Hon Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit wants Dominicans and other nationals of other OECS states to be more cognizant of the effects of climate change.
The Dominica leader is concerned that the Governments of the region are way ahead of the citizenry as it relates to advocacy regarding the phenomena.
Hon Skerrit made that call at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Council Of Ministers’ Environmental Sustainability Meeting on Wednesday, May 4th.
“I get the impression that Government’s are way ahead of citizens with respect to advocating the importance of the environment and the issues of climate change. My hope and prayer is that citizens, school children and the wider community can have a better appreciation for the real impact of climate change on our ways of life.
“It is costing us millions of dollars to put in place mitigating mechanisms to combat climate change effects. Our coasts and beaches are being eroded undermining the vital tourism industries of many of our sister countries…If those beaches are affected, how are we going to sustain our tourism industry.
“I think people have to start appreciating the real danger to our way of life,” the Hon. Prime Minister asserted.
Meantime, Director General of the OECS Commission, Dr Didacus Jules recounted the traumatic regional events over the past decade resulting from climate change. He believes that climate change will make it harder to escape poverty.
He lauded Dominica’s Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit for rallying the region to perfect responses and build resilience against the effects of climate change.
On the agenda of the OECS Environment Ministers Meeting was a review of lessons learnt from Tropical Storm Erika.
The two-day meeting concluded on Thursday.
