Carib Scope

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  • Loved ones honour Davis at memorial in Miami

    Loved ones honour Davis at memorial in Miami

    A site of sudden, senseless violence was transformed into a joyous tribute to a life well-lived on Saturday, as hundreds of loved ones gathered in Miami to honor renowned Bahamian artist and entrepreneur Stefan “Legend” Davis, who was killed in a fatal car crash the previous week. The memorial took shape along the roadside where Davis lost his life, filled with the upbeat, rhythmic sounds of traditional Junkanoo music, vibrant floral arrangements, handwritten birthday wishes, and glowing candles held by mourners from near and far.

    The gathering came just one day before what would have been Davis’ 56th birthday, turning a planned celebration of another year of life into a commemoration of the legacy he left behind. Friends and family remembered Davis not only as a gifted creative and successful business leader, but as a kind, generous soul whose warmth touched everyone he met.

    A father of two and the founder of iconic custom art brand Airbrush Junkies, Davis was one of The Bahamas’ most recognizable creative entrepreneurs. He had traveled to South Florida for what was supposed to be a personal birthday getaway when tragedy struck on Wednesday. According to law enforcement reports, 21-year-old Lewis Manuel Perez — a suspect wanted on an outstanding military desertion warrant — was fleeing police when he ran through a stop sign, slamming his vehicle into Davis’ car and a third vehicle in the collision. Davis was killed at the scene.

    At Saturday’s roadside vigil, Davis’ family opened up about the sudden, devastating shock of learning of his death. Bappy Davis, Stefan’s brother, shared that the family had been in the middle of a joyful moment when they received the fateful call: he was in Atlanta helping his daughter, who is also an artist, move into her college dorm. “We were so happy on Wednesday, setting her up in her dorm, getting her ready,” he recalled. “We went out to pick up one or two things, and then we got that tragic call. I didn’t understand that and it was so bittersweet. It was like the worst and best thing that ever happened to my life.”

    For the Davis family, there was no more fitting way to honor Stefan than through Junkanoo, the vibrant Bahamian cultural celebration that had been woven into the fabric of their lives since childhood. Their childhood home on Taylor Street sat directly adjacent to the One Family Junkanoo Shack, where Stefan spent countless hours honing his craft and connecting with his community. “We ate, slept, we woke up to junkanoo,” Bappy Davis said. “It was all in our house. Wherever we go. We couldn’t get rid of it. Some people liked junkanoo, loved junkanoo. We didn’t have a choice.” He vowed that his brother’s legacy would live on through the family and the creative community he loved, saying simply: “He’ll live through us.”

    During the vigil, loved ones wrote personal birthday messages to the late artist, draped the memorial site in the Bahamian flag, and watched as Junkanoo performers paraded through the gathering in Davis’ honor. Local neighbors also joined the crowd to pay their respects and offer support to the grieving family. Davis’ closest friend shared that the loss still feels surreal, even days after the crash.

    Tributes have also poured in across social media from across the global creative and Bahamian communities. Leaders from One Family Junkanoo remembered Davis as a groundbreaking innovator who was never afraid to pursue new creative directions. “We are in shock and quite frankly lost for words,” said One Family chairman Vernon Rolle. “His connection to One Family was deeply rooted through Taylor Street where his entire family became part of our extended family and contributed to our organisation. He will be deeply missed.”

    Davis is survived by his two children and an extended network of loving relatives. As friends, colleagues, and creative community members continue to mourn his unexpected passing, his family confirmed that his body will be transported back to The Bahamas on Friday for final services.

