CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Nov. 02, 2014, CNS – On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology in collaboration with the Centre of Food Security and Entrepreneurship of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalising collaboration on food security, biodiversity, natural resources and other environmental assets.
The goal of the MOU is for the parties to consolidate, develop and detail their cooperation with regard to the management of biological resources.
The Government of Saint Lucia has long indicated its interest in developing a Green Economy initiative, and has been working closely with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the University of the West Indies to achieve this objective.
Saint Lucia is also undertaking concurrent developments that merge well with the Green Economy initiative, and help the country progress in a manner that factors social, economic and environmental considerations equally into the mix of its development paradigm.
In addition, Saint Lucia has engaged in setting up systems for bio-safety management to protect human and animal health and the environment from any possible negative impacts of genetically modified organisms.
A bio-safety framework is being implemented to allow safety in the creation, transport, handling and use of the products of modern biotechnology. Regulatory, administrative, public education and participation, and risk assessment and management systems comprise the framework for effective bio-safety management in the country.
Saint Lucia’s rich biological resources hold much potential for exploration and development of new products, services and industries, especially drawing upon the traditional knowledge of the country, related to its biological resources. In this respect, the country’s biological resources offer a golden opportunity to lift the country from its financial difficulties by contributing to wealth creation.
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