Ocean Life II Symposium: Ocean Life On the The Brink

Grenada | West Indies

May 19 to 21, 2010

P.M. Tillman Thomas’ Speaking Notes/Address

Welcome special guests (Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Commonwealth Secretary), delegates and attendees.

Consistent with our celebration of the United Nations’ International year of Bio-diversity, it is good that we, the Eastern Caribbean Coalition for Environmental Awareness (ECCEA), along with The Pew Environment Group, The Kido Foundation, and The Grenada Fund for Conservation, are hosting this Ocean Life Symposium in Grenada.

Special thank you to all the partners mentioned above, and the others who have collaborated over the years to ensure that we take sustainable development initiatives, such as the current symposium. I am speaking here of the EU, UNEP, UNESCO, and the governments of France and the United Kingdom.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as we may all know, ECCEA's policy is founded on the need to ensure the conservation and survival of our region and its people.

We believe that ECCEA’s mission is an important one: developing long-term partnerships between communities and their environment so that both may survive in harmony.

This is well reflected in the Coalition's programme for Community Based Initiatives for Nature and Heritage Tourism, Environmental Education and the Conservation of Island Ecosystems in the East Caribbean.

Very importantly, ECCEA emphasizes an appreciation of the significant link between sustainable development of sites and conservation of the environment by villagers themselves.

Ladies and Gentlemen, having a strong Environmental Preservation policy in place is a priority of the Government of Grenada. 

We believe that the social and economic development of our country and region should be carried out sustainably.  We believe that we can enjoy our environments and meet the needs of our present populations without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. 

In fact, even before taking office, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stated in our manifesto that:

 “An NDC administration will ensure that careful environmental management is an essential part of all national development policies, plans, programmes and projects.  An NDC government will faithfully honour the St. George’s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability to which all OECS countries signed in 2001.”

To this end, we have among other things, already:

established a Ministry of the Environment;

repealed the prior administration’s retrogressive amendments to the National Parks and Protected Areas Act; and

we have begun work on:

the management and control of the utilization of our coral reefs and other marine ecosystems;

implementing measures to protect and replant mangroves;

implementing measures to manage and control the collection of sand from beaches; and

the development and enforcement of a Land Use Policy.

Thankfully, agencies such as The Eastern Caribbean Coalition for Environmental Awareness, can and have played a significant role in protecting and preserving our regional environment.

Because of your work, alongside that of our government agencies, our ocean and sea will be cleaner, marine organisms will be safer, and hopefully we will soon see the full implementation of the UNEP SPAW Protocol and its Marine Mammal Action Plan.

However, it must be noted here that in order for our efforts to really take full effect, we must ensure that we arrive at having global governance in protecting the ecosystems of the ocean and in addressing the concerns of climate change. Our concerns may begin in our region; but they must be echoed and be translated into enforceable international governing rules, globally.

Again, to each of you, I say welcome to our beautiful and hospitable Grenada.

As I declare this symposium officially OPEN, my wish is that your important deliberations would be meaningful and productive for the common good of our region and for generations yet unborn.

Thank you