Carib Scope

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  • Fruitverwerkingsproject met India moet landbouwsector nieuwe impuls geven

    Fruitverwerkingsproject met India moet landbouwsector nieuwe impuls geven

    In a landmark step advancing bilateral agricultural cooperation, India has formally transferred a state-of-the-art technical fruit processing installation to Suriname, a project designed to strengthen the South American nation’s local agro-industry and unlock new cross-border export opportunities. This initiative forms a core part of ongoing partnership between Suriname and India focused on inclusive agricultural development and small business entrepreneurship. The official handover ceremony took place at the premises of Melk Centrale Paramaribo Agro N.V. in Paramaribo, drawing high-level attendance from both nations. Key dignitaries in attendance included Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation (BIS) Melvin Bouva, Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Mike Noersalim, and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

    Minister Bouva explained that the fruit processing project originates from a commitment India made back in 2023 during the CARICOM-India Ministerial Meeting, where New Delhi pledged to deliver machinery and technical assistance to support small and medium-sized enterprises across the Caribbean and Latin American region. Suriname made a deliberate strategic choice to prioritize expansion of its fruit processing industry, with a specific focus on passion fruit (locally referred to as markoesa), a high-value cash crop with strong regional and global demand. According to a statement from BIS, Bouva emphasized that the growing fruit processing sector holds significant potential to drive broad-based economic growth, create new formal employment opportunities for local workers, and expand Suriname’s footprint in international export markets.

    While the installation of the core processing line marks a critical milestone for the project, government officials noted that a power converter still needs to be installed before the facility can become fully operational. The Surinamese government has reiterated its firm commitment to completing the remaining construction and deployment work, and ensuring the facility is operated sustainably to deliver long-term benefits to the local agricultural sector.

    Minister Jaishankar framed the new fruit processing facility as a tangible example of the deepening broader partnership between India and Suriname. He stressed that meaningful international development cooperation should deliver visible, real-world improvements to the daily lives of ordinary citizens, particularly through targeted support for smallholder farmers, local small business owners, and domestic agro-processing sectors.

    Following the handover ceremony, officials from both nations expressed shared optimism that the project will deliver multiple layered benefits: it will strengthen Suriname’s overall agricultural competitiveness, add greater value to locally grown agricultural products, and deepen the long-standing bilateral ties between India and Suriname, opening the door for more collaborative development projects in the future.

  • Migration Forum : Minister Marc-Elie Nelson’s intervention in New York

    Migration Forum : Minister Marc-Elie Nelson’s intervention in New York

    As the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) — hosted by the United Nations at its New York headquarters — drew to a close on Friday, May 8, 2026, Haiti’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Marc-Elie Nelson delivered a key address calling on all UN member states to deepen cross-border collaboration to tackle the growing challenges of global migration management.

    Speaking to delegates on Haiti’s behalf, Nelson outlined the unique pressures the Caribbean nation faces, from surging irregular migration flows and devastating brain drain to the urgent need to expand protections for Haitian citizens residing and working outside the country’s borders. Against this backdrop, he highlighted the coordinated domestic reforms and initiatives the Haitian government has rolled out in recent years to bring more structure and fairness to migration movement.

    The cornerstone of these efforts is the National Migration Policy, a formal strategic framework adopted by the administration in 2023 that guides all government action on migration issues. This foundational policy has allowed the government to roll out a targeted contingency plan aligned with the 23 core objectives of the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, designed specifically to support the arrival and integration of returning Haitian migrants from the Dominican Republic. It also cleared the way for the development of a national care protocol for migrants, funded through a financial partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

    Nelson emphasized that guaranteeing all migrants equal access to critical basic services — including healthcare, primary and secondary education, and formal social protection — is a non-negotiable priority for his government. To advance this goal, Haiti’s 2025-2026 national budget has allocated 152 million gourdes to construct a new transitional accommodation center in the border town of Belladère. Since October 2025, the minister confirmed, the Haitian government has already welcomed and processed more than 170,000 returning migrants, upholding commitments to treat all people with full respect and human dignity throughout the process.

    In closing remarks, Nelson argued that future progress in global migration governance depends on targeted investment in data-driven policy, expanded pathways for regular, legal migration, and more aggressive coordinated action to dismantle transnational human trafficking networks. He concluded by urging the global community to adopt a unified approach to migration that centers humanity, inclusion, and full respect for the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their origin or immigration status.

