Seismic Center Repeats Warning Of Major Earthquake
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, Monday May 14, 2012 – The magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded off the coast of Antigua last Friday (May 11) is a warning that the Caribbean should prepare for a much more severe earthquake to come.
This warning has again been sounded by the Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad and Tobago.
In confirming that an earthquake occurred 50 miles east of the Antigua and Barbuda capital around 5 a.m, seismologist Dr Joan Latchman reportedly stated that the region has not seen its largest earthquake for more than a century and, based on the historical data that indicated that the region has recorded a major earthquake every 100 years, the islands of the English-speaking Caribbean were overdue for one.
Dr Latchman has stated that the pattern in which earthquakes have occurred in the region has been consistent, although authorities cannot predict when and where it will happen.
This time last year the Trinidadian seismologist also warned residents of the region to brace for a major earth movement.
Speaking during a three-day visit to Nevis to make a presentation on disaster preparedness, Dr Latchman said Caribbean islands lie in an area of relatively high earthquake activity and that an earthquake of 8.0 could hit the Caribbean any day based on the patterns previously recorded.
According to the Seismic Research Centre, there have been a number of small earthquake activities taking place off Antigua & Barbuda although they have not been felt by residents.
Philmore Mullin, head of the National Office of Disaster Services has stated that Antigua & Barbuda would not only be very vulnerable to earthquakes but also tsunamis.
The region was earlier this month put on notice to prepare for tsunamis by the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO.
Seismic Center Repeats Warning Of Major Earthquake courtesy of Caribbean360.com
Caribbean Warned Again To Prepare For Tsunamis
The Caribbean has yet again been put on notice to prepare for tsunamis.
This warning comes two years ahead of a planned warning system for the region from Assistant Director-General, Wendy Watson-Wright at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
Watson-Wright has urged the Caribbean’s 40 million people to take cases of a tsunami seriously as it was not a case of “when and not if” an earthquake triggered tsunami or one caused by volcanic activity will strike.
She is quoted as saying: “Lurking beneath the azure waters that wash up on countless coastal and island beaches and vacation spots are the potential for a devastating tsunami,” she said.
According to reports, Watson-Wring made the point that since 1498 there were at least 94 tsunamis with run-ups in the Caribbean causing 4, 652 deaths.
She added that the Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System, coordinated through UNESCO-IOC saved lives in the region following an 8.6 magnitude earthquake off northern Indonesia.
She stressed that education programmes allowed those living in coastal communities to mobilise early and move to higher ground.
The Caribbean’s early warning system is expected to be in place by 2014 and will be located in Puerto Rico. Once implemented, it will enhance the Caribbean’s ability to evaluate data and ensure that timely information is passed onto authorities so they can advise the public
Courtesy of Caribbean360.com
Montserrat Needs To Think Green In Architectural Design, Says Island’s Only Female Architect
KINGSTON, Jamaica (GIU) — Financial constraints should not restrict architects from finding ways to “Go Green” on Montserrat, says Public Works Department (PWD) architect designate Linda Dias.
Dias recently sat on a panel of guest critics for the final design studio presentations of the first and second year Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at her alma mater, the Caribbean School of Architecture at UTech in Jamaica.
The panel consisted of some of the student’s lecturers, including two Jamaicans who have worked as architects at the PWD for the government of Montserrat, David Cuthbert and Vivian Gordon.
Students were required to design a dwelling for an array of characters that included a personal physiotherapist and her family, an artist and her family, an elderly couple, and a young professional couple.
“These presentations were based primarily on implementing sustainable elements into the designs for a number of different characters in multiple site locations. In Montserrat, we tend to design in a vacuum – being forced (because of financial constraints) to consider the present, with very little consideration being lent to future maintenance and self-sustainability of our island’s built environment,” Dias noted.
“If we are able to enhance key elements in our architectural designs such as passive cooling, implementing the use of more sustainable materials and construction techniques — and even properly strategizing our rainwater collection and distribution, we will be able to see a vast reduction in our annual maintenance expenses.
“Green Architecture” isn’t just about installing solar panels and including more vegetation into our designs – it’s about considering the future of our structures as much as we consider their present.”
Dias, who is the only local female architect on island, works for the government of Montserrat and also runs her own local design firm Aeon Studios.
Montserrat Needs To Think Green In Architectural Design, Says Island’s Only Female Architect courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
Puerto Rico’s Government Continues Initiative to Collect Illegal Weapons
Puerto Rico’s illegal weapons collection programme has brought in 1,056 weapons and 55,044 rounds of ammunition in less than 60 days, according to Governor Luis Fortuño.
