The Hummingbird - July 2016 [vol.3, n.7]

The Hummingbird

Volume 3 - Issue 7 July 2016

Financial Technology ECLAC SUPPORTS WORKSHOPS ON FINANCIAL TECH

4 new

publications ON RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE CARIBBEAN

DALA

ECLAC TEAM ASSISTS IN ECUADOR EARTHQUAKE ASSESSMENT

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Contents 4

Article

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Article

ECLAC Caribbean endorsed at 36th Session in Mexico City Economic growth for sustainable development: ECLAC staff contributes to Suriname magazine

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Feature Article

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Article

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Fast Facts

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State of Affairs

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Around the Caribbean

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ECLAC Caribbean Family

Exploring Innovation in Transactions & Financing in the Caribbean

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EDITORIAL TEAM Director: Diane Quarless, ECLAC Editor: Alexander Voccia, ECLAC Cover and photography

by Blaine Copy design Editor: Denise Balgobin, ECLAC Marcano of ECLAC / CC BY. Publication Design:Caribbean Blaine Marcano, ECLAC

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Renewable energy in the Caribbean

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean

Recent activity by Caribbean governments

Sint Maarten to Host Major Tech Conference Major Airport Overhaul for the Bahamas

Dr. Dillon Alleyne ... the economist as an artist

Posted Jun 24

Here’s a quick lesson from Mr. Michel Stéphane Bruno’s presentation on the Haiti mobile money scenario.

Upcoming Events 4-6

Thirty-Seventh Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Georgetown, Guyana, 4-6 July, 2016 Posted Jun 10

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World Youth Skills Day 15 July, 2016

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Nelson Mandela International Day 18 July 2016

Caribbean subregional preparatory meeting of the XIII Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and 26-27 the Caribbean Port of Spain, Trinidad 26-27 July 2016

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The Association of Caribbean States (ACS-AEC) fully supported the debt relief initiative presented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

Posted Jun 8

#ECLAC recently launched its annual report Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2016 in Santiago, Chile.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons 30 July 2016

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ECLAC’s work endorsed at 36th Session in Mexico City T

he 36th session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean convened in Mexico City, Mexico from 23-27 May 2016. The session, held every two years, provides a forum for the consideration of issues of importance to the sustainable development of the countries of the region and an opportunity to review the work accomplished by the Commission during the previous biennium, and to approve activities for the coming one.

The seminal document launched at this session placed a capstone on the theme of equality which had been developed over the three previous sessions, in Brasilia (2010), San Salvador (2012) and Lima (2014).

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena presented the document entitled “Horizons 2030: Equality at the Centre of Sustainable Development”, which was examined in depth by Ministers, heads of international organizations, experts and other stakeholders from Latin America and the Caribbean, through a series of panel discussions.

Taking into account the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals, and acknowledging global economic trends, the document highlighted the policies and partnerships that the region must embrace if it is to move towards a development path capable of ensuring greater equality and environmental sustainability for all citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Hummingbird this month shares with you some of the main highlights of the session:

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ECLAC Recognizes Mexico’s Leadership in the Forging and Follow-up of the 2030 Agenda ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, recognized the leadership of the host Government in the construction and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Officially inaugurated by Mexican President Enrique Peňa Nieto, the opening of the session offered a timely opportunity to analyze the 2030 Agenda from the perspective of economic inclusion.

President Peňa Nieto underlined that Mexico continues to be an agent for the integration and development of Latin America in the Caribbean. He noted that ECLAC’s work is indispensable for building a united region ad implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ms. Bárcena lauded the progress made by Mexico in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through various mechanisms for participation that have included representatives of all sectors of society in a relevant way. She said that to fulfill the Agenda’s goals, progressive structural change is needed that ushers in a different development pattern in which employment with rights plays a central role, since “that is the master key for equality.” Ms. Bárcena also mentioned the 11 structural reforms promoted by the Mexican government in recent years, saying they were an example of public policies aligned with the 2030 Agenda.

The new Chair of the CDCC reports on ECLAC’s work in the subregion The Honourable Mark Brantley, new Chair of the CDCC and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, reported on the efforts, undertaking and notable results achieved by ECLAC’s subregional headquarters for the Caribbean during the 2014-2015 biennium. Paramount among these was the debt for climate adaptation swap initiative, which the CDCC Chair lauded as a strategy central to the effort to create fiscal space and revitalize growth in Caribbean economies.

