The Third Session of the PISLM High Level Meeting (PHLM 3) of Ministers from Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), hosted by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) got underway at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Thursday.
The Meeting saw Ministers and representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname. Guyana was represented at the meeting by Minister of State, Hon. Joseph Harmon, MP, and Mr. Trevor L. Benn, who is the current Chairman of the PISLM Task Force and Commissioner and Chief Executive of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.
The primary objective of this meeting organized by the PISLM Support Office is to set the agenda for Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in the Region. This will position the Caribbean SIDS as global leaders in meeting their obligations with regard to SDG 15.
The major components of the PISLM seeks to elaborate National and Integrated Sub-Regional Action Plans; establish Regional/Sub-Regional Platform for the implementation of the UNCCD; develop methods and tools for monitoring and measuring land degradation; develop South-South Cooperation; facilitate capacity development and policy analysis; and harmonize Public Policies on Land Degradation and Land Management.
“Guyana as well as other Caribbean SIDS have made substantial progress in these areas stated above and High Level Meetings of this nature ensures that work continues with strong political support and policy directives.” Minister Harmon, noted while delivering the feature remarks at the opening session.
The Minister reminded that ministerial oversight among other intuitional modalities are necessary for the effective operations of the PISLM.
“Hence, the importance of this two days session geared at strengthening the positions of the Sub-Regional Land Management agenda, tabling the Caribbean vision for SLM, setting PISLM’s agenda for the next two years and setting a common position for CRIC 17 and the Committee on Science and Technology (CST 17) in Guyana in January 2019.” The Minister said