Latin American and Caribbean countries shared methods and practices to address fertilizer shortages resulting from the war in Ukraine
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Government moving on pledge to achieve 30 percent conversion to renewable energy by 2030
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Government moving on pledge to achieve 30 percent conversion to renewable energy by 2030
High-Level Delegation arrives in Turks and Caicos for CDB Annual Meeting
53rd ANNUAL LONG ISLAND REGATTA RESULTS
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June 6, 2022 – The U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Puerto Rico are the most concentrated areas for gun crime in the region. Each is ranked among the top 10 for gun crimes globally.
On the global scale, the U.S.V.I. took the seventh place and almost 22 residents in every 100,000 people die of gun violence. Jamaica follows in the ninth place with 18 Jamaicans in every 100,000 dying by gun. As for Puerto Rico, it is ranked at the 10th position; 17 people in every 100,000 residents are killed by guns.
Meanwhile, Belize took the 12th spot globally. Fourteen in every 100,000 people die by the gun. The 14th area globally, where gun crimes are most prevalent is Trinidad and Tobago with about 13 deaths per every 100,000 people. Guyana ranked 18th with 11 deaths per every 100,000 residents, while the Dominican Republic ranked 19th globally with 10 deaths per every 100,000.
These statistics date back to 2016 and as of 2021, the United Nations recognized Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Kitts and Nevis among the 10 islands with the highest percentage of firearm death, and homicides rate per 100,000 population in the Caribbean. This means that even with the switch around of countries during these rankings, the Caribbean remains among the top list of countries where there is a saturation of gun related crimes.
These statistics often exclude British overseas Caribbean countries which are lumped in with the UK. However, crime in regional overseas British territories are more centered around financial secrecy and fraud rather than gun related offences.
GLOBAL MERCY sets sail on health care mission to Senegal
233 Mass Shootings in 152 Days of 2022, why Guns are so easy to Get in the USA
Trickle Down effect of Gun Violence in Caribbean Countries
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FAO organized a seminar on the use of biofertilizers in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and the Caribbean.
#Santiago, Chile, June 9, 2022 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a seminar to disseminate techniques and methods that can help countries cope with fertilizer shortages resulting from the war in Ukraine.
Fertilizer prices remain high and have already surpassed the record level of the 2008 crisis. In addition, there are severe global stock problems, affecting practically all Latin American and Caribbean countries, especially those highly dependent on imports from Ukraine, Belarus, and the Russian Federation.
FAO organized a seminar to respond to this situation, where experts and authorities from Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Caribbean countries shared their experiences using biofertilizers (organic fertilizers) and compost. They also discussed techniques such as crop rotation and leguminous plants to replace or complement chemical fertilizers.
“We need to innovate to address the shortage and high price of synthetic fertilizers. The diversification of plant nutrient sources is a strategy for a more resilient agriculture. In addition, biofertilizers can contribute to making agriculture more sustainable,” said Julio Berdegué, FAO’s Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Berdegué highlighted that FAO also recommends a series of short-term measures to address the shortage and high price of fertilizers: prioritizing their use for agricultural purposes and improving the efficiency of their use; keeping international trade of these inputs open; monitoring stocks, import volumes, and prices; and sharing this information through transparent platforms.
In Brazil, studies by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) have shown that biological nitrogen fixation with bacteria has enabled the country to save US$ 14 billion annually on soybean cultivation, by completely replacing chemical nitrogen fertilizers without reducing productivity.
In Chile, the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) has promoted the application of organic matter of animal and vegetable origin in crops and fruit trees, such as chicken and dairy manure, compost, and worm humus. These can reduce fertilization costs and increase production yields by 5 to 20 percent.
In Peru, the company BIOEM promotes the use of biofertilizers created with a mixture of fungi, bacteria, and yeasts to improve soil fertility and reduce the use of agrochemicals.
In the Caribbean, countries have used native microbes to improve fertilizer use efficiency and have made their soils healthier and more productive by increasing their organic carbon content.
Crop rotation and public policy
Crop rotation with legumes was another experience shared in the webinar: these plants fix between 72 and 350 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year, depending on the species and climate, and can improve phosphorus availability in the soil, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers.
