Speaking on the raison d\u2019etre<\/em> of the conference, UWI Saint Lucia\u2019s Head of Site (Ag) Mrs. Lesley Crane-Mitchell explained \u201cThe University of the West Indies (UWI) has a mandate to educate and to share information with the public, and to promote research and innovation as part of its mission to develop and maintain the sustainability of its contributing territories. As one means of carrying out this mandate, the former UWI School of Continuing Studies (now The UWI Open Campus) designed a series of multidisciplinary Country Conferences to be held in each of what were previously known as, the \u201cUWI-12\u201d (UWI contributing countries outside of Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica).\u201d<\/p>\n An exciting feature of this latest conference, continued Mrs. Crane-Mitchell, \u201cis that we have joined forces with the GEF SGP UNDP Knowledge Fair, to uncover, present and document the most recent research conducted on Saint Lucia, with a view to seeking solutions to the existential threat to our collective futures, caused by climate change and climate variability, and compounded by socioeconomic inequalities\u201d.<\/p>\n The UWI Saint Lucia Country Conference commences on Monday 15th<\/sup> February, at 7:00 p.m. with an Opening chaired by Mr. Embert Charles, Chair of the GEF SGP UNDP National Steering Committee.\u00a0 A welcome by Head (Ag.) of The UWI Open Campus Saint Lucia, Mrs. Lesley Crane-Mitchell, will be followed by remarks from Dr. Cheryl Sloley, Director of Open Campus Country Sites, Ms. Christianne Walcott, Operations Manager of The UWI Centre for Biosecurity Studies\u2019 Cave Hill Campus, and key partner Mr. Giles Romulus, National Coordinator of The GEF Small Grants Programme UNDP.<\/p>\n The Keynote Address for the evening will be delivered by Dr. James Fletcher, Former Minister for the Public Service, Information, Broadcasting, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, who will elucidate on the theme.<\/p>\n The conference continues on the 16th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> February, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.\u00a0 Day two of the conference will see presentations focused on a range of climate change related topics including, \u201cHistorical and Future trends in Climate Related Hazards\u201d by Dr. Cedric Van Meerbeeck; \u201cClimate Change and Economic Development Implications for SIDS – The Case of Saint Lucia\u201d by Dr. Clarence Henry; \u201cSaint Lucia\u2019s Climate Policy Environment – Towards Concrete Action\u201d by Ms. Dawn Pierre Nathaniel; The Impact of Climate Change on Fisheries and Aqua Culture by Ms. Makeba Felix, and Climate Change and Neotropical Pollinators – The State of Knowledge, Policies and Programmes in Caribbean Small Island States\u201d by Lena Dempwolf. The day\u2019s proceedings will end with a unique presentation by Shareed Mohammed, PhD Candidate in the Literatures in English Programme.<\/p>\n The conference will conclude on day three with a sectoral focus on Fisheries, Forestry, Health, and Energy.\u00a0 The first presentation will be by Dr. Shelly Ann Cox on the topic \u201cClimate Change Impacts on the Caribbean Fisheries Sector\u201d, followed by Ms. Shanna Emmanuel\u2019s contribution on \u201cClimate Change and Knowledge Platforms. Other contributions will include \u201cThe Epidemiology of Human Leptospirosis in Saint Lucia\u201d by Dr. Gemma Cherry and The Morne Fortune Photovoltaic Project by Mr. Kurt Harris. The final presentation of the day will be made by Mr. Crispin D\u2019Auvergne on \u201cThe Eastern Caribbean Solar Challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n The public is invited to attend all three days of the Conference and to participate in the stimulating discussion that is sure to follow each presentation. \u00a0The Conference can be accessed, free of charge via the Facebook and You Tube links below.<\/p>\n Facebook: www.facebook.com\/uwiopencampuscaribbean<\/a><\/p>\n![\"UWI](\"https:\/\/rcistlucia.com\/staging\/5763\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/UWI-open-campus-Saint-Lucia-to-host-virtual-country-conference-fb-1.jpg\")
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