The proposal includes the creation of a Caribbean resilience fund and a Caribbean macroeconomic and stabilization fund; debt relief for climate change adaptation and mitigation; and debt buyback schemes for countries with high levels of public debt owed to private creditors. Speaking during the session and receiving the reports of ECLAC subsidiary bodies on work accomplished, Minister Brantley recalled the many other efforts carried out by ECLAC Caribbean during the past biennium, including activities on global advocacy – such as those related to the SAMOA Pathway and SDGs; regional initiatives – such as work on the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology; regional trainings – such as the measurement of unpaid work and dissemination of microdata; the technical assistance provided to six Caribbean countries; research and analysis – such as the five-year review of the EU-CARICOM EPA, the work on population ageing and energy efficiency; and the launch of a variety of vibrant new outreach tools, intended to bring the work of the Commission more effectively to the attention of the Caribbean community.

Argentine Foreign Minister and ECLAC’s Executive Secretary Highlight Region’s Commitment to implement the 2030 Agenda Argentine Foreign Minister, Susana Malcorra, and ECLAC Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, highlighted the capacity of the region to implement and provide follow-up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 goals. Both agreed that the 2030 Agenda is universal and presents many challenges and opportunities for promoting advances throughout society. Ms. Malcorra underscored the importance of harnessing the region’s resources to tackle the 2030 Agenda in response to the needs of the people. She noted: “The path ahead is extraordinary and multifaceted, and it integrates all levels, from our governments to citizens. Only by listening to them and considering their rights we will be able to make progress on the 2030 Agenda’s goals.”

Continued on next page...

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ECLAC’s work endorsed at 36th Session in Mexico City ECLAC’s Committee on South-South Cooperation Will Contribute to the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda Member countries of the Committee on South-South Cooperation, a subsidiary body of ECLAC, approved the exchange of experiences and good practices on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as on methodologies to measure South-South cooperation. Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena, noted the need for a change in the development and cooperation patterns, and mentioned five priority areas identified by ECLAC in this regard. These areas are the integration of the 2030 Agenda into national development plans and budgets; the need to align the means of implementation with the difficult economic context, with a focus on science and technology and intraregional trade; the strengthening of the regional architecture for follow-up to the 2030 Agenda; the improvement of countries’ statistical capacities in the context of the data revolution; and the full participation of society. Prior to the closing of the session, the Committee called upon countries to participate in the process of calculating structural gaps in order to facilitate the measurement of their individual development levels, beyond per capita income.

ECLAC Caribbean presents ideas for Sustainable Development at Caribbean seminar Deputy Director of ECLAC Caribbean, Dr. Dillon Alleyne, shared his perspective on the macroeconomic challenges facing the Caribbean and suggested ways to respond in light of emerging global shifts, during the Caribbean seminar that was held on the eve of the ECLAC session. Alleyne was joined by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, Winston Dookeran, and the Coordinator of ECLAC Caribbean’s Economic Development Unit, Sheldon McLean. In his presentation, Alleyne called on policy-makers to consider carefully the instruments – including regulations and marketbased strategies – available for the Caribbean to articulate its own development vision within the broader context of the SDGs. In this regard, Alleyne highlighted the need to understand which combination of these instruments makes for efficient implementation, by taking into account government limitations and the role of the private sector and civil society, as partners in attaining sustainable development. These observations were echoed by Winston Dookeran, who emphasized that widening the economic space will create buffers of resilience, and help drive the deepening process of what has been coined as `integration without borders’. In this regard, Mr. Dookeran noted that international financial institutions are challenged to build these buffers, including by redesigning their windows of support and reversing the flow of funds to the Caribbean economy to sustain a net inflow rather than the prevailing net outflow of funds. Sheldon McLean,in turn, gave an account of the trade strategy for growth and development in the Caribbean. He said that declining productivity and competitiveness in both the service and goods producing economies have collectively moderated growth in the Caribbean, and that this can be partially attributable to a contraction in private sector investment. While Caribbean economies have relatively open economies and have largely embraced the imperatives of trade liberalization, McLean noted that they continue to command a miniscule share of global trade and have not been able to make trade a genuine engine of growth.

Authorities Establish the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development Representatives of Governments attending the session established a Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, which will serve as the regional mechanism to follow-up and review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This will include focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their means of implementation, and related pursuit of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development. This new Forum should provide useful opportunities for peer learning, including through voluntary reviews and the sharing of best practices, and should benefit from the support of the regional and subregional commissions and organizations.

