Andrew Simmons in CYEN Hall of Fame

Andrew Simmons, Environmentalist and Development Activist of St Vincent and the Grenadines, was the first person to be inducted in the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) Hall of Fame at its awards ceremony at the Grand View Hotel, Grand Anse, in Grenada, on Saturday, November 1, 2008.{{more}}

This recognition was bestowed on Simmons in recognition of his ‘lifelong contribution to Youth Development and Environmental Management in the Caribbean’.

The citation reads in part: “Simmons contributed significantly to the development of young people and sustainable development in the Caribbean region. He is the founder of JEMS Progressive Community Organisation (1978) and co-founder of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN, 1990) and the Caribbean Federation of Youth (CFY 1986). He possesses over 30 year of experience working on socio economic development and environmental issues in St Vincent and across the Caribbean region”.

The Caribbean Youth Environment and Development Congress was held under the auspices of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network with support from United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Caribbean Policy Development Centre, the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean and the Government of Grenada. The Congress provided young people of the Grenada with a rare opportunity to meet and discuss environmental issues with informed resource persons within a relaxed workshop setting.

The CYEN Congress is the largest and most consistently held youth and environmental convention in the Caribbean and this year was held under the theme “Climate change, water availability and the emerging nexus of environmental issues: impediments to achieving the MDGs in the Caribbean”. The first Congress took place in Montserrat in November 1993. The 2008 Congress was of some significance as it marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the CYEN. In addition to the congress and the award ceremony, a the GEO for Youth of the Caribbean book was launched.