Dominica PM Roosevelt Skerrit visits The Bahamas to attend UNFCCC Caribbean Government Heads

Dominica: Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit is on an official visit to The Bahamas to attend the two-day United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Caribbean Heads of Governments meeting. The meeting will start on August 17, 2022 (Tuesday).

PM Roosevelt Skerrit has stated that the meeting should allow for a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) position ahead of the UNFCCC COP 27, which is scheduled to happen in Egypt from November 7 to 18.

As he departed for Nassau, PM Skerrit said, “My message at this conference will be very clear that the kicking of the can down the road where action on climate change must stop.”

“Our countries in the Caribbean are facing an existential threat because of climate change, and there have been promises of monies to help us build resilience, to help us build adaptation in our countries, but we have not been receiving that money,” he added.

Skerrit outlined that at every COP meeting, there are some promises, and some new promises are coming from the Paris agreement; nothing has happened, really. There is this pool of funds, and if these funds are going to be accessed by way of loans, how are we going to pay it.

In July, Prime Minister of The Bahamas Philip Davis addressed the annual summit of CARICOM leaders in Suriname and said that the meeting in Nassau would allow for discussions on matters pertaining to climate financing and adaptation ahead of COP 27.

“The Caribbean as a region will need more than US$40 billion to finance adaptation efforts and disaster recovery. Over the last few years, many countries have not fared well. Small ocean economies gain in negotiating strength and influence when we work effectively as one,” PM Davis said.

He added, “It is no exaggeration to say that, if we do not stand together, we, each one of us, are in danger of falling apart. The deadline to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda is a mere eight years away. Many of us are lagging in critical areas. There is no time to waste.”