  • Freeport Health Campus now 30 percent complete

    Freeport Health Campus now 30 percent complete

    On a Friday site visit led by Bahamas Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville, top government officials confirmed that the long-awaited Freeport Health Campus project is back on track and currently 30% complete, with substantial finishing of the facility’s first phase scheduled for July 2027.\n\nJoined by Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, West Grand Bahama MP Kingsley Smith, and senior hospital and project management officials, the tour revealed that construction work has fully restarted after the government secured critical financing via a loan from CIBC. The 80,000-square-foot first phase facility, being built by general contractor ABC Construction with Veritas Consultants Limited acting as owner’s representative and project agent for the Public Hospitals Authority, has expanded significantly from its original 62,000-square-foot design. Nearly 18,000 square feet of additional space has been added to the facility’s basement, a modification that will serve two key community needs: a designated hurricane shelter and a new training hub for the Public Hospitals Authority Academy.\n\nDr Darville outlined the current construction timeline, noting that crews are now pouring the facility’s main roof slab. Once this step is complete and the entire building envelope is sealed, internal construction work will commence. The government remains committed to opening the first phase by the end of 2027, with full commissioning expected no later than September of that year, according to John Michael Clark, president and managing director of Veritas Consultants. Clark added that all foundational work and the main building superstructure are already in place, and construction has also begun on the campus’s Central Utility Plant, a critical infrastructure component for the facility’s long-term operation.\n\nLooking ahead to the project’s second phase, Dr Darville confirmed that design work for the planned multi-story inpatient tower – which will house the majority of the new hospital’s patient beds – is nearly complete. Lead architects and structural engineers The Beck Group have finished the bulk of the design, and the government will launch a public tender bidding process for the second phase construction in the near future.\n\nPrime Minister Davis praised the project team for advancing the development after previous setbacks that caused significant delays. He noted that the additional hurricane shelter space holds particular resonance this week, as the nation marks the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Dorian, the devastating storm that exposed critical gaps in emergency safe shelter infrastructure across Grand Bahama. “To see that you will now have somewhere where people feel safer than they were then is also what I say is a sign of progress for us,” Davis said during a press briefing after the tour.\n\nBoth Davis and Dr Darville emphasized that the new health campus is being built to meet both current and future demand for healthcare on Grand Bahama, where the existing Rand Memorial Hospital has operated beyond its maximum capacity for 15 to 20 years. Davis framed the $project as a forward-thinking investment aligned with projected economic and population growth across the island, saying “we expect Grand Bahama to be thriving in a way that this hospital will be able to accommodate that exponential growth in the economy that we have here.” Dr Darville added that the Freeport Health Campus will become the new hub of tertiary healthcare for Grand Bahama, designed to serve generations of residents as the island develops.

  • Dominican Center to launch major study on Dominican-Haitian relations

    Dominican Center to launch major study on Dominican-Haitian relations

    A leading Dominican research institution is breaking new ground in the highly charged national debate over migration and cross-border ties with neighboring Haiti, announcing plans Wednesday to carry out the country’s first data-driven comprehensive socioeconomic analysis of the bilateral relationship.

    The Dominican Center for Strategic Thinking, a multidisciplinary collective of domestic experts led by prominent geopolitical scholar and professor Manuel Cruz, aims to inject objective, verifiable evidence into a public discourse that has long been dominated by partisan polarization and emotional rhetoric. By grounding discussions in official, peer-reviewable statistics, the organization hopes to create a more informed foundation for policy and public conversation around one of the country’s most contentious issues.

    At the core of the research design is a nationally representative public opinion survey of 4,000 Dominican residents, which will capture varied public attitudes, perceptions and experiences related to Haitian migration and the current state of the shared border. Beyond public sentiment, the study will aggregate granular administrative data from across government agencies to map the full scope of cross-border people-to-people ties and state spending related to border management.

    Specific data requests include a full breakdown of visas issued to Haitian citizens from 2020 through August 2026, sorted by travel purpose such as tourism, temporary employment, and academic study. Researchers will also audit total government expenditure on border security, itemizing costs for logistics, fuel, rations for security personnel, irregular migration interdiction operations, and deportation proceedings. Additional datasets will cover the number of Haitian students enrolled in Dominican public and private education institutions, public spending on the national migration regularization plan, and birth records at Dominican public hospitals disaggregated by parental migration status.

