Volume 7 - Issue 4 April 2020 The Hummingbird

DEBT RELIEF CARIBBEAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MEET ECLAC’S EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, TO ANALYZE DEBT RELIEF PROPOSALS COVID-19 THE CARIBBEAN REGION IN THE FACE OF THE PANDEMIC DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT INNOVATION IN DISASTER RISK MITIGATION IN THE CARIBBEAN

ECLAC CARIBBEAN Contents About us 4 Economic impact of COVID-19 in the Caribbean Issued on a monthly basis, The Hummingbird offers strategic insights into the latest projects, 8 Caribbean Heads of State publications, technical assistance missions and research carried out by ECLAC Caribbean. In and Finance Ministers meet addition to these, sneak previews are provided ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, of the most salient upcoming events, alongside Alicia Bárcena. enriching follow-ups to previously covered issues. With a view to featuring a variety of facets of Caribbean life and lifestyle, The Hummingbird 10 COVID-19: Caribbean Update also zooms in on cultural activities and landmark occurrences through an eye-opening regional 14 The government of is round-up. building shelters for battered women EDITORIAL TEAM

Editor: Alexander Voccia 16 Innovation in Disaster Risk Copy Editor: Denise Balgobin Mitigation in the Caribbean Publication Design: Blaine Marcano

18 Sustainable ocean Please see our contact details on the back cover of management in the this magazine Caribbean

20 State of Affairs

2|The Hummingbird International Days

6 April International Day of Sport for Posted Apr 3 Development and Peace #ECLAC Executive Secretary launched a new report on the economic and social effects of the pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2RaITwR 7 April World Health Day

22 April International Mother Earth Day

23 April International Girls in ICT Day

26 April Posted Apr 2 We invite citizens of to support your government in World Intellectual Property Day the preparation of its first Voluntary National Review of progress with the SDGS!: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TTSDGSurvey

Upcoming Meetings

3 April Economic and Social Council, Posted Mar 23 The number of poor in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region could Partnership forum - New York rise from 185 to 220 million, out of 620 million inhabitants, due to the #Coronavirus. Read more: https://bit.ly/2QxZPgt #Covid19AndLatAm 20 - 27 April United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, 14th session - Kyoto

The Hummingbird |3 SNEAK PREVIEW ARTICLE

Look out for more in upcoming issues!

Economic impact of COVID-19 in the Caribbean

s the world grapples and is expected to have a major and livestock; education; with the impact of one impact on the economies of the transportation, with a focus on Aof the worst health subregion. As many Caribbean aviation and shipping; retail challenges to face humanity countries are shouldering an and distribution, and energy in decades, governments unsustainable public debt, with special attention to and oil across the Caribbean are the impact of the fallout in and gas. For each sector, the implementing strategies to government revenue and the impact assessment will present prevent, contain, mitigate and expected increase in social the socioeconomic costs related manage the spread of the novel expenditure will have to be to loss of revenue, additional coronavirus (COVID-19) and its carefully assessed. expenditures, temporary consequences. unemployment and the general This analysis being prepared welfare of households as a result ECLAC Caribbean, together by ECLAC Caribbean will of COVID-19. with the United Nations system ascertain the likely impact of and key regional organizations, the pandemic on the economies The study is expected to become has embarked on a careful of the subregion as a whole. publicly available by mid May assessment to estimate the Entitled `Economic Impact of 2020. economic and social impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus the virus on the economies of in the Caribbean’, the study the subregion. The study will will provide estimates of the serve as a resource to inform economic cost of policy actions governments’ decision-making that have been taken in response with respect to policy options. to COVID-19.

The Novel Coronavirus, known The analysis will focus on select as COVID-19, is affecting the sectors, namely: health; tourism; way of life of Caribbean people agriculture, including fisheries

4|The Hummingbird working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

arbados is actively playing its role in severe dry seasons in a considerable time in ensuring increased efforts towards Barbados. We are planting over one billion trees Breducing levels of global greenhouse across the landscape within the year 2020 and I gas emissions over the next decade in order to can give you the assurance that we will achieve minimize the worst impacts of climate change. the objectives.” This was indicated by Environment Minister, Trevor Prescod, as he addressed the second Prescod also told the gathering that “2020 annual meeting of the Caribbean Cooperative must be another significant year for addressing Measurement, Reporting and Verification Hub climate action.” He stated the day’s CCMRVH (CCMRVH). event was “an opportunity for the region to build the needed capacity in the fight against climate Held recently at Hilton Barbados Resort, the change and not only as an exercise to facilitate Forum was attended by representatives and reporting to the [United Nations Framework technical experts from CARICOM countries and Convention on Climate Change] UNFCCC.” international and regional organizations. Outlining some of the work his government He expressed a wish to see the element of is doing, Prescod said, “At present, we are innovation brought into the day’s discussions looking at alternative energy programmes across as attendees deliberate on the activities to be Barbados and the Prime Minister is placing great undertaken, and this exercise should be the emphasis on that.” vehicle for achieving such.