  • Over US$16 million in emergency food assistance provided to Haiti

    Over US$16 million in emergency food assistance provided to Haiti

    Haiti’s deepening food insecurity crisis has received a critical boost, after the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced Wednesday, May 6, that it has secured more than $16 million in new funding from the Regional Humanitarian Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean. The allocation will deliver life-saving emergency food assistance to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people across three of Haiti’s hardest-hit departments: Artibonite, Centre, and West.

    Against a backdrop of spiraling hunger that has pushed millions of Haitians into acute food insecurity, this funding will underpin a targeted emergency humanitarian intervention focused on rapidly cutting rates of severe food insecurity while protecting local food production systems. Unlike traditional food aid distributions that rely on imported delivered food stocks, the FAO’s innovative model centers on supporting small-scale local production to help affected households rebuild their own food access long-term.

    Under the program, FAO teams will distribute custom emergency food production kits to 326,600 people classified as facing acute food insecurity at IPC Phase 3 or higher — a tier that marks significant food consumption gaps and heightened risk of malnutrition. Each kit includes short-cycle crop seeds designed for fast harvests and small livestock including goats, chickens, and ducks, which will help restore the production and food consumption capacity of vulnerable households.

    The model combines fast-acting agricultural inputs with small-scale livestock rearing to deliver immediate improvements to household access to protein and nutrient-dense food, with visible results starting within just days of distribution. To ensure that beneficiaries are able to use the resources effectively, the program also includes ongoing technical guidance and regular follow-up visits from local agricultural experts.

    Designed to deliver tangible outcomes within 90 days of distribution — and in some cases even faster depending on the type of input — each single kit is projected to cover the complete food needs of a five-person household for close to six months. Beyond meeting immediate hunger needs, the kits empower families to grow their own food, helping them regain food sovereignty with dignity rather than relying on long-term external aid.

    Working alongside Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, the FAO will coordinate directly with rural community groups to implement the program, ensuring that assistance reaches the people who need it most and translates quickly into tangible improvements in food access.

    Pierre Vauthier, FAO Representative in Haiti, highlighted the unique value of this community-centered production-focused model. “The importance of these interventions lies in their ability to enable households to quickly meet their own food needs, regardless of the circumstances, while reducing the need for irreversible survival strategies,” Vauthier explained. “They thus help save lives while, in the long term, reducing dependence on external aid.”

  • Presentation of OAS progress in support of Haiti

    Presentation of OAS progress in support of Haiti

    On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin delivered a comprehensive progress update to the bloc’s Permanent Council in Washington, D.C., detailing the hemispheric body’s ongoing work to support stability and development in crisis-stricken Haiti. The update outlined measurable advances across five core priority areas: political mediation, electoral system preparation, security sector assistance, international coordination, and expansion of the OAS’s institutional footprint within Haiti.

    Ramdin emphasized that all OAS initiatives are centered on the principle of Haitian-led solutions, with a core focus on aligning national and international stakeholders and moving toward structured implementation of the widely endorsed Haiti Roadmap for Stability and Peace.

    One of the most critical achievements highlighted by the Secretary General was the OAS’s intervention during the period surrounding February 7, 2026, a window marked by severe institutional uncertainty in the Caribbean nation. Leveraging its formal good offices mandate, behind-the-scenes quiet diplomacy, and coordinated outreach to Haitian authorities, regional bodies, and global partners, the OAS played a key role in preserving executive branch continuity and preventing a far-reaching collapse of state institutions.

    On the electoral front, Ramdin noted that the December 2025 adoption of Haiti’s Electoral Decree marked a key turning point, shifting the process from broad planning to concrete, organized preparation. Through its Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, the OAS maintains an ongoing technical working group with Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council, responding to requests for support in critical areas including electoral technology, voter information systems, and institutional capacity building.

    In the security domain, the OAS has evolved its support from planning to active operational assistance, Ramdin reported. Current engagement includes backing for the civilian component of Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF), alongside targeted initiatives to upgrade national police capacities, improve security infrastructure, deliver specialized training, strengthen anti-gang financial investigations, and boost security at Haiti’s key maritime ports and coastal borders.

