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BARBADOS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BARBADOS PROGRAMME OF ACTION (BPOA)

BARBADOS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BARBADOS PROGRAMME OF ACTION (BPOA) Prepared by the Ministry of Housing Lands and the Environment Government of Barbados.

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BARBADOS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BARBADOS PROGRAMME OF ACTION (BPOA)

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  1. BARBADOS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BARBADOS PROGRAMME OF ACTION (BPOA) Prepared by the Ministry of Housing Lands and the Environment Government of Barbados

  2. As host of the first Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS Barbados attaches the greatest importance to implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action • “We are convinced that the vulnerability and sustainable development challenges of SIDS as expressed in the Barbados Programme of Action, Agenda 21, the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation are now better understood by the international community. We therefore believe that the Mauritius review presents an important opportunity for us to take stock of new and emerging challenges as well as identify additional resources to advance implementation.” – The Hon. Billie Miller, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, at the United Nations General Assembly, New York on September 26, 2003

  3. Structure of Barbados’ National Assessment Report The Report contains six chapters • Chapter 1 - Description of the physical and social characteristics • Chapter 2 - Summary of national framework for addressing sustainable development • Chapter 3 - Summary of sectoral activities • Chapters 4 - 6 - Address economic, social and environmental vulnerability

  4. General Characteristics • In the 2002 UNDP Human Development Report Barbados is ranked 27th among all countries and 1st among developing countries • Barbados is the 16th most densely populated country in the world • Barbados is classified as the 15th most water scarce country in the world • The majority of major commercial, residential and industrial infrastructure is located within ½ kilometer of the coastline and is less than 20 feet above sea level

  5. National Framework for Sustainable Development • National Commission on Sustainable Development • National Strategic Planning • The Environmental Management and Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development Project

  6. National Commission on Sustainable Development • Structure • Cabinet appointed body comprised of representatives from Government, and all the major groups including NGOs, CBOs, Trade Unions, Women Organisations, the Academic Community, and Private Sector entities • Current Chair – Dr. Hugh Sealy • Activities • National Consultations (Water Management, Energy, Youth and Community, Solid Waste Management and Agriculture) • Preparation of a National Sustainable Development Policy • Public Awareness and Education

  7. National Strategic Planning • First element is a National Strategic Plan which is based on the development and integration of sectoral strategic plans with a time horizon of 20 years. • The second element is a Tripartite Partnership between Government, Labour and the Private Sector. This process has resulted in four binding “Prices and Incomes Protocols” and it is proposed to enshrine this mechanism within domestic laws. • The third element is the Planning and Priorities Committee, which is a sub-committee of Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister consisting of key Ministers and Technocrats. All public projects with a capital value in excess of US 1/2 million dollars are reviewed by the PPC.

  8. The Environmental Management and Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development (1997-98) • Environmental Management Act • Environmental and Natural Resources Management Plan • Proposed Institutional Framework for Environmental Management • National Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guidelines and Procedures • A National Park and Development Plan • National Physical Development Plan

  9. Lessons Learnt • Increased stakeholder involvement aids in the implementation process • Finite resources such as water require mechanisms to determine their true economic value. Need for approved methodologies to internalise externalities. • Need for education and sensitisation of decision makers and IFIs

  10. Some Success Stories • Overarching national sustainable development policy • Sectoral sustainable development policies e.g. Agriculture, Tourism, Water Resource Management, Physical Development Plan

  11. Constraints – Institutional • Absence of a clear long term mandate for the NCSD • Lack of enabling legislation • Lack of compliance – voluntary and enforced • Lack of resources (financial, technical and human)

  12. National Progress Made & Problems Encountered in the Implementation of the BPOA Water and Sanitation • Issues -Water scarcity - 1:15 year drought event, demand would exceed supply if such an event occurs -Water distribution – 100% universal coverage and metering, yet unaccounted water as high as 60% -1 person in Barbados generates 1kg of waste per day which is one of the highest in the world • Relevant Projects - Construction of a 6MGD brackish water reverse osmosis desalination plant - Water Resources Management and Water Loss Studies (1997) - Preparation of a draft policy framework for water resources development and management - Three major sewerage plants/projects – Two completed, one under designed. The combined capital costs is US $0.5 billion to be financed through loans

  13. Water and Sanitation cont’d • Constraints - Securing funding - Legislation - Institutional arrangements – separation of regulatory functions an

  14. Coastal and Marine Resources • Issue - Degradation of coastal and marine resources Relevant Projects - Institutional strengthening e.g. establishment of a coastal zone management unit - Integrated coastal zone management and planning e.g draft coastal zone management plans for the entire coastal zone of Barbados - Legislation e.g. Coastal Zone Management Act (1998) and Marine Pollution Control Act (1998) - Preparation of first Fisheries Management Plan (1997)

  15. Coastal and Marine Resources Cont’d • Constraints Lack of enforcement due in part to :         public perception of the activity not being an important crime ·         perception of environmental issues as being "waste of time" ·         lack of enforcers ·         lack of equipment used to carry out enforcement, for example, boats.

  16. Economic Vulnerability • Definition The Commonwealth Secretariat/World Bank Report defines vulnerability as " exposure to exogenous shocks over which the affected country has little or no control and relatively low resilience to withstand and recover from these shocks" • Characteristics     Remoteness and isolation     Openness     Susceptibility to natural disasters and environmental change Limited diversification •     Poverty •     Limited capacity

  17. Economic Vulnerability Cont’d Building Resilience to Economic Vulnerability National Implementation • Monetary policy e.g. measures to protect the balance of payment • Counter cyclical fiscal policy e.g. measures to ensure appropriate levels of social and physical capital without comprising B’dos’ BOP position • Prudent management of size of fiscal deficit and debt management • Policies to defend exchange rate • Strengthening of public finances • Encouraging greater micro finance for micro, small and medium sized enterprises • Human resources development e.g. through the National Strategic Plan a target of one university graduate per household by 2015 has been set; another target is the establishment of the University College of Barbados by 2005. Regional Cooperation and Implementation • Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME)

  18. Social Vulnerability - Crime –Low crime rate but fear of crime Response : Barbados Crime Survey (2002) which has informed the draft National Plan on Justice Peace and Security • Culture – Threatened by external mass media (music, music videos, films, electronic games, etc.) Response : initiatives designed to protect traditional Barbadian cultural values which reinforce our sense of self while fostering a tolerance for cultural diversity • Health - Lifestyle related illnesses e.g. chronic non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, strokes, diabetes and hypertension Response : Draft Strategic Plan for Health (2002-2011), a comprehensive public education and awareness programme, Community Participation • Poverty – Contributing factors include education, unemployment and the type of employment Response: Establishment of a Ministry of Social Transformation with poverty eradication, through its Poverty Eradication Programme, as its first priority. • HIV/AIDS – Estimated HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 1.75% Response: Barbados has launched an aggressive HIV/AIDS programme which has resulted in significant reductions in the number of HIV/AIDS deaths and mother to child transmissions

  19. Environmental Vulnerability • Water - Threats from saline intrusion • Solid WasteManagement – Widespread littering and illegal dumping • Natural Disasters – Hurricanes • Climate Change – Adaptation to climate change • Coastal and Marine Resources • Biodiversity

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