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Small Islands
Voice at the Oceans, Coasts and Islands Conference, 12-14 November
2003
The major
purpose of the
Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands was to review
what has been done to date in implementing the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) commitments and catalyse action
on WSSD implementation through collaboration among governments,
international organizations, non-governmental organizations and
the private sector. Among specific aims, the conference sought
to analyse the needs of small island developing states (SIDS),
especially in relation to the forthcoming review of progress achieved
in SIDS since the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action, to be held
in Mauritius in August 2004. The conference was organised by the
Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands.
In view of
the special focus of this conference on islands, three partners
from Small Islands Voice territories were invited to participate
and give presentations on Small Islands Voice activities in their
countries and regions. Mr. Herman Belmar, represented St. Vincent
and the Grenadines and the Caribbean region and gave a powerpoint
presentation and presented a paper on 'Caribbean
islanders' efforts to save their environment with emphasis on
the youth of Bequia.' Mr. Pynee Chellapermal from Mauritius
represented the Indian Ocean when he gave his presentation on
'Civil society's concerns and inputs to
2004'. Ms. Tiare Holm represented Palau and the Pacific region
and gave a powerpoint presentation
on 'The general public's perspective on issues and inputs to Mauritius
2004'. These presentations provided a snapshot of some of the
Small Islands Voice activities, ranging from young islanders involvement
in environment and development activities, to issues and priorities
identified by civil society, and including a visioning process
whereby communities are taking a lead role in planning their own
development.
Small Islands Voice partners make presentations at the Oceans,
Coasts and Islands conference, November 2003. (From left to right:
Mr. Herman Belmar from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr. Pynee
Chellapermal from Mauritius, Ms. Tiare Holm from Palau).
During a pre-conference
side event on 11th November 2003, a workshop was held on 'Small
Islands and Mauritius 2004', sponsored by Small Islands Voice,
and chaired by Dirk Troost and Claire Green. During this workshop,
Herman Belmar, Pynee Chellapermal and Tiare Holm outlined some
of their Small Islands Voice activities in their respective countries,
while Gillian Cambers described some of the inter-regional activities
in a presentation entitled 'Targeted
capacity building through Small Islands Voice'. At the same
pre-conference workshop, Mr. Arthur Dahl gave a presentation on
the Global Islands Network, and Ms. Sherry Heileman described
the Global Environment Outlook Project, an initiative of the United
Nations Environment Programme.
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