WASHINGTON, D.C.,June 1, 2023 — In his capacity as Chairman of the Caribbean Caucus of Ambassadors in the United. States, His Excellency Wendall Jones, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, convened a meeting with officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for CARICOM countries. on Wednesday, May 31.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jones extended CARICOM’s “gratitude to the United States government for its assistance to the Caribbean region over the years.”
“CARICOM and the United States have sustained and continue to maintain a robust and fruitful relationship,” Ambassador Jones said. “The U.S. has been an integral actor in providing assistance, resources and aid through various initiatives and programs that have facilitated the improvement of infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and human welfare, among other things. However, there are a number of questions and concerns that CARICOM Ambassadors have for this engagement as we seek to enhance the quality of life of the people of the Caribbean.”
Noting that climate change has had “a tremendous impact on our region and threatens the livelihood of our nations’ existence,” Ambassador Jones said, “We are very anxious about food security and the issue of migration, as tens of thousands can become economic refugees. Finding ways to protect our communities are of utmost importance and requires innovation and financing of climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand the pressures and unpredictability of climatic events.”
He added: “Some of our countries have limited access to funding because we are classified as middle to high-income countries. We now call for new and innovative avenues to support our region, including new and other mechanisms to access concessional financing.
“These limitations affect not only infrastructural development, but also our economies, as climate change disrupts the agricultural sector, causing interruptions in food availability that result in our countries being burdened by high costs for the importation of food.
“Countries like ours, Small Island Developing States, and low-lying coastal countries are susceptible to more frequent and intense natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and rising sea levels, increasing the risk of climate change migration.
“And where will migrants go? To seek refuge in neighbouring developed countries like the U.S. for a better life. Countries on the pathway to the U.S. will likely meet with migrant challenges that will require interventions that are not desirable.
“Despite the current efforts, a stronger commitment in providing assistance is necessary to improve the quality of life and to offset human suffering. We ask that you consider the specific challenges each country faces to ensure a more equitable distribution of aid among CARICOM countries. There is no doubt that climate change is reshaping the geostrategic and tactical environment with significant implications for U.S. national security and defence.
“As the U.S. Department of Defense in a Climate Risk Analysis stated: ‘More frequent, intense, and unpredictable extreme weather conditions caused by climate change are exacerbating existing risk and creating new security challenges for U.S. interests.’ ”
Ambassador Jones added: “We would agree that these interests must include the interests of your neighbours in CARICOM and increasing assistance in tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad.
“In light of this, we hope that through this dialogue, CARICOM Ambassadors obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current criteria necessary to qualify for assistance under USAID, the appropriate process to apply for resources and additional financing in the critical sectors, a set of priority areas of USAID and the role of USAID in PACC 2030.”
Closing his remarks, Ambassador Jones invited “H.E. Noel Lynch, Ambassador of Barbados, to offer remarks on the Bridgetown Initiative, followed by H.E. Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, to speak on matters of Security.
