The Hummingbird - May 2022 [vol.9, n.5]

Issued on a monthly basis, The Hummingbird offers insights into the latest projects, publications, technical assistance missions and research carried out by ECLAC Caribbean. In addition to these, sneak previews are provided of the most salient upcoming events, alongside enriching followups to previously covered issues. With a view to featuring a variety of facets of Caribbean life and lifestyle, The Hummingbird also zooms in on cultural activities and landmark occurrences through an eye-opening regional round-up.

ECLAC publishes Progress report on regional preparatory process of Latin America and the Caribbean for the mid-term review of the International Decade for Action, "Water for Sustainable Development 20182028" and the United Nations Water Conference 2023

UN agencies undertake project

FOR BETTER STATISTICS … VIA SDG DATA DEVELOPMENT IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Several United Nations agencies in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean have joined forces to undertake a project, under the banner of the global Joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Fund. The joint project supports implementation of the country’s National Development Strategy, which includes the creation of a national statistical system (NSS), that delivers high quality, user-oriented, and timely economic, social and environmental statistics.

This project is timely, as it builds on progress made by the Government

in drafting legislation to reform the NSS. It also promises to be impactful and deliver results at scale, by activating policy levers, and employing an integrated, cross-sectoral approach. In turn, this is expected to lead to the generation of better data and statistics enabling deeper crosssectoral participatory approaches.

Data and statistics are also inputs for SDG financing systems, and the project is expected to create an enabling environment for their production and sharing within and across sectors. It will also encourage public resources to be

better allocated, and dramatically leverage upscale SDG financing from multiple investors, including the private sector.

In Trinidad and Tobago, none of the SDGs have disaggregated data for more than half of their indicators. This is a significant challenge to SDG-related policymaking, programming and resourcing; as well as to identifying, monitoring and rendering assistance to those at risk of being left behind (including women and girls), who are insufficiently considered in the collection of national statistics.

The proposed project will address this discrepancy, by enhancing disaggregated data development for the SDGs, in a way that also modernizes and empowers the NSS. It is expected to raise the profile of statistics in the country, and improve the quantity, quality and pace of provision of disaggregated SDG data. It will also make the creation and integration of SDGrelated policies more evidenced-based, and improve monitoring of the country’s progress on the SDGs, particularly regarding gender equality and Leaving No One Behind. Further, it should enhance collaboration between stakeholders, and facilitate building of an SDG financing architecture that aids mobilization and efficient allocation of public, private and donor resources toward the Goals.

The joint project promises to modernize the statistical ecosystem, through developing the technological and professional capacities, in accelerating the adoption of international standards. This is by formulating investment plans for national institutions and the broader statistical ecosystem, with an emphasis on female leaders, managers and technicians. The project will also seek to forge multisectoral compacts by encouraging strategic partnerships among data producers and users, including the private sector.

A RESURGENCE OF CHESS

IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Chess is an ancient game believed to have originated in India. Many people believe that chess was played by the ancient Egyptians, but researchers have concluded that the Egyptians played a game resembling chess but not quite the same.

Chess has intrigued people around the world for centuries. It requires focus, concentration, patience, strategy and tactics. In schools, it has been used as a successful means of conflict resolution, allowing boys to battle it out over a board rather than with their fists.

It is also an established fact that youth who play chess score higher on standardized tests and demonstrate a higher level of academic achievement. Research shows that seniors fending off dementia and Alzheimer’s benefit from chess as well.

Chess peaked in popularity in the United States in 1972 when Bobby Fisher became the first native-born American to hold the title of world champion, after defeating Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.

Interest in chess among young people faced a steady decline after the introduction of video games, but maybe because of being sequestered at home during the pandemic… or maybe due to the huge popularity of the Netflix series, “The Queen’s Gambit” … or maybe because energized

Over the Saint Thomas Carnival weekend, the USVI Chess Association held the first Virgin Islands Open Chess Tournament at Lockhart Elementary School. There were 27 participants from both Saint Croix and Saint Thomas, ranging in age from the very young to seniors.

The tournament director, Jon Haskel, broadcast many of the games online and on the USVI Chess Association website, making it possible for the public to view and enjoy watching the games live as they were happening.

This was the first inter-island chess event of this magnitude in a very long time. This tournament was open to all Virgin Islanders as well as off-island guests and chess players everywhere. The USVI Chess Association has more events planned, including more over-the-board US Chess rated tournaments and online tournaments with chess clubs around the world.

Virgin Islanders have brought chess back to the territory in full force… whatever the stimulus, chess in the VI is once again alive and thriving!

EE CLAC Caribbean, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social affairs (UN DESA), recently supported Belize, in the form of a national consultation. It took the form of discussions with stakeholders on the progress in formulating and implementing sustainable recovery plans in Belize.

The two organizations also facilitated the sharing of ideas and made concrete recommendations on building back better, and accelerating the implementation of the country’s national plans and advancing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Some of these recommendations included rethinking/reassessing/reexamining agriculture and food security policy; investing in comprehensive disaster risk management, disaster risk financing and financial protection; creating shock responsive social protection systems; and ways to make the education sector more effective.

The national consultation was Phase 2 of the UN DESA and ECLAC cooperation with Belize, and is meant to strengthen the integrated recovery planning and decision-making capacity of the national stakeholders in Belize. Phase 1 was the provision of advisory support to Belize, with focus on researching the COVID-19 pandemic, its impacts and evaluating the progress in recovery planning measures and methodologies in the Caribbean in general, and in Belize. Similar consultations are being supported in other participating Caribbean States involved in mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and building back better.

Participating in the consultation were representatives of Government, Central Statistical Offices (CSOs), academia, indigenous peoples, and private sector personnel. The common factor of these participants is that they are all engaged in national development planning and other COVID-19 recovery plans, and UN mandates. The recent consultation also included the UN Country Team in Belize, and UN System partners.

