Grenada to benefit from five million euros for climate change projects

St. George’s, 26 October, 2011 - Grenada is one of two countries that will benefit from five million Euros – approximately EC$19 million – in bilateral support for climate change adaptation projects from the Government of Germany.
German environmental specialists met with Minister of Environment Hon. Joseph Gilbert on Monday and have been meeting with various stakeholders (government and civil society) in Grenada to discuss project ideas and proposals and to hold a national stakeholder consultation.
The opportunity for bilateral funding first presented itself at a climate change meeting held recently in Panama City, Panama, where Grenada was selected along with Mali as one of two pilot study countries.
Support to Grenada came because of its current position as Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
The German scoping mission is following up on initial contact made in Panama, to identify in an inclusive, party driven manner adaptation projects that are “on the ground”, "visible" and most importantly "sustainable" that both governments through their Ministries of Environment could support.
Pertinent “adaptation” projects to address issues relating to the devastating impact of climate change on vulnerable sectors in the Tri-Island state will be discussed and crystallized into projects to be implemented through the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and Germany’s Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Cross cutting issues like capacity building, environmental awareness and education will also be discussed.
UNDP is the United Nations’ global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build better lives. GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development.
The Ministry of Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development has been working in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize the meetings and gather feedback.
The mission is headed by Mr. Michael Scholze of GIZ and includes Ms Diana Salvemine (UNDP Adaptation specialist); Dr Bill Hare and Ms Henrike Doebert (Climate Analyst), Dr Renold Murray (UNDP) and Ms Margit Potgieter (Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Grenada).

PHOTO: Minister for the Environment Hon Joseph Gilbert flanked by Ag. Permanent Secretary Helen Roden, Ministry of Environment Staff and German Environmental Officials

SOURCE: Kareen Morain, Ministry of Environment, Foreign Trade & Export Development

Venezuelan-funded projects to commence in January

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, January 19, 2011 – Three Venezuelan-funded projects are expected to commence here this month, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Karl Hood.

In making his presentation to the 2011 Budget Debate on Wednesday, Mr Hood said that the second phase of the Hospital Project in St George’s; the main market square and a number of community projects including playing fields, upliftment programmes, community centre recreation activities and maintenance.

Two years ago Venezuela delivered on a promise and handed over 120 low cost houses to Grenada for distribution to persons displaced as a result of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Mr Hood said that following on the delimitation of boundaries with Trinidad and Tobago, Government will be pursuing areas of Ocean Management to maximise our marine resources.

“We will also be pursuing delimitations negotiations with Venezuela with whom we share common boundaries,” he said.

He noted Grenada’s leadership role among the 43-member Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and at the forefront of the struggle for climate justice and for positive outcomes at future summits of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Mr Hood, who also holds portfolios for Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development, said that the Ministry has secured funding and will implement four Climate Change projects in 2011.

They include the World Bank supported Pilot Project on Climate Resilience; the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) project for Mainstreaming Climate Change in the Development Agenda; Water and Small Community Projects.

He said that the Ministry has submitted project proposals in excess of $30 million which are actively receiving consideration under various countries’ Adaptation Financing Programmes.

Delegates begin arriving for COP16 in Cancun

by Michael Bascombe

CANCUN, Mexico, November 26, 2010 - Members of the Grenada delegation have begun arriving to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Summit known as the Conference of the Parties (COP16) in the Mexican Resort city of Cancun. Lead negotiators Leon Charles and Dr Spencer Thomas, both of Grenada, have been chairing pre-sessional meetings on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

The delegation, which will provide administrative and other logistical support for AOSIS and its 43 members, will also include government officials who will engage in bilateral meetings with other countries and organisations.

Among the objectives of the pre-conference meetings are to further prepare AOSIS delegates for participation in the Cancun negotiations as they sought clarity on negotiating strategies; political and diplomatic strategies as well as resource identification and mobilisation and fast start financing strategy.

The meetings, which are being held ahead of the official opening of the summit on November 29, are also reviewing proposals and positions from AOSIS member countries and identifying desired outcomes from the High Level Summit.

"We come here ready to work and on behalf of the Government and people of Grenada I extend appreciation for your continued confidence in the Chair of AOSIS," said Ambassador Dessima Williams, substantive chair of the grouping.

Delegates from AOSIS are also discussing reports from recent pre-COP meetings including the Ministerial meeting hosted by Grenada earlier this month.

The Chair of AOSIS, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, is expected to join the delegation on December 4.

Prime Minister regrets the resignation of MP Michael Church

From the Office of the Prime Minister

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA; MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010 – Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has expressed regret over the resignation of Mr. Michael Church, as a member of his Cabinet.

“It is always a traumatic experience for a government to lose one of its members, especially at a time when all hands are needed in the rebuilding of our nation,” the Prime Minister said.

He praised the former Minister of the Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development for his leadership of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and his contribution to the fight against global warming in the International arena.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to Mr. Church for his service to the Administration.

“I thank MP Michael Church for his contribution to my administration over the past two years. We have committed to continue working together for the development of the St. John’s constituency and the country,” the Prime Minister said Monday.

He wished Mr. Church well in his future endeavors and hopes that his ministerial contribution will help to inform his contribution to the policies of the administration in Parliament.

