Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds (centre) welcomes Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Achim Steiner to Barbados while the UNDP’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Michelle Muschett, looks on. (GP)

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Achim Steiner, arrived in Barbados on Tuesday, ahead of the XVI Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The regional forum, being hosted by the Government of Barbados, UNDP, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), will be held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle, from October 30 to November 1.

On hand to welcome Mr. Steiner was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme for Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean, Limya Eltayeb.

Mr. Symmonds, in welcoming UNDP’s Administrator, noted that the forum is critical in helping Barbados and the region discuss and propose the way forward in building resilience and sustainability in their development plans.

“This very important conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, which they’re here to attend, is going to be speaking, in large measure, to the question of resilience on the part of small states, and our capacity to make sure that that resilience reflects also not just the theory of the financial challenges that we face in the country and the need to adjust to and adapt in the context of climate but what it really means for the average human being, man and woman, in the street.

“[And], how this resonates in the classrooms for our children, how it resonates in the way in which we plan our housing development for the future, public transportation, the whole range, or cross section of areas where there’s a need now for us to use the language of resilience as we plan out the future of the Barbados society and Barbados economy, and as I say, society, let me not for one second forget the importance of gender balance in this whole thing,” the  Minister stated.

Mr. Steiner agreed that the upcoming forum is very important and indicated that the sessions in the forum will also focus on climate change adaptation.

“We are looking forward to not only some very constructive and fruitful discussions in the regional conference and forum but particularly also with representatives in your government, with our partners in projects and programmes here in Barbados,” the UNDP Administrator said.

UNDP’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Michelle Muschett, who was also present,  noted that the conference is a very critical step in the way forward to address opportunities for building resilience and sustainability against future shocks to the development of the region.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds (right) in discussion with Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Achim Steiner, following the latter’s arrival in Barbados, today. Mr. Steiner is in the island for the XVI Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean which takes place October 30 to November 1, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle. (GP)

Ms. Muschett said: “The region is under tremendous pressure, development is under pressure, democracies are under pressure, and this is a space to discuss and exchange in a very pragmatic and concrete way. How can we adjust those escape valves in order to use the pressure that we feel in these times in the region to foster and accelerate development and strengthening democracies in our region?

“So we, as UNDP, are enormously glad of being here and looking forward to not just facilitate these discussions and conversations alongside ECLAC, as co-organisers of this forum, but to continue accompanying the countries from the region in implementing in a better way the solutions that we agreed are needed in terms not just of human development, but how do we finance development? How do we build resilience and more adaptive social protection systems, and how can we leverage the opportunities and the strengths of such a rich region, such as Latin America and the Caribbean?”

Delegations from over 20 governments from Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to participate in the XVI Ministerial Forum discussions on how to accelerate and protect progress towards human development, social inclusion, and resilience.

sheena.forde-craigg@barbados.gov.bb

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