    Center leadership confirmed that formal information requests will be submitted to all relevant government agencies in the coming weeks, with a final report of findings scheduled for public release before the end of 2026. The non-partisan institution, which brings together professionals across multiple academic and policy fields, focuses on evidence-based geopolitical analysis, public policy research, and institutional strengthening initiatives designed to advance broad national well-being for the Dominican people.

  • Economist calls for new policy toward Dominican diaspora as remittances near US$12 billion

    Economist calls for new policy toward Dominican diaspora as remittances near US$12 billion

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – As remittances from Dominicans living overseas solidify their position as one of the country’s top sources of foreign currency, a leading economist from the main opposition party is pushing for a fundamental rethink of how the nation engages with its global diaspora.

    Haivanjoe Ng Cortiñas, Secretary of Economic Affairs for the People’s Force (FP) party, laid out his argument during a virtual public lecture hosted by the party’s Secretariat of Dominicans Abroad, an outreach and training arm of FP for its international membership currently led by Marco Cross. Titled “Remittances and the Dominican Diaspora: From the Importance of Remittances to a Policy of Reciprocity, Investment and Return,” the talk broke down the rapid growth of remittance flows, their far-reaching economic footprint, and the need for policy to evolve alongside shifting economic realities.

    Drawing on aggregated data including figures from the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), Ng Cortiñas highlighted the dramatic expansion of remittances over 15 years: inflows jumped from just US$3.68 billion in 2010 to a projected US$11.87 billion in 2025, representing a more than threefold increase over the period. By 2025, he noted, remittances make up roughly 25.1% of the Dominican Republic’s total foreign exchange earnings and account for 9.3% of the country’s entire gross domestic product.

    INDEX data estimates that 3.03 million Dominicans currently reside outside the country, a diaspora community that Ng Cortiñas emphasized is far more than just a collection of statistics. Behind every remittance transfer, he explained, is a Dominican worker living abroad sending hard-earned income to support family members back home, a human element that is often overlooked in macroeconomic analysis.

    The economist attributes the sustained growth of remittance inflows first and foremost to the tireless work and commitment of the Dominican diaspora, rather than any successful government economic policies. He also underscored how the role of remittances has shifted dramatically over the decades: what was once seen as a small supplementary source of household income for Dominican families has now become a core structural pillar of the country’s external economy.

    Ng Cortiñas’ analysis also uncovered notable geographic and seasonal shifts in remittance distribution across the country. He pointed out that the share of total remittances flowing to the National District surged from 26% in 2011 to nearly half (49.7%) of all inflows between January and July 2026. Over the same period, other major provinces including Santiago, Santo Domingo, Duarte, and La Vega all recorded declines in their share of total remittances. Seasonally, he added, December consistently accounts for more than 9% of annual remittance volumes, a trend driven by diaspora members increasing their financial support to family during the Christmas holiday season.

    Beyond the numbers, Ng Cortiñas argued that the large size of the Dominican diaspora should spark a urgent national conversation about why the country has not been able to generate enough economic opportunity for its citizens at home to reduce outward migration. He called on the government to move far beyond its current narrow policy approach, which only focuses on simplifying the process of sending remittances into the country. Instead, he said, policymakers must recognize the full value of Dominicans abroad as a critical source of human talent, financial capital, entrepreneurial expertise, and civic engagement for the nation.

    To implement this new approach, Ng Cortiñas put forward a series of concrete policy proposals. These include the creation of a Special Investment Regime for the Diaspora, a dedicated investment and savings account product for Dominicans living overseas, targeted tax and regulatory incentives to encourage diaspora members to invest and repatriate capital to the Dominican Republic, and a National Pact with the Dominican Diaspora centered on expanding rights for overseas Dominicans, supporting investment, facilitating knowledge transfer, encouraging return migration, and expanding consular protection.