He added, “We have a programme which we intend to reach, even with the challenges of the climate, because this is probably one of the most

The Hummingbird |5 The Hummingbird Caribbean Heads of State and Finance Ministers meet ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena

6|The Hummingbird orrowing cannot be the solution for Caribbean countries to address the COVID-19 crisis. Instead, what is urgently needed is access to concessional funding and debt relief. This, according to ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, who presided over a videoconference that discussed B the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across the subregion on 28 April 2020.

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The Hummingbird |7 Caribbean Heads of State and Finance Ministers meet ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, to analyze debt relief proposals and other measures to fight the effects of COVID-19

Moderated by ECLAC Caribbean region for the next several months. Browne. Director, Diane Quarless, the virtual We are putting the Caribbean first in meeting brought together Prime everything we do”. In the face of these challenges, Ministers, Premiers, Finance Ministers, Bárcena commended the subregion’s Financial Secretaries and other high- The Executive Secretary’s words were senior decision makers for “putting level government representatives echoed by the concerns expressed the health and wellbeing of their from 15 Caribbean countries, along by the high-level decision makers in populations first”. However, these with heads of Caribbean regional attendance, all of whom underscored efforts notwithstanding, ECLAC’s organizations and representatives of the highly vulnerable economic Executive Secretary recognized other UN agencies. situation that the countries of the that they had “come at a very high subregion are currently facing. “The cost, particularly in your subregion, In her welcome remarks to the economic burden for our countries which already suffers a high level Caribbean authorities, Bárcena has been unsustainable because of of vulnerability to both climatic and emphasized that “we find ourselves the high levels of debt. We don’t economic shocks, and with many of in very challenging times. There can have the capacity for printing money your economies already shouldering be no doubt that COVID-19 will have and our policy instruments are very debt that is still very heavy, even with a profound and lasting impact on limited”, stressed Prime Minister progress made to reduce external the welfare of our countries and our of , Gaston debt levels in recent years”.

8|The Hummingbird The ECLAC’s resilience fund proposal has the potential to offer much needed long-term relief particularly to middle income countries... - Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, ECLAC

to be considered in his platform of flexible support from multilateral Moreover, given the severe advocacy on behalf of small island, institutions, including lines of constraints being faced to service middle income countries in his emergency financing”, she insisted. debt payments in the current engagement with the international circumstances, countries urged financial community for support. These statements came on the ECLAC’s support to engage with the heels of ECLAC’s latest projections, international community for better In addition, the Executive Secretary according to which GDP growth in access to grants and concessional also stressed that relief for debt the Caribbean is expected to drop financing. Proposals advanced service payments can be extremely in 2020 by -2.5%, with a downward during the meeting included that useful to supporting financing needs. bias, while countries are spending consideration be given to having In this regard, she emphasized that between 1% and 4% of GDP to tackle credit extended to countries which the crisis induced by COVID-19 the COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, have already invested in green underscores the importance of Caribbean economies have the technology, that financial instruments ECLAC’s proposal for building highest debt ratios in the world, such as the IMF Rapid Credit Facility resilience and reducing debt. ECLAC’s averaging 68.5% of GDP in 2019. (RCF) remain available and unchanged proposal links building resilience to Reductions in production and income during these challenging times, and debt reduction and recommends the along with increases in borrowing will that other innovative instruments such creation of the Caribbean Resilience further rise debt burdens. Moreover, as that offering debt forgiveness to Fund (CRF), with a view to the debt is rooted in external shocks, countries impacted by the EBOLA creation of a globally coordinated compounded by the impact of natural epidemic in Africa be considered in debt deleveraging mechanism with disasters and inherent social and these similar circumstances created a climate component to address economic structural weaknesses. by COVID-19. the global debt overhang problem: standstills and debt moratorium. In closing the high-level event, The Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Bárcena reassured the Caribbean Minister of Finance, Economic “The ECLAC’s resilience fund dignitaries that “we are part of this. Planning, Sustainable Development proposal has the potential to offer A game plan for the short term and Information Technology of much needed long-term relief is needed and we have to work Saint Vincent and the Grenadines particularly to middle income on this, together with CARICOM, also intimated that urgent practical countries. Acceleration of the debt ACS and OECS. We will continue interventions are needed to deal swap initiative and establishment of to advocate for this debt relief, for with liquidity challenges, before they the ECLAC Climate Resilience Fund grants, for concessional funding become issues of solvency, and urged is needed, given the impact of the for the Caribbean countries. And ECLAC to support new financing pandemic and the potential for an we will make sure that we can all instruments for the Small Vulnerable active hurricane season in 2020”, she address these issues with one voice, Economies of the Caribbean. said. expressed clearly and openly. We heard you loud and clear”.` In response, Alicia Bárcena reassured “It is urgent that there be effective the subregion that the dialogue’s coordination and interaction between results and key messages will be multilateral institutions, donor delivered to the United Nations countries, and small States debtor Secretary-General, António Guterres, countries. Member States will require

The Hummingbird |9 COVID-19: Caribbean Update

COVID-19, also ith many countries taking rapid action across the Caribbean to address the COVID-19 crisis, The Hummingbird presents its readers with a known as the sampling of circumstances and efforts that are taking place across the novel corona virus, Wsub region. has landed in the SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND INTERVENTIONS