    Ramdin also spotlighted progress on the development of the Haiti Roadmap Dashboard, a transparency and coordination tool designed to provide clearer visibility, full traceability, and greater accountability for all contributions and advances made by the international community. The first phase of the platform, which maps all ongoing OAS-led projects, is already complete, and the second phase will integrate data on bilateral support provided by individual OAS member states. Ramdin called on member state delegations to submit any outstanding contribution data to ensure the platform accurately captures the full scope of collective global support for Haiti.

    Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Jean Josué Pierre, confirmed that the Secretary General’s report aligned with on-the-ground conditions in his country. He noted that while progress remains modest, Haiti is now seeing tangible signs of hope, with the capital gradually reclaiming space for normal daily life, peace, and improved security after years of widespread gang violence and institutional collapse. Pierre stressed that the immediate priority is to consolidate current gains and scale up international and national efforts. He also announced that Haiti would submit a draft resolution titled “Support for Haitian-Led Stabilization and Strengthening Coordination of Hemispheric Assistance” for debate at the upcoming OAS General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Panama in June 2026.

    In additional procedural updates, Ramdin confirmed that ahead of the June 22–24 General Assembly in Panama, the OAS will convene a new meeting of the Group of Friends of Haiti. The gathering will serve to review accumulated progress, align on next steps for implementation, and mobilize additional resources and political backing for the priorities laid out in the Haiti stabilization roadmap.

    Closing his presentation, Ramdin noted that the path to long-term stability in Haiti will continue to require consistent determination, coordinated action, and a shared commitment to Haitian sovereignty. “The road ahead will continue to require determination, coordination, and a shared sense of purpose. The OAS stands ready to continue contributing to this effort as a platform for alignment, a facilitator of dialogue, and a partner in implementation,” he said.

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis to establish High Commission in Singapore

    Saint Kitts and Nevis to establish High Commission in Singapore

    In a historic move set to reshape Caribbean diplomatic engagement in Southeast Asia, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has confirmed plans to open a new High Commission in Singapore, marking the first permanent diplomatic facility of any Caribbean nation in the city-state. The announcement was made by Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, during a May 6, 2026 appearance on the public affairs program *InFocus*.

    Dr. Douglas shared that the federation has already received formal agrément — the required approval from the host government for a planned diplomatic mission — and preparations are already underway to open the facility in the near future. Drawing a parallel between the two small nations, the foreign minister highlighted that Singapore’s track record of economic and governance success offers meaningful points of alignment for Saint Kitts and Nevis as it deepens ties with the Southeast Asian region.

    This milestone builds on a foundation of already warm, mutually respectful relations between the two countries. Currently, Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains non-residential diplomatic representation through an appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary based in Singapore, which has supported ongoing cooperation across multiple shared priority areas. The new permanent High Commission will expand this capacity, creating a dedicated on-the-ground hub to facilitate deeper dialogue, strengthen people-to-people connections, and unlock new collaborative opportunities.

    The decision to establish a Singapore mission comes on the heels of another recent diplomatic expansion: the opening of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ High Commission in India. In a reflection of the federation’s commitment to authentic global representation, both the upcoming Singapore mission and the already operational Indian mission will be led by resident diplomats who are citizens of the twin-island nation.

    Industry observers note that the move is part of a broader, deliberate strategy by Saint Kitts and Nevis to expand its diplomatic footprint across key fast-growing regions of the Indo-Pacific, opening new pathways for trade, investment, and multilateral cooperation that have previously been out of reach for small island developing states in the Caribbean.

  • Cuba condemns new U.S. sanctions as Washington intensifies pressure campaign

    Cuba condemns new U.S. sanctions as Washington intensifies pressure campaign

    A fresh round of U.S. sanctions targeting Cuba has deepened a months-long pressure campaign against the Caribbean island nation, announced just hours after United Nations experts slammed Washington’s restrictions on Cuban fuel supplies as a campaign of “energy starvation” that threatens humanitarian catastrophe.

    The new measures, revealed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on May 7, 2026, mark the first enforcement action stemming from a White House executive order signed on May 1 that escalates Washington’s decades-long economic, financial, and commercial blockade of Cuba to unprecedented levels, according to Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In an official statement released via the Cuban embassy, Havana issued a fierce rejection of both the executive order and the latest sanctions, which add two major Cuban entities — the group Gaesa and mining firm MoaNickel S.A. — to the U.S. Specially Designated Nationals List.