    In closing his remarks, Ng Cortiñas summed up the core tension at the heart of his proposal: “Remittances are a strength of the Dominican Republic; depending on them to sustain our development would be a weakness.”

  • Dominican Conservatory partners with Cleveland Institute of Music

    Dominican Conservatory partners with Cleveland Institute of Music

    In a landmark move set to transform music education opportunities for Dominican artists, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Culture has formalized a new cooperation agreement between the country’s National Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), one of the United States’ most prestigious elite music training institutions. The signing ceremony took place in Cleveland, headed by Dominican Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo, with Vice Minister of Creativity and Artistic Training Amaury Sánchez in attendance. A commemorative musical performance followed the official signing to mark the milestone of the new cross-continental collaboration.

    The core mission of this bilateral partnership is threefold: to expand accessible high-level training opportunities for both student and faculty cohorts at both institutions, to bolster the academic and artistic infrastructure and capacity of the Dominican National Conservatory of Music, and to foster dynamic two-way exchange of knowledge, professional performance practices, and educational experiences between the two organizations. Under the terms of the agreement, the institutions will launch reciprocal exchange initiatives covering teaching staff, student cohorts, and academic curricula. A key priority of the partnership is also creating clear pathways for emerging young Dominican musicians to access advanced post-secondary and graduate training at the Cleveland Institute of Music, opening doors to global professional opportunities that were previously out of reach for many talented local artists.

    In a statement following the signing, the Dominican Ministry of Culture emphasized that this agreement aligns directly with the government’s long-standing commitment to elevating arts education across the country. The partnership will support the expansion of specialized musical training programs and build sustainable development pipelines to nurture emerging Dominican musical talent on the global stage. Officials from both institutions have noted that the collaboration marks a significant step forward in bridging North American and Caribbean artistic communities, creating lasting connections that will benefit generations of musicians.

  • Banreservas and FAO launch RD$1.18 billion financing program to modernize Dominican agriculture

    Banreservas and FAO launch RD$1.18 billion financing program to modernize Dominican agriculture

    A landmark new collaboration between three key institutions is set to drive transformative change across the Dominican Republic’s agricultural landscape, launching a $20 million (RD$1.18 billion) targeted financing mechanism to advance sector modernization and resilience. The partnership brings together the Dominican Republic’s central financial institution, Banreservas, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the national Ministry of Agriculture to tackle longstanding challenges and build on the country’s recent progress in food security.

    Under the terms of the agreement, each partner brings unique strengths to the initiative: Banreservas will anchor the effort by providing the core financing, the Ministry of Agriculture will ensure all funded projects align with the country’s established national agricultural development priorities, and the FAO will contribute decades of global technical expertise and cross-border best practice. In addition to financial backing, the partnership will grant project stakeholders direct access to FAO’s network of top national and international agricultural specialists, who will deliver targeted technical support across a range of critical areas, including sustainable crop and livestock production, climate-resilient agricultural innovation, and structured agricultural investment planning.

    The funding will be allocated to projects that advance a shared set of priorities, with a focus on expanding farm mechanization, scaling next-generation agricultural technologies, improving the efficiency of water and natural resource management, building adaptive capacity to climate change, and boosting overall sector productivity. Eligible project proposals include everything from precision agriculture systems and new productive agricultural infrastructure to advanced water management frameworks, on-farm renewable energy deployment, post-harvest food loss reduction, and end-to-end value chain development – all designed to lift the sector’s competitiveness and operational efficiency. The mechanism is also structured to address pressing systemic challenges facing Dominican agriculture, from widespread labor shortages and growing climate-related disaster risks to the urgent need for broad-based productivity gains.

    This investment comes at a pivotal moment for the Dominican Republic, which has already achieved landmark progress in eliminating hunger. According to FAO data, the country cut the prevalence of undernourishment to less than 2.5% by July 2026 – a threshold low enough that the Dominican Republic will no longer be listed on the UN body’s global Hunger Map. The new partnership is designed to lock in these hard-won food security gains while driving long-term sector transformation.

    Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Agriculture, called the partnership a tangible, game-changing step toward accelerating the modernization and mechanization of the country’s farms. “We are building a more modern, productive, profitable and competitive agriculture,” Espaillat Bencosme noted, adding that expanded access to affordable financing, cutting-edge technology, targeted training, and expert technical support will empower local producers to raise output, cut operational costs, and mitigate the impact of persistent labor shortages. He emphasized that broader technology adoption will also reinforce the country’s ongoing progress in protecting and expanding food security for all Dominican residents.

    The financing mechanism launches with an initial allocation of approximately RD$1.18 billion, with built-in flexibility to expand funding in the future to support additional high-impact investments across the country’s agri-food sector. The entire initiative is aligned with the FAO’s globally recognized “Four Betters” framework: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. Moving forward, the three partner institutions will work to translate this funding and expertise into tangible, lasting progress, building a more sustainable, efficient, and food-secure future for the Dominican Republic.

  • U.S. Ambassador Leah Campos praises Dominican Republic’s Christian identity

    U.S. Ambassador Leah Campos praises Dominican Republic’s Christian identity

    In a recent appearance on the Dominican Republic’s pioneering Christian podcast *Living with Faith*, United States Ambassador to the Caribbean nation Leah Campos has lauded the Dominican people for their unwavering commitment to Christian faith, framing the country as a standout regional example for preserving deep-rooted cultural and religious identity amid external pressure from global bodies and major global powers.

    Campos emphasized that what makes the Dominican Republic particularly notable across the Latin American and Caribbean region is the consistent outspokenness of its population when it comes to upholding their faith and core religious values. “I feel that the Dominican Republic is the model in the region,” she stated during the wide-ranging conversation, which touched on the intersections of belief, cultural identity, family structure, democratic governance, and public participation.

    The U.S. envoy went on to express her sincere hope that Dominican communities will continue to guard the foundational elements of their national character, chief among them their widespread devotion to Christianity. She also offered public praise for the country’s existing policy that retains criminal penalties for abortion, a position she called a “victory for God.”

    Campos did not shy away from critical commentary during the interview, taking aim at the global spread of what she termed “gender ideology” in other nations. She argued that this ideological trend erodes the central social roles long held by family units and religious institutions, while simultaneously expanding the power and reach of state actors in everyday life.

    Reflecting on her tenure in the country, the ambassador shared insights from her time engaging with diverse Christian communities across the Dominican Republic. She pointed to the remarkable openness that characterizes public discourse around faith in the country, noting that even Dominicans who do not actively participate in organized religious services still feel comfortable discussing their belief in God openly.

    “I am observing and benefiting from your dedication to your values,” Campos added, acknowledging the inspiration she has drawn from the Dominican public’s commitment to their long-held beliefs.

    The conversation also extended beyond the Dominican Republic’s borders, touching on a documented resurgence of interest in traditional religious practices among young people in the United States, as well as the evolving role of faith in modern, 21st-century society.

  • Dominican government begins construction of 14.5-kilometer border fence in Jimaní

    Dominican government begins construction of 14.5-kilometer border fence in Jimaní

    In the Independencia Province municipality of Jimaní, the Dominican Republic has officially kicked off construction on a 14.5-kilometer stretch of border perimeter fence as the second phase of a national border security upgrade. Managed by the country’s Ministry of Defense (MIDE), this infrastructure project forms a core pillar of the administration’s broader strategy to tighten territorial control and security along the entire shared border with neighboring Haiti.

    The new planned fence structure boasts a 13-foot vertical height, and will integrate six purpose-built surveillance watchtowers alongside 35 culverts to accommodate local drainage needs. Flanking both sides of the fence will be wide 7-meter patrol roads, engineered specifically to streamline rapid military movement across the sector. This layered infrastructure is purpose-designed to boost on-the-ground surveillance coverage, cut response times to security incidents, and make military patrol operations far more efficient across this high-risk border zone.