Caribbean – and is In , all regulations restricting movement and gatherings have been making its presence removed, following a declaration that there are no active or suspected cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, there is an unemployment benefit for working person felt. who lost their job due to COVID-19. Public assistance programmes have also

been expanded and being provided weeks, over 15,000 seedlings of various coming months. In response to these for those in the informal sector. In food crops for backyard gardening challenges, Prime Minister Mia Mottley addition, the Anguilla Tourist Board have been distributed. has unveiled an “unprecedented” $2 (ATB) has announced a new social In , Deputy prime billion economic plan over the next strategy that reflects and addresses minister Peter Turnquest announced two years to prop up the economy. the current situation in Anguilla. The that the government has lost at The PM announced that the economic upcoming series of posts is designed least 70% of its revenue during the plan would focus on a public and to surprise and delight audiences, period since emergency lockdown private capital works programme (PPP), building community and connections measures were implemented to stop increasing the island’s self-sufficiency, through their digital channels, with the spread of COVID-19. To date, the creation of a Barbados Tourism heartfelt messages to make people nearly 30,000 people have applied for Fund and $210 million to be spent feel supported, valued and loved. unemployment assistance. Moreover, on families affected by the shutdown. The content being created will be many business operators in the country “This is the biggest package of either informative, inspirational or have been forced to lay off thousands spending initiatives ever rolled out over educational. of employees as social distancing a two-year period on a supplemental orders, a national curfew and the basis from what we would otherwise In Antigua and Barbuda, the mandated closure of all non-essential have as our core activities”, she has government of has decided that all businesses have brought the economy stated. persons who are to be quarantined for to a standstill. In response, the a minimum of 14 days will be placed Government has made arrangements In Bermuda, benefits have already in a government-controlled facility, with various banks to defer all loan been paid to just over 5,000 persons at since the risk of community spread payments, and has offered a Stimulus a total cost of approximately $8 million. is too great when home quarantine Package for small businesses to is allowed. Meanwhile, the lockdown continue to pay salaries or part thereof In the , the continues but with greater freedoms on to their employees. A Government government has launched an economic exercise, banks and some businesses. Order has also been issued prohibiting stimulus plan which will serve as To mitigate the unprecedented impacts landlords to evict any tenant at this the interim framework to guide on the economy, especially on the time. government’s social, economic and tourism sector which has halted the fiscal response to the immediate and employment of approximately 20,000 In Barbados, COVID-19 has crushed short-term needs of the Territory. people, a majority of which are women, the tourism industry, accounting for the Government has distributed the loss of 5,000 hotel workers’ jobs In the Cayman Islands a phased about 4,000 packages to families in and the shuttering of nearly nine out of reopening of the domestic economy need over the last three weeks. In the ten hotels. According to the Barbados is expected to begin on Monday, month of May, this initiative will be in Hotel and Tourism Association, this 4 May, after encouraging results its second phase and it is expected is the industry’s worst crisis ever. As from hundreds of screening tests for that a voucher system for food would a result, with some 14,000 people COVID-19. be implemented. In addition, the having already claimed unemployment Government has partnered with benefits since the outbreak of In , a programme has been farmers who are currently using COVID-19. The President of the developed for assistance to be their own farm space to increase Barbados Chamber of Commerce given to elderly persons, in which seedling production for distribution in and Industry (BCCI), Trisha Tannis, trained personnel visit their homes. In communities. Over the last couple of has forecasted more layoffs in the addition, there are specific allowances

10|The Hummingbird for persons above seventy years of all students. packages have been sent to families, age and those in the informal sector. extra support has been given to senior Assistance has also been provided In , over 1,700 households citizens and persons with disabilities. for housing, distributing masks and have benefitted so far from social The Ministry of education has increased extra food, including for children who relief which was provided by the learning through media along with previously benefitted from the school government, through the Civil Defence trying to improve internet access to feeding programme, who will still be Commission (CDC), as a means of all students. Those who were on the provided with access to food packages. ensuring that no Guyanese citizen is school feeding programmes have been left hungry. provided with assistance as well as In the Dominican Republic, economist nutritional programmes for the food and Vice-dean of the Faculty of In , the government, until now to be delivered to homes. Homeless Economics of the Autonomous focused on investing mostly in the persons have also been given meals. University of Santo Domingo (UASD), repressive apparatus, has intervened Antonio Ciriaco Cruz, stressed that by closing down the schools and In Martinique, the French government the Dominican economy may recover factories, ports, airports and borders, plans to reopen schools on 11 May thanks to domestic sectors such as and imposing a curfew from 8 p.m. to 2020. However, the teachers’ unions agriculture, once the health crisis 5 a.m. This is how it is trying to stem are demanding measures to protect caused by the coronavirus ends. the pandemic, through a prevention- the health and safety of students, oriented approach, taking into teachers, and their families. Meanwhile, In , the government has account the manifest inadequacy of humanitarian and charitable prepared a stimulus package, the healthcare system, with hospitals organisations have been providing announced in March, which seeks to and clinics mostly decrepit, poorly relief aid to prostitutes amid the current mitigate the economic fallout from equipped and often affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The organisations are the global pandemic through 14 strikes of medical staff. providing the prostitutes with baskets measures which include the provision of necessities and hygiene products, of payroll support for hotels, bars and In Jamaica, the government is creating every week. restaurants and small travel agents, as a “tourism recovery task force” in a bid well as income support for public bus to help this key industry recover from In , the Social Services operators, taxi drivers, tourist vendors the coronavirus pandemic. The task Department has implemented a and persons in other such hospitality- force has been mandated to “provide shopping service in partnership with based businesses. In particular, the a recovery and growth stimulation the Red Cross volunteers who shop and Government is providing payroll framework for the sector,” according deliver groceries and medication to support for former tourism employees to a statement from the Ministry of vulnerable groups such as persons with to cover a percentage of their salary, Tourism. Meanwhile, the government disabilities and the elderly. as well as care packages with food and has sought access to the International cleaning supplies. The Government Monetary Fund's (IMF's) Rapid In , the is also providing extra food cards for Financing Instrument (RFI). In addition, Government has embarked on the those students who would have been the Ministry of Agriculture says that it distribution of seedlings to families given lunches in school through the will be spending J$100-million on a and additional support to farmers, as School Feeding Programme, and has programme aimed at mitigating the well as food packages and hot lunches made it a priority to ensure that as impact of drought on farmers so as to to vulnerable persons. Psychosocial many households as possible have secure at least a five-per cent increase support is being provided by the internet to facilitate online classes for in food production. Furthermore, care Counselling Unit in the Ministry in

