daily News

March 4, 2023 marked a historic moment for the world’s ocean. After a marathon of intense, sometimes overnight negotiations, Member States of the United Nations agreed on the provisions of a treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (the ocean biodiversity treaty).

With this treaty, a new chapter for equity in the world’s ocean has begun. Almost two decades ago, small island developing states drew the international community’s attention to the governance gap for the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction and the lack of any comprehensive regime to adequately regulate human activities in those areas. That gap posed a direct or indirect threat to the health of the marine environment including marine biodiversity with knock on impacts for coastal nations and the planet. They also pointed to the inequitable use of these areas which SIDS consider to be the common heritage of humankind. From 2004 to 2015, together with other developing countries and the support of non governmental organizations, the SIDS led efforts to make the case for a new treaty. By 2018, that case was filed and an intergovernmental conference convened with a view to adopt a first ever ocean biodiversity treaty.

From the outset, CARICOM demonstrated its leadership in the process with the region’s representatives serving in different roles from the phases of the Preparatory Committee that determined the elements of the treaty, through to the five sessions of the Intergovernmental Conference that finalized the treaty itself. More importantly, its political leaders demonstrated the highest level of support for the conclusion of an ambitious framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, with a view to enabling equity and effectiveness. In a final statement ahead of the fifth intergovernmental conference, CARICOM Leaders declared their support for:

(a) a fair and equitable benefit sharing regime, including monetary and non-monetary benefits, for marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources that ensures all humanity for generations to come will benefit from utilisation of those resources and information;

(b) an inclusive transparent consultative process guided by science for the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas;

(c) a robust threshold and transparent process for the conduct of environmental impact assessments, with global oversight for activities that may be allowed and an agreed decision-making standard for activities that should not be allowed;

(d) adequate, accessible, sustainable and predictable financing to support implementation of the BBNJ Agreement while delivering capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology to developing countries, in particular for SIDS and be responsive to their needs and priorities;

(e) additional funding arrangements for a liability mechanism;

(f) an effective framework of institutional arrangements that will support the provisions of the Agreement and ensure decision making based on the best available scientific information and incorporate the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities, facilitate effective capacity building and transfer or marine technology, and ensure the required generation of, access to, and use of funding towards the aims of the BBNJ Agreement; and finally;

(g) due recognition of the special circumstances of SIDS as an operational principle of the Agreement.

CARICOM welcomes the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference and the adoption of the ocean biodiversity treaty. It takes note with appreciation that the provisions of the treaty have met the region’s core objectives. Importantly, CARICOM recognizes that this new treaty lays a formidable foundation for the fair, equitable and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. CARICOM will begin consideration of the next steps to become a party to the treaty and looks forward to the continued support of the international community in bringing the treaty into force and effect, and promoting its universality.

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Dr. Didacus Jules, director general of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Charles Trottmann, Head of the Three Oceans department of the Agence Fran?aise de D?veloppement (AFD), and ?tienne Francis, ambassador of France to the Eastern Caribbean states, Barbados and the OECS, met in Gosier, Guadeloupe on Wednesday, to sign a historic memorandum of understanding between the OECS and the AFD.

The OECS is dedicated to economic harmonization, regional integration and cooperation by contributing to the sustainable development of its 11 members, and by facilitating the integration of member states into the global economy and maximizing the benefits of their cooperation and collective action.

The OECS coordinates and harmonizes policies and programs in the region. Priority issues in the region are addressed through cooperation with multilateral and bilateral development partners, such as the AFD, a public financial institution that helps implement French international cooperation policy.

After a first collaboration in the framework of the Recycle OECS Project, financed with 2.5 million euros by AFD on ?uropean delegated funds since the beginning of the year, the two partners agreed to expand their relations in order to implement joint projects and programs where their strategic priorities are aligned.

The objective of this Memorandum is to establish the framework of this cooperation as well as the specific sectors to be prioritized. The selected themes are human development (health and social protection, education, gender equality), preservation of natural capital (climate change, biodiversity or circular economy), and strengthening the role of private actors in regional economic development.

To achieve this goal, the OECS and AFD plan to pool their resources and expertise and share their knowledge and innovative ideas for a more integrated and interconnected Caribbean basin.

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Canada’s top general said he was concerned that his country’s armed forces, already stretched thin by support for Ukraine and NATO, do not have the capacity to lead a possible security mission to Haiti.

Haiti’s government and top United Nations officials have called for an international force to support Haitian police in their struggle against gangs, which have become the de facto authorities in parts of the country.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in January said it was critical to identify a country to take the lead and said Canada had expressed an interest in that role, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not committed to it.

Canada over the past year has spent more than C$1 billion ($724 million) in military assistance to Ukraine. Now Canada is preparing to nearly double its presence in Latvia, which shares a border with Russia and Belarus. Ottawa announced new procurement for the mission on Thursday.

“My concern is just our capacity as we rebuild, as we move to brigade level in Latvia,” Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre told Reuters in his office in Ottawa on Wednesday. “There’s only so much to go around. … It would be challenging.”

Canada last year budgeted a slight increase in defence spending over five years, but it still spends far less – about 1.3% of annual output – than the North Atlantic Treaty Organization asks, which is 2% of gross domestic product.

