Crown Prince visits Jamaica

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has played an important role in Jamaica for nearly 50 years, with efforts particularly focused on supporting the country’s development goals, combating poverty, and promoting sustainable development.

Jamaica, like other island states in the Caribbean, is vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather. Hurricane Beryl, which struck Jamaica in July this year, caused significant damage. During his visit to Jamaica, the Crown Prince meets with many people who are affected in various ways by climate change in the region.

The Crown Prince has been a goodwill ambassador for UNDP for over 20 years. He has previously undertaken field trips to countries such as Sierra Leone, Kenya, Colombia, and Cambodia. This year, Jamaica was the destination.

Wants to Combat Fisheries Crime

The Crown Prince's three-day visit to Jamaica with UNDP began with a visit to the fishing village of Rocky Point on the island's south coast. The village has a rich maritime history, and the fishermen and their families have relied on the sea for generations. However, the area now faces significant challenges related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Overfishing impacts fish stocks and has major consequences for residents' income, living conditions, and the sustainability of the village.

Along the beach of Rocky Point, the Crown Prince learned about how UNDP's Blue Resilience project is helping the village's fishermen. This initiative supports countries in preventing fisheries crime internationally. Through the Blue Resilience project, supported by Norway, UNDP provides technical assistance and capacity-building to developing countries, showcasing how global cooperation and Norwegian technological solutions contribute to combating illegal fishing. In Rocky Point, for example, they have gained access to a digital platform that offers satellite data and digital tools to detect and fight illegal fishing.

During the visit to Rocky Point fishing village, the Crown Prince learned more about the challenges faced by the fishermen in the village and the measures being implemented through UNDP-supported projects.

In addition to fisheries crime, the Rocky Point community also faces the compounded effects of climate change and natural disasters. Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 exemplified this, causing significant damage to homes, boats, and vital fishing infrastructure. The Crown Prince learned more about the consequences of such events during his visit to the fishing village.

Water harvesting system

After the visit to Rocky Point, the journey continued to the mountain village of Victoria. Jamaica faces challenges in ensuring a safe and reliable water supply, particularly in rural areas. The local community in Victoria is affected by climate change, with shifting weather patterns and prolonged drought periods. This impacts access to clean water for local farmers, schools, and households. To address these challenges, water harvesting systems have been installed in the village with support from UNDP.

A water harvesting system supported by UNDP ensures easier access to clean drinking water for the residents of the mountain village of Victoria. The Crown Prince saw how the local community manages the chlorination and maintenance of the water tanks themselves.

The Crown Prince learned about how the project has led to the rehabilitation of a communal water collection tank and the establishment of rainwater systems at the local primary school. The water tank system improves access to high-quality drinking water, resulting in positive effects on food security, education, and disease prevention.

During the visit to Victoria, the Crown Prince visited the local primary school, where he was warmly welcomed with songs and entertainment.

Reception

On Monday evening, the Crown Prince was invited to a reception hosted by UNDP in Kingston. Attendees included UNDP staff and their partