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UN told about VI landslides; Climate Change vulnerabilities
The Premier, speaking during his June 10, 2024, delivery at the Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24), said the Virgin Islands recently experienced torrential rains that caused severe flash floods and landslides. This, he said, resulted in local infrastructure being impacted.
“This the second extreme weather event we have had to endure in five weeks. In early May, we also had torrential rains and flash floods that affected our infrastructure, particularly our roads.”
He said as a result of the rains, it has impacted VI’s hurricane recovery efforts, which has been ongoing ever since hurricanes Irma and Maria caused $2.3B in damages in 2017.
“We are very vulnerable at this time, which is just at the beginning of what is forecasted to be a very active Atlantic hurricane season. Madam Chair, this is the new reality of a warmer planet, climate change is an existential threat to the existence of Small Island Development States like the British Virgin Islands.”
Countries locked out of climate financing - Premier
He reminded the C-24 that at the Fourth International SIDS Conference in Antigua and Barbuda, he called on the international community to consider the vulnerability of the [British] Virgin Islands and other Associate Members of the United Nations Regional Commissions when determining eligibility for climate finance.
“This includes most of the 17 non-self-governing territories under the remit of the C-24. Presently, we are locked out of climate finance, which is unjust. Climate justice demands that we are given access to concessional financing and grants based on our vulnerability to help us build our climate resilience to cope with the negative impacts of climate change on our societies,” he added.
The Premier argued that the new SIDS programme of action will mean very little to vulnerable countries without UN support and that of the administering powers.
“The same can be said for sustainable development. It was helpful that at the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonisation, Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) featured on the agenda. I was very pleased that the UN system was engaged, particularly in the case of the British Virgin Islands.”
He said so far, stakeholders have successfully partnered with the UN to bring all the relevant parties together to find solutions to SDG challenges.
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11 Responses to “UN told about VI landslides; Climate Change vulnerabilities”
Natalio, if you, your friends and predecessors would not have wasted that money on stupid projects and corruption we could have done a lot ourselves.
But no Natalio, you want to cry about independence yet it is crystal clear you do not know how to govern a territory yourself.
One moment you tell everyone to watch you go to work with how much money we have, the next moment you borrow money for infrasturcture, the following week you cry about independence and now you cry for help.
You are not just slow, you are also confused.
Its just a free first class all the way trip for him.