    This construction segment is strategically sited in the Enriquillo Basin, in close proximity to Lake Azuey (alternatively referred to as Lake Fondo). For decades, this geographic area has grappled with persistent security challenges, including unregulated cross-border movement of people and goods, and widespread illicit trafficking activities. Dominican security officials note that existing enforcement efforts led by the Dominican Army and the nation’s Specialized Border Security Corps (CESFRONT) have already succeeded in cutting the prevalence of these activities, and the new infrastructure will build on these gains to further suppress cross-border crime.

    According to MIDE official Fernández Onofre, the project is a key component of President Luis Abinader’s flagship “Strong Border” initiative. This comprehensive strategy combines expanded permanent military presence, purpose-built security infrastructure, advanced surveillance technology, improved mobility for border forces, and coordinated interagency cooperation to strengthen national territorial security, while also supporting sustainable economic and social development for communities located along the border.

    Beyond security gains, the project carries meaningful economic importance for the region. Jimaní hosts one of the largest binational cross-border markets along the Dominican-Haitian border, and it is also one of the country’s busiest entry points for heavy freight trucks and container shipping moving between the two nations. Dominican authorities project that the upgraded border infrastructure will not only strengthen anti-smuggling enforcement, but also foster a more secure, predictable, and organized environment for legitimate cross-border trade that benefits local economies on both sides of the border.

    After the official launch ceremony held in Jimaní, Fernández Onofre led a delegation from the Office of the Presidency (OPM) north to the border city of Dajabón, where they conducted an inspection of another fence construction segment currently in development. The site visit gave the delegation an opportunity to evaluate on-the-ground construction progress, and assess how the new fence will integrate with existing surveillance, patrol, and security systems along the northern stretch of the shared border.

    The Jimaní construction kickoff, paired with ongoing expansion work in Dajabón, forms part of the Dominican government’s wider national effort to upgrade the operational and technological capabilities of the country’s Armed Forces, strengthen national territorial control, and modernize the entire security infrastructure network running along the full length of the Dominican-Haitian border.

  • Dominican Republic and EU sign Agreement to study rare earth elements in Pedernales

    Dominican Republic and EU sign Agreement to study rare earth elements in Pedernales

    In a landmark step toward unlocking the Dominican Republic’s untapped geological resources, the national government and the European Union have formalized a collaborative agreement to conduct comprehensive scientific research on rare earth elements, gallium, and scandium located in the karst bauxite reserves of Pedernales’ Ávila Mining Fiscal Reserve. The newly signed Joint Declaration establishes a framework for evidence-based evaluation of the mineral deposits’ commercial and strategic potential, with a core focus on responsible, sustainable resource management.

    The signing ceremony, hosted at the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together top leadership from both sides: Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor O. Bisonó Haza signed the document on behalf of the Caribbean nation, while Raúl Fuentes Milani, the European Union’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic, signed for the bloc. Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos Echavarría also participated as a key stakeholder in the initiative.

    Speaking at the event, Bisonó underlined that rigorous, transparent mapping of the country’s mineral endowments is a foundational prerequisite for strategic decision-making. He emphasized that any future development of these deposits must be aligned with four non-negotiable priorities: long-term environmental sustainability, full operational transparency, strict protection of ecosystems, and advancement of the Dominican Republic’s national public interest.

    For his part, Ambassador Fuentes Milani clarified that the EU’s partnership extends far beyond direct financial investment. The collaboration is designed to build long-term capacity in the Dominican Republic: it prioritizes generating open, peer-reviewed scientific knowledge, facilitating the transfer of cutting-edge mineral assessment technology, and strengthening the technical skills of national personnel so the country can retain full autonomy over decisions related to its own natural resources.