AOSIS calls for urgent action to transform global economy

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, November 4, 2010 - The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) believes that the prospects for a significant outcome at this month’s Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico have increased following a two-day meeting hosted by Grenada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David told delegates at the closing session that the productive engagement has increased the possibility of a strong agreed outcome in Cancun on the basis of strengthened confidence, greater thrust and maximum agreement towards a positive outcome.

“The exchange of perspectives have allowed us to move closer and improved the environment and possibility of successful outcomes when we get to Cancun,” he said.

“We fully expect to continue this dialogue over the next week and leading up to Cancun. I feel confident that these discussions will enhance our decisions in Cancun as we will be building on a number of advances”.

More than 100 delegates including non-AOSIS members and partner organisations participated in the informal Ministerial meeting at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort which was co-hosted by Mexico and Grenada.

David said that the meeting also saw the urgent need to transform the global economy to low carbon to minimise the threat and impact of Climate Change.

“Our survival is dependent on transforming the global energy sector from high carbon emission to low carbon or carbon neutral,” he said.

“We are therefore absolutely delighted by the words spoken by our friends at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank in support of our Sustainable Energy Initiative partnership – SIDS DOCK - and we ask our friends from the developed countries to also consider supporting the partnership”.

He said that based on the positive responses from the UNDP and World Bank as well as from other countries, AOSIS and its partners will embark on a path to develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Cancun for the first phase of SIDS DOCK development.

“We have matured a great deal because of the lessons we would have learnt at Copenhagen and since Copenhagen. Thus, there is no value for us, the AOSIS Family, to engage in lamenting Copenhagen,” said Grenada’s Environment Minister Michael Church.

“Instead, we must embrace those lessons on the eve to Cancun by constantly bringing realism to our approaches and expectations”.

AOSIS continues to lend moral voice to the climate negotiations, especially emphasising the need to address global equity and climate divide issues, and in defining a clear vision and call to action.

Grenada offers to help Islands affected by Tomas

ST GEORGE’S, November 1, 2010 (GIS) – Grenada has expressed its readiness to assist its regional neighbours who were severely affected by the weekend’s weather disturbances caused by Tomas.

The 12th hurricane of the season and the 19th named storm, Tomas dumped four to six inches of rain on the islands.

The worst affected by the rains, as well as gusty winds, were St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Barbados. Homes and other structures were damaged and power lines downed.

Two people were reportedly injured in St. Vincent, including one critically, when they tried to repair roof damage during the storm.

Vincent Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has appealed for regional and international assistance to rebuild his country, which is said to have suffered millions of dollars in damage.

Grenada’s Foreign Minister Peter David, delivering welcoming remarks Monday at the opening of an informal ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in St. George’s, said Hurricane Tomas “serves as a perfect backdrop to our meeting.’’

He noted that almost all activities in Grenada were halted because of the threat of Tomas.

“But what we experienced in Grenada was multiplied tenfold in St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Barbados and other islands,’’ Foreign Minister David said. “Let me, on behalf of all of us, extend our sorrow to the government and people of our sister islands of Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia, through their representatives here. I am told that St. Vincent in particularly received substantial damages. Be assured that we, in Grenada, are ready and prepared to assist you in your time of need.’’

Mr. David also led the way in inviting delegates to pay tribute to the late Barbadian Prime Minister, Hon. David Thompson, who will be buried on Wednesday.

“Please join me in extending, on behalf of AOSIS, our deepest condolences to the government and people of Barbados, through their delegation here, for the loss of their Prime Minister David Thompson. Mr. Thompson was a fine son of the region, and a true friend of Grenada,’’ said Mr. David. “I ask all to stand in a minute of silent tribute to the late Prime Minister.’’

Mr. Thompson’s state funeral in the Barbados capital, Bridgetown, will be attended by a Grenada delegation headed by Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas. It will also include Foreign Minister David and Junior Information Minister, Senator Arley Gill.

Grenada to host AOSIS Ministerial Meeting

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 17, 2010 - Grenada will host a Ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) next month.

The meeting, scheduled for the Grand Beach Hotel in St George’s on November 1-2, will involve Environment Ministers from the 43 AOSIS countries.

They will be updated on the current state of the negotiations and to assess and to agree on a common AOSIS position going into the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) scheduled for Cancun, Mexico.

Grenada’s Ambassador to the United Nations and Chair of AOSIS, Dr Dessima Williams said that the meeting will also engage negotiating partners with AOSIS’ positions and to ensure that there is a common understanding.

“The meeting is very important as a way to caucus each other and to develop a consensus position for the December meeting,” said Ambassador Williams.

“We have invited the 43-member Ministers from AOSIS countries which include 19 from the Caribbean region, 14 from the Pacific region and about 10 from the African and Indian Ocean region,” she said.

The Grenadian diplomat said that AOSIS has very clear positions for a comprehensive outcome in Cancun and very high ambitious levels of bringing down carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

“It’s not likely that any one group of countries will get all that they want but I think the meeting in Tianjin, China (United Nations Climate Change Conference, October 4-9, 2010) showed us that countries are ready to take some decisions toward a legally binding outcome, toward finance, toward capacity building and toward forestry regime for emissions”.

The COP 16 and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 6) will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10, 2010.