Call to sign global conventions to protect national treasures

BARBADOS is being urged to sign on to two international conventions because of the benefits they can bring to the island. The suggestion has come from University of the West Indies law student Kynara Roett who believes that Bridgetown and Harrison's Cave can benefit significantly under the World Heritage Convention while the Graeme Hall Swamp could be put on the map through the Ramsar Convention. Her suggestion came as students from around the region presented submissions to an environmental law class recently. An edited version of it was published on the Green Page of November 14, 2001. The complete presentation is as follows:

by Kynara Roett

The World Heritage Convention

   In relation to the Convention of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972, it was proposed that it would be in the interest of Barbados to become a signatory to the convention.  Barbados would gain international recognition in the arena of environmental law; significant revenue could be gained from the point of view of the great potential for eco-tourism.  Further to which, from a bio-centric perspective, Barbados has an opportunity to express its recognition of and contribution to the preservation of the global environment. 

   This Convention requires States to conserve elements of world heritage which are areas of outstanding universal interest from a natural or cultural perspective.  It establishes a World Heritage Committee and provides procedures for listing such sites on the World Heritage List. Article 15 establishes a Fund for assisting in the conservation of the listed sites. The Convention recognizes that the international community has a duty to conserve such heritage and thereby provides for conditions and arrangements for international assistance. 

   There are extensive provisions for international assistance as detailed in Article 13.  Articles 19 - 26 detail the conditions and arrangements for International Assistance. Article 22 provides extensive forms of assistance which can be granted by the World Heritage Committee; these are: studies or research, manpower, training, supply of equipment, loans and in exceptional circumstances - grants.

    There are two points of significance noted in Article 25 which relate to the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.  Under the general rule only part of the costs shall be borne by the international community, thus ensuring equitable distribution of financial responsibility.  Further to this, allowance is made for those states where resources may limit or restrict this responsibility. Bridgetown as a Cultural Site

  The first site which was proposed for consideration for submission to the World Heritage Committee for listing as a site of cultural heritage is Bridgetown. The city would, in my opinion, qualify as such under the definitions of monuments, groups of buildings and other natural or man made sites, as outlined in Article 1.

    Bridgetown itself is an expression of the synthesis of the mélange of our history and culture. This can be seen in groups of buildings such as those which have housed one of the oldest Assemblies in the Commonwealth and monuments of historical significance.

    Further, the architecture of buildings such as the Barclays Bank on lower Broad Street, the Central Bank, the St. Michael's and St. Mary's Cathedrals and the Royal Bank building on upper Broad Street also represent this mélange of culture.

   Of further historical and aesthetic significance is the waterway into the heart of the city around which the city was built, reminiscent of the City of London and the River Thames.


Harrison's Cave as a Natural Site

   The second site which was proposed for consideration as a site of natural  heritage is that of Harrison's Cave, which qualifies under Article 2, in reference to natural features consisting of geological and physiographical formations from the point of view of science or conservation.  The Cave represents a uniqueness that is unrivaled in the Caribbean and accompanied by few others in the Western Hemisphere.

   The only other comparable  "show cave" can be found in Puerto Rico, which to the best of my knowledge is not as extensive.  Harrison's Cave is the only such limestone cave in the Caribbean region itself.  The calcium carbonate formations, created by the evaporation of the rain water is possible because of the limestone composition which allows the rainwater to drip through into this underground wonder.

   None of the other caves have underground watercourses with running water.  Further to this Harrison's Cave is still an active cave because of its composition and that of the Island of Barbados itself and there is no foreseeable stagnation.  It is the only active and 'living' cave in the region.  The growth rate of the cave is also significant to note as experts report that it is approximately 1cm of formation per 120 years.

    Nothing in the cave is created by human intervention, Harrison's Cave is a demonstration of nature at work, very much alive and in need of definitive recognition and protection.


The Ramsar Convention

   The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance 1971 (Ramsar Convention) is also of significance to Barbados. This Convention requires the parties to conserve wetlands as habitats of distinctive eco-systems and to designate wetlands of international importance for inclusion in "the List" thereof.

   The contracting parties recognize the interdependence of man and his environment and in this way, give consideration to the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting a characteristic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl (birds ecologically dependent on wetlands).

   The Parties also recognize that in their seasonal migrations, waterfowl may transcend frontiers and so should be regarded as an international resource. The Graeme Hall Swamp was proposed as a wetland for such consideration.  There is recognition on a national level, in light of which, we would like to propose that it could be given consideration on an international level in light of the Ramsar Convention.


Further Information

   The ideas represented here were presented in very general terms but I intend to compose a more technical piece, which would be published in a Specialist Environmental Law Journal. Readers wishing further information may contact me at kroett77@yahoo.com.

Trinidadians steal show

JOURNALISTS from Trinidad and Tobago dominated the 2001 Sandals Eco-Journalism Awards.

The awards ceremony and dinner on November 3 culminated a two-day conference on the environment and the media at Beaches Grande Sport Hotel in Ocho Rios.

Bruce Paddington of Banyan Productions in Trinidad walked away with the top US$6 000 award in the video category with his entry A Community In Danger - Lead Pollution in Demerarra Road. He was joined by fellow Trinidadians Mark Meredith, a freelancer, and Kim Johnson of the Trinidad Express who placed second in the print category.

Janelle Chanoa of Greater Belize Productions won second place in the video category with her piece Sinkhole.

The top print prize of US$6 000 went to Matthew Falloon for his article Biodiversity: Developing the Green Gold, published in the Guyana's Stabroek News. Karen Clacken of the Jamaica Information Service placed second.

Radio Jamaica's Dionne Jackson Miller took the special award of US$1 000 for the Radio category. Her entry was Jamaica's National Parks -The Money Crunch.

Professor Aggrey Brown of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications said that over the years the print category accounted for the bulk of the entries and this year was no different. There were 45 print entries, six from television and two from radio. Professor Brown said that print reflected the highest quality.

The award competition, which started in 1994, is sponsored by the Sandals Group and judged by a panel from UWI.

The ceremony was preceded by a two-day workshop on the media and environment which director of finance and planning at Sandals Resorts International, Patrick Lynch, said was a direct response to requests from Caribbean media for more technical support in their understanding of regional environmental matters.

Meteor shower this weekend

THE most spectacular meteor shower in 35 years is coming this weekend. Barbadians will be able to see the Leonids with the naked eye when they peak on Saturday night going into Sunday. This is when the earth will be passing through a debris stream left by the Swift-Tuttle comet in 1866. As the debris enters the earth's atmosphere it will appear as shooting stars burning and disintegrating. There are usually 10 to 20 meteors per hour but astronomers say every three decades there are spectacular displays of thousands at a time and that is due this weekend. Miss this weekend and you'll have to wait another 33 years to see it.

Regional course on sewage treatment

THE Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) will be hosting a training course for regional sewage treatment plant operators from November 26 to November 29, in Castries, St Lucia.

This specialised training programme will provide participants with an overview of wastewater characteristics and treatment technologies and the latest information about aerobic treatment. The course is open to anyone interested in wastewater management, especially sewage treatment plant operators from hotels, private developments and water utilities, environmental health officers with responsibility for effluent monitoring and others responsible for sewage treatment plant operation and management.

Interested persons may contact CEHI by telephone at (758) 452-2501, by fax (758) 453-2721 or e-mail cehi@candw.lc.