Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jun 30, 2025

Overseas Territories Climate Change Meeting

Overseas Territories Climate Change Meeting

During the week of August 15, 2022, in Nassau, The Bahamas, the heads of the Caribbean region met in advance of COP 27, which will be held in Egypt from November 6-18, 2022.

Hosted by Hon Philip Brave Davis QC, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, at the Baha Mar Resort, regional heads, including Hon Dickon A.T. Mitchell of Grenada, Hon Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Hon Mia A. Mottley of Barbados, and five Overseas Territories (OTs) were met at the Lynden Pindling International Airport by Hon Fred A. Mitchell and Hon Pia T. Glover-Rolle.

The OT representatives were as follows; Cayman Islands - Premier the Hon. G. Wayne Panton, the Virgin Islands - Premier Dr. the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Bermuda - Deputy Premier Hon Walter H. Roban, Turks and Caicos Islands - Hon Josephine O. Connolly, and Anguilla - Hon Quincia Gumbs-Marie.

Each delegation consisted of Technical and Policy experts in environmental protection.

● Anguilla - Ms Carencia Rouse, Director of Natural Resources

      - Cayman Islands - Mrs Lisa Hurlston-McKenzie, Senior Policy Advisor (Environment & Resiliency)

● Turks and Caicos - Ms Lormeka Williams, Director of Department of Environment and Coastal Resources

● Virgin Islands - Ms Angela Penn-Burnett

Common issues


The conference, which was fully funded by the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCC), focused on mitigation and financing for these efforts.

Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, the OTs are not eligible for most international climate finance facilities. Nevertheless, the OT representatives spent three days working together on environmental issues common to the OTs.

Whether it was around a table pouring over ideas, experiences, or expertise, the people of the OTs would have been so proud to see how their representatives worked together as one. Out of these meetings, provisional plans were going forward for the following:

*  To engage with the UK Government (via Lord Goldsmith and OTs’ UK Government representatives) on the participation of OT Ministers and technical staff at COP27 under a UK Delegation.

*  Resurrecting the UKOTs Declaration on Climate Change for presentation to the UK and possibly at COP27.

*  Careful consideration of extending the UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement to each OTs, and discussion with the UK Government about ‘carve-outs’ for the OTs from onerous obligations.

*  Expansion of BVI’s Climate Change Trust Fund to facilitate the financing needs of fellow OTs and/or utilisation of the Commonwealth Climate Growth Fund spearheaded by the Cayman Islands for funding future blue-green mitigation and adaptation projects.

Many islands, One People


While we may be the islands with some of the smaller populations in the region, we have vast marine and terrestrial resources among us. Our islands account for 90 per cent of the natural biodiversity of the United Kingdom OTs. With tourism, a significant part of our economies, our responsibility as representatives of these beautiful and unique islands is to educate ourselves, our populations, and the world on what must be done to protect what God has blessed us with.

On a personal note, it is a joy to see the OTs working increasingly closer together. It is incumbent on us to seize every opportunity to show ourselves that although we are many islands, we are one people.

Ms Angela Penn-Burnett, centre, was the technical expert in the Virgin Islands delegation to The Bahamas

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
×