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By Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The impact of climate change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is a significant cause of displacement within the Caribbean Community. This issue was highlighted by the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl, which left thousands of people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada without power, leaving many in makeshift shelters.
These concerns were shared by Ms. Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General of the CARICOM Secretariat, at the opening of the seminar on designing an immigration policy framework that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people of the Caribbean Community.
The CARICOM Secretariat and the CARICOM Executive Body on Crime and Security (IMPACS), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), organized a three-day workshop in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from July 8 to 10, on the theme “Towards a Regional Approach to Migration Policy in the Caribbean – Towards a Shared Vision”. The event involved National Focal Points (NFPs) of CARICOM Member States and representatives of relevant regional and international organizations, who engaged in dialogue to develop a regional migration policy framework.
Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development at the Caribbean Community Secretariat, said: “Climate change and natural disasters remain the main drivers of displacement in the region, and the frequency and intensity of such events are likely to increase in the future. This has resulted in many states in the region facing population decline, which in turn has affected the workforce, with our young population having to seek employment opportunities outside the region, and many key industries have been negatively impacted.”
In his address to the NLOs and conference participants, Drayton highlighted the role of climate change in migration issues and said the region has faced and continues to face a variety of challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of Caribbean citizens.
Specifically, climate change exacerbates displacement, forcing people to move from areas that threaten their livelihoods or limit their opportunities to thrive and support their families.
Climate change and natural disasters remain key drivers of displacement in the region, and the frequency and scale of such events are likely to increase in the future. This has resulted in many states in the region facing population declines, which in turn has affected the workforce, with young people seeking job opportunities outside the region, and many important industries have also been negatively affected.
However, she noted that addressing this challenge will be complex. The ASG stressed that the EC is committed to working with National Contact Points and other stakeholders to implement a “forward-looking regional migration policy” that will address all aspects of regional migration and population mobility in line with Member States’ priorities.
She thanked the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the workshop. She noted the valuable technical contribution of the United Nations Migration Group, as well as financial support from the United States Department of State, the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank. Drayton also acknowledged the significant contribution of the International Organization for Migration, which has been supporting the advancement of the Regional Approach to Migration Policy (RAMP) by providing advisory services to coordinate the work of the Community through the Steering Committee and the development of the framework.
Why do we need to formulate regional immigration policies?
In February 2019, at the 19th Extraordinary Session of the Caribbean Community Heads of Government Meeting on Security, CARICOM Heads of Government mandated “the CARICOM Secretariat, in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Executive Body on Crime and Security (IMPACS), to work with relevant United Nations agencies to develop a regional migration policy”. The CARICOM Secretariat has therefore partnered with IOM and the UN Migration Network to support the Community in this effort. IOM launched the UN Network, while the CARICOM Secretariat, in collaboration with several Community agencies, established a Steering Committee and Advisory Group to provide broad international expertise and guidance.
The workshop brought together representatives from the 15 CARICOM Member States and relevant regional and international organizations, including the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Executive Body on Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and several UN agencies participating in the UN Migration Network, including the International Organization for Migration, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), etc.
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