Monthly Archives: October 2020

Chevaughn Brown, national coordinator of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network- Jamaica

The faces in environmental activism have become younger in recent times; with 17-year-old Greta Thunberg, a teenage activist from Sweden, who has become the face of the youth climate change movement.

A similar trend is taking place here in Jamaica with young persons, such as Chevaughn Brown, national coordinator of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network- Jamaica. The 26-year-old stated that he was influenced into the space, based on what was happening in his community in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, where he grew up in the protected area of the Portland Bight.

“I visited the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (CCAM) which manages the Portland Bight Protected Area a few times, as a student; and I saw first-hand some of the damage to the mangroves caused by the activities of man. Therefore, what I want to do is to initiate a transgenerational change as to how individual persons interact with the environment,” he declared.

Brown currently trains young people passing on information about how to protect and be stewards of the environment.

A student at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Science, Brown said that the environment provides a platform from which young people can raise their voices.

“As young persons, we should get out there and let others know that we are serious about sustainable development and preserving the environment,” he said.

Jhannel Tomlinson is on a similar path as Brown.  As the Prime Minister Youth Awardee for Environmental Protection, she has committed to youth advocacy in an effort to contain the impact of climate-change in the Caribbean.

The University of the West Indies PhD candidate and Caribbean Adviser to the Next Generation Climate Board, said that she recognised that young people lacked knowledge and awareness about climate change, particularly in rural Jamaica.

“The reason I got into youth activism was that I realised that a lot of young persons in rural Jamaica are being left behind. As rural youth, they stand to lose a lot, because the livelihood of their family and friends are dependent on agriculture; and it is one of the first sectors which will be impacted by climate change,” she pointed out.

The 28 year-old Charlie Mount High School past student, who is from rural St Catherine, said young people will have to step up to the platform and let their voices be heard on issues about the environment.

“At the end of the day, we need to recognise that it is our home; and we need to take charge and have our collective and individual voices heard, to ensure that, when we are given a seat at the table, we will advocate for ourselves and other persons who may not have the opportunity to advocate on their own behalf,” she said.

Both Brown and Tomlinson will be panellists on the JN Foundation Water Project upcoming “Voices of Jamaican Climate Change Activists”, a panel discussion scheduled for broadcast on Nationwide 90FM on October 26 at 5:00 p.m.

The discussion is a precursor to the Climate Innovation Challenge, which will be held on October 26 and 27.

Onyka Barrett Scott, general manager of the JN Foundation, said that she was happy that young persons, such as Brown and Tomlinson, have aligned themselves with causes which are impacting the lives of all.

“They should be applauded for their bold move; and be encouraged to continue their activism, which can only lead to the betterment of the environment,” she said.

Cornelia Walters-Jones, project manager, Water Project Jamaica, said, “this challenge was designed to attract and empower existing and aspiring entrepreneurs to ideate, plan for and develop lines of businesses, which will help to solve a climate-related challenge; and overall, promote increased climate resiliency, particularly in the residential sector.

The Water Project Jamaica is being administered by the JN Foundation. Its objectives are to facilitate the uptake of water adaptation measures in the housing sector across Jamaica.

As the country navigates this period of unprecedented health and economic challenges, the JN Foundation has launched a new resource to offer support to Jamaicans – individuals and businesses – in need of support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new website, www.jnlisting.com, is targeted at more than 600,000 JN members and strives to bring together persons seeking jobs and employers and also provide a space for micro and small businesses to promote their products and services.

“As an organisation created to support people to navigate difficult times, we have designed this facility to assist Jamaicans, who have been particularly displaced, so that they can create their own opportunities and regain their independence,” general manager of the JN Foundation Onyka Barrett Scott said.

The site comes amid grim projections by the Bank of Jamaica, which revealed in August that the economy would contract between seven and 10 per cent this fiscal year, significantly above the four to seven per cent it had initially forecast.

Its predictions were supported weeks later by the Planning Institute of Jamaica, which forecast a decline of between eight and 10 per cent in output for the financial year as it acknowledged a devastating 18 per cent decline in output for the quarter ending June when compared to the same period in 2019.

INCREASED UNEMPLOYMENT

Unemployment is also predicted to increase to between 10 per cent and 12 per cent, up from the relative 7.5 per cent rate of 2019, the Bank of Jamaica said.

Making meaning of the data, a study released in September by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute found that 80 per cent of households had lost an average 46 per cent of their income since restrictions began in March.

“These are not ordinary times. There are many families and households which are experiencing severe challenges due to the fact that breadwinners are no longer earning. Some have lost their employment while many others have experienced significant reductions in their income, and our state agencies predict that the road ahead of us is going to be very difficult. Therefore, to rise again, we must support each other,” Barrett Scott said.

PHASED ROLL-OUT

She explained that JN Listing would be rolled out on a phased basis, initially targeting small and micro businesses.

“In the second phase, JN member companies and businesses which we serve will have the opportunity to post available jobs on the website. Job seekers will also be able to upload their résumés for potential employers to access,” she shared.

Persons will be able to search for opportunities on the website by parish or by category.

“The site is easy to navigate, and we believe that it will provide a wealth of valuable information and become a meaningful space for persons to find opportunities,” she pointed out.

Other resources on the website include information to assist users improve their financial literacy, calculators, and career materials.

“We are aiming to create a holistic space where persons can be empowered to manage their finances, and we will also be providing career resources to assist persons to become better informed professionals,” Barrett Scott affirmed.