Minister Brantley joins Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Region to reaffirm ECLAC’s vision for the achievement of Sustainable Development The Honourable Mark Brantley raised serious concerns regarding the continuing inequalities in the distribution of power in the international framework for financial cooperation. Speaking at the dialogue of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and other high-level authorities, which took place during the closure of the ECLAC session on 27 May, Minister Brantley underscored that “the need for greater democracy in decision-making in the international financial architecture is imperative” in order to ensure the ability of Caribbean countries to do business with the international community. Recognizing that placing equality at the centre of strategic action will require progressive structural change, Minister Brantley highlighted the importance of investing in areas in which long-term returns will be greatest. In this regard, Minister Brantley outlined six crucial areas for investment to address structural gaps in the Caribbean, including education and technology, social programmes, institutions that support policy making, the strengthening of regional integration and statistical systems, and the stimulation of economic growth through a more stable, resilient macro-economic environment. As ECLAC’s 36th session came to a closure, Minister Brantley Ministers of Foreign Affairs and other high-level authorities in underscoring the relevance of the Commission’s proposals to promote a shift in the development paradigm based on progressive structural change and a big environmental push. He also joined in the approval of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development.

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Economic growth for sustainable development: ECLAC staff contributes to Suriname magazine M

embers of the ECLAC Caribbean Economic Development Unit team, including Research Assistants Nyasha Skerrette and Machel Pantin and On-the-job trainee Roberta Doorgadeen, recently contributed an article on Sustainable Development and Economic Growth in the Caribbean, for the Suriname magazine “de Werkgever”. The article discussed the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable development and its connection with economic growth. It also outlined ECLAC’s suggestions for promoting economic growth in the Caribbean.

It noted the mixed economic growth experience seen in the Caribbean following the global financial crisis of 2008, with the goods-producing economies (like Suriname) recovering quickly and posting continuous strong growth, while the service-producing (or tourism-based) economies faced a prolonged economic slump. However, the trend has reversed over the last two years.

In order to sustain growth in the service producers while turning around the recent slowdown in the goods producers, ECLAC has suggested three main policy imperatives.

Here they are in summary: Debt relief. Some of the most indebted countries in the world are in the Caribbean.

ECLAC’s debt swap proposal advocates tapping into the resources pledged to the various climate change funds around the world to write down debt for Caribbean states. These states will in turn pledge to invest in climate change adaptation mitigation strategies with the new-found fiscal space.

Re-igniting the private sector. A dynamic, active private sector is key to increasing economic resilience and sustainability. Public-private partnerships can be implemented to mobilize private capital and share some of the risk with the state.

Strengthening regional integration. Caribbean economies are typically of small size with limited market size and an inability to produce real economies of scale.

Regional integration responds to some of these challenges by allowing firms to tap into regional markets, thereby achieving economies of scale and promoting production integration.

The article concluded that while all of these approaches may not be applicable to every Caribbean country, ECLAC views them as a general approach for all terrritories, which may be combined with country specific initiatives, in order to help provide the growth needed to support sustainable development in the future.

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Population

Supermarket aisle by Andrea / CC BY

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ECLAC looks forward to 2020 round of censuses

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he midpoint of the current intercensal period having now passed, ECLAC Caribbean is looking forward to the 2020-2021 round of Caribbean population and housing censuses, and is already engaged in gathering information from statistical offices to assess their needs for technical support in all aspects of the census.

This includes possible support in the use of modern technology in data collection, processing, and/or dissemination. The information gathered on country needs will guide the delivery of a comprehensive programme of technical support for the coming census round.

Even as they complete the dissemination of data from the 2010/2011 census for use in research and policymaking, statistical offices will soon begin making plans for the next national census. ECLAC Caribbean is working together with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide technical assistance to statistical offices both in respect of the completion of the previous census round, and in preparation for the coming round.

To promote wider use and analysis of data collected in the 2010/2011 census, two workshops for government statisticians were held recently in Jamaica. In the Regional Workshop on the use of REDATAM for the Online Dissemination of Census Data, ECLAC provided training in the REDATAM software (Retrieval of Data for Small Areas by Microcomputer) to statisticians from the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The workshop was hosted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) in Kingston.

Following the Kingston workshop, the Regional Capacity Building Workshop in Demographic Analysis and Population Projections was held in Montego Bay in which experts from the United States Census Bureau provided training to demographers and statisticians from 17 Caribbean countries.

REDATAM enables statistical offices to provide members of the public with controlled online access to census data including interactive tabulations, charts and maps based on real time processing of census data. The REDATAM software, which is supported and maintained by ECLAC, is freely available.

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The Hummingbird

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FEATURE article

Exploring Innovation in Transactions & Financing in the Caribbean Read Article

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q&a

Exploring Innovation in Transactions & Financing in the Caribbean

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CLAC Caribbean’s Knowledge Management Centre (CKMC) recently co-organized two regional workshops on “Exploring Innovations in Transaction and Financing in the Caribbean”, with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT).

