Donatus St.Aimee 

In Geneva, the Economic and Social Council working in the context of its agenda item on social and human rights questions, considered issues relating to social development, crime prevention and criminal justice, narcotic drugs, human rights, and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In a statement, St. Lucia’s ambassador Donatus St. Aimee said one of the least considered aspects of globalization was its influence on socialization processes and institutions that focused on preventative measures rather than punitive measures in terms of societal norms.

The economic union to be launched among the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States will not counter CARICOM

Caribbean community 

St. Lucia’s ambassador with responsibility for the OECS, CARICOM and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. June Soomer, says the OECS Economic Union to be launched in July next year will not counter Caribbean Community (CARICOM) efforts to unite the region. According to the OECS Secretariat, the rationale for the establishment of an economic union is the development challenges that the small states of the OECS face as a result of globalization and trade liberalization, which can only be countered by the creation of a single economic space which allows the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, leading to economic diversification and growth, greater export competitiveness and more employment and human resource development. As a foundation for the development, the OECS already has a common currency.

Barbados calls for a re-evaluation of the criteria used to graduate middle income developing countries

The global financial crisis has clearly exposed the need for an urgent re-evaluation of the criteria use by the International Financial institutions to graduate middle income developing countries from access to concessionary financing. That’s what Barbados’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Darcy Boyce, told a UN conference on the world financial crisis and its impact on development. Minister Boyce said while the Caribbean Community has not been passive in its response to the crisis, the region’s lack of fiscal space has prevented it from engaging in more aggressive and sustained countercyclical measures.

The UN climate chief sees a strong desire to act on the issue of climate change

Yvo de Boer 

It’s five months to go before member states of the international community gather in Copenhagen to try and seal the deal on a new climate change treaty. Recently, Donn Bobb had the opportunity to speak with UN climate chief Yvo de Boer and first asked him what’s the current situation.

Producers: Dianne Penn and Donn Bobb
Duration: 14′53″