PM Mottley: Barbados to Become First Carbon-Neutral Small Island

Barbados to Become First Carbon-Neutral Small Island

BY LINDA HOHNHOLZ, ETN EDITOR

Imagine a flat, 430 sq. km. dot in the Caribbean – sun, sea, and sand included – totally powered by clean energy, a fully green vehicle pool, and solar panels on rooftops everywhere. Barbados will completely transform how it lives, works, and recreates – within a decade. But why such a huge leap? Aside from demonstrating ambitious climate leadership, the country has a complex mix of challenges that necessitates such a transformation. To start, the island has a very narrow resource base. Tourism is the main export, which accounts for 40 percent of (direct and indirect) GDP. Otherwise, options to generate income are limited. This inevitably increases dependence on borrowing. The island does not produce enough food to meet demand and has very little in the way of oil, gas, or other valuable extractives. So import bills are exceedingly high. This small open economy is, therefore, at the mercy of global markets and trends. Next, add a yearly guarantee of bad weather from tropical Atlantic cyclones that can and have devastated Caribbean economies, societies, and natural environments – by as much as 200% of GDP in some cases. Then add climate change, which will make these systems much stronger and more common. It is an existential threat that Barbados simply does not have the luxury of ignoring. A solution is needed that tackles multiple fronts. One that promotes energy and food security, protects the environment, builds resilience to weather and climate impacts, and reorganizes fiscal space to better serve development priorities – to transform the island into the most sustainable version of itself.

PM Hon Mia Mottley The goal is to become carbon neutral while maintaining a protected environment, a stable society, and a sustainable and resilient economy. This commitment is rooted in the National Energy Policy 2019-2030. Over the next decade, Barbados will strive to: • Substantially expand renewable energy (RE) generation, especially from solar, wind, and biofuel sources and phase-out fossil fuel-based generation. • Shift society towards greener mobility by encouraging greater uptake of electric or hybrid vehicles (EVs). • Improve energy conservation (EC) and efficiency (EE) through phase-outs of inefficient lighting and appliances and establishing standards to promote highefficiency products. • Incentivize decarbonization, by providing technical and financial support, and instating fiscal measures (grants, loans, tax rebates and exemptions, import duty exemptions). • Reform legislation and build capacity to facilitate an energy transformation. While the island is still early in the implementation period, it can already identify some key driving factors. A flat tropical island like Barbados is a prime site to harness solar energy. From the 1970s, the island has been a leader in the solar water heating (SWH) technology industry. The island has (one of) the highest rates of SWH installations across the Caribbean, saving consumers between USD 11.5-16 million per year. The SWH legacy and experience provides impetus for the local solar photovoltaic (PV) industry to develop. The burgeoning electric vehicle market in Barbados is also encouraging. Incidentally, the recent surges in oil and gas prices globally have spurred more residents to invest in greener power and transport. The impact of strong climate leadership and political will cannot be overstated. This is exhibited across Barbadian society but is now most famously embodied within its Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley. She has emerged on the international stage, advocating for Barbados and all small island states, in the face of the climate crisis. Her influence and charisma in global dialogue earned her the Champion of the Earth award for Policy Leadership in 2021.l Reprinted with permission.This is an abbreviated version. Read the full story at www.cawnyc.com

Five Ways to Handle Difficult Family Members During the Holidays

BY JANET HOWARD

You have mixed feelings about the holidays. While on the one hand, you look forward to spending time with family, you are also apprehensive. You may have experienced a testing time with difficult family members in the past. You wonder how it will be this time. There's that family member who is a manipulative, inconsiderate, know-it-all and wants to force their opinion on everyone. They are never satisfied and nothing you do is ever good enough for them. Do you have to endure their company? You may even have considered giving the family gathering a miss altogether. But that would mean not spending time with other family members whose company you enjoy. So, what's the way out? Below are seven coping strategies that could help you not only survive the time with difficult people, but also enjoy it and maintain your sanity.

1. Shun divisive topics Keep off topics that invite arguments. Avoid discussing politics, current events, and lifestyle choices. You probably know the topics that bring out the worst in your difficult relative. However, sometimes a seemingly harmless topic could degenerate into an argument. If this happens, change the topic. And if someone persists, say something like, "It's not important. What matters is that we love one another and are all here to enjoy the holidays."

2. Have an exit strategy If someone persists in pursuing a controversial subject, execute your exit strategy. Excuse yourself to go to the bathroom, and while at it, make a detour through the kitchen, the balcony, or whatever. In extreme cases and if the time is right, you may leave the function, having informed the hosts beforehand that you'd be leaving early. Don't allow yourself to be persuaded to stay.

3. Avoid alcohol Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and clouds your judgment. Under the influence of alcohol, you may speak your mind and voice hidden resentment. It could lead to an unpleasant situation with a difficult family member. Have your wits around you to help you maneuver the delicate situation.

4.Accept your difficult relative Depending on the level and nature of the difficulty with your relative, you could just let it be and accept them as they are. Just this one time in the year, brace yourself for the discomfort their presence causes. As long as you don't live with the difficult family member, just accept that Auntie Mabel will always poke her nose into everyone's business. Laugh off her comments and you will dissolve tension and hostility. After all, Auntie Mabel is 80 and belongs to a different generation. As for the younger difficult family members, don't let them affect you. Their attitude has everything to do with their own insecurities. Resolve not to let them bother you. Give thanks for family and count your blessings.

5. Allow yourself recovery time Take time to recover from the stressful family time. When you're back in your safe space, spend time doing things you love and with people who affirm you. Depending on how heavy a beating you have received, you may want to schedule time with your therapist to vent your feelings.