Anyone bearing an illegal gun in Puerto Rico has a grace period until April 18 to hand in their firearms.
“The solution to this social evil is not in the hands of the government, but the people,” Fortuño said. “That is why we have recruited community and religious leaders, so that they can be the ones to spread the word door to door and urge every Puerto Rican who is considering a life of crime to stop this evil way.”
The programme is being coordinated by Puerto Rico’s police, along with non-profit and faith-based institutions authorized to assist in collecting firearms.
Puerto Rico Police Superintendent Hector Pesquera said the programme would not have been possible without the help of faith-based organizations, and that the police would continue to work with them.
“We still have much to do, but I have faith in the extraordinary capacity of our people,” Fortuño said. “We will not tolerate crime and fear governing in Puerto Rico.”
Puerto Rico’s Government Continues Initiative to Collect Illegal Weapons story by Caribjournal.com
Montserrat Census Shows 10 Percent Population Growth
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) — The Department of Statistics has released the official 2011 Census data, which shows that Montserrat’s population has grown by 10 percent since the previous census in 2001.
“On May 12, 2011, the usual resident population of Montserrat consisted of 4,922 persons, 51.7 percent of whom were male and 48.3 percent female. The total number of usual residents was 10.2 percent or 457 more persons than the 2001 Census. This suggests that the population who reside permanently on Montserrat, grew on average by 45 persons per year. The growth in 2011 contrasts the decline that was observed in the previous intercensal period 1991-2001, when the 2001 usual resident population was less than half of the 1991 count,” a statement from the department read.
”Where we usual residents found? Most of Montserrat’s usual residents, that is 4,843 persons, occupied private dwellings in May 2011. The remaining 79 persons were found in collective living quarters at the Homes for the Elderly and Her Majesty’s Prison. The population living in these collective housing units or ’non-private’ dwellings fell by more than 50 percent when compared to Census 2001.
”The usual resident population of Montserrat was centred in Look Out. Usual residents numbered more than 600 persons or 13.6 per cent of the population in the 2011 Census. The majority of residents living outside of Look Out were located in Brades/Shinnlands (9.1%) and St Peter’s (8.9%).
”What has changed since 2001 Census? As in the previous Census, the island was divided into 22 geographical areas called Enumeration Districts. The populations in 11 of the Enumeration Districts grew at rates above the national average (10.2%) between 2001 and 2011. Barzeys showed the strongest growth in its population (+297%), followed by St John’s/Mongo Hill (+86%). The populations of St John’s North, Brades/Shinnlands and Olveston remained relatively stable between Censuses. The populations in the other Enumeration Districts decreased, with strongest declines in Happy Hill (-62%) and Isles Bay (-54%). ”
Montserrat Census Shows 10 Percent Population Growth courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
In Haiti Mobile Money Transfers Fund New Homes With Help from Digicel
In Haiti, while two-thirds of the population has access to mobile phones, just 10 percent have bank accounts.
A new UNDP initiative looks to use mobile money transfer technology to address that problem, and build homes in the process.
More than 2,000 mobile money transfers of $500 each are planned in the next three months to 1,000 low-income families to help them buy construction materials to build new homes, the UNDP announced.
The programme is reportedly the first-ever mobile money transfer system in support of post-disaster housing reconstruction.
The initiative, which was commissioned by the UNDP and developed by Digicel, helps boost financial inclusion in Haiti.
The mobile transfers, along with mobile phone vouchers, mean recipients can access a mobile phone checking account and then use those funds to buy things like cement, iron and wood.
“Mobile phone vouchers create additional security and convenience here in Haiti, especially for women who might feel more vulnerable when carrying large sums of money,” said Jessica Faieta, senior UNDP Country Director for Haiti. “With safer housing conditions, this initiative will also encourage the permanent return of camp residents to their neighbourhoods and repaired homes.”
According to the UNDP, 4,000 families have registered to take part in the project, which could benefit up to 12,000 people.
In Haiti, Mobile Money Transfers Fund New Homes, With Help from Digicel Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
US Virgin Islands Mulls Post-HOVENSA Energy Options With Federal Officials
With the closure of the HOVENSA refinery in February, the US Virgin Islands lost its main source of gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and propane.
The change led the territory, which is not connected to any larger power grid, to discuss the possibility of soliciting support from the federal government to develop an inter-connected power grid with Puerto Rico in Washington meetings last week.
The HOVENSA refinery was the largest in the Caribbean, and had been in St Croix since 1966.