    Cuban officials characterize the move as a brutal act of economic aggression designed to expand the blockade’s impact far beyond U.S. borders, opening the door to secondary sanctions against foreign companies, banks, and third-party entities even when their operations have no legitimate connection to U.S. commercial activity. This extraterritorial overreach, the statement argues, directly violates core principles of international law and the foundational norms of global free trade, while infringing on the sovereign right of all nations to maintain independent economic and diplomatic relations with Cuba.

    The Cuban government links the latest sanctions escalation to restrictive energy measures imposed by the Trump administration in January 2026, which severely disrupted the country’s fuel imports. Together, the combined measures are pushing Cuba’s already fragile economy to the breaking point, exacerbating existing shortages of basic goods and amplifying the risk of a full-scale humanitarian crisis. U.S. diplomatic and financial pressure designed to discourage global engagement with Cuba is a deliberate tactic to cut the island off from global markets, Cuban officials say, part of a broader strategy to weaken the national economy and inflict widespread hardship on the Cuban people in an attempt to force political change.

    Worsening conditions, the ministry warns, could be leveraged by Washington as a pretext for further escalatory actions against the country. Cuba rejects any claim that external pressure justifies interference in its domestic political and economic systems, and stresses that it will continue to defend its sovereignty through diplomatic channels in international forums.

    “We denounce the criminal nature of these aggressive measures aimed at forcing the entire Cuban population to surrender through hunger and desperation and at attempting to create a social, economic, and political catastrophe on a national scale,” the statement reads. “We also reject the U.S. government’s intention to create a humanitarian crisis in order to justify more dangerous actions, including military aggression against Cuba.”

    U.S. restrictions on Cuba have a decades-long history: the original trade embargo was first imposed in 1962, and it remained in place until President Barack Obama normalized relations and lifted most sanctions during his tenure. The Trump administration reimposed sweeping restrictions in January 2026, launching a targeted energy blockade that has been expanded further through the May 1 executive order and this week’s new sanctions designations. The UN experts’ recent warning that U.S. policy has already created a crisis of “energy starvation” adds international condemnation to the escalating standoff, as Cuba calls on the global community to reject Washington’s unilateral measures and defend the principle of national sovereignty.

  • Op ‘jacht’ naar een ontmoeting met Ashwin Adhin

    Op ‘jacht’ naar een ontmoeting met Ashwin Adhin

    It was early May when a promotional video popped up on my Facebook feed, leading with a portrait of Ashwin Adhin, Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname, captioned “Suriname Man on a Mission”. The video invited me to a networking evening billed as “A Night of Connection” with Adhin, scheduled for the evening of Thursday, April 30 in Wateringen, a small town west of The Hague between Rijswijk and Naaldwijk. Local organizers Sunil Kowlesar and Hugo Sital, reported to be acquaintances of Adhin, promised attendees light snacks and drinks.

    Wateringen is not exactly known as a hub for Surinamese community events, so I looked up the venue online and was surprised to find it was a small local casual eatery called Warung Chit-Ra. It struck me as an odd choice to host a formal meeting with the sitting speaker of a foreign parliament. It seemed organizers caught wind of the confusion around the original venue, because a few days later I received the same promotional clip updated with a new location: WestCord Hotel Delft, on the same date, still free entry with complimentary food and drinks, plus a WhatsApp contact for registration.

    I seriously considered signing up. I had never met Adhin in person, and I was eager to hear his perspective on the role of the Surinamese diaspora in the Netherlands in supporting ongoing development in Suriname. Around the same time, I saw a separate announcement on LinkedIn from the Diaspora Instituut Nederland (DIN) for another meeting with Adhin, scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday May 3 at the Van der Valk Hotel near Schiphol Airport. Having never attended a DIN event before, I registered for this one instead, paying a 15-euro contribution to cover venue rental costs. This way, I figured I would get my chance to meet Adhin one way or another.

    That weekend was already shaping up to be packed: I had also received a personal invitation to the inaugural Jules Wijdenbosch Lecture, organized by diaspora group Collectief Overzee Surinamers, in Amsterdam-Zuidoost on the afternoon of Saturday May 2.