“Legumes fix more carbon than cereal crops such as maize or wheat, which helps combat global warming,” explained Teodardo Calles, FAO Agriculture Officer, and Legume expert.
The event Biofertilizers and other available technologies to face the Fertilizer Crisis in the Latin American and Caribbean was attended by the Vice Minister of Agricultural Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, Juan Gonzalo Botero, high authorities, researchers, and experts.
#TheBahamas, June 9, 2022 – The government is forging ahead to achieve energy sector reform in the country with 30 per cent conversion to renewable energy, or ‘solar power,’ by 2030.
The initiative would reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuel energy sources, which are very costly, contribute to high cost of living in The Bahamas and elsewhere, and add to adverse climate change globally.
To begin the process of conversion to solar power, Technical Assessments for the installation of Solar Photovoltaic Systems are underway in North Andros, Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Marsh Harbour and Abaco to assist the country in its transformation to clean renewables.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis in his recent Budget Communication highlighted the importance of the solar power initiative, noting that “it has long been a major complaint of businesses that a key challenge to the Ease of Doing Business over the years has been the very high costs of electricity, the unreliable supply of electricity, and the limited inclusion of solar technologies in our energy mix, even despite our abundant potential for solar power and the tools at our disposal to solve this problem.”
The prime minister in his Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget Communication, May 25, 2022 recalled the execution of an $80 million loan on August 5th, 2020 with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the “Reconstruction with Resilience in the Energy Sector in The Bahamas.”
The objective of the loan was to support the government with the rehabilitation of critical energy infrastructure and restoration of electricity service in islands heavily-affected by Hurricane Dorian, while facilitating the integration of Renewable Energy (RE).
The specific objectives were to:
(i) Support the rehabilitation of the electricity transmission and distribution system and installation of new and resilient RE capacity in Abaco and East Grand Bahama;
(ii) Promote the adoption of solar PV technologies in the Family Islands; and
(iii) Contribute to the improvement of the regulatory framework for RE technologies and the mechanisms for its deployment.
The Prime Minister advised that there has been “very little” progress since 2020, and that “since coming into office my administration has moved quickly to rectify this and to capitalize on this missed opportunity by strengthening the Project Execution Unit (PEU) in the Ministry of Finance to ensure timely delivery, value for money and to co-ordinate activities with other relevant stakeholders on this project. The result has been substantial progress on this project in the past few months.”
The immediate focus is the introduction and implementation of new models to develop resilient solar PV installations in The Bahamas.
“To accomplish this an assessment of energy systems in New Providence and the Family Islands will need to be done. This work will start in the southeastern islands, namely Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay.
“This year we will deploy in those islands, public decentralized solar PV plants; rooftop systems and innovative microgrids with storage capacity; and grid modernization technologies to improve the reliability and resiliency of the power network on these islands.
“Additionally, pilot installations of Solar Photovoltaic Systems on public buildings in Andros will also be carried out. Thereafter, the installations of Solar Photovoltaic Systems with be extended to the Central and Northern Bahamas.
“A key aspect of this project is to ensure Bahamian participation and ownership in this industry. What this means, is that going forward, we are committed that all future maintenance, installation, site works or the like, will be conducted by Bahamians.”
In the first cohort of this initiative, the Government has committed to have a minimum of 25 Bahamians, trained and certified to operate in this sector.
“We will also commit and ensure that government funding agencies make resources available to those individuals who have successfully completed this course, in order to support them in opening their own business in this sector. We will also encourage the inclusion of green technology in all new major construction, and eventually provide the opportunity to offer similar services around the region,” he said.
At a Local Government Practitioners Conference, May 25, at SuperClubs Breezes, Prime Minister Davis informed that he has “direct superintendence of this energy and economic development project,” and assessments are being led by members of the Project Execution Unit/Reconstruction with Resilience in the Energy Sector in The Bahamas Program, within the Ministry of Finance.
He said, “This transformative initiative is contained in my Government’s Economic Plan and Blueprint to provide renewable and solar energy for the country thereby reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuel by 30 percent by 2030.”
He admonished Local Government practitioners that they are on the frontline in leading this transformation, and that he and the minister are counting on their “strong leadership in making this a success.”