Belize benefits from national consultations with ECLAC Caribbean and UN DESA

Many of the people of Belize had pre-existing vulnerabilities at the time of the pandemic. Real GDP growth had slowed from 4.7 per cent in 2000–09 to 2.8 per cent in 2010–14 and 1.8 per cent in 2015– 19. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, Belize’s economy was in recession, with real gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 2.2 per cent year on year in the last quarter of 2019 and 6.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2020.

In response to the pandemic, the Government of Belize has introduced several measures to support its population and key sectors.

These include:

(i) A fiscal stimulus amounting to BZ $25 million (1 percent of GDP) in 2020 to provide short term relief to employees affected by the crisis, especially those in the tourism sector, exceeding more than 40 thousand applications for unemployment relief;

(ii) Support to the unemployed, financed with loans from bilateral and multilateral creditors; and

(iii) Support to the healthcare sector financed with loans from bilateral and multilateral creditors, among other measures.

The national consultation is Phase 2 of a broader effort between the two organizations, to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Still to come are Phase 3, which is adapting the UNDESA – UNITAR e-learning course “Integrated Recovery Planning and Policy Coherence towards the SDGs: The Belize Context”, with specific emphasis to the national context of Belize and integrating green deals and green recovery approaches; and Phase 4, which is the delivery of the e-learning course in Belize, using a Train-theTrainer format targeting Government, civil society organization representatives, academia, youth, indigenous people and the private sector.

BELIZE TO HOST FIRST EVER

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) recently unveiled plans for a two-day international music and food festival, which aims to showcase local and international musical artists as well as Belize’s exceptional cuisine. The launch took place at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City and was attended by key players in the music industry, including well-known local artists and DJs.

The first of its kind, the Belize International Music and Food Festival will be held from 30-31 July 2022 at the Saca Chispas Field in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The launch was strategically designed to create awareness of the Festival and build momentum leading to the event.

The Festival will feature different Belizean and International music genres ranging from reggae, Afro-beats, dancehall, soca, and Latin beats and will include performances of international and local artists and DJs.

The event will be complemented on both days by a diverse culinary landscape, featuring exquisite food and beverage booths from local businesses, providing visitors an opportunity to immerse in Belize’s culture.

During the launch, the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, stated

ICT4D INSIGHTS:

THE GLOBAL DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM

With Lika Doehl Diouf

The Global Digital Development Forum took place online on 4-5 May 2022. The overall theme of the event was ICT for development. One special feature of this event was the inclusion of Lightning Talks, five-minute presentations on ICT4D-related topics.

One of the talks, “Decolonizing the Internet: Barriers faced in

promoting local languages online” discussed the role of language in digital inclusion. Neema Iyer presented research that Pollitico, a Uganda-based organization, is undertaking on the impact of language on access, usability, safety, and trust online.

One interesting observation was that only about 29 languages have "digital vitality", and that young people tend to shy away from local languages and develop foreign accents based on content they access online.

A question I have after this session is: How can we ensure that the beautiful diversity of languages and dialects across the Caribbean not only survive, but thrive, online?

For more information on the Forum: CLICK HERE

barbados celtic festival

PARADE OF PIPERS AND DRUMMERS

The 2022 Barbados Celtic Festival took place in mid-May in fine style, with a lively parade of pipers and drummers from Scotland and Canada, who teamed up with members of the Barbados Defense Force Band, as they made their way through the heart of Bridgetown.

Jeana Leslie, Director of the Barbados Celtic Festival, says the team behind the annual festival was delighted to be back on the island once again

after the break caused by the pandemic. She said it was always an enjoyable experience for the band to merge Scottish and Caribbean genres of music.

“The pipers and the Barbados Defense Force Band in the parade, played some traditional Scottish folk pipe band tunes, before moving onto the city’s boardwalk area, where they mixed in some calypso and folk tunes”.

Leslie added: “Everyone was delighted to be back here again; your country is absolutely amazing, the people are beautiful, they are so friendly and welcoming, so the experience was great, getting back on Bajan soil and getting to play with the Barbados Defense Force Band and the amazing musicians.”

She said that having been on pause for the last two years because of COVID-19, the band saw the restart of the festival as a truly momentous occasion. “We have not performed anywhere for the past two years. It’s the first festival that most of the musicians from Scotland and Canada and England performed at since COVID-19 began,

so it was a really special and monumental occasion.”

Director of Music for the Barbados Defense Force Band, Captain Brian Cole, also expressed his pleasure with having the band working with the Scottish pipers and drummers, and described it as an interesting experience.

“We enjoyed the opportunity to embrace the Scottish culture, and Scottish music, learning from the bagpipes, not only just the notes on the page, but the style of the music that they play, which was just tremendous,” Cole concluded.

THE KITCHEN

citrus and spice

STRAWBERRY

COMPOTE

Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 4 to 6

What you will need:

• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and quartered

• 2 tablespoons white sugar, divided

• Grated zest of 1 lime OR 1 lemon OR ½ medium orange

• 1 teaspoon chili powder OR garam masala

• ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

• Pinch of kosher salt

How to Make it:

BREAD PUDDING:

Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss two-thirds of the berries with 1 tablespoon of sugar and the zest; set aside.

Step 2: In a small saucepan, toast the chili powder, stirring, until fragrant.

Step 3: Add the remaining berries, the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, the pepper, salt and ¼ cup water.

Step 4: Simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes, then mash the berries to break them down.

Step 5: In a mixing bowl beat eggs with sugar add milk, vanilla, orange zest and spices.

Step 6: Cook, stirring, until you see a jam-like consistency.

Step 7: Immediately pour over the berries in the bowl and stir. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving or storing in a glass jar.