Q: What is Digital Currency and how is it used?

A: Digital currency or digital money is an Internet-based medium of exchange distinct from physical currency (such as banknotes and coins) that exhibits similar properties, but allows for instantaneous transactions and borderless transferof-ownership. Often referred to as a peer to peer economy, it is exchanged using technologies such as smartphones, credit cards and the internet. It can be turned into physical money by, for example, withdrawing cash at an ATM.

The events, held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre from 31 May to 3 June 2016, offered Caribbean stakeholders and practitioners in the telecommunications industry interactive sessions that explored the use of technology innovations with a view to improving financial transactions and financing arrangements.

The workshop assisted in strengthening the capacity of countries to produce national statistics on telecommunications and ICTs. Participants included policy makers, ICT advisors and partners responsible for data collection and production in ministries, regulatory agencies and national statistical offices.

ECLAC’s contribution centred on opportunities and risks associated with the advent of digital currency in the Caribbean. Associate Information Management Officer Robert Williams, who made this presentation based on his recent research in this area, sat down with the Hummingbird to share his perspective.

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Q: What are some of the findings of your research that were shared during the workshop?

A: We explained that the report presents information

to Caribbean authorities which can serve as a basis to inform decisions, as it outlines the challenge of digital currencies in receiving acceptance among consumers and regulators. If you want to build trust in consumers, you must first build trust in regulators, and we find that regulators are generally reluctant to engage in digital currency issues.

There was general consensus in the workshop that governments and regulators need to be more proactive when viewing the current status of the Digital Economy and that we are behind in the legislative process which delays the advancement of entrepreneurship.

Q: What were some of the outcomes of the workshop?

Q: Will the Caribbean be the first to implement the use of this type of currency?

A: It was recommended that better payment

A: No. Other countries already have implemented

systems be introduced, especially with a view to lowering the cost of remittances, for which there is a potential promise from BITCOIN. There are however, risks associated with this option as fluctuations are unpredictable, and there are costs of conversions to money and back. It was recommended too that there is need to build trust or rather, reduce the distrust that arises when people think about e-money/online banking.

it. For example, New York has set up a regulatory solution called BitLicense, the United Kingdom implemented “Call for Information” and Singapore has “Encouraging Innovation.” The UK took a decisive approach towards becoming the leader, and they brought in all stakeholders and had everyone contribute.

Q: How would the larger economies fare with such a move?

Q: What opportunity is there for Trinidad and Tobago in this regard?

A: Using the peer to peer rationale, in the meeting

A: The Minister of Public Administration and

we discussed how larger economies will inevitably lose market share to smaller entrepreneurs who are more cost efficient, on crowd platforms, etc. The economy is moving away from traditional banking and payment systems to peer to peer systems.

Concerns which arose were the risks associated with digital financing and the lack of trust in online payments. There is therefore a need to educate our people with a view to overcoming their fears; to grow trust in the general public with regard to e-money and online banking.

Communication, Maxie Cuffy, underscored the timeliness and relevance of this conference. The Minister suggested that there is need for greater collaboration between financial and IT sectors to facilitate digital financial services and emerging technologies. There is also need for more education and advocacy to encourage collaboration between the established financial agencies and the newer technology-oriented firms in order to bridge the digital divide that exists in the financial arena.

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Renewable energy in the Caribbean

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he Caribbean has high renewable energy resources to meet the subregion’s peak demand for electrical energy. An estimated investment of US$35 billion will enable an increase in electricity generation capacity from renewable energy sources by a significant level.

Key projects have been undertaken in Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and the Netherland Antilles.

However, despite the abundance of resources, only a few islands utilize a significant amount of renewable energy. With renewables accounting for 28% of electricity generation, Dominica is the regional leader, taking the largest proportion of its energy use from renewable sources.

In collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), ECLAC recently published four documents under the project, Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean: Reducing the Carbon Footprint in the Caribbean through the Promotion of Energy Efficiency and the Use of Renewable Energy Technologies.

The Hummingbird shares a brief overview of these publications.

Barriers to identification and implementation of energy efficiency mechanisms and enhancing renewable energy technologies in the Caribbean.

This study authored by Gregory McGuire researches barriers to the identification and implementation of mechanisms for enhancing energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy in the Caribbean, provides an assessment of the region’s status with respect to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and identifies mechanisms for the enhancement of energy initiatives.