    But just as I prepared for the weekend, everything began to unravel. First, I got a message canceling the April 30 Adhin event at WestCord Hotel Delft. Then, on the morning of May 2, Surinamese outlet Starnieuws published a story in which Adhin flatly denied any involvement with the DIN event scheduled for Sunday. Notably, he made no comment at all about the canceled Delft gathering.

    Adhin told Starnieuws that with his official approval, the Surinamese ambassador to the Netherlands would host an official networking reception for diaspora organizations, entrepreneurs and professionals Sunday evening May 3 in Amsterdam. The invitation was even published alongside the Starnieuws story, open to all interested attendees. The announcement sparked heated discussion across Dutch social media. But DIN issued its own statement shortly after, confirming the Sunday afternoon event would go forward as planned regardless. By this point, Adhin had become something of an unexpected fixation for me, a constant presence in my planning for days. I found myself debating whether to rearrange my plans to attend the Amsterdam evening event.

    Then, in what was a complete surprise, as I waited for the inaugural Jules Wijdenbosch Lecture to start in Amsterdam-Zuidoost that Saturday afternoon, Adhin himself walked into the venue alongside his wife. Attendees were asked to wait a moment for the Surinamese ambassador, who was en route to the event.

    I was sitting just four rows behind Adhin, so I took the chance to introduce myself. He stood, we shook hands, I shared my name and told him it was an honor to meet him, and we chatted for a few minutes while we waited for the ambassador. It turned out Adhin had to leave early to attend a wedding in Rotterdam, which was the whole reason for his short visit to the Netherlands. I left that chance encounter delighted to have met the figure that had occupied my planning for days.

    When I arrived at the well-attended DIN event the next afternoon, I was naturally curious about how organizers would explain Adhin’s absence. All DIN chair John Brewster shared in his opening remarks was that he had received a message — which I assumed came from the Surinamese embassy — stating Adhin could not attend due to unspecified security risks. Those seeking more details were invited to ask Brewster privately after the event concluded.

    By this point, I had already drawn my own conclusion. No meeting with visiting Surinamese ministers or parliament members, particularly those affiliated with the National Democratic Party (NDP), can go forward without the explicit approval of the Surinamese ambassador in The Hague. It is important to note that Ambassador Panka is no stranger to political organization: he previously served as the NDP’s official spokesperson, and led the party’s own Information & Propaganda Institute.

    After the DIN event wrapped, I briefly considered heading to Amsterdam to attend the official evening reception and hear Adhin speak after all. But I had not registered in advance, and it seemed likely security would turn me away at the door, so I decided to head home instead.

    Late that Sunday night, as I scrolled through Facebook before bed, I came across a photo from the Rotterdam wedding Adhin had left the Amsterdam lecture to attend. He was dressed in a celebratory, tailored three-piece burgundy suit, so well-fitted and formal that for a moment I thought he was the groom. As I went to sleep with that image in my mind, I could not help but note one clear contradiction: there had been no mention of security risks at that wedding.

    This firsthand account of the chaotic sequence of events around Adhin’s short visit to the Netherlands offers a clear look at how diaspora engagement with Suriname’s ruling party works through official channels, and the frictions that arise when independent groups try to organize their own engagements.

  • Dominica joins regional push for urban climate resilience at UN House meeting in Barbados

    Dominica joins regional push for urban climate resilience at UN House meeting in Barbados

    Seven Caribbean nations have concluded a two-day regional climate resilience workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados, marking a critical step forward in translating global climate pledges into tangible action for vulnerable urban communities across the region.

    Hosted at UN House and organized by UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) programme in partnership with the Government of Barbados and the UN Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the workshop brought together senior housing and urban development officials from Dominica, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Climate change focal points from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also joined the proceedings virtually.

    The gathering centered on accelerating coordinated urban climate action, with targeted focus on three high-priority areas: climate-resilient housing, critical infrastructure upgrades, and long-term resilience planning. At its conclusion, participants formally launched the Bridgetown Technical Roadmap, a country-led framework that outlines clear priorities, accountability checkpoints, and coordinated next steps for the next 12 months to guide collective action across participating nations.