On Wednesday, an energy solution for the territory was the subject of discussions between Governor John de Jongh and officials from the US Department of Energy.
The two sides broached the possibility of converting combustion turbines to fire natural gas in the territory, along with the aforementioned interconnection with Puerto Rico.
De Jongh was joined by Chief of Staff Pamela Berkowsky, Attorney Robert G Smith, WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge and VI Bureau of Economic Research Director Wharton Berger.
The US Virgin Islands pays some of the highest energy rates in the United States.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
UK Pledges GBP75 Million In Development Support To The Region
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The United Kingdom has pledged £75 million to assist with development projects within the Caribbean region over a four-year period.
The UK’s commitment came out of talks at the 7th UK/Caribbean Forum held in St Georges, Grenada, from January 20 to 22.
Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator A.J. Nicholson, made the disclosure on Friday, during a statement in the senate on the outcome of the forum, which he attended.
Nicholson said the injection of funds will go towards efforts to build resilience through the development of practical mechanisms that will boost growth in investment, employment, production and trade opportunities that would enhance the prospects of the people of the region.
“The UK Foreign Secretary (William Hague) underlined the importance that the UK has attached to its relations with the Caribbean and announced a pledge of £75 million, over a four-year period, to assist with the development projects in the region,” he stated.
He noted that the pledge of funds was one of the major outcomes of the meeting, which also saw agreement between the delegates from the Caribbean and the UK, to establish strategic partnership to promote prosperity, growth and development.
Under the theme ‘Sustainable Growth Toward Prosperity’, the delegates engaged in wide ranging and frank discussions on major areas of cooperation, trade and investment, security, climate change and sustainable development, and foreign policy issues, Nicholson said.
In addition to the political dialogue, a significant aspect of the forum was the two parallel meetings on security and trade and investment, both of which identified practical areas for cooperation between the UK and the Caribbean, he informed.
“It should be stressed that at the outset of the meeting, the Caribbean insisted that there should be tangible outcomes from the forum, which would have an impact on development at the national and regional levels,” he stated.
“We therefore adopted a plan of action that identifies concrete areas of cooperation in this new strategic partnership and areas for joint activities,” the minister added.
The UK delegation was led by Hague, and included ministers from the Home Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development, security officials, and members of the private sector. The group represented the largest and highest ministerial delegation to the Caribbean in a number of years.
The two-day forum is considered the principal vehicle for political dialogue between the UK and the countries of the region, including Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
UK Pledges GBP75 Million In Development Support To The Region Courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
Trinidad Based Pipeline to Supply Natural Gas to Eastern Caribbean
A new pipeline to be laid on 188 miles of seabed will bring natural gas from Trinidad and Tobago to the Eastern Caribbean, the country’s Ministry of Energy announced today in a post-cabinet briefing.
The pipeline, which will be laid from Tobago to Barbados, is slated to cost around $300 million, the Ministry said.
Construction on the pipeline will begin next year, and is slated for completion by 2015.
Trinidad also announced that the country’s cabinet had authorized the Ministry of Energy, National Energy Corporation and the National Gas Company to enter into talks with companies including China’s SINOPEC on a methanol to petrochemical project.
Trinidad Based Pipeline to Supply Natural Gas to Eastern Caribbean Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
St Lucia Looks to Costa Rica for Help in Fight to Save Banana Industry
St Lucia is continuing to look for solutions in its fight against the Black Sigatoka disease, which has been ravaging the country’s agricultural sector and its banana industry in particular.
Agriculture Minister Moses Jean Baptiste is now in Costa Rica on an official visit, looking to discuss the issue with authorities in that country, which has had success in combating Black Sigatoka, according to Jadia Jean Pierre Emmanuel, press secretary to St Lucian Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony.
Baptiste has previously called the disease a “national crisis.”
“We all know that in St Lucia, our agriculture sector, particularly our bananas, are being severely affected by the Black Sigatoka,” she said. “Minister Baptiste has outlined some of the plans the government of St Lucia hopes to implement in the coming weeks to deal with this problem, but as part of moving forward, there will need to be consultation with our various partners in the region.”
Baptiste is in Costa Rica at the invitation of the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.
“This is one issue the Minister will be discussing while in Costa Rica and upon return to the island he will be giving a report to the public,” she said.
During the visit, the Minister will also pay a courtesy call on Costa Rica’s Agriculture Minister and visit a number of farms in the country.
