Partners in the region aim to engage people from every social sphere in the sustainable planning of the region’s future.

​The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC, is assisting with the sustainable development of the region.

Diane Quarless, Director of the sub-regional headquarters of ECLAC said the current focus is to engage people from every social sphere in planning the region’s future.

“Sustainable development in action means the common man has a say in decisions that impact his own environment, the way he lives, the resources he has access to, and the environment that protects and sustains his livelihood.”

But in the Caribbean, it is difficult to reach everyone in such a diverse population and culture. It is for this reason that the OECSC Commission, ECLAC, UNEP and the World Resources Institute collaborated to host a three-day workshop on the regional implementation of access-rights to information on sustainable development in the Caribbean. 

“This is a challenge as well,” she said. “There is a lack of information and this is why public awareness is so very important. So many citizens are not aware that these initiatives exist and that there is recourse – that there is an opportunity for them to speak up and for their voices to be heard. And so they need to be in a position to hold the formal institutions of government accountable.”

The workshop, held from Aug. 24 to 26 hosted representatives from judicial and legislative tiers along with those from non-governmental organizations.