    Addressing delegates at the opening ceremony, Barbados’ Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Christopher Gibbs emphasized that the region can no longer rely on non-binding pledges to protect communities from climate harm. “Across the Caribbean, we have made strong climate commitments. Through our Nationally Determined Contributions, our countries have set out ambitious goals to reduce emissions, build resilience, and protect our people and economies from the impacts of climate change. But commitments alone will not protect a roof. Commitments alone will not drain a flooded road,” Gibbs said.

    Drawing lessons from recent devastating hurricane seasons, Gibbs pointed to long-neglected infrastructure gaps—particularly inadequate drainage systems—as a critical unaddressed challenge, noting the widespread flood damage seen in Jamaica following recent storm events that was amplified by poor infrastructure planning. He also highlighted housing finance as a persistent barrier to resilience, explaining that many Caribbean households still struggle to access adequate funding for climate-resilient home ownership even when they meet mortgage eligibility requirements.

    UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Simon Springett praised Caribbean nations for their global climate leadership, even amid growing uncertainty around international climate finance and support. “The Caribbean is not a place that waits to be saved. The Caribbean is a place that produces solutions. It exports ideas, and it speaks time and time again with the clarity and moral force that punches profoundly above its weight in global conversations,” Springett said in his welcome address.

    Elkin Velasquez Monsalve, Regional Director of UN-Habitat for Latin America and the Caribbean, reaffirmed that all ongoing and future resilience work in the region will remain centered on national priorities and local realities. “In the Caribbean, adequate housing sits at the centre of urban climate action. This Workshop, and the work that follows, reflects exactly that conviction: country-led, anchored in multilevel governance, and grounded in the realities of each country,” he said.

    Luis Antonio Ramírez García echoed this framing, noting that housing is the most consistently and devastatingly impacted asset when climate disasters strike. “When we speak about climate change, we speak about many things: hurricanes, floods, rising seas. But what is most consistently affected, and most painfully lost, is housing. We lose our homes, our history, the very places that hold who we are, and we are left vulnerable. That is what we are here to change,” he said, confirming that the roadmap binds both participating governments and UN-Habitat to its 12-month action plan.

    One of the workshop’s landmark outcomes is the Caribbean Urban Climate Action Collective Baseline, the first regional self-assessment of its kind that analyzes how Caribbean nations are currently integrating climate considerations into housing and urban planning policy. The assessment maps key barriers to climate-resilient urban development and identifies priority areas where UN-Habitat will provide targeted technical support to participating nations over the coming year.

    Beyond the roadmap and baseline assessment, delegates also used the event to exchange practical experiences and solutions for managing densely populated urban areas and upgrading living conditions in climate-vulnerable communities. Three core outputs from the initiative are expected: the baseline assessment, the Bridgetown Technical Roadmap, and the SURGe Caribbean Background Paper, which will document regional needs and priorities for global stakeholders.

    The work launched in Bridgetown is expected to inform global climate and urban policy discussions at the upcoming 13th World Urban Forum and the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31). It also lays the foundation for a long-term technical partnership between UN-Habitat and Caribbean governments, with implementation of the roadmap’s commitments supported by the United Nations Country Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, which collaborates with sub-regional governments to advance national development priorities.

  • Belize Moves Early to Help Farmers Ahead of Drought

    Belize Moves Early to Help Farmers Ahead of Drought

    As climate forecasts point to a heightened risk of severe drought later this year, the government of Belize has moved ahead of the curve to activate a comprehensive support plan for agricultural producers across the country’s most vulnerable regions.

    Developed over nearly two years of collaborative work between the Belizean Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, the National Meteorological Service, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the initiative introduces a first-of-its-kind Anticipatory Action system for the country. The framework was greenlit after long-range weather projections confirmed a high probability of below-average rainfall across Belize in the coming months.

    The core of the program delivers advance cash assistance to smallholder and commercial farmers operating in Orange Walk, Corozal, and Cayo — the three regions identified as facing the greatest drought risk. With this flexible funding, producers can invest upfront in drought adaptation tools: reinforced water storage infrastructure, climate-resilient seed varieties, and expanded irrigation equipment that will help them preserve crops through extended dry periods. Government officials emphasize that this pre-emptive investment is designed to lock in crop protection and cut avoidable production losses before drought conditions even set in.

