"These are some serious times", sing students of Rose Heart Preparatory School in Norwood Jamaica. They were performing at the launch of the Reducing Small Arms and Light Weapons Joint Programme (SALIENT Jamaica). UNDP/JIS Photo

A national programme targeting the illegal trade in guns to Jamaica and the root causes of violence, will run until December 2022 under a new project being implemented by the Government of Jamaica in partnership with the United Nations system in Jamaica. At the national level, the Reducing Small Arms and Light Weapons Joint Programme, otherwise known as SALIENT Jamaica, targets all dimensions of the illegal trade in guns which accounts for more than 80% of homicides in Jamaica. The 12-month programme which started in January 2022, is to include interventions in legislation, policy, strategy, training, investigations, law enforcement and data collection. 

UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio (left) and UN Resident Coordinator Dr Garry Conille (right) give high fives to students of Rose Heart Preparatory for their performance at the launch of the SALIENT joint  Programme.

Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr Horace Chang in conversation with young people who were in attendance  at the launch of the SALIENT joint programme.

Jamaica is to pilot the nation’s first Violence Audit in Denham Town and Norwood under the Reducing Small Arms and Light Weapons Joint Programme, implemented by the Ministry of National Security in partnership with United Nations Jamaica. The Audit is part of the community component of the Joint Programme (SALIENT Jamaica), while the national component targets all dimensions of the illegal trade in guns – to include interventions in legislation, policy, strategy, training, investigations, law enforcement and data collection. 

A two-part video series entitled 'Who Is Really Vulnerable in Jamaica' debuted on 5 April at the virtual Caribbean Regional Risk Conference and on UNDP Multi Country in Jamaica's social media platforms. Produced by the UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica, the series underscores the importance of identifying, understanding and targeting vulnerabilities to crisis, using a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).

(l-r) Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle; Tonni Ann Brodber, Representative, Un Women Multi-Country Office; Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development, Hon. Lisa Rahming; Chairman of the Bahamas Development Bank, Senator Quinton Lightbourne; Denise Antonio, UNDP Resident Representative, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos; and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr. Garry Conille - UN Women Photo/Felicity Darville

The United Nations Joint SDG Fund has injected nearly $1 million into a programme designed to empower women, youth, and people living with disabilities. The programme launched on Monday, May 30 takes steps to facilitate the sustainable economic empowerment of women, youth and people with disabilities and their greater access to financial mechanisms, knowledge sharing and capacity building particularly in areas of agribusiness and fishing. The Building Back Equal through Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Joint Programme is funded by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund, and in partnership with the Governments of The Bahamas and Bermuda. The participating UN agencies, include UN Women, UNDP, UNESCO and FAO. The Bahamas Development Bank (BDB) is the primary implementing partner.

UN Women Caribbean photo: From left: Robert Almeida, Managing Partner, Portland Private Equity; Denise Antonio, UNDP Resident Representative, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands; Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean; UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, Bermuda and the Bahamas, Dr. Garry Conille.

The Government of The Bahamas relaunched construction of The Abaco Community Center & Hurricane Shelter on 31 May at a signing ceremony convened by UNDP, Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA), Disaster Preparedness Unit-OPM, and the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, at the Office of The Prime Minister. The relaunch is made possible by a one Million USD grant from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. The UNDP, through its Multi Country Office in Jamaica is the United Nations (UN) agency executing the project, while the DRA is implementing in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister and community stakeholders.

936 tons, or 1.8 million pounds of marine debris has been collected based on UNDP-financed marine debris study

Dive and snorkeling teams removed sheet metal, appliances, construction material, pilings, car batteries, electronics, radios, air conditioning units, ladders, trees, tyres among other items. Some boats and cars, potential sources of chemical and metal contaminants have been removed by Local Government agencies working with NGO’s. The majority remain, awaiting decontamination work before removal and additional  funding. Calculations indicate the equivalent of 936 tons, or 1.8 million pounds of marine debris has been collected in marine debris removal efforts, guided by the assessment report. This estimation does not include cars and boats.

Phase one of a revived public education initiative using message music for Climate Action, debuted on World Environment Day 2022 on Television Jamaica and social media, with talented local artistes in the spotlight. The television special revived a 13-year-old public education initiative spearheaded in 2009 by Panos Caribbean that produced the popular climate action anthem "Global Warning’ written by Lloyd Lovindeer, produced by Grub Cooper and performed by more than 30 local artistes. UNDP had helped sponsor the production of the song and music video as well as climate change 101 training for artistes under the 2009 initiative dubbed 'Voices for Climate Change Education'. 

Grub Cooper, producer of the 2009 song 'Global Warning' (top right) arrives for the taping. Recording artiste Duane Stephenson (top left), videographers from Kane Media Inc (middle); Moderator Jhannel Tomlinson being fitted with mic (bottom left) and recording artiste Aaron Silk (bottom right)

Written by Lovindeer | Produced by Panos Caribbean & Grub Cooper | Supported by UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica, Panos Caribbean, National Environment and Planning Agency, Environmental Foundation of Jamaica and  Met Office of Jamaica. 

As one of the primary actors on Climate Change in the United Nations, UNDP’s partnership with the Government and people of Jamaica confronts the existential threat of Climate Change to sustainable development, through nature-based solutions to development and climate resilient programming. UNDP’s partnership with Jamaica spans decades, focused primarily on Climate Change adaptation and mitigation through policy formulation, research and international reporting commitments, as well as community action and institutional strengthening. UNDP’s work in Climate Change constitutes the lion’s share of its portfolio in Jamaica – more than 40% – as it seeks to fulfil its global mission to end poverty, inequality and climate change.

UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio

Thirteen  years ago, when we first engaged artistes for climate change education, Hellshire’s coastline was still metres away. Days were cooler. The temperature was not as intense. Today, the evidence is alarming, and  we the people must become bold messengers and partners for change. It is no longer business as usual. Are we ready to take this effort to the next level? Even as we graduate to the next level of our participation in climate action, we must not forget that simple actions are still powerful. We just need more persons to take part. For example, we can help cool down Jamaica by planting more trees; recycling plastics and encouraging others to do the same; disposing of garbage properly; switching to LED bulbs and converting to renewables like solar. Become advocates for policies, funding and programmes that foster change.

BROWSE BEAUTIFUL PHOTO STORIES

CATCH A PODCAST ON SOUNDCLOUD

BROWSE BACK ISSUES OF 'ON TARGET' E-NEWS