PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS REMARKS

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PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS REMARKS





PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS REMARKS







REMARKS BY



SENATOR THE HON. KAMINA JOHNSON SMITH

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & FOREIGN TRADE

JAMAICA



TO THE

PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE: ADDRESSING MARINE POLLUTION



AT THE

UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE TO SUPPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 14: CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS, SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT



5th JUNE 2017

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK





Co-chairs, Excellencies,


Given Jamaica’s archipelagic status, with a maritime area approximately 22 times our land mass, marine pollution, by agricultural run-off, plastics and water discharge, presents a clear and present danger to our developmental aspirations. We have felt the effects of invasive alien species, the bleaching of our coral reefs and the exponential increase in sargassum. Forging new partnerships and strengthening existing ones for the protection and preservation of our maritime space are responsibilities we take seriously.


One of those partnerships sees Jamaica as a Lead Partner Country under the Global Ballast Water Management Project (GloBallast) and a Lead Pilot Country under the Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project (GloMEEP). These transformational initiatives are jointly undertaken with the IMO, the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with private sector collaboration. They address the threat of invasive organisms to marine and coastal ecosystems and serve to minimise the shipping industry’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn contribute to ocean acidification.


As a Lead Partner Country, Jamaica will therefore “twin” with other countries in the region to provide legal and policy related assistance to enable those States to accede to the Ballast Water Management Convention. The importance of such support and partnership to the region is clear.


In another useful partnership initiative, the National Water Commission (NWC) has been implementing a pilot project in Jamaica funded by the GEF, UNEP and the Caribbean Regional Fund for Sustainable Financing of Wastewater Management (CReW). Funding has been provided for the development of the policy and legislative framework needed to institutionalize a Credit Enhancing Funding mechanism for wastewater treatment systems in Jamaica.


Also underway, but in collaboration with the Government of Japan and UNEP, is a three year project which is intended to enhance the legislative framework in Jamaica, while fostering community and private sectors’ engagement to reduce plastic marine litter from land-based activities.


We are also addressing land based sources of pollution from the agricultural sector. With the support of UNEP and the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, we have commenced a two year project to demonstrate effective small-scale wastewater and agricultural management solutions for nutrient discharge.


Co-Chairs,


These are but a few of the joint initiatives being undertaken by Jamaica. We believe that they are indicative of the levels and types of partnership that are required if SDG14 is to be successfully implemented. They do, however, need to be complemented by effective data collection and sound technical management systems which are recurrent gaps and deficiencies for many SIDS. As the Secretary-General said this morning, “we cannot improve what we cannot measure”.


We are also cognisant that such partnerships are best able to endure with the requisite political will and with stable and secure financing streams. Jamaica is committed to reducing marine litter and looks forward to working with you all to build enduring partnerships to this end.


I thank you.

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