    The proactive approach comes as climate scientists warn that El Niño conditions, which typically bring drier-than-average weather to much of Central America, are on track to develop by July. Northern and western Belize, the regions that host the bulk of the country’s small-scale agricultural operations, are particularly exposed, as most local farming systems rely entirely on natural rainfall rather than established irrigation networks.

    For WFP Representative Brian Bogart, the shift from post-disaster response to pre-emptive action marks a critical evolution in climate risk management. “Acting before a crisis hits doesn’t just protect farmers’ harvests — it safeguards their livelihoods and cuts the long-term public cost of emergency disaster response,” Bogart explained. “When farmers are able to keep their crops healthy and their incomes stable, entire communities avoid the cascading impacts of drought that can last for years after dry conditions end.”

    In recent years, Belize has seen a steady increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events including prolonged droughts, a trend that has placed growing economic pressure on the agricultural sector — one of the country’s largest employers and export earners. Belizean authorities frame the new Anticipatory Action system as a foundational step toward more proactive climate planning, designed to build long-term resilience for the rural communities that are most vulnerable to shifting weather patterns.

    The entire initiative has been made possible through financial and technical support from a coalition of international development partners, including the governments of Canada, Ireland, and the United States, along with the European Union. This international backing has allowed Belize to build out the data infrastructure and delivery systems needed to turn early climate warnings into tangible action for at-risk producers.

    As the country prepares for the potential dry spell, officials stress that this pre-emptive model sets a new standard for climate adaptation across small island and developing states. By acting early, Belize aims not only to reduce immediate drought damage and protect rural livelihoods, but also to strengthen the nation’s overall capacity to face growing climate challenges in the decades ahead.

  • British High Commission supports Levera mangrove reforestation project

    British High Commission supports Levera mangrove reforestation project

    A landmark environmental partnership between the British High Commission in St George’s and Grenada’s St Patrick Environmental Community and Tourism Organisation (SPECTO) is driving forward critical ecosystem recovery at the Levera Pond, one of the Caribbean island nation’s most ecologically significant wetland sites. The collaboration, known as the Levera Pond Recovery: Mangrove Restoration and Education Initiative, is fully funded through the UK Government’s Bilateral Programme Fund, bringing both financial and community-focused support to a landscape still reeling from extreme weather damage.

    The initiative targets two core restoration priorities: expanding ongoing mangrove reforestation work across the protected wetlands, and rebuilding the popular public boardwalk that was heavily destroyed when Hurricane Beryl swept through Grenada in 2024. As a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance, Levera’s mangrove ecosystems play an irreplaceable role in supporting native biodiversity, buffering coastal communities against storm surges, and maintaining the natural balance of the region’s marine and terrestrial habitats.

    Months into the project, early progress already demonstrates the power of cross-sector and community collaboration. To date, teams have successfully planted 423 mangrove seedlings, encompassing both native red and black mangrove species critical to the local ecosystem. Coordinated by project implementer Michael Forteau, the planting activities have been carried out by SPECTO community volunteers alongside students from Grenada’s TA Marryshow Community College (TAMCC), blending hands-on restoration work with impactful environmental education. The project has also delivered immediate local economic benefits, creating five full-time temporary positions for community members to support ongoing work at the site.

    During a recent site visit to assess progress, Resident British Commissioner Victor Clark joined SPECTO representatives for a mangrove planting activity and tour of the new boardwalk construction. After observing the work firsthand, Clark emphasized the urgency of protecting the vulnerable Levera ecosystem, noting that hurricane damage and additional stress from nearby construction have put the site at heightened risk. “Protecting the fragile environment and ecosystems of the Ramsar-designated Levera wetlands in Grenada is critically important — especially in the wake of Hurricane Beryl and the damage caused by nearby construction,” Clark said. “Seeing the impact firsthand has only strengthened my conviction, and I am proud that the British High Commission is partnering with SPECTO to support this vital work.”

    When the project wraps up later this year, organizers plan to host a public official launch event to celebrate the completed boardwalk reconstruction and showcase the early progress of the newly planted mangroves. Beyond this specific initiative, the British High Commission has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting environmentally sustainable projects across Grenada that protect native biodiversity, build community climate resilience, and advance inclusive, sustainable local development.