Four main barriers were identified: (1) Regulatory frameworks and policies: In some countries, private monopoly ownership structure of most utilities and the tardiness with respect to implementing policy governing net metering and feed-in tariffs have slowed the growth of Independent Power Producers and the deployment of renewable technologies. (2) Conservatism: There are certain cultural barriers to renewable energy development. One is that strong vested interests are reluctant to let go of the conventional energy sources. This is compounded by the fact that there is still widespread lack of knowledge and awareness about the functioning, costs and benefits of renewable energy technology and energy efficiency. (3) Costs and financing: Two aspects of this problem were the high initial cost of capital and the availability of funding. While the funding requirements for renewable energy technology are indeed relatively high with long payback periods, the same cannot be said about energy efficiency. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the last decade has seen an impressive evolution in the development and application of energy efficiency and renewable energy technology.

(4) Market Barriers: Investment in and deployment of renewable energy technologies are adversely affected by market size and land use. The small market size and consequent low energy demand in most Caribbean countries undermines the prospect of economies of scale from many renewable energy projects.

Energy Efficiency Policies in the Caribbean: A Manual to Guide the Discussion This paper by Sergio Guerra explores two possible

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reasons that might be hindering the adoption of energy efficiency policies in the Caribbean. The first challenge identified is linked to the availability of primary infrastructure. Countries with inadequate primary infrastructure might not consider energy efficiency policies as a priority for national discussion. The second challenge is debt overhang. In this scenario, countries might be dissuaded from conducting new investments since the earnings/savings from projects would go directly to their creditors.

and renewable energy from both public and private institutions; high cost of more energy efficient equipment and initial investment in renewable energy production; and poor data on energy. However, there is strong potential for the development of renewable energy, especially in geothermal energy and hydropower.

The research found that the average Caribbean country is a net importer of energy and most imports come from oil products. In addition, the electricity production process is inefficient in terms of energy losses. This means that some imports might end up squandered.

However there are alternatives which policymakers in the region could pursue to foster more energy efficient outcomes. One way of using energy more efficiently is by improving the transmission and distribution of electricity through the stabilization of modern and smart electrical grids. Moreover, in addition to supporting more efficient energy production and consumption, modern and smart grids can also prove instrumental in managing high demands of electricity and in fostering the use of domestic renewable energy resources.

This report, also prepared by the staff of ECLAC Caribbean’s SDDU, examines financing opportunities that could provide incentives for the development of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies in Saint Lucia.

Identification of mechanisms for financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives to increase investment in Dominica This paper, prepared by the staff of ECLAC Caribbean’s Sustainable Development and Disaster Unit (SDDU), found that Dominica is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels for energy, making the country vulnerable to price increases and supply shortages. Nevertheless, Dominica is in a better position compared with other OECS countries, having already achieved about 30 percent of electricity generation from hydropower and wind to a lesser extent. The study examined financing opportunities which provide greater incentives for the development of energy efficiency measures and the implementation of renewable energy technologies.

Identification of mechanisms for financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives to increase investment in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels for energy production, which makes the country vulnerable to price volatility and supply shortages.

The country has a considerable amount of indigenous renewable energy resources, particularly for electricity generation based on geothermal energy, as well as wind and solar energy sources. Unfortunately, no commercial application of these sources has been implemented to date. At the present time, solar energy is the only renewable resource that is in use in the country.

Used mainly for water heating and power generation, solar energy represents less than 0.1% of the national electricity generation.

Recognizing these challenges, the Government of Saint Lucia is pursuing various initiatives to bolster the deployment of renewable energy resources with focus on wind and solar power. These efforts, however, are constrained by limited financial resources. The report therefore identifies several possible funding sources – including multilateral and bilateral donors, government agencies and the Clean Development Mechanism – and concludes by advancing practical suggestions for increasing the likelihood of obtaining funding for renewable energy and energy efficient projects.

The report notes that key challenges remain, including human resource limitations (qualification and availability); low public awareness; little interest in energy efficiency The Hummingbird - July 2016 |

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Fast Facts

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean P ublished since 1948, the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean examines various aspects of the previous year’s macroeconomic situation in the region and makes projections for the coming months. The study also includes country notes that review the performance of the main economic indicators in the period analysed.

Who

When:

What:

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ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena will present the report at a press conference.

July 26, 2016

Where: ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile.

The first part of the Survey includes a short review of the region’s economic performance during the previous year and analyzes the evolution of the region’s economy during the first part of 2016 and the corresponding outlook for the rest of the year. As usual, the Survey will analyze in more depth a much broader topic. This year’s topic addresses the challenges the region faces in financing its development with both domestic and external resources.

