United Nations Radio

Caribbean News Round-Up: a weekly 15-minute news magazine on developments at the United Nations concerning the Caribbean.

investment in agriculture

An Intergovernmental meeting concluded a week-long discussion at the United Nations on the need for a sustainable, home-grown green revolution worldwide, taking note of a draft set of policy options governments could use to expedite programme implementation on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa.
The measures will be forwarded to the upcoming 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, scheduled for 4 to 15 May. Highlight of the final session was a panel discussion on policy options to address barriers and constraints in relation to inter-linkages among agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa.

drought

Barbados says it's among the top 15 water-scarce countries in the world

The issues of forecasting and assessment of drought are two priority areas for Barbados. But the challenge for the island will be to develop the means of expanding the hydrological and hydro-meteorological observational network that will help the work of its National Water Authority in monitoring and evaluating the water resources of the country.
So says Amrikah Singh of the Barbados Ministry of the Environment. She says Barbados is among the 15 most water-scarce countries in the world.
And she points out that in addition, the effect of climate change is being manifested in the form of shorter more intense rainfall patterns which could have significant implications for other issues particularly land degradation.

climate change

Grenada points to the effects of the many global crises on small island states

Preparations for the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development come at a time when the world is confronting a confluence of multidimensional crises on various fronts- crises to which small-island developing States -SIDS have contributed the least, but are receiving a disproportionately severe impact as vulnerable states.
Grenada's representative Ambassador Dessima Williams, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States -AOSIS took time out to itemize the major components of the crisis.

 Producer:  Donn Bobb
duration:  15'00"