Departments meet to update, review and align agendas and goals to ensure an effective approach towards the Sustainable Island State Agenda
BASSETERRE. St Kitts, 23 February 2024 – The Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment with responsibility for the Parks and Beaches Unit and the Solid Waste Management Corporation convened for the 4th Management Team meeting of the Intra Ministerial Coordination Mechanism. This took place at the Department of Agriculture’s Conference Room on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
The meeting chaired by John Gumbs, the Ministries’ Chief Policy Analyst, focused on departmental updates on key national development plans and Legislative Agenda. The presentation of the National Physical Development Plan (NPDP) was presented by Director of the Department of Physical Planning, Austin Farier, ahead of cabinet submission that links long-term planning timeline to the Sustainable Goals and management.
The Legislative Review of the National Conservation and Environmental Management Bill (NCEM) was presented by the Director of Environment, Derionne Edmeade. The objective is to this year, around World Environment Month in June, have the Bill approved by Cabinet then enacted by Parliament. NCEM is a revised version of the current National Conservation and Environment Protection Act of 1980 (NCEPA) and is the legislation that guides the operation of the Department.
Cosbert Woods, UN Country Coordinator for St Kitts & Nevis, presented on the alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with the overall objectives and priorities of the Sustainable Island Sate Agenda which includes the improvement of the water services (SDG 6), the affordability of clean energy (SDG 7) and housing (SDG 11).
Hon Dr Joyelle Clarke, Minister of both Ministries stated that collectively, the different Departments have worked in partnership with other government Ministries in order to achieve several inter-ministerial goals.
These include energy security, One Grid through geothermal, transitioning of government vehicles to electric vehicles, and the upcoming ban on single use plastics.
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