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ECLAC assists in Ecuador earthquake damage assessment

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he estimated cost of reconstruction of areas affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck the west coast of Ecuador on April 16 is 3,344 million dollars. This was the figure announced by the National Secretariat of Planning and Development (SENPLADES) for the provinces of Manabi and Esmeraldas, following six weeks of assessment undertaken by ECLAC and other agencies.

The ECLAC team included ECLAC Caribbean’s Sustainable Development and Disaster Unit Coordinator Omar Bello, Associate Environmental Affairs Officer Leda Peralta, Associate Information Management Officer Robert Williams, ECLAC Mexico’s Environmental Affairs Officer Humberto Soto, and Research Officer Claudio Aravena from ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile.

ECLAC’s damage and loss assessment (DaLA) of the macroeconomic impact of the earthquake was undertaken based on a request from SENPLADES. The effort had the support of Ecuador’s National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), and included government ministries and other United Nations agencies -- PAHO, UNESCO, UN Habitat, FAO and UNEP. ECLAC has been a pioneer in the field of disaster assessment and in the development and dissemination of the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology. The organization’s history in assessing disasters started in 1972 with the earthquake that struck Managua, Nicaragua. Since then, ECLAC has led more than 90 assessments of

the social, environmental and economic effects and impacts of disasters in 28 countries in the region.

In respect of the Ecuador mission, Peralta recounted the unique experience on this occasion. “We had to cover several provinces along a wide expanse of the west coast, so we split in two groups and started at extreme points, then met in the province of Manabi,” she said.

The DaLA process involved gauging how people were affected, based on the different sectors such as social, infrastructure and productive, before determining damage to buildings and institutions.

The team held meetings with technical staff from the various ministries and agencies involved, then went out in the field to meet with representative groups including businessmen, fishermen, mayors, community leaders and representatives.

There have been over 1900 aftershocks following this earthquake, which left 668 dead, four missing; which destroyed about 7000 homes and left almost 22,000 people without jobs. More than 28,000 remain in temporary shelters set up by the government, while thousands who refuse to leave behind their belongings spend the night in makeshift camps next to their destroyed homes.

From this perspective not even the DaLA can provide full measure of the cost in human dislocation and misery brought by a disaster of this magnitude.

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ECLAC Caribbean’s

Recent Publications

1.

3.

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This document identifies mechanisms for financing investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The overall objective of this study is to examine financing opportunities which will provide greater incentives for the development of energy efficiency measures and implementation of renewable energy technologies.

This paper was prepared to guide the first session of the training workshop Introduction to Financial Feasibility Assessment of Energy Eficiency and Renewable Energy Projects in the Caribbean. We explore two potential reasons that might be hindering the adoption of energy efficiency policies in the Caribbean.

Available NOW! Click on Cover to Download.

Hardcopies Available at ECLAC Caribbean while stocks last.

The objective of this study is to research barriers to the identification and implementation of mechanisms for enhancing energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy in the Caribbean. Specifically the study aims to provide an assessment of the region’s status with respect to energy efficiency and renewable energy and to identify mechanisms for the enhancement of energy initiatives.

2.

Diane’s Corner The Director’s views and thoughts on the occasion of international observances:

Diane Quarless

Director of ECLAC Caribbean

5/6

World Environment Day “The threat of habitat destruction is a major issue for the Caribbean region as Caribbean people and governments must seek to balance our development with the preservation of the natural beauty of the environment around us.”

15/6

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day “We must come together to plan, and manage the costs of providing pensions, health and social care services. At the same time, societies can no longer afford to ignore the contribution that older persons can make to economic, civic, community and family life..”

#DirectorsTake

http://vrb.al/directors-take The Hummingbird - July 2016 |

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Landscape Painting - Steel Pan Players Antigua

by James Mingo

Grenada

StateofAffairs

GRENADA RECEIVES USAID FUNDING

Jun 24th The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has provided US$1.3 million in assistance to Grenada to assist communities in reducing climate-related risks and to improve the country’s overall resilience over the long term. The investment comes as part of the five year long Rallying the Region to Action on Climate Change (RRACC) project.

Haiti

NEW PRESIDENTIAL VOTE ANNOUNCED

Jun 4th - The Provisional Electoral Council has published a new election calendar, which included a re-run of the presidential first round on 9th October, 2016. The choice to host a re-run of the presidential vote instead of a run-off election between the two leading candidates was taken by the council after receiving recommendations from the Special Verification Commission appointed by interim President Jocelerme Privert. Among the commission’s findings: there were more than 600,000 untraceable votes.

