PORT OF SPAIN — Japan is providing US$15 million to help several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries cope with the impact of climate change.
The “Project for Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership” will help Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Dominica, and Belize build the capacity to cope with climate change. Japan’s assistance is based upon three pillars: cooperation towards sustainable development, with a focus on the particular challenges faced by island states; deepening and expanding bonds of friendship; and cooperation in addressing challenges of the international community.
This accord is of particular importance to CARICOM states now classified as Middle Income, as they lose access to certain funding mechanisms based on their income classification. Japan’s pledge provides alternative financing and support. As Prime Minister Abe said, “Japan and CARICOM countries are maritime island nations, surrounded by the ocean, enjoying its blessings, and regarding the safety of the ocean as the safety of its own.”
The agreement was signed at the first ever Japan-CARICOM summit here on Monday that was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured) and several CARICOM heads of governments.
