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Disaster Management & Resilience in Fisheries

Disaster Management

CRFM and CDEMA sign agreement to enhance disaster management and resilience in fisheries

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to enhance comprehensive disaster management and climate change resilience in the fisheries and aquaculture sector within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

CRFM Executive Director, Milton Haughton, signed the MOU for CRFM while the Executive Director of CDEMA, Ronald Jackson, signed on behalf of CDEMA.  The signing took place during the Tenth General Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations (UN) System, on Wednesday, 24 July 2019, in Georgetown, Guyana.

The CRFM Executive Director said: “This MOU was prepared to facilitate enhanced cooperation between the CRFM and CDEMA, recognizing the need for effective and progressive responses to the urgent and growing threats of climate change and associated hazards, as well as the vulnerability of our fisherfolk and fishing communities which constitute a very important part of our food production system.”

Immediate attention will be given to cooperation for sustained support for the Fisheries Early Warning and Emergency Response (FEWER) ICT Solution that had been spearheaded by the CRFM during 2017-18 in the course of the Regional Track of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), supported by the Inter-American Development Bank and The Mona Office of Research and Innovation (MORI) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica.  

Other areas of cooperation include joint project initiatives, training, capacity building and awareness activities, data and information collection and dissemination, and a support mechanism to help CARICOM countries and fishing communities prepare for and manage the threats and risks arising from manmade and natural hazards, including storms and hurricanes. The agreement also addresses post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery support for the restoration of services, infrastructure and livelihoods, as well as the restoration of the physical and ecological integrity of the affected coastal ecosystems.

In commenting on the signing, the Executive Director of CDEMA indicated that, “This represents CDEMA’s commitment to partnerships with other regional Institutions in an effort to advance resilience.” He expressed enthusiasm that CDEMA would be able to support the hosting infrastructure for the FEWER ICT Solution. Mr. Jackson furthermore pointed out this was in keeping with CDEMA’s role in advancing a comprehensive programme for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, as well as serving as a regional hub for warning infrastructure.

FEWER reduces fishers’ vulnerability to the impacts of climate change but also allows them to share local ecological knowledge to inform climate-smart fisheries planning and management, decision-making, as well as risk management in the fisheries sector. During 2017-18, the CRFM, IDB and UWI ICT experts worked with government authorities and fishers in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to pilot the development of the FEWER. The CRFM-CDEMA partnership is an essential step towards sustainably rolling out FEWER to other countries.

The CRFM’s Ministerial Council had signaled its support at its 13th Regular Meeting held this June 2019 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, for the CRFM’s partnership with CDEMA, which had been developing as both CARICOM inter-governmental agencies mobilized to support to Member States in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

In October 2018, the Council approved a protocol on climate change and disaster risk management under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy, for which the CRFM has the implementation lead.

The CRFM has also been working with the CCRIF and World Bank to introduce risk insurance to protect the fisheries sector against disasters. The Caribbean Oceans and Aquaculture Sustainability Facility (COAST) Parametric insurance policy for the fisheries sector was launched at the beginning of July 2018. The policy was developed by CCRIF and the World Bank with support from the Government of the USA.  

The 17 Member States of the CRFM are also members of CDEMA. They are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands. The Virgin Islands is the only CDEMA member that is not a member of the CRFM.


St Lucia’s loss is Antigua’s gain in Virgin Airlines pullout

Virgin Airlines

Virgin Atlantic says after June 8, 2020 it will stop its operations between St Lucia and London’s Gatwick Airport, for the ‘foreseeable future’. This after the airline asked for USD7.5 million over 3 years to maintain its current flight schedule. According to Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee, “agreeing to Virgin Atlantic’s demands for a multi-million-dollar subsidy would have opened the door for other airlines to also ask for a subsidy. In fact, upon hearing the news that Virgin Atlantic has requested subsidies from 4 Caribbean governments, namely Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and St Lucia, other airlines have been in talks with respective governments.” However according to Virgin Atlantic, “the proposed changes mean we will increase flights from London Gatwick to Antigua, boosting services from 3 per week to 4 per week, from 8 June 2020..

Tropical Weather Outlook | 8:00 AM, Jul 30, 2019

Tropical Weather Outlook 800 AM Jul 30 2019

For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

  1. A tropical wave located over the northeastern Caribbean Sea is
    producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is
    expected to move west-northwestward with no significant development
    during the next few days, producing locally heavy rainfall over
    Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Hispaniola, and portions of the
    southeastern Bahamas. Conditions could become marginally conducive
    for development by the weekend when the disturbance moves near
    Florida and northwestern Bahamas.
  • Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
  • Formation chance through 5 days…low…10 percent.
  1. A tropical wave accompanied by a broad low pressure system
    continues to produce a large area of cloudiness and disorganized
    shower activity over the far eastern tropical Atlantic, a few
    hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands. No significant
    development of this system is expected for the next few days while
    the it moves westward at 15 to 20 mph. Upper-level winds could
    become more conducive for development by the weekend while the wave
    continues westward across the central Atlantic.
  • Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
  • Formation chance through 5 days…low…20 percent.

