GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sep. 22, CMC – The five countries of the Nordic region have indicated that they will render assistance through the United Nations (UN), to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states that were affected by recent hurricanes.
The revelation came during a meeting on Thursday with CARICOM Foreign Affairs Ministers and representatives from the Nordic region.
The countries in the Nordic region are Iceland, Finland, Denmark , Norway, and Sweden.
“I think they are offering about US$1 million through that body (the UN) and also immediately mentioned $100,000 Swiss francs to Antigua and Barbuda”, said Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge.
Climate change was also a feature of the discussions between the regional blocs.
“There was a wide-ranging and extensive discussion on the impact of hurricanes, what we need to do, questions of mitigation as well as of prevention”, Greenidge said.
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria brought severe destruction to the CARICOM states they passed through.
The island of Barbuda was rendered practically uninhabitable after the rage of Hurricane Irma, while Dominica was recently severely affected by Hurricane Maria.
Meanwhile, the Nordic countries sought support for their candidacy to various positions within the UN.
Denmark requested CARICOM’s support in its candidacy bid to join the Human Rights Council while Sweden thanked the Ministers for their support last year in assisting the country to join the Security Council.