Move to get civil $$ for environment projects

If everybody in the Caribbean gave one US dollar instead of relying on external methods of financing for projects, the region would be able to fund its own projects. That was the view of executive director of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, Reginald Burke, as he delivered remarks at the pre-launch of the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development’s (CNIRD) Your Change for the Environment Project.

The event was held yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott, Port-of-Spain. The project intends to get civil society involved in funding environmental projects through donations at airport kiosks and donation boxes with CNIRD’s corporate sponsor, Ritual’s Coffee House. Burke described the entire project as a method of innovative financing. He added: “When we receive funding from the international community sometimes it guides us in different directions.

“If we really look at it we will be going east one week, west the next, then north and south and end up nowhere,” said Burke. He said the project was unique within the Caribbean and held a specific role for the involvement of young people. He added: “The issue of sustainable land management cannot be dealt with unless we involve the youth. We cannot have sustainability unless we involve later generations.” 

Deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Housing Antony Ramnarine also delivered remarks at the event. He commented on the recent devastation in Maraval, saying that not every form of relief had to be vested physically in the environment. “The remedy is not only in investment in physical infrastructure but in educating the public on best practices for the environment,” he said. He noted Government’s $2.3 billion Green Fund which allowed members of civil society to get involved in environmental projects.

“It is not only up to Government, civil society has to be part of the agenda,” he added.