The Hummingbird |11 COVID-19: Caribbean Update (continued)

partnership with the Red Cross persons who have become grant for the next 3 months Society. unemployed. The Government of TT $1 500 per month, to In , the Government will also offer to employers who persons registered with them. is providing a response package request grants to pay 50% to 80% Furthermore, families with that consists of psychosocial of salary to their staff. children who benefitted from the support, income and security. The school feeding programme have first phase of the National Meals In , the Ministry of Social been receiving food support for Programme (NMP) started on Affairs is working on a programme 3 months if they are not already Sunday 12 April, with over 10,000 for income support for those in receipt of a food card. A new meals being delivered to the persons who would have lost their shelter for the homeless has been less fortunate. NMP is part of the jobs as a result of the virus. opened. Looking ahead, the government’s Social Stabilization Government has also established Programme, launched in response In Trinidad and Tobago, on a Recovery Team to devise a to the negative social impact of 18 March 2020, the Cabinet recovery plan for the country to the COVID-19 coronavirus disease approved a three-month determine how to move forward. on Saint Lucia. advance to the beneficiaries of grants from the Ministry of In , In Sint Maarten, food packages Social Development and Family the Government implemented have been distributed to persons Services, which is responsible stimulus packages, geared currently on the Ministry’s social for the vulnerable population towards self-employed individuals welfare list, which include the and provides grants to more and caregivers. A total of 1200 elderly and those persons taking than 160,000 households per USD will be provided to each care of others in need. To date, month on a normal basis. New person. the Ministry has distributed social transfers and grants approximately 5000 packages such as food grants and rental and will continue over the next assistance for those persons who weeks. Donations have also been would have been retrenched or made to soup kitchens, churches have a reduction in income due and other charities that supply to COVID-19, have also been hot meals in the communities. introduced. Additionally, the A financial stimulus package National Insurance Board has will soon be on stream for those been providing a salary relief

12|The Hummingbird INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND FOR MORE INFO AND THE LATEST UPDATES: REGIONAL RESPONSES Governments’ websites on measures taken to fight COVID-19:

On 15 April 15, the World Bank activated -Anguilla: http://www.gov.ai/covid.php and https://beatcovid19.ai/ US$6.6 million to provide immediate -Antigua and Barbuda: https://ab.gov.ag/detail_page.php?page=42 funding for Dominica’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, -Aruba: https://www.overheid.aw/news/news_47033/item/crisis-measures-by- focusing on enhancing health system the-government-of-aruba-in-connection-with-coronavirus-covid-19_48509. capacity and strengthening food security; html activated US$4.5 million on April 17 to -Bahamas: https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/gov/govern- provide immediate funding for Saint ment/!ut/p/b1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOKNDdx9HR1NL- Vincent and the Grenadines, aimed at HzdTQ3MDDxDA3wcA8w9jPy9jYAKIoEKDHAARwNC-sP1o_AqMTGAKs- strengthening the capacity of the health system; and provided US$10.5 million BjhZ9Hfm6qfkFuhEGWiaMiALGJzU0!/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ to Saint Lucia on 30 April to support the -Barbados: http://www.gov.bb/coronavirus country’s efforts to address the health and -Bermuda: https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus economic impacts of the pandemic. -British Virgin Islands: https://bvi.gov.vg/covid-19 -Cayman Islands: http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/cighome/pressroom/ The Inter-American Development Bank archive/March%202020/Coronavirus%20Update%2024%20March%202020 (IDB) has made available to the countries of Central America and the Dominican -Cuba: https://www.presidencia.gob.cu/es/ Republic nearly US$1.7 billion in additional -Curaçao: https://gobiernu.cw/corona-virus-ultimo-notisianan/ funding for 2020 to confront the COVID-19 -Dominica: http://dominica.gov.dm/corona pandemic. -Dominican Republic: https://presidencia.gob.do/ -French Guiana: http://www.guyane.gouv.fr/Politiques-publiques/Sante/Coro- The IMF has approved immediate debt navirus-Covid-19/COVID-19-Points-de-situation/Point-de-situation-n-12-4- service relief to 25 of the IMF’s member countries under the IMF’s revamped nouveaux-cas-Deplacements-interdits-entre-21h00-et-5h00-du-matin Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust -Grenada: https://www.mgovernance.net/moh/covid-19-education-material (CCRT) as part of the Fund’s response to -Guadeloupe: http://www.guadeloupe.gouv.fr/Politiques-publiques/Ris- help address the impact of the COVID-19 ques-naturels-technologiques-et-sanitaires/Securite-sanitaire/Informa- pandemic. The list of countries includes tions-coronavirus/Coronavirus-Une-nouvelle-attestation-de-deplacement-de- Haiti. rogatoire In Anguilla, the Health Authority the UK -Guyana: https://dpi.gov.gy/category/news/government/ Government has agreed an emergency -Jamaica: https://www.moh.gov.jm/covid-19-update-march-24-2020/ grant of US$1.5 million. This will assist -Martinique: http://www.martinique.gouv.fr/Politiques-publiques/Envi- in meeting costs of establishing the ronnement-sante-publique/Sante/COVID-19-informations-recommanda- tions-points-de-situation-attestation-de-deplacement -Montserrat: http://www.gov.ms/latest-on-the-coronavirus/ -Puerto Rico: http://www.salud.gov.pr/Pages/coronavirus.aspx -Saint Kitts and Nevis: https://www.gov.kn/ -Saint Lucia: http://www.govt.lc/news/statement-on-scale-down-of-non-es- sential-services and http://www.govt.lc/news/covid-19-response-measures -Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: http://health.gov.vc/health/index.php/c -Sint Maarten: http://www.sintmaartengov.org/government/VSA/Health-Up- dates/NOVELCORONAVIRUS/Pages/default.aspx -Trinidad and Tobago: http://news.gov.tt/content/trinidad-and-toba- go-covid-19-novel-coronavirus-update-47#.Xnum0IhKg2w -Turks and Caicos Islands: https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/ -United States Virgin Islands: https://doh.vi.gov/covid19usvi

The Hummingbird |13 COVID-19: Caribbean Update (continued)

temporary isolation facility at Princess Alexandra masks and other essential equipment, including Hospital; expanding and equipping PAH’s laboratory ventilators, from China to aid in the country’s fight to test for COVID-19; fast tracking the completion against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). of the oxygen generating facility and purchasing pharmaceuticals. In Jamaica, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has disclosed that test kit supplies The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands have for COVID-19 to Jamaica from the United States confirmed that the United States government have were blocked by that jurisdiction, and that the seized critically needed medical supplies bound for government is now awaiting supplies from other their fight against the coronavirus, COVID-19. sources. He has also assured that there are adequate supplies of testing material in the island at this time. In Barbados and Eastern Caribbean States, The Meanwhile, UN system has set up an inter-agency task force – comprising the Pan-American Health Organization, The U.S. Virgin Islands has received a $7.8 million the UN Development Programme, UNICEF and the grant from the U.S. Interior Department through the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and under Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act the guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator. The approved last week by Congress. task force has adopted a Preparedness and Response Plan for Eastern Caribbean nations. The government of Venezuela has donated medical equipment and supplies to Dominica to help in In Cuba, the director of research at the Centre for the battle against COVID-19, to the tune of 3,000 Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Dr Gerardo rapid COVID tests and 50 reagents for PCR machine Guillen, says a clinical trial is now being held for a testing. In addition, the government has also vaccine aimed at activating the immune system to donated 3000 rapid test kits to St Vincent and the combat COVID-19. Grenadines, so that the country can carry out in- country testing for Covid-19. In the Dominican Republic, the Central Bank has sought access to the Rapid Financing Instrument of Member countries of the G20 group of leading world the IMF for some US$650 million for a term of three economies have agreed to suspend debt payments to five years and at a rate of 1.5%. owed to them by some of the world's poorest countries. The list of countries includes Haiti. Guyana is shortly expecting to receive some 30,000

14|The Hummingbird Culture advocates share traditions at US Virgin Island Folklife Festival