Forecaster Zelinsky

Tropical Weather Outlook | 8:00 PM, Jul 29, 2019

Tropical Weather Outlook 8pm-29-07-2091

For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

  1. Shower activity associated with a tropical wave over the eastern
    Caribbean Sea remains disorganized. This system is expected to move
    west-northwestward with no significant development, producing
    locally heavy rainfall over Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and portions of
    the southeastern Bahamas during the next few days. Over the weekend,
    conditions could become a little more conducive for development when
    the disturbance moves near Florida and the central and northwestern
    Bahamas.
  • Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
  • Formation chance through 5 days…low…10 percent.
  1. A tropical wave accompanied by a broad low pressure system is
    producing a large area of cloudiness and disorganized shower
    activity over the far eastern tropical Atlantic a few hundred miles
    southeast of Cabo Verde. Upper-level winds are expected to be
    unfavorable for any significant development of this disturbance
    during the next few days. However, environmental conditions are
    forecast to become a little more conducive for development over the
    weekend.
  • Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
  • Formation chance through 5 days…low…20 percent.

Forecaster Stewart

Liquid Petroleum Gas – LPG decrease

Fuel Price April 2019

The Public is hereby notified that in keeping with changes in international oil prices and Government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail price of gasoline and kerosene remains unchanged. The retail price of diesel, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) 20, 22 and 100 lb cylinders has changed. The price changes take effect from Monday July 29, 2019:

  • Gasoline remains unchanged at $3.07 per litre or $13.95 per gallon
  • Kerosene remains unchanged at $1.93 per litre or $8.76 per gallon 
  • Diesel increased from $2.87 to $2.92 per litre or $13.04 to $13.27 per gallon

    Liquid Petroleum Gas:
    • 20 Pound Cylinder (9.07 kg) decreased from $32.70 to $32.54 per cylinder 
    • 22 Pound Cylinder (9.98 kg) decreased from $36.25 to $36.08 per cylinder 
    • 100 Pound Cylinder (45.36kg) decreased from $207.34 to $206.54 per cylinder 

The Public is informed that the next adjustment of the retail price of fuel products will be on Monday August 19, 2019.

Atlantic Tropical Weather – 26-07-2091

atlantic-tropical-weather-26-07-2019
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
809 PM EDT Fri Jul 26 2019

An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave along 21W from 17N southward,
moving 15-20 kt. This wave is well depicted in model guidance
and satellite imagery. Scattered moderate isolated strong
convection is from 06N-12N and extend 200 nm west of 21W.

An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave is along 36W from 18N southward,
moving W at around 15 kt. This wave is well depicted at the
surface, in model guidance, and in the Total Precipitable Water
imagery. Scattered moderate showers are from 03N-16N between 35W-
39W.

An Atlantic Ocean tropical wave is along 45W from 17N southward,
moving W at around 15 kt. Scattered moderate convection is seen
to the northern section of the wave from 11N-14N between 44W-48W.

A Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 70W from 22N southward,
moving W at 15-20 kt. The tropical wave is moving through areas
of upper level cyclonic wind flow, in the Atlantic Ocean and in
the Caribbean Sea. Scattered moderate isolated strong convection
are present inland especially in Hispaniola and northern coast of
Venezuela and Colombia. Isolated showers are seen in the eastern
Caribbean.

Human Trafficking study from CARIFORUM

Human Traffickin

CARIFORUM Embarks on critical Human Trafficking study

Efforts to address the issue of Human Trafficking in the CARIFORUM Region are being bolstered with a new study on Human Trafficking that is expected to provide a greater understanding of the problem within and across its borders.

Canadian firm, Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Company, Canada Limited, has been engaged by CARIFORUM to conduct the comprehensive study. The countries involved include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The study began on July 19, 2019 and will inform the methods that will be used to design interventions which are evidence-based and consistent with best practices in anti-trafficking including, but not limited to prevention, protection and prosecution.

It is hoped that the research will also provide useful information on, types, patterns and routes of trafficking; profiles of trafficked persons, and vulnerability factors for trafficking; border and law enforcement issues and information about the traffickers; and anti-trafficking efforts currently being undertaken. It will also examine anti-trafficking efforts of international organisations and civil society within the region.

The research team is expected to meet with critical stakeholders including representatives of Ministries of National Security, Legal and Attorneys General, the Police, prisons and other public sector agencies.  Individuals from vulnerable communities, victims and proprietors will also form part of the study.   The private sector and civil society organisations will also be participating in this important regional initiative. The Cooperation of all stakeholders is anticipated.

The team, which comprises ten (10) consultants will be led by Dr. Ninna Nyberg Sørensen from the Danish Institute of International Studies, Dr. Victoria Knox from the Department of Force Migration and Refugees Studies, University of London and Dr. Justine C. Pierre, Migration and Labour Market Consultant, Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Company. Other consultants include Dr. Ezra Mathias and Ms. Veronica Canac. Project consultants will engage with stakeholders and social actors in each CARIFORUM Member State and contact points from line Ministries in the Member States as well as representatives from regional and international institutions.

