Category: Associate Member States

CARICOM Secretariat salutes women, girls in ICT, STEM fields

Michelle Nurse Leave a comment
Girls in ICT photo via International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat takes pleasure in commemorating “Girls in ICT day” 2018 with the rest of the world and takes the opportunity to salute all women and girls in the fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

This day places focus on the achievements of girls and women in ICT and also serves as a good reminder and encouragement for more girls and women to pursue STEM (which includes ICT) subjects and careers and to advocate for equal access to ICT.

As the Secretariat continues to work to : “Expand horizons and change attitudes” – through policy and practice – we  will be conducting short twitter polls, beginning today to gather information and to gauge perceptions with regard to future work and programmes for Girls and Boys in ICT/STEM in CARICOM.

Please visit our twitter page and take the poll!

#ICTisnotgenderspecific

#futureworkcaricom

#roomforgirlsandboysinICT

Recent Consultation met its objectives – CARIFORUM Director-General

Jascene Dunkley-Malcolm Leave a comment

The Regional Consultation to assess the development of a Framework for an effective platform for structured and continuous dialogue between CARIFORUM and French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs), and British and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), has met its objectives. This is according to Director-General of the CARIFORUM Directorate, Mr. Percival Marie.

The main objective of the Consultation, which was held recently in Barbados, was to examine CARIFORUM’s relationship with the FCORs and the OCTS. The relationship was previously promoted through four Thematic Task Forces (TTFs) in the areas of Natural Disaster Management, HIV/AIDS, Trade and Investment, and Interconnection.

In an interview following the Consultation, Mr. Marie said that it undoubtedly met its objectives.

See the above clip for details on the recommendations coming out of the engagement.

 

 

 

 

CARIFORUM Consultation on effective platforms for Wider Caribbean Dialogue: Photo highlights

Jascene Dunkley-Malcolm Leave a comment

The Caribbean Forum of the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) recently held a consultation to assess the development of a Framework for an effective platform for structured and continuous dialogue between CARIFORUM and French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs) and British and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The consultation was at the Radisson Barbados, April 11-12, 2018. It’s purpose was to examine CARIFORUM’s relationship with the FCORs and the OCTS, which was previously promoted through four Thematic Task Forces (TTFs) in the areas of Natural Disaster Management, HIV/AIDS, Trade and Investment, and Interconnection.

 Check out the photos below for highlights of the two-day Consultations:

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The Consultation was funded under the 10th EDF Regional Indicative Programme through a dedicated Technical Cooperation Facility (TCF) which, in part, aims to strengthen cooperation among CARIFORUM States, the FCORs and Caribbean OCTs.

 

In the video above, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Barbados Her Excellency Daniela Tramacere gives more details on the nature of support provided by the EU.

See here for more photos and detailed captions.

 

CDB launches US$65.5M rehabilitation, reconstruction project in the British Virgin Islands

Michelle Nurse Leave a comment
After Hurricane Irma hit the British Virgin Islands last year

“It is time to get our livelihoods back on track. It is time for us to get on with the several projects and initiatives that are identified for each ministry in the loan agreement. And, it is time to weather proof our infrastructure and rebuild it in a way that offers some resiliency to unprecedented weather patterns.” – BVI Premier, Dr. Orlando Smith
April 12, 2018, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has launched a Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which will assist the country in recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irma. The Project, which was launched on April 10, 2018, will be funded through a US$65.3M loan and a US$300,000 grant.

Speaking at the launch, Diana Wilson Patrick, General Counsel, CDB, noted that the Project is a further extension of CDB’s efforts to help BVI recover from the impact of the extreme weather event. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the Bank provided an Emergency Relief Grant of US$200,000, and Immediate Response Loans totalling US$2.25 mn.

“It was with a sense of some pride that the management and staff of the Caribbean Development Bank were able to work with our counterparts in the Government of the Virgin Islands to have financing towards the proposed rehabilitation and reconstruction activities approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on December 14, 2017. This was a mere three months after Hurricane Irma caused the loss of four lives and an estimated US$3.6 billion in damage to homes, schools, infrastructure, public administration and defence and several other sectors; disrupting the lives of the country’s men, women, boys and girls.”

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WMO retires Maria, Irma, Harvey as hurricane names

Michelle Nurse Leave a comment
(Images via WMO)

The World Meteorological Organisation’s Hurricane Committee is meeting in Martinique, France, from 9 to 13 April to review the devastating 2017 Atlantic hurricane season and to discuss regional coordination and operational planning to protect lives and property in the forthcoming one.

The Hurricane Committee retired the names Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate from its list of rotating names. They will be replaced by Harold, Idalia, Margot and Nigel.

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