Trinidad and Tobago FORMER PM PASSED AWAY

Jul 3rd - Mr. Patrick Manning, who served as the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; passed away at the San Fernando General Hospital after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—a rare, very aggressive cancer of the blood. He was 69. Trinidad and Tobago’s longest serving Prime Minister to date, he gave 44 years to public office, 24 of which were spent as leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM).

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GRENADA PM RESHUFFLES CABINET

Jun 30th - Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, announced a number of changes in Cabinet responsibilities. In an announcement to the public, Dr Mitchell said that the changes in ministerial portfolios were necessary to assist his party members in acheiving a balance between executive function and parliamentary representation. This is the third cabinet reshuffle in three years.

INTERIM PRESIDENT’S TERM ENDS

Jun 14th - The 120 day mandate of Haiti’s interim President, Jocelerme Privert, ended on June 14th 2016.

Since then there has been no official decision by the Haitian parliament on whether President Privert should remain in office or be replaced by acting Prime Minister, Mr. Enex Jean-Charles, or some other interim leader to carry out elections as outlined in a February political accord that put a caretaker government in charge.

REGIONAL HEADS TO ATTEND STATE FUNERAL

Jul 3rd - Local and regional leaders are expected to attend the funeral of Former Prime Minister, Patrick Manning to be held on 9th July. The late Prime Minister Manning was hailed as a visionary leader who made significant contributions to both national and regional development.

Sint Maarten to Host Major Tech Conference

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int Maarten will host the 12th meeting of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG) from October 24 to 26, 2016. CaribNOG is the Caribbean’s first volunteer-based community of network engineers, computer security experts and tech aficionados.

The three-day gathering is part of a larger event called Internet Week SX, which continues until October 28.

The Internet Week is organised by CaribNOG, the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Registry (LACNIC), the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Sint Maarten telecommunications regulator (BTP).

The event dates were announced at the second Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum, held at the Renaissance Resort and Casino, Willemstad, Curacao from June 7 to 10.

One of CaribNOG founders, Bevil Wooding, noted that at the upcoming regional gathering of CaribNOG, a large turnout of network operators, telecommunications regulators, academics, Internet service providers, engineering and computer science students, special interest groups and government representatives, drawn from across the region and around the world, is expected.

“CaribNOG 12 is being hosted in conjunction with a twoday event by LACNIC and ISOC, and that’s deliberate,” said Stephen Lee, CaribNOG’s program director.

“The ongoing collaboration among regional Internet organisations is critical to increase regional awareness of Internet policy and related global developments.”

Kevon Swift, Head of Strategic Relations and Integration at LACNIC, said the collaboration between LACNIC and CaribNOG played a key role in enhancing the technical capacity of the region. “These types of meetings are important forums to tackle the technology issues affecting Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Hummingbird -- July 2016 | TheThe Hummingbird

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Major Airport Overhaul for the Bahamas

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he Bahamas has embarked on a major countrywide overhaul of its airports. The first phase of the programme involves infrastructural projects geared toward increased capacity at 13 of the country’s airports.

According to Minister of Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin, over the last four years, the country has seen a number of infrastructural projects and improvements including the Mayaguana runway improvement project, the reconstruction and extension and increase of capacity of the Staniel Cay, Exuma runway inclusive of solar lighting and perimeter fencing, and the refurbishment and reconstruction of San Salvador airport.

She noted that the redevelopment of the Bimini Airport includes an enlarged terminal building and a runway, which has been extended from 5,400 feet to 6,400 feet and outfitted to facilitate night flights.

The project also includes the completion of the Marsh Harbour International Airport, which will be renamed in July as the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport, as part of the country’s official independence celebrations.

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Other improvements include the completion of phases two and three of the Lynden Pindling International Airport. The government is also working on development projects for the Exuma International Airport, the North Eleuthera Airport, the Moores Island Airport, the Great Harbour Cay Airport and the Mayaguana terminal.

Hanna-Martin said the government has responsibility for 29 airports, which require capital investment from the public treasury. “To this end, my Ministry has obtained grant funding from the Inter-American Development Bank for the conduct of a study (technical and financial) to determine the feasibility of attracting private investment through a Public-Private Partnerships scheme for Family Island airports, and to develop a financial model of selected airports and concession alternatives,” she said.

She added that the first phase involved a preliminary outlook of potential opportunities for PPPs, a study that featured areas including: a market assessment, preliminary demand projection, review of infrastructure development plans, and a selection of most feasible options for airports.

ECLAC Caribbean

Family

Dr. Dillon Alleyne ... the economist as an artist

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s a young boy growing up in Guyana, Economist Dr. Dillon Alleyne, Deputy Director of ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, knew he loved dabbling with paints.