St Lucia Looks to Costa Rica for Help in Fight to Save Banana Industry courtesy of Caribjournal.com
Potential For 750 New Jobs With Planned Town Development In Montserrat
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) — At least 750 new jobs will be created when Montserrat pushes forward on its development of a new town in Little Bay and upgrading its tourism product, says Governor Adrian Davis.
Davis told members of the press last week that he was pleased with the progress being made to pursue the creation of a new master plan for the town.
A team of practitioners, led by consultant John Cox recently wrapped a 10-day working visit to map out several key deliverables for the master plan. They include an investment prospectus and a marketing strategy.
By the end of March 2012, the team is to have the costing and a full investment prospectus available for review. By June, the concept for the new town, which includes moving the port to Carrs Bay and building a hotel and a business/residential centre around Little Bay, is to be ready. An updated economic assessment is also to be submitted. This assessment will determine whether the UK government sees the project as a viable option for committing public funds.
Kato Kimbugwe, the DFID private sector representative, says that already there have been inquiries from the local community wishing to invest up to $30 million in the new town. He added that people interested in taking advantage of the community development should position themselves now to do so.
The creation of a new port, a yacht marina and high-end villas and hotel will open many spin-off support services, the DFID official said.
By March 2013, Kimbugwe said the final design for the town should be complete with hard numbers.
Courtesy of CaribbeanNewsNow.com
Solamon Plans to Build Largest Caribbean Solar Farm in Jamaica
The Canada-based Solamon company announced its plan to build the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean in Jamaica, at an estimated cost of $450 million.
The programme aims to improve the country’s energy infrastructure and attract additional investment in green technologies.
“In order to implement a solution of this magnitude, several Parishes are being considered as future homes of one of three 50-acre plots that, when conjoined, will provide the Jamaican people with 60 megawatts of clean electricity,” said Ainsley Brown, senior vice president at Solamon. “This programme represents a comprehensive approach to renewable energy development, energy diversification, job creation and training for the 21st century.”
In December, the government announced that the use of alternative in energies in Jamaica had nearly doubled since 2010.
Jamaica has a growing solar movement, according to Roger Chang, President of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
British Virgin Islands Must “Keep Pace” on Renewable Energy: Minister
Green energy has to be a priority for the British Virgin Islands government, according to Minister for Communications and Works Mark Vanterpool.
Vanterpool met last week with board members of the BVI Electricity Corporation to extend his support and discuss critical energy issues facing the territory.
“Renewable energy has to be the number one priority of not just the government, but also the territory in order to keep pace with the rest of the world that is now actively pursuing these alternative forms of energy,” he said. “The corporation and the ministry must be in sync on renewable energy issues in order to move forward in the same direction.”
Vanterpool encouraged board members to think outside the box as they look to reduce electricity costs for consumers.
There is a growing green energy movement in the British Virgin Islands, highlighted by the campaign of GreenVI, which is advocating to make the territory’s energy law more friendly to alternative sources.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
Grenada To Host UN Climate Workshop
Grenada will host a United Nations environmental workshop next year, Environment Minister Joseph Gilbert announced.
Grenada will be the first country in the western hemisphere to host such a meeting.
“This workshop, which will be funded by the United Nations Environment Programme, will put Grenada on the map,” Gilbert said in his Christmas Message.
Grenada has been receiving support from a number of countries for climate initiatives, including Germany and Japan.
Germany and Grenada signed a $6.89 million “concept agreement” for projects aimed at fighting the adverse effects of climate change last month.
“One of the critical tasks for us now, as a government, is to ensure that when these environmental projects come on stream, that as many persons as possible obtain some degree of employment,” he said.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
Cuba Boosts Use of Sugarcane Biomass To Generate Electricity
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) — Members of the Cuban National Assembly (Parliament) discussed on Wednesday the potential of sugar mills in the Caribbean nation to generate electricity using industrial biomass, a natural material obtained during the cane sugar production process.
During a meeting of the Commission of Energy and the Environment of the Cuban Parliament on Wednesday, Angel Miguel Torres, director of Services to Industrial Plants of the AZCUBA Business Group, said that, thanks to the use of biomass as a source of electricity, the sugar industry contributed more than 80 gigawatts to the national grid in 2010, and the plan for this year is to reach 95 gigawatts.
Members of the Commission urged specialists to carry out comprehensive studies on this renewable, environment-friendly energy source in order to boost the use of biomass to generate electricity and increase the existing potential.
Biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel.
Courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
For Large Scale Earthquake in Eastern Caribbean, a Question of When, Not If
By Alexander Britell
Could the Caribbean experience another earthquake like the devastating one in Port-au-Prince in 2010? The answer is yes – and it could be even more powerful, according to Dr Joan Latchman, the director of the Seismic Research Centre at the University of the West Indies. The Eastern Caribbean is a subduction zone, which makes it one of the areas of the world able to deliver extremely high-magnitude earthquakes. The Haiti quake measured around 7.0 on the Richter scale – not such a large-magnitude quake but made catastrophic due to the particular characteristics of its location near the capital, and a number of factors on the ground in Haiti. A potential quake in the Eastern Caribbean, Latchman says, could be as high as 8.0, like one seen in the 19th century. And for the Caribbean, it’s matter of when, not if. To learn more, Caribbean Journal talked to Latchman about Caribbean earthquakes, recent changes in seismic activity in the region and what the Caribbean needs to do to prepare.
There were a series of earthquakes in the region last month. Can you talk about that activity?
Similar to what you are seeing in the BVI and Puerto Rico region, we have begun to see that sort of elevation in the area around Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Montserrat. In that little circle, we are seeing an elevation of activity. This is following a period where it was somewhat reduced, it was quiet. Over the years, since we have been monitoring the Antigua and Barbuda area, it has been one of the areas with high-level activity. Of course, there was the earthquake in 1974 north of Antigua. We know that area has the potential to generate a large-magnitude earthquake. The biggest we have seen in the area historically came in 1843, in the area southeast of Antigua, so we know historically that the area can generate a large-magnitude earthquake. So this elevation in activity is one that, while we cannot predict where it will lead, what it might culminate in, and how long it will take to do that, it does remind us of the kind of activity that we can face in the region, and the need for our being prepared for all times.
Can the region see a similar earthquake to the one in Haiti in 2010?
The Haiti earthquake was not such a large-magnitude earthquake. If you look at earthquakes of magnitude of 6.6 to 7.0 as being a class of earthquakes, you get ones like that around the world, about two every month. The consequences were significant because of the particular characteristics of location and depth and proximity to the capital city, with several poorly-constructed buildings and large numbers of people, large population density. So magnitude 6.6 to 7.0 is great in the Eastern Caribbean, indeed – we would get those earthquakes every few years, and we can have one of magnitude 7.0 in the region. That would be entirely consistent with the activity we are currently seeing.
How are governments preparing for this possibility? Read the rest of this entry »
China Helps Grenada on Climate Change
Grenada will receive more than $2 million in technology assistance from a Chinese project aimed at helping the country adapt to climate change.
The AOSIS-China Climate Change Adaptation Pilot Programme, Grenada will receive the funding over a five-year period, according to Xie Zhenhua, China’s vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission.
The announcement was made on the sidelines at the Durban Climate Conference.
“Such upfront financing is considered critical to the successful development of a sustainable energy sector in SIDS [small island developing states],” said Grenadian Foreign Minister Karl Hood. “South-South cooperation is not new and China has consistently demonstrated this.”
The technology transfer fund would provide private and public sector agencies with financing for hardware, training and equipment from China on loans, with repayment linked to the savings in fuel imports.
The immediate beneficiaries of the project are major public buildings in Grenada, including the Ministerial and Financial Complexes, hospitals and police and fire stations.
As part of the technology transfer, more than 20,000 LED equivalent bulbs will replace fluorescent bulbs, with 1,000 incandescent bulbs being replaced with the LED equivalent with photocells.
Energy and Sustainable Development Advisor Hugh Sealy said Grenada is also interested in using solar technology to achieve space cooling.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
Martinique’s Iconic Fort-De-France Bay Among Latest Members Of Most Beautiful Bays Club
NEW YORK, USA — The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, an international association founded in 1997 to promote the preservation and sustainable management of coastal areas, has inducted Martinique’s Fort-de-France among its latest members.
The announcement was made earlier this month at World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry held annually in London.
“We’re quite pleased to receive this wonderful recognition in support of a true natural treasure of Martinique,” said Karine Roy-Camille, Tourism Commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority. “The beauty of Fort-de-France Bay is simply spectacular, especially for those visiting the island on a cruise. From aboard ship, visitors entering the Bay enjoy sweeping views stretching over 100 kilometers from the town of Schoelcher in the north, all the way to Anses d’ Arlets in the south; just breathtaking!”
The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World is currently comprised of some 35 bays spread across more than 30 different countries and territories across the globe. Created in 1997, with its headquarters in France, The Club pursues objectives of preservation, enhancement and promotion of the natural, cultural and economic importance of bays.
Courtesy of CaribbeanNewsNow.com
