Barbados has a responsibility to share its best practices in coastal zone management with its brothers and sisters in the region.

And, Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, has given the assurance that the island is prepared to help find a ???relationship niche??? to begin sharing its best practices with neighbouring countries.

He made these disclosures during a recent courtesy call with Grenada???s Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Senator Simon Stiell, at the Ministry???s Warrens, St. Michael office.

???Barbados has placed an offer on the table to work with Grenada to achieve collective progress on matters critical to their survivability,??? he said. He added that there may be unique features in Grenada which Barbados was yet to tackle, and affirmed that the exchange of knowledge would be useful.

The Minister pointed out that if Barbados ???went under [water]???, the island of Grenada would become a refuge for citizens, and likewise Barbados, if Grenada faced a similar threat. ???Therefore we need to be proactive, and we want to share our experiences with the world and the region,??? he added.

In that vein, Dr. Lowe stressed that there was no need to reinvent the wheel, particularly as most of the work done by the Coastal Zone Management Unit could be replicated.

Mr. Stiell agreed and indicated that he wished to draft a Memorandum of Understanding with Barbados??? Ministry of the Environment and Drainage to highlight areas of mutual cooperation.

He noted that the Grenadian team was small and had a lot to learn. However, he observed that Barbados too could benefit from Grenada???s expertise, especially in the area of biodiversity.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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