Caribbean Nations Review Progress Made on Sustainable Development in Preparation for Next Year’s International Meeting on Small Island Developing States

Caribbean Nations Review Progress Made on Sustainable Development in 
Preparation for Next Year’s International Meeting on Small Island Developing 
States

Call made for greater transparency and inclusion of small island nations in 
setting international trade standards

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 12 October 2003 – More than 140 
representatives including delegates from twenty-one Caribbean nations 
concluded a meeting held here last week to look at ways to strengthen 
sustainable development in their region.

The meeting, which lasted from 6 to 10 October and ended late Friday evening, 
resulted in a draft report that reviews achievements and continuing 
challenges to put into action the Barbados Programme of Action for Small 
Island Developing States adopted in 1994, which serves as a blueprint for 
small island states in pursuing their long-term development. This Caribbean 
meeting was the last of three regional meetings held in preparation for next 
year’s International Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held 
in Mauritius (August/September 2004).

The report made particular emphasis in the areas of environmental 
degradation, human and natural resources, national and regional 
infrastructure, science and technology and tourism. The draft report also 
identified human security concerns – which extended to the drug trade, crime, 
terrorism, and food and water – among the new and emerging issues affecting 
Caribbean nations. Another significant issue raised was the marginalization 
of small islands nations in international forums, particularly in the context 
of globalization and the formation of trading blocs.

A call was made for greater transparency and inclusion of small island states 
in setting international rules, codes and standards for international trade. 
Mr Arthur Gray, Regional Economic Advisor in the Port of Spain office of 
ECLAC, pointed out that the international environment had changed since the 
Barbados conference in 1994, and not necessarily in a favourable way. He 
further noted that the value of exports from small island states had declined 
since 1995. It was recommended that small island nations continue to lobby 
for special and differential treatment in various trade negotiating forums, 
based on their openness to trade and their inherent vulnerabilities.

Among the achievements recorded at the weeklong meeting was the development 
of specific projects and policies to confront challenges in such areas as 
climate change, sea level rise, natural disasters, waste management, coastal 
and marine resources, and watershed management. The draft report also noted 
the emergence of a more integrated, sustainable approach to land use 
planning; initiatives in the use of renewable energy sources; and the 
designation of protected areas towards preserving the biodiversity of 
Caribbean nations.

Also singled out in the draft report were the need for a regional mechanism 
to address intellectual property rights matters; efforts towards the economic 
integration of Caribbean economies; the need for stronger partnerships among 
all sectors to effect sustainable development; health and health education 
requirements (including HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education); and the 
importance of the region’s creative culture industries.

The principal organizer of the meeting, the UN Department of Economic and 
Social Affairs (UNDESA), will examine the outcomes of this meeting as well as 
the regional meetings which have taken place in Samoa and Cape Verde in 
August and September respectively. The final report of these meetings will 
form the basis for discussion at the interregional preparatory meeting to be 
held in Nassau, Bahamas in January 2004.

In addition to UN-DESA, coordinators of this regional meeting include the UN 
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the UN Environment 
Programme and the UN Development Programme in collaboration with the 
Caribbean Community.

For more information contact:
Amanda Laurence, ECLAC Information Officer (Port of Spain) ph: + 868-623-5595 
ext 2319;
fax: + 868-623-8485; e-mail: alaurence@eclacpos.org

Vashty Maharaj, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre (Port of 
Spain)
ph: + 868-623-4813/8438; fax: +868-623-4332; e-mail: unicpos@unicpos.org.tt

Hetty Libert, Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment (Port of 
Spain) ph: +868-627-5272;
fax: +868-625-7003; e-mail: environment@tstt.net.tt

Rolando Gomez, Information Officer, UN Department of Public Information (New 
York) ph: + 1-
212-963-2744; fax: +1-212-963-1186; e-mail: mediainfo@un.org

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