Final thoughts Always bear in mind that you can always say "no" to it all. Every family is different and every situation is unique. Consider your situation and if meeting certain members of your family causes you distress to a harmful extent, you have the option of staying away. Decide if this is a difficult person, whom you can handle, or a toxic person, who affects your mental and emotional health. You can opt to spend time with just your partner or with friends who for whatever reason are not able to be with their family, or have no family. Don't compromise your health just to be with family.l

Senator Zellnor Myrie/ continued from page 1 and New York City. Background Senator Zellnor, popularly called 'Z' by friends, is a Brooklynite born of immigrants from Costa Rica and a proud product of the Central Brooklyn community. "So, I have the privilege to represent the community that made me who I am. The schools that invested in me, hardworking immigrants that provided for me and allowed me to flourish," he says. "Representing the community in the Senate has been an honor, hopefully for as long as the people will have me." The Senator also traces his lineage to Jamaica.

Deed Theft in Brooklyn Within his constituency, the Senator is busy addressing a primary lingering concern that has assailed the community for a long time. The report shows an extended existing fraudulent scheme that has ravaged homeowners since 2014 in Flatbush and Bed-Stuyvesant. Homeowners have allegedly been targeted by deed theft scheme fraudsters, which legal experts claim are hard to prove and prosecute. However, the Senator and other colleagues, like Senator Brian Kavanagh, on the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Housing Construction and Community Development, are addressing ways to protect vulnerable owners. The Senator recalls the devastating impact of deed theft by victims in their testimonies during the hearing. "One constituent reached out to me. She was in trouble trying to pay the mortgage. "He recalls, "She reached out to someone who presented themselves as a source of help. That person was a scammer, and she hid it from her family. When she finally told her brother the truth about what happened, her brother had a heart attack right before her and died." The victim and numerous other homeless persons shared stories of becoming victims of such schemes. The scammers, he explained, target black communities, immigrants, and older communities. Unfortunately, there is evidence of decades of stolen wealth in equity from the people, with support from the system. Senator Myrie explained that the courts and the public administrator's office had upheld the deception and schemes to take black people's homes. Therefore, the hearing was held to find solutions and gather enough information to turn the action into legislation. "There has been a systemic effort to push blacks out, he says, to rob us of our wealth, and we have to stand up to it. The corruption must end," emphasized the Senator.

The Role of New Yorkers in Fighting Deed Theft The Senator says that providing and informing appropriate bodies remains key to fighting the fraudulent scheme. He encouraged individuals with relevant incidents on home refinancing, the title of ownership, and others to reach out for help from the attorney general's office, legal experts, or the Senator's office. "If you feel you are a victim of deed theft, I encourage you to contact the attorney general's office —Letitia James. I also encourage folks to reach out to an experienced attorney in the community that also help with this type of legal defense. However, because it's complicated, they need more resources to help many individuals." Several factors, like years of deception, and piles of paperwork, make the cases complicated and resource-intensive. However, it is crucial to reach out as soon as any homeowner suspects trouble.

Delivering Campaign Promises: Affordable Housing, Immigration Reform and Public Education The constituents of District 20 are both diverse in demographics and economics, and their issues are complex. However, Senator Myrie is abreast of the challenges as a product of the same community. He shared examples of actions taken to address the various problems. For instance, in housing, passing the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, prioritizing the needs of homeowners by providing funds during the pandemic to settle bills, and advocating for victims of deed theft. "Well, in 2019, we passed the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, which was the most progressive rent reform we have made in this state in almost half a century. It protects over 1 million rent-stabilized families living in New York homes. We brought down evictions in this state by nearly 30% after those rent reforms passed," he revealed. Senator Myrie says that education has not been adequately funded. "We spend more money incarcerating one individual than we do to educate one child in this state. There is something incredibly wrong with that formula and with that process." Despite this, they raised over $3 billion between 2019 and 2020 for investment in public schools, which had never happened before. On immigration reform, he explained that one of his achievements is fighting with others to allow undocumented immigrants to become qualified for a driver's license. "For a long time in this state, we did not allow undocumented immigrants to have a driver's license. We said you could pay taxes, contribute to our communities, and be an upstanding member of society, but we denied your driver's license. And we changed that when we got in," he explained. Yet, he was quick to recognize the struggles facing many over affordable housing and the challenges with the public schools in the state. In his view, settling asylum seekers who arrived in the city over the past months remains a significant challenge due to the crunch in affordable housing. While there are vacant buildings, many people cannot afford to live in them, as well as the ongoing spirited discussions on how schools should be run, who should attend, and others. Despite the challenges, he feels satisfied with how far he has delivered on some campaign issues.

Crime and Politics in New York City "Crime, unlike other laws and policies that come out of Albany, the City or Washington, D.C., is something that everyone intuitively understands," says Senator Myrie. Different from other societal ills, crime is complex, and finding the right policy to tackle it is not easy. However, the Senator is focused on driving down dangerous activity, especially gun violence, in his district. "We have passed several national bills declaring gun violence a public health crisis. We asked the state to spend millions of dollars annually to help hospital and community-based programs prevent and intervene when violence happens. But we also passed a bill holding the gun industry accountable." There are ongoing political conversations on how to manage gun violence. Yet, the Senator encourages New Yorkers to pay attention and guard against being politically manipulated. The conversation ended with Senator Zeller Myrie expressing gratitude for his family, especially his mother and people that believe in him; an important message as we all look forward to the holiday season.l

Senator Myrie in the community. Photo courtesy Senator Zellnor Myrie Office.