SKN ministries launched environmental programme at CUNA

Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: An environmental project – ‘Improving Environmental Management through Sustainable Land Management,’ has been launched by the Ministries of Sustainable Development and Environment in St Kitts and Nevis.

The Ministries launched the project during an inception workshop at Credit Union Conference Centre (CUNA) on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Elreter Simpson-Browne, shared the welcome remarks and expressed pleasure of the ministries’ role in the initiative. She further added that the project is critical as well as timely.

The minister stated that “Project is of particular significance to the Ministry of Sustainable Development as we are charged with the responsibility for land use, planning and management, and this project will help us to promote sustainable development through the update of the National Physical Development Plan, building codes, associated legal and regulatory frameworks, and our digital capabilities.”

She further claimed, “The Ministry of Sustainable Development is also charged with ensuring that there is a coordinated approach to sustainable development which is grounded in social, economic and environmental resilience. We, therefore, welcome multi-sectoral initiatives such as this, which, of course, are facilitated by grant funding, and allow us to work with our national partners to secure that sustainable future, continually invests in our people, and ensure that no one is left behind.”

Simpson-Browne thanked the funding partner – Global Environment Facility (GEF), for continuously developing and promoting the sustainable development agenda.

She further claimed that in 2022, the first-ever Voluntary National Review (VNR) would be planned and prepared by the Ministry of Sustainable Development to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations High-level political form.

According to the ministry, the main focus would be on Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), Life on Land (SDG 15), Life Below Water (SGD 14), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Quality Education (SDG 4).