The armed forces are struggling with recruiting and donations to Ukraine have cut into some military stocks, Eyre said.

Officials in Ottawa say the United States has lobbied hard for Canada to take on the role, and President Joe Biden may carry that message again when he visits later this month.

Haitian gangs have expanded their territory since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The resulting violence has left much of the country off-limits to the government and led to routine gun battles with police.

Haiti has a long history of foreign military footprints on its soil, including a 1915 U.S. occupation that lasted 20 years, and more recent U.N. and U.S. troop deployments following political turmoil and natural disasters, some of which led to allegations of abuse.

Trudeau has repeatedly said a solution rests in the hands of Haitians, a position Eyre reiterated.

“The solution’s got to come from the host nation itself,” Eyre said. “They have to own the solution.”

Canada has sent armored vehicles to Haitian police, and it has two small ships patrolling the coast. It has also sanctioned several former politicians and gang leaders.

Canada’s military is “actively planning” expanding to brigade strength in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s defense mission in Latvia, called Operation Reassurance, which it leads, Eyre said.

That will mean participation of about 2,000 Canadian soldiers, alongside those from other countries, Eyre said, up from its current deployment of 700 to 1,000.

Canada Defence Minister Anita Anand on Thursday announced plans to purchase portable anti-tank missile systems, counter uncrewed aircraft systems, and air defence systems for the Latvian mission.

($1 = 1.3803 Canadian dollars)

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The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has launched its Young Professionals Programme (YPP) aimed at involving the region’s youth in Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management.

Trinidadian national Aleem Mahabir and Barbadian Adiel Charles, are the first interns selected to take part in the initiative, which started in February and will continue for six months.

The YPP is initially funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Caribbean Climate Resilience Initiative (CCRI) and will offer participants the opportunity to gain work experience through engagement in all technical programme areas of the CDEMA System.

Adiel, who is no stranger to the CDEMA system, having volunteered her services in 2021 to the Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) to assist in responding to events, holds a BSc. in Industrial Relations, and recently completed her MSc. in Geoinformatics.

She said, “Although I know it has not been a long time since I began my time as an intern at CDEMA, I am truly enjoying the opportunities for development as a disaster and humanitarian professional.”

Adiel Charles

Aleem has been exposed to other regional and international institutions such as the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), the Inter-American Development Bank and the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), working as an Intern and on research projects.

He holds a BSc. Geography and is a PhD candidate in Urban Geography. Commenting on his tour of duty, “Given my studies in Geography and my interest in development research, I see the attachment as a very good opportunity to be working with the premier Caribbean institution which is responsible for disaster risk management in one of the areas of the world prone to different hazards. I am looking forward to drawing the skills learnt to contribute to the region.”

At the end of the programme, the interns will receive a CDEMA “Certificate of Completion” which can be promoted in the region as a means of elevating their opportunities for employability.

Deputy Executive Director of CDEMA, Kester Craig, said “We embrace the youth as agents of change and we are committed to the vision of creating opportunities for their involvement in Comprehensive Disaster Management. We believe that the Young Professionals Programme is a key conduit in CDEMA to develop new leaders in the field through experiential learning.”

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, E. P. Chet Greene was elected Vice President of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, Qatar.

Greene and the high-level delegation of Antigua and Barbuda were in Doha on a fact-finding mission to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and provide guidance to Antigua and Barbuda on hosting a similar global conference, the Fourth United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (4th SIDS Conference) in the summer of 2024.

Greene noted the necessity to collaborate and partner with the government and people of Qatar as an exemplar of their successful hosting of FIFA World Cup 2022 and their demonstration of strong leadership in hosting LDC5.

The team was afforded the opportunity to engage with the secretariat of LDC5 and gained behind the scenes experience associated with hosting the international conference.

Coming out of a bilateral with Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, a commitment was made to offer support to the Government of Antigua and Barbudan in hosting the 4th SIDS Conference.

The minister expressed his profound gratitude to the people and Government of Qatar for its continued generosity for providing travel and accommodations to the delegation of Antigua and Barbuda at LDC5 and most importantly for its commitment of support towards the 4th SIDS Conference.

The 4th SIDS Conference will bring together World Leaders, the Private Sector, Civil Society, and youth to generate a holistic approach that will identify challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development and building the resilience of SIDS.

Throughout the five days visit, Greene also held talks with high officials from the United Nations including the interim Executive Director of UNOPS who made commitments to support Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of the 4th SIDS Conference and to provide technical support to Antigua and Barbuda’s national development efforts. While in Doha, the delegation of Antigua and Barbuda actively participated in various meetings and key events.

Walton Webson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, led discussions at an event on the development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) where Prime Minister Browne is currently the Co-Chair of the High-Level Panel of Experts on the development of the MVI.

Tumasie Blair, Deputy Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN was elected Rapporteur-General of LDC5 and delivered the report of the Conference at its closing.

Other members of the delegation included Karen Cabral, Chief Protocol Officer within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Claxton Duberry, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, Lance Browne, Consular Officer within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sheila Roseau, special adviser for the 4th SIDS Conference.

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