On March 30, 2022 the government, led by Minister of Economic Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Halkitis, signed a $9 million contract funded by the European Union in partnership with the IDB to assist in the expanded use of clean, renewable energy, and promote post-hurricane reconstruction ‘with resilience’ in The Bahamas.
During the signing held at the Ministry of Finance, Senator Halkitis said, “It is worth noting that a high priority of this administration is to reduce the use of fossil fuel by creating an environment for renewable energy, where interested persons or entrepreneurs can participate in, among other things, the application of solar energy for the advancement of industry that is propelled by clean energy. Today, the EU and IDB are providing financial assistance of approximately $9 million, in grant funds, to assist in transforming a plan for renewable energy into reality.”
He said that the support comes at a very timely moment given the current geopolitical circumstances impacting fuel prices and the rise in the costs of goods and services. He also alluded to the current energy investment initiative that is at present being funded by the IDB at a cost of $80 million.
“This project, in summary, entails the installation of renewable energy capacity in East End Grand Bahama and Abaco. The Family islands are also expected to receive support from the energy investment project as solar systems will be constructed on these islands to reduce reliance on traditional energy.”
Photo Caption: Technical Assessments are taking place in Family Islands for the installation of Solar Photovoltaic Systems as part of the country’s energy sector reform for 30 percent reliance on renewable energy (solar power) by 2030.
Local dignitaries, government officials and VIPs joined Sandals Resorts executives for an official ribbon cutting ceremony at Sandals Royal Curaçao
#Curacao, June 8, 2022 – Sandals Resorts International (SRI) commemorated its venture into Curaçao during a special ribbon cutting ceremony held today at the newly opened Sandals Royal Curaçao – the 16th property in the Sandals Resorts portfolio. The resort officially opened to guests on June 1, 2022.
“Today marks a dream decades in the making as Sandals Resorts officially becomes part of the story of Curaçao,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of SRI. “It’s a great honor to now share this incredible destination with the world with its eclectic melting pot of culture, vibrance and stunning beauty. Today is also bittersweet as I wish my father and our late founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, could have been here to see this dream of our family’s become a reality.”
SRI Unique Vacations, American Airlines and ASTA Representatives at Sandals Royal Curacao Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
From experiential driven, off-site programming, to locally inspired resort experiences, to unique and impactful community and environmental development programs, the 351-room Sandals Royal Curaçao, and its unique approach to tourism, was saluted by attending dignitaries who recognized its progress and island impact so far.
The ceremony included remarks from industry leaders including Honourable Gilmar Pisas, Prime Minister of Curaçao; Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart; CEO of Sandals Resorts International, Gebhard Rainer; Resort General Manager, Kevin Clarke; Executive Vice President of Sales at Unique Vacations, Inc., Gary Sadler; Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke; Managing Director Caribbean, American Airlines, Christine Valls; and President of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors), Zane Kerby.
“The arrival of Sandals Royal Curaçao has a great impact in the continued development of our touristic product, giving us a great competitive advantage in our region,” said the Hon. Gilmar Pisas. “The most beautiful part of this process is our shared vision and the impact on our local people and economy long before the resort even opened its doors. The government of Curaçao is very pleased to welcome Sandals Royal Curaçao and together we look forward to providing travelers from around the world with great experiences that will have them extending their stays and coming back for years to come.”
Linking Sports and Sustainability to Empower the Island’s Youth
During his remarks, Stewart introduced the Sandals Foundation’s newly formed partnership with the Netherlands’ AFC Ajax soccer team to launch Future Goals – a program that turns fishing nets sourced from the ocean and recycled plastic waste into soccer goals for children. Expanding opportunities for locals through the power of youth sports, particularly the beloved game known locally as football, the landmark partnership kicks off at primary schools across Curaçao, where the program’s official launch was celebrated last month at MGR Niewindt College as students received the first set of Future Goals ahead of the resort’s opening. Attendees watched the official Future Goals video, with the Sandals Foundation’s Executive Director Heidi Clarke sharing more insight on the program.
Inside the New Sandals Royal Curaçao
For more information, please visit: https://www.sandals.com/royal-curacao/.
To view photos from the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Sandals Royal Curaçao, please click HERE.
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