NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 08, 2013) — Nevis will be the venue for a two-day major conference on environmental policy. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based event, will be held in collaboration with the Nevis Island Administration under the theme “Supporting Environmental Policy Formulation and Planning in the Caribbean Region” from May 15-16, 2013.

In brief remarks at a press briefing to launch the conference, Junior Minister in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment on Nevis Hon. Troy Liburd said the conference would be a tangible step toward strengthening existing policies.

“This conference offers us in St. Kitts and Nevis a view of our environmental issues on several fronts and is a tangible step toward the strengthening of existing policies and the development and implementation of new ones…

“My Ministry is very pleased to be associated with this conference as it will help us to have a clearer understanding of the dynamic relationship between our behaviour and how it affects the physical environment as well as how elements within our environments impact upon us,” he said.

The Environment Minister applauded UNESCO for its partnership in that endeavour and on behalf of the Premier, his Senior Minister, Nevis Island Administration and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis pledged full support to the conference and its outcome.

Meantime, Environmental Officer in the Department of Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment in the NIA and chairperson at the briefing Ms. Claudia Walwyn, said the conference would address the policy direction in dealing with some environmental issues among them, sand mining and the removal of material from ghauts in an effort to put policies and regulations in place in the hope of providing a more pristine environment to live in.  

Also at the press briefing were UNESCO’s Secretary General Mr. Antonio Maynard and Co-chairman of the Implementation and Planning Committee Dr Leighton Naraine.