t the 29th annual Folklife “We’ve been through a lot, now it’s to various booths with notebooks Festival in Saint Thomas, time to give back. We are sharing in hand. She said when she invites Aculture advocate, Julian people.” vendors to participate, she tells Frett, had a simple answer to the them, “It’s for the children.” question of where he learned to Now in its 29th year, the Virgin Festival goers had a chance to make charcoal. “It’s my culture!” he Islands National Park has brought sample traditional foods like said. young and old together to kallaloo and freshly cut sugar cane. celebrate Black History Month. Frett was one of dozens of Saint Julius E. Sprauve Jr. High School Storyteller Glen “Kwabena” John citizens who demonstrated students chanted pep rally chants Davis showed students how to island traditions with school as they wove through traffic in grind seasoning for meat and fish children, visitors and residents at Cruz Bay to arrive at the ballfield, using a mortar and pestle made “A Celebration of Sharing” during and both the JESS Quadrille and by woodworker Avelino Samuel. the Virgin Islands National Park’s the Hispanic Heritage Dancers Retired Park Ranger Edmund Folklife Festival held in March at the performed at the festival; the Roberts demonstrated how to make park’s ballfield in Cruz Bay. Hispanic Heritage Dancers for the brooms which longtime residents first time. Barbie Devine and Sherri Draper The charcoal Frett made fueled the happily purchased. coal pot on which Ecelma Sprauve Special ferries brought students and baked dumb bread while chatting young performers from St. Thomas Geneva Paris explained the purpose with old friends. schools, including the Ulla Muller of old-time artifacts, including Steel Panatics; Cancryn Quadrille iron hooks used to attach boxes Golda Hermon, the National Park Dancers, Drum Line and Choir; Sts. to a donkey’s saddle. These boxes guide who organized the event, Peter and Paul Angels of Steel; BCB were used to transport everything, explained the theme “We sharing Flambo Combo and Band Boosters; including young children to school plenty for Folklife Festival 2020.” CAHS Cultural Dancers; Holy Family or church. Quadrille; and Kean High Heritage “Last year’s festival was about Dancers. Visitors to the festival were healing. After Hurricane Irma, St. entertained by drummers, moko Croix and Puerto Rico blessed us Hermon said she was gratified to jumbies, DJs, bamboula dancers, with their help,” Hermon said. see children and teachers move martial arts experts and musicians.

The Hummingbird |15 SNEAK PREVIEW ARTICLE

Look out for more in upcoming issues!

Innovation in Disaster Risk Mitigation in the Caribbean

aribbean countries face building and risk mitigation. adapt and absorb potential impacts. vulnerabilities that include Examples feature improved farming Chigh exposure to the A variety of technologies, including techniques, new models for credit devastating impact of climate communication tools for early access and savings schemes, change and natural disasters. At warning systems and innovative participatory planning and new the same time, heavy indebtedness approaches to involving communities forms of access to and distribution of and serious structural and fiscal in risk assessments, can be used information. constraints limit their ability to to support the practice of DRM make adequate investments in in times of crisis, as well as in Importantly, the study analyzes climate change adaptation and risk planning for disaster and in post some of the innovative ideas coming mitigation. As a result, the subregion event reconstruction. They can be from grassroots movements and anticipates with great anxiety the important enablers for sustaining local business. It also assesses how advent of the hurricane season every informed decision-making and in easily accessible communication year which threatens the long-term building resilience by providing the technologies, such as text environmental, economic and social tools and methods to assist in the messaging, continue to play a critical development of Caribbean countries, adaptation and recovery processes. role in disaster preparedness and further compounding their high However, strong institutions, local management. levels of public debt, limited capacity and regional capacity, cooperation to mobilize domestic resources and and incentives are needed to By analyzing the Caribbean approach increased dependence on external translate research into applicable to using innovative strategies and financing. solutions. technologies, the study proposes the development of a repository of Given this reality, ECLAC Caribbean Innovation in climate-resilience best practices for disaster and risk is preparing a study that will analyze includes integrating data on current management in the subregion. technology uses and investigate and expected changes in climate innovative approaches to disaster patterns into decision-making tools The study will be available later this and risk management (DRM) in the and approaches aimed at making year. subregion to promote resilience people better prepared to anticipate,

16|The Hummingbird The government of Jamaica is building shelters for battered women

he Jamaican government has prioritized the construction of shelters for battered women, as part of its efforts to support victims of gender-based Tviolence. According to JIS News, the administration of Prime Minister Andrew Holness will establish three national centers for women across the island.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange, recently gave the Parliament an update on the development of shelters for battered women, saying that work on the first facility is in its final stage.

Grange confirmed that the first shelter will begin operations in the first half of this fiscal year. She said that the Jamaican cabinet recently signed the purchase of two other shelters for the western and eastern regions of the country. In this regard, Prime Minister Holness said a few days ago that his government has been transparent in its efforts and is working to fix years of lack of investment in national security for fighting crime and gender violence.

The Hummingbird |17 Sustainable ocean management in the Caribbean

ecognizing the importance of the ocean As one of the first milestones of UN Secretary- and its resources to small island developing General Antonio Guterres’ newly launched Decade Rstates (SIDS), ECLAC Caribbean is of Action for the SDGs, the Conference will propel undertaking relevant research in anticipation of the much needed science-based innovative solutions UN conference on Oceans, scheduled for later this aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean year. action.

The `Caribbean inBrief for the 2020 Ocean’s Solutions for a sustainably managed ocean involve Conference’ will highlight Caribbean trends clean, low carbon technology and innovative and priorities for ocean and ocean resources uses of marine resources. They also call for management. addressing the threats to health, ecology, economy and governance of the ocean – which include It will include perspectives on how Caribbean acidification, marine litter and pollution, illegal, SIDS may benefit from this landmark Conference, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the loss of emerging ideas for ocean management in keeping habitats and biodiversity. with the UN Decade for Ocean Science, and opportunities for partnerships in the areas of The policy brief will be published in advance of the research, technology and innovation. Conference.

