Antigua and Barbuda's United Nations Ambassador Dr. John Ashe

Antigua and Barbuda's United Nations Ambassador Dr. John Ashe was among the dignitaries in Belmopan, Belize for the opening of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), which coordinates the region's response to climate change.

The Centre, which is located in the Belizian capital, is the key agency for information on climate change issues and will coordinate the region's efforts to manage and adapt to climate change, and serve as a regional institution that will articulate, support, and sustain the program of action on climate change adaptation for the Caribbean.

Addressing a gathering of dignitaries, including Cabinet Ministers and other senior officials of the government, as well as ordinary citizens of the Belizian capital, Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. John W. Ashe, who is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Centre, noted that "the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the region served to underscore the need for the introduction of policies aimed at combating climate change at all levels."

Chairman Ashe also reminded the audience that climate change will adversely affect every economic sector in every country in the region, especially those economies that are primarily dependent on tourism which are at significant risk to the adverse impacts of climate. "For inhabitants of these countries there is real meaning to the oft-repeated warning "adapt or die," he said.

The CCCCC was formally established by CARICOM Heads of Government in February 2002, with the signing of a protocol that allows the Centre to function as a legal entity. The legal instruments for the Centre were approved by CARICOM's Council for Legal Affairs in December 2001. The Centre will operate as a CARICOM agency with independent management and is envisioned to have the following objectives:

(a)Promoting protection of the earth's climate system; (b) Enhancing regional institutional capabilities for the co-ordination of national responses to the adverse effects of climate change; (c) Providing comprehensive policy and technical support in the area of climate change and related issues and spearheading regional initiatives in those areas; (d) Performing the role of executing agency for regional environmental projects relating to climate change; (e) Promoting education and public awareness on climate change issues; (e) Facilitating regional consensus for negotiations related to the Climate Change Convention.

Other keynote speakers at the opening ceremony include that Secretary-General of CARICOM, Dr. Edwin Carrington; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources of Belize, the Honourable Johnny Briceño; the Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Kenneth Leslie; representatives of the donor community and the World Bank.