According to the latest United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Report (2018) Human Trafficking is on the rise in the CARIFORUM region. Therefore, this study is being conducted at a critical time.  Human Trafficking is defined as the subjection of men, women and children to compelled service for the purposes of exploitation. The CARIFORUM study is being conducted with funding from the Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme under the Tenth European Development Fund (10th EDF).

LUCELEC Sans Souci Office Closed For Maintenance

LUCELEC Sans Souci Office

The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) Customer Service office at Sans Souci closed on Friday, July 26, 2019 and will remain so until further notice. 

The closure is to facilitate remedial work to address air quality issues in the building to ensure customers and staff can use the building safely and comfortably. The closure of the Sans Souci office will not affect the quality and reliability of the electricity supply.

LUCELEC’s Senior Human Resources Manager Sharon Narcisse says the Company conducts regular tests of the air quality at all its locations and the latest test of the Sans Souci Office revealed some issues which need to be addressed. 

“The safety of our staff and customers is paramount, and out of an abundance of caution we have decided to close the building to allow the issues to be adequately addressed.  The staff will be temporarily relocated to our Cul De Sac facility in the meantime,” Mrs Narcisse explained.

It is expected that the remedial work at Sans Souci should last about two weeks.  Upon completion, the building will be retested to ensure that it can be reoccupied safely.  LUCELEC took similar steps with its Vieux Fort office over the last few weeks.  The work there has been completed and that office has been cleared to be reoccupied.  Arrangements are being made to move the staff back into the Vieux Fort Office, and to reopen the Vieux Fort Office to the public shortly.

The Company reminds customers who would normally transact business at its Sans Souci office that there are several other options available to them to ensure they are not unduly inconvenienced. 

Customers can make bill payments at Sure Pay outlets or via the financial institutions that offer that service.  Customers may use LUCELEC’s automated service to get their latest bill balance by dialling 457-4433 or use LUCELEC’s free MyAccount online service at “myaccount.lucelec.com” for bill balances, more detailed account information and to pay their bills through their banks.

The Company’s Customer Service office in Rodney Bay and the soon to be reopened Vieux Fort Office are available to serve the public with the full suite of services including bill queries and new connection requests. 

LUCELEC regrets any inconvenience caused to its customers and thanks them for their understanding.

Virgin Atlantic to cease flights to Saint Lucia

Virgin Atlantic

Saint Lucia not acceding to Virgin Atlantic subsidy demands

British Carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced that it would cease operations to Saint Lucia effective June 7, 2020.  The Saint Lucia government can confirm that it has been in dialogue with Virgin Atlantic Airways over the past few months, with the view of sustaining its existing flight service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF).

Saint Lucia was presented with several options, of which the financial viability were not in the best interest of the destination at this time as they would have placed significant strain on the relationship between Saint Lucia and other airlines.

OECS Music Talk continues in Grenada

OECS Music Talk

The OECS Competitive Business Unit (CBU) continued its Music Mentorship and Artiste Development Programme in the Spice Isle, Grenada, with the second installment of the OECS Music Talk series, on Wednesday 24 July, at the Grenada Trade Center.

Music Talk is a programme targeting emerging musical talents in the OECS, connecting musicians 30 years and under with established and experienced professionals in a series of discussions across OECS Member States.

Each Music Talk programme highlights the contributions and celebrates the achievements of some of the region’s leading musicians, who will serve as mentors to the young musicians. The programme is primarily aimed at providing young musicians with the opportunity to learn from these experienced and seasoned music professionals, create an avenue to discuss critical issues facing the music industry, help to build a platform for mentorship and coaching of emerging musical talents and to identify and build a cadre of young musicians for the work of the CBU in the music sub-sector.

The Music Talk programme in Grenada featured prominent local musical icons in the persons of Elwin McQuilkin, the Black Wizard, a veteran in the business with over 50 years of dedicated service to calypso music and a multiple calypso monarch winner. Wizard, a stalwart in the calypso arena in Grenada, is also a prolific songwriter and music and cultural visionary; David “Peck” Edwards is a pan maestro who has led and arranged multiple panorama champions with the New Dimensions. He has dedicated his life to steel pan music, sharing his love for the art in communities around Grenada, assisting with pan tuning and maintenance and helping to promote and take Grenadian pan music to the global stage; and Hollice Jonah Mapp, “Mr. Killa”, a multi-talented singer, songwriter, dancer and producer. Mr. Killa has won multiple soca monarch competitions and boasts hits like “Rolly Polly” and “Fever” – known across the region and in the international arena. He most recently became the first non-native of Trinidad and Tobago to win the International Power Soca Monarch competition for his 2019 hit song “Run wid It”.  

The three featured icons delivered presentations which were followed by a question and answer session. Each musical icon engaged the group of 30 mentees on a range of topics and experiences.

OECS Music Talk is part of the OECS CBU’s overall programme to enhance the competitiveness of the creative industries sector and to provide support to MSMEs in the sector to increase their exports of creative goods and services to global markets.

Grenada’s Music Talk was coordinated by the island’s Division of Culture of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and the Arts using the template developed and provided by the OECS CBU.

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