The Ocean Conference comes at a critical time as the world is strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive solutions to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

18|The Hummingbird T&T last hope for leatherback turtles

global report on the leatherback sea turtle where Trinidad is perhaps the last major site of population has downgraded the species leatherbacks perhaps even in the world because the Ato critically endangered and this country’s Pacific population has collapsed and the Caribbean nesting sites may be the only thing that saves them population is beginning to collapse.” from extinction. Dr Guppy noted that Trinidad and Tobago is The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation therefore observing the arrival of leatherbacks that Network (WIDE­CAST) report shows alarming trends previously would go to other territories such as globally where once-popular leatherback nesting Cuba and Nova Scotia. She believes that certain sites are showing a precipitous decline in turtle factors might be responsible for not only driving the numbers. According to the report in French Guiana, population downwards but also for bringing them the turtle population decreased by 99%, while to our shores. in the Pacific, the return of leatherbacks to those nesting sites have dropped by 78%. Dr Guppy has also alluded to a population decline at nesting sites here in Trinidad. “For example, Dr Reia Guppy, an assistant professor at the Grand Riviere is one of our largest nesting sites. University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Marine Sciences For the last five years or so, normally you’d see two Department said this puts a lot of responsibility on hundred or three hundred turtles at any given hour. this country. About three years ago there was a massive decline; you’d be hard-pressed to get fifty in one night.” “The general trend has been an overall decline

The Hummingbird |19 State ofAffairs

Dominica Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago

GOVERNMENT AND WORLD NEW BUILDING FOR FOREIGN VIRTUAL COURTS BANK AGREEMENT AFFAIRS - Apr 17 - - Mar 4 - - Feb 20 -

The Government of the People’s The Government of Jamaica has Twelve virtual courts will be Republic of China has donated set aside JMD $83.3 million to introduced as part of the judiciary's operations under the ventilators and forehead furnish the newly built Ministry of current coronavirus (COVID-19) thermometers to the Government Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade stay-at-home regulations in of the Commonwealth of Dominica building, in downtown Kingston. Trinidad and Tobago. The virtual to be used in the fight against Built on 11,700 square meters by court systems entail the use of COVID-19. The donation, done the Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction shipping containers which were through the Chinese Embassy to Group Company Limited of China, converted into courtrooms which Dominica is the second batch of the 11-storey structure contains would provide facilities for the equipment to arrive from China. office facilities for the Ministry’s virtual hearings. According to the The first batch of equipment meetings and conferences, as well Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, the included 536 nucleic acid test as, waiting areas for diplomats and virtual courts will be able to deal kits and 30,000 surgical masks other visitors. The project, which with maximum sentences, judge- alone trials, bail hearings, remand which were donated by the Jack is slated to end in March 2021, is appearances and other charge Ma Foundation and Alibaba being financed by the Jamaican and matters. Foundation from China. the Chinese Governments. PARACETAMOL FROM INDIA EMBASSY IN ABU DHABI US FUNDING - Apr 19 - - Jan 30 - - Apr 6 -

The Commonwealth of Dominica The government of the United The Foreign Ministry of the recently opened an embassy in States has pledged US $700,000 Government of India will export Abu Dhabi and its first in the entire to the government of Jamaica more than US $250,000 of Middle East. to help in the fight against the Paracetamol API to Trinidad and Tobago. The Active Pharmaceutical Prime Minister of Dominica Dr COVID-19 outbreak across the Ingredient (API) is the part of any Roosevelt Skerrit inaugurated country. According to the United drug that produces the intended the embassy along with other States Agency for International effects. The decision was made dignitaries including Suhail bin Development (USAID), the funds on humanitarian grounds by the Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, will go directly toward Jamaica’s Indian Government to ensure the Minister of Energy and Industry; emergency response. The supply of the medicine that has Saeed Abdullah Al Qamzi, Director emergency response resource a multitude of uses including the of the Visits Affairs Department will support – Case management treatment of COVID-19 cases. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen clinical care while According to a statement from the and International Cooperation; minimizing the risk of onwards Indian Government, Trinidad and Hubert Charles, Dominica’s newly transmission to others; Infection Tobago is among 63 countries, spread all over the globe, for which appointed ambassador to the UAE prevention and control in health the export of the medicine has and embassy staff. The Dominican care facilities, and laboratory been approved as part of India’s Embassy is placed at 13-B 2F, Plaza strengthening to prepare systems effort to combat the COVID-19 30, 100 Al Ladeem Street, Abu for large-scale COVID-19 testing. pandemic. Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

20|The Hummingbird ECLAC Caribbean Family International Women's Day rally

undreds of people marched around the Queen’s Park Savannah, in Port of , Trinidad and Tobago, to mark HInternational Women’s Day 2020, which was commemorated globally on 8 March. Among them was ECLAC Caribbean’s Library Assistant, Tricia Blackman.

Following the march, the group gathered to demand action against gender-based violence and to promote women’s rights. They talked, exchanged information, networked, and listened to speeches from civil society leaders, government officials, diplomats, and representatives from international organizations.

