SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Counterpart International’s Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) model takes center stage in the Dominican Republic next week when the First International Conference on Environmental and Sustainable Development takes place at Hotel Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino in Santo Domingo, August 10-12.
Delegates from across the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific, the United States and Europe will explore the theme “Environment: Our Partner in Development” during the three-day parley staged by The International Center for Environmental and Sustainable Development Studies (CIEMADeS) in collaboration with Counterpart International, the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) and The National Geographic Society.
President of Counterpart International, Lelei LeLaulu, one of the organisers of the 1994 United Nations Global Conference on Small Islands in Barbados, said the event will explore varied development themes, from sustainable tourism to renewable energy, and will examine the media’s role in catalyzing action at the level of donors, governments, NGOs, academia, unions, the private sector and civil society.
CMEx began with the inspiration of Counterpart International to improve the quality of media coverage of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. Further, it seeks to increase the input of the media in the design of sustainable tourism policies, and highlight the enormous value of tourism to the economies of small island states. Several national, regional and international reporters will cover and participate at the meeting.
The talks, which have attracted experts from Barbados to Brazil, are also being coordinated by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE), which was set up by the nation’s president Dr. Leonel Fernández, Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico and the Université Quisqueya from Haiti.
Delegates will share experiences, knowledge, strategies and resources that have been proven effective in promoting sustainable environmental practices in island states; raise awareness of the environmental issues that commonly affect Caribbean and other island states; and promote the formation of alliances among the social partners.
“Sustainable tourism offers small islands their biggest development tool and the international community should be concentrating on teaching them how to wield it,” said LeLaulu as participants prepare for the three-day conference. He thanked the Caribbean media for their continued vigilance and said they must be encouraged to help improve socio-economic conditions for all.
Counterpart, which has partnered with low cost carrier, Spirit Airlines, to co-produce the event in the Dominican Republic, recently joined hands with FUNGLODE, signing an agreement to develop projects using sustainable tourism and community development to reduce poverty.
The agreement, signed in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic capital earlier this year, focuses on youth and media training, biodiversity conservation and economic development. Both organizations agreed to exchange information and specialists, organize and conduct conferences, seminars and workshops, and work together on mutually agreed fundraising efforts.
