ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs warned that the road to sustainable development in the Caribbean is long and difficult, and urged Caribbean countries, member States of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), to make the most of the support that ECLAC provides in the area of research and development.
Salazar noted that the Caribbean is on track to achieve only 20% of the Sustainable Development Goal targets by 2030. She made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the 30th session of the CDCC in Port of Spain, where Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Planning and Development, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, assumed the leadership of the Committee for the next two years.
The 30th session of the CDCC brought together Caribbean ministers, ambassadors and development specialists to discuss solutions to pressing development challenges.
The Executive Secretary recalled that there are just over five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda. “The Caribbean has only 20% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track to be met; 33% are moving in the right direction, but too slowly to achieve them, and 47% are moving in the wrong direction. In addition, there is slow progress in sectors critical to its sustainable development such as health and well-being, quality education and access to fresh water. And then there are the indicators that lack data for us to adequately measure progress at all – indicators on key issues such as gender equality and climate action.”
He added that an important part of ECLAC’s work and technical cooperation over the years has been support to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. ECLAC, in its capacity as secretariat of the CDCC, has supported Caribbean countries in the development of national sustainable development plans and science, technology and innovation plans, as well as in providing a range of other types of support for research and development. However, Executive Secretary Salazar-Xirinachs noted that challenges remain.
“Data inadequacies pose a key challenge to achieving a number of development imperatives, including implementing disaster risk reduction and response measures and ensuring optimal use of the recently adopted Multidimensional Vulnerability Index so that an effective case can be made for increased access to concessional finance.”
Assuming the presidency of the CDCC, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Planning and Development, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, reflected on the climate crisis, a central theme of this week’s discussions. “The crisis is not a distant threat; it is unfolding before our very eyes, wreaking havoc on our economies, ecosystems and the livelihoods of our people. Since those unaffected by our unique circumstances are unlikely to effectively champion our cause, it is our duty to assert our right to benefit equally from the resources of this earth.”
Minister Beckles-Robinson added: “Let this session spark among us a renewed commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow SIDS members, not just within our region, but around the world. Together, we must meet the challenges before us and forge a path to lasting and resilient prosperity.”
The outgoing Chair of the CDCC, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin, also focused his remarks on climate change, noting that efforts to prevent damage and loss must be a priority for the Caribbean. Looking ahead to the upcoming COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan in November, Minister Ramdin said: “We cannot wait three or four years. The urgency is imminent. Unfortunately, countries will have to be frank. Making commitments and promises is of no use if we do not keep them. I regret having to be so frank about this, but it is in everyone’s interest to ensure that resources are allocated to real needs.”
Trinidad and Tobago will chair the CDCC for the period 2024-2026. Also elected as members of the CDCC Bureau were British Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Saint Lucia as Vice-Presidents and Saint Kitts and Nevis as Rapporteur. The Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee was established in 1975 and is currently in its thirtieth regular session.
More about ECLAC Caribbean
The mission of the subregional headquarters for the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is to deepen understanding of the development challenges facing the Caribbean and contribute to solutions by conducting research and analysis, as well as providing policy advice and technical assistance to Caribbean governments, focusing on growth with equity and recognizing the vulnerability of the subregion.
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