United Nations Radio

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

Jorge Urbina

Haiti is making headway in judiciary and security sector reform, but it continues to grapple with food insecurity and a fragile humanitarian situation.
That assessment comes from the representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Ambassador Jorge Urbina.
In a report to the UN Security Council on a fact-finding mission that visited Haiti from 11-14 March, Ambassador Urbina told the Council that the international community is committed to Haiti's success and the country's authorities must promote a national consensus to ensure political stability, security and a firm foundation for socio-economic development.

There's mixed progress in the Caribbean and Latin America in health and human development

PAHO logo

Important progress has been made in health and human development in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
That according to the Senior Regional Adviser on Health Systems and Services at the Pan American Health Organization -PAHO/WHO.
Hernan Montenegro told the Commission on the Status of Women that average values for nearly every health indicator had improved in nearly every country: infant mortality had decreased; life expectancy had increased; and deaths from communicable diseases had fallen.
But he said challenges remained with some infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS.
And he warned that many of the countries have poorly performing health systems and are ill-equipped to deal with current and future challenges.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is using nuclear techniques to address problems of coastal zones in the Caribbean

IAEA's Marine Laboratory

The International Atomic Energy Agency-IAEA is using nuclear techniques to address the management problems of coastal zones in the Caribbean region.
Joan Albert Sanchez-Cabeza is head of the Radiometrics laboratory at the IAEA's Marine Environment Laboratory.
In an interview with Louise Potterton of IAEA radio, Mr. Sanchez-Cabeza explains that the aim is to develop and improve capabilities to reduce the degradation due to anthropogenic and natural impacts of the coastal ecosystems of the wider Caribbean region by using nuclear techniques to support integrated coastal management.

The World Bank endorses a new Interim Strategy Note for Belize to spur economic growth and reduce poverty

The World Bank's Board of Directors has endorsed a new Interim Strategy Note for Belize which outlines the Bank's assistance over the next two years to June 2011.
Its aim is to support the country's strategy to spur economic growth and reduce poverty.
UN Radio's Diane Bailey reports.

Producer: Donn Bobb