The day’s activities took many forms, including art and entertainment. Participants had a chance to march to the beats of a rhythm section playing live on the road and to soca tunes from a music truck, as well as to listen to powerful spoken word performances and lively but profound calypso lyrics.

Here are some photographic memories from that day.

Photos courtesy of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator

The Hummingbird |21 ECLAC team conducts scoping mission in Antigua and Barbuda

he Government of A number of strategies an SDG sensitization workshop Antigua and Barbuda were suggested to bolster over three days, at a date to be Twill soon receive implementation of the SDGs, announced. With Permanent technical assistance from ECLAC including the appointment Secretaries acting as workshop Caribbean for a Sustainable of an SDG champion in each facilitators, the exercise would Development Goals (SDG) Government Ministry, who focus on ensuring public sector sensitization workshop, as part would serve as a focal point knowledge of the SDGs, and of the 12th tranche of ECLAC’s to administer the sensitization solid engagement with private latest Development Account process at the Ministry level. sector and civil society. Project. It was also proposed that a communication strategy via cable During the scoping mission, During a scoping mission, and radio be used to educate the Government also indicated carried out in the country from and inform the general public. interest in having ECLAC 4 to 6 March 2020, a team from This strategy would also seek to Caribbean initiate the process ECLAC Caribbean concluded appeal to the younger segment of Antigua and Barbuda’s first that sensitization of persons in of the population, in order to Voluntary National Review (VNR), Antigua and Barbuda to the promote wider knowledge of the to be presented in 2021 at SDGs is important. The mission SDGs in schools and learning the High-Level Political Forum was organized to assess progress institutions. (HLPF) at the United Nation’s in implementation of the SDGs, Headquarters in New York. and to discuss plans for the To complement these efforts, nation’s Voluntary National ECLAC Caribbean and the Review (VNR) on its status of Government of Antigua and SDG implementation. Barbuda propose to carry out

22|The Hummingbird Diane’s Corner The Director’s views and thoughts on the occasion of:

Recipe Corner: Simple White International Mother Earth Day Bean Soup With Spinach 22/03 his is a special recipe on cooking healthy meals while home sheltering during the novel coronavirus Toutbreak. With restaurants shut down and people home sheltering, there has never been a better time to cook. The other consideration is that good health is the best defense at any time, but particularly with the news continuing to report that in general, the most severe cases of COVID-19 are visited upon the already ill and sadly, the elderly.

For this unusual time we are living in, here are two recipes for you to try. Today we greet International Mother Earth Day in unprecedented circumstances. The world Ingredients: • Large onion chopped is in the grip of a pandemic that has forced • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil us to pause and reflect on our stewardship • Several cloves of garlic (3 or more, to taste) in protecting the many gifts we receive from • 1 or more sprig of rosemary Mother Earth; gifts we have exploited and • 2 or 3 large bay leaves heedlessly depleted, draining Gaia’s power • 6 cups vegetable stock to maintain harmony and balance in nature. • ½ cup quinoa (or brown rice) Illness and disease are stark symptoms of such • Large carrot diced imbalance in nature. • 6 oz or so of baby spinach or other chopped greens • 1 – 15 oz can white cannellini beans or other white bean Let us use this day to celebrate and give thanks for the bountiful gifts that we have been granted by Mother Earth, especially in Directions: 1. In large soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté onion until our corner of paradise, the Caribbean. More softened. Add the garlic after the onions are softened. Garlic importantly, going forward, let us reflect on tends to burn quickly so only a few minutes with that. how we respect, protect and consume these 2. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, stock, grain, chopped gifts sustainably, so that future generations carrot and any other diced veggies and rinsed beans. may also enjoy their beauty, abundance and 3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for as long as the splendour grain you have chosen requires. When the grain is tender, remove bay leaves and rosemary stalks. 4. Stir the spinach or other green into the hot soup. When the greens are wilted add salt and ground pepper to taste. 5. This soup is lovely with some grated Parmesan or Romano cheese on top. #DirectorsTake http://vrb.al/directors-take

The Hummingbird |23 Vegan Banana Bread

What you will need:

• 1 tablespoon finely ground flax seed • 3 tablespoons water • 3 medium overly ripe bananas, mashed • 1 apple, finely chopped or grated • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 2¼ cups almond flour, or any other flour will work • ½ teaspoon sea salt • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • ½ cup raisins • ½ cup chopped pecans

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and lightly flour a standard loaf pan and set aside. 2. In a bowl, mix banana, apple, ground flax, water raisins and vanilla. 3. In a separate bowl, combine almond flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon and chopped pecans. 4. Combine both mixtures and stir until well incorporated. 5. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes. (It may take longer, so check doneness in center at 50 minutes to see if it springs back when pushed on).

24|The Hummingbird The Hummingbird |25 CONTACT US

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, 1 ChanceryCONTACT Lane, P.O. US Box 1113, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, 1 Chancery Lane, P.O. Box 1113, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

Telephone:MEDIA 1 CONTACT868 224 8000 E-mail:Tel.: [email protected] 1 868 224 8075 E-mail: [email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT Tel.: 1 868 224 8075 E-mail: [email protected]

SOCIAL MEDIA

www.eclacpos.org https://www.cepal.org/en/headquarters-and-offices/eclac-caribbean