JEMS hosts Climate Change workshop

On Monday, March 21 Caribbean youths from as far as Haiti in the north to Guyana and Suriname in the south gathered at the Layou Grace and Truth Camp Site to discuss Climate Change.

The four-day event, which was organized by Junction, Enhams, McCarthy and Stubbs Progressive Organization (JEMS), started at 9 a.m. with Development Consultant, Andrew Simmons as Chairperson.{{more}}

Barbadian, Debra Bartlett, Chair of Caribbean Youth Environmental Network (CYEN) the organization from which the participants were drawn, was the first speaker. She implored the youths to be advocates, “As young people we have a right to be informed and consulted on development issues,” she said.

CYEN youth advisor, Barbara Andrews and Dwynette Eversley programme manager of Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP) also made brief remarks

Youth Officer in the Ministry of Tourism Youth and Sports, Carlos Williams commended JEMS for organizing the event and told the participants that they have to stay abreast of what is going on globally.

In his address, keynote speaker, Minister of Telecommunications, Science and Technology, Dr Jerrol Thompson spoke about the introduction of the Bureau of Standards. “We have to ensure that the Caribbean does not become a dumping ground for appliances that cannot be sold anywhere else”, he said. He also noted that the Government is looking at installing a new five to ten megawatt wind energy farm at Ribishi Point.

The program was sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Program Global Environment Facility (GEF), Small Grants Program (SGP) operated through the United Nations Development Program in Barbados on whose behalf Dr Reynold Murray addressed the gathering.

During the sessions the participants discussed topics on climate change which include: challenges and implication, analysis of regional surveys, climate change issues in the Caribbean and enterprise development. on Tuesday 22nd March the participants went on a field trip to Spring Village and Dark View falls in North Leeward.