CARICOM Officials engage in 3rd PISLM Session
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frC1xMyFGS4″ width=”100%” height=”315″]
– aims to establish agenda for next two to three years
– allows exchange of ideas and best practices to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, October 18, 2018
Over the next two days, officials from CARICOM member states will be engaged in the third session of the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) High-Level Meeting of Caribbean Ministers from Small Island Developing States.
The session commenced this morning, at the Marriot Hotel Guyana and was attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CARICOM and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The aim is to establish the agenda for the work of the PISLM for the next two to three years to position the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as a global leader in meeting its obligations, in Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) fifteen.
SDG fifteen encompasses the protection, restoration and promotion of sustainable land and the combatting of desertification and land degradation.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during his opening remarks, stated:
“The third session of this PISLM high-level meeting will allow us to exchange ideas and learn about the best practices from each other as we all strive to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.”
Minister Harmon remarked that the Caribbean Community is “front and centre of the development of issues as it relates to land,” and expressed his belief that through proper leadership and guidance, the region will continue to move “forward for the benefit of all of the peoples of this region.”
Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Trevor Benn expressed similar sentiments to those of the Minister of State. He said that Guyana has taken a position of proactivity with the issue, noting that “we stand ready and resolute to continue work with all Caribbean countries.”
“It is our view that unless we work together, unless we stick together, unless we educate our political types who are here with us, many of whom understand the issues but are not technical and we have to do a lot more work to help them to be able to assist us in selling the work we do,” he said.
Officials present were reminded of the importance of land sustainability as it contributes to businesses and life.
Earlier this week, representatives participated in technical workshops on the topic of sustainable land management.
Anara Khan.
Images: Jameel Mohamed.