    Central to the declaration is a pre-approved grant agreement with the University of Barcelona, which will lead the first phase of work: detailed mineralogical characterization of the rare earth elements, scandium, and gallium found in the Pedernales deposits. Beyond laboratory analysis, the project will also invest in training domestic scientific experts, developing standardized regulatory and operational frameworks for sustainable mining projects, and laying the groundwork for future non-reimbursable international cooperation initiatives focused on the Dominican resource sector.

    The total budget for the characterization project totals €538,709.50, with costs split evenly among three partners: the European Union, the Dominican national government, and the University of Barcelona. All allocated funds will be directed toward on-the-ground scientific activities, including specialized geochemical testing, field survey work across the Pedernales reserve, procurement of necessary research supplies, and hands-on knowledge transfer to Dominican technical staff to ensure long-term local leadership of future efforts.

    This new initiative is not a standalone effort, but rather an expansion of earlier geological research carried out under the EU’s SYSMIN II Program. Between 2010 and 2011, that earlier project first confirmed the presence of viable rare earth element deposits in the Pedernales bauxite formations, establishing the baseline scientific understanding that makes the current expanded assessment possible.

    Both signing parties reaffirmed the strategic importance of advancing this work to advance global responsible mining standards. By grounding future development decisions in robust, independent scientific evidence, the partnership aims to accurately quantify the value of the deposits, identify sustainable uses for the extracted minerals, and set a precedent for equitable, environmentally conscious resource development in the Caribbean region.

  • Climate financing in Haiti

    Climate financing in Haiti

    Against a backdrop of worsening climate impacts that disproportionately hit vulnerable small island developing states like Haiti, national environment authorities organized a landmark two-day stakeholder gathering focused on climate financing in early September 2026. Hosted by the Ministry of Environment’s Directorate of Climate Change, the sectoral round table brought together a cross-section of key actors spanning government sectoral ministries, international technical and financial partners, grassroots ecological advocacy groups, local non-governmental organizations, and private sector representatives.

    The core objective of the convening was to advance more cohesive national climate action by bridging the divide between national development planning and climate priorities, fostering stronger alignment between sectoral policy agendas and the country’s climate resilience goals. At the opening of the event, Environment Minister Valéry Fils-Aimé opened with a candid assessment of Haiti’s current climate financing landscape, emphasizing a critical mismatch between the severity of the climate and environmental challenges the nation confronts and the level of financial resources currently deployed to address them. “In Haiti, financial commitments are not up to the environmental challenges,” Fils-Aimé stressed, urging stakeholders to pursue broader, more context-responsive mobilization efforts that reflect Haiti’s unique on-the-ground realities.

    The minister further pushed for a shift away from empty pledges and symbolic announcements, calling for a renewed focus on directing available funding to tangible, results-driven interventions that deliver direct benefits to the most climate-vulnerable communities and economic sectors across the country. During his opening remarks, Fils-Aimé also formally recognized the ongoing support that World Vision has provided to Haiti’s national climate action efforts, highlighting how partner investment strengthens both national institutions and local communities as they work to develop long-term sustainable solutions to climate change impacts.

    Ministry of Environment Director General Engineer Astrel Joseph followed with a comprehensive stocktake of existing climate finance mobilization in Haiti, breaking down both currently available resources and the persistent gaps that remain unaddressed. Additional presentations were delivered by key stakeholders: Raoul Vital outlined Haiti’s official national ambitions for scaling up climate financing, while Odré Valbrun led a discussion on designing a national coordination mechanism for climate action, framing the conversation around the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and the national Strategic Framework for Environment and Climate Action (CSEA).

    By the close of the two-day dialogue, cross-stakeholder discussions and input from all participating groups had successfully laid the foundational framework for a future National Climate Finance Roadmap. This roadmap will serve as a guiding document to structure national efforts to mobilize, coordinate, manage, and direct climate finance resources in line with Haiti’s national development priorities, its international climate commitments, and the urgent resilience needs of local territories and communities across the country.