Having a father whose trade utilized paints only encouraged his interest, as he always had a steady supply around the house. He painted freely and the only forbidden subject was painting figures in the nude, given his mother’s objection.

He told the Hummingbird that he was able to generate pocket money by painting popular characters on the T-shirts of friends, when it was discovered that he could draw and paint. In addition, in the summer, he assisted his father in painting signboards that were used on the Uitvlugt sugar estate to give field workers instructions about their tasks.

In high school, he also spent a lot of time making drawings which caught the attention of his headmaster Mr. Nazir. The teacher encouraged him to take Art as a subject, although it was not taught at the high school he attended. He wrote the subject, received a commendable grade despite his lack of formal training, and impressed the famous Guyanese artist Stanley Graves, the examiner, with his piece.

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Dr. Dillon Alleyne... the economist as an artist At the age of about 15 years, Dillon remembers vividly when he got a set of artist oil paints from his father and for the next few years he indulged his passion with the canvas. However, life’s journey soon separated him from the canvas. When he started classes at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus the long distances he had to travel prevented him from painting as much, and as he pursued higher education, marriage and a family, painting became an activity of the past. Despite all this, his wife quietly kept his dream alive. “She would take my odd drawings or paintings, frame them and hang them around the house,” he told The Hummingbird. “Over those years, I was still not motivated to get back into serious painting, as I was busy pursuing an academic career”.

In his view good drawing is the foundation of painting and he is constantly working at it.

Then, about six years ago, Dillon said he just felt the urge one day and picked up a paintbrush again. It was around the same time he joined ECLAC and moved to Trinidad and Tobago from Jamaica.

Dillon admits that there are sometimes long spells when he does not paint but he is always thinking of painting.

“Then when I am inspired I paint for hours on end especially on the weekends. I’m very passionate when I am painting and this is not unrelated to the way I work as an economist. For me, the keenest of observation, economy of ideas and a good command of technique must underpin the creative imagination.”

Dillon has an interest in painting landscapes, cityscapes and figures that catch his eye. His quest for the mastery of oils has forced him to educate himself as time went by. He says that he is fascinated with trying to interpret how light changes the form and enlivens the mood of a landscape.

He calls his style “contemporary realism” and admires both the old masters and contemporary artists, especially those from the Caribbean. He is particularly fond of works by Basil Watson and Jackie Hinkson for the vigour of their drawings and the liveliness of their use of colour.

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He has had occasional discussions with other artists and tries to attend exhibitions and art shows whenever he is not travelling for work, but has mostly worked in isolation.

These trips have brought him much inspiration for his collection of about 20 completed paintings. Among his pieces, the Hummingbird was especially impressed with his perspective of Fishermen at play in Barbados; people commuting by boat in Suriname and the mystique of the Koker in Guyana. Scenes from Trinidad and Tobago include fishermen mending nets in Mayaro and a piece on the mystical Shouter Baptists. He has also flirted with portraiture.

He explained that the roles of economics and art are similar as they help him to interpret the world in a very sober but sympathetic way.

“The artist has to sometimes distance himself, to develop his or her technique, and to gain control of the medium.

You must have a set of skills that are equal to the task.

You have to know what to include and what is essential to

highlight and what is not.”

Dillon believes painting flowers is as important as painting scenes of historical moment and pointed out that Auguste Renior’s rendering of nude women is no less impressive than Basil Watson’s “storming of the Courthouse during the Morant Bay Rebellion” or Goya’s , “Third of May 1808”.

“It’s all about the feelings, and capturing the authenticity of the moment. It can therefore be frustrating at times when you are not getting the desired effect. I have experienced this often times.”

cards for the near future, as he believes it will only happen when he considers himself experienced and confident enough to put his work out there.

“All I am trying to do for now is to find my voice on the canvas and to paint what I feel with ease.” He explained.

“Painting is a sort of freedom for me. It allows me to focus on other things besides work, family and obligations.

For those few hours when it is just me, the canvas and paintbrush, painting brings me another kind of satisfaction, which is beyond measure.”

So will ECLAC Caribbean’s Senior Economist be having an exhibition anytime soon? This he said is not in the

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CONTACT US ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, 1 Chancery Lane, P.O. Box 1113, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

Telephone: 1 868 224 8000 Facsimile: 1 868 623 8485 E-mail: registry@eclacpos.org

MEDIA CONTACT

Tel.: 1 868 224 8075 E-mail: media-pos@eclac.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

www.eclacpos.org 26

| July 2016 - The Hummingbird