Barbados ‘doing a lot right’

Story and video by Stacey N. Russell

A veteran climate change expert is giving Barbados and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley top marks for tackling the climate crisis head on. 

In fact, Managing Director of Science-Based Initiatives, Steve Maximay says that one cannot talk about strategic moves on climate action without mentioning the Prime Minister because of her global influence in these matters.

Plus, as a professional who has worked in all 14 CARICOM countries, he praises the island for leading the Caribbean on several climate smart projects, not just in recent times, but from decades ago. 

Mr. Maximay, who is also a Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Journalist Trainer, spoke with CBC News after leading sessions at the Communicating on Climate Change Media Sensitisation Workshop hosted by the CARICOM Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) at Radisson Aquatica Resort Barbados, at Carlisle Bay, St. Michael. 

In one of his sessions, he drew attention to the far reaching effects of climate change, including poor infrastructure, transportation challenges, increased unionisation, voting patterns, and on crime and violence.

The workshop that attracted journalists, as well as internal communications and public relations specialists, also featured a presentation from Environmental Officer in the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Ron Goodridge, who pointed out a range of Government programmes to deal with the effects of climate change. 

Mr. Maximay says he is particularly impressed with Government departments being expected to consider the impact of climate change when working out their budgets. 

“I was pleased to hear… that every ministry is being asked to frame their expenditure in climate change terms. And I think that tells me that as a Government, as a conglomerate of ministries, you seem to be way ahead of a lot of countries within CARICOM in terms of recognising the importance of climate change, the climate crisis…

“It is not just lip service, or just nomenclature. We are actually seeing with the use of Blue Bonds and the perspectives that Barbados has been able to come up with regionally, that they are doing a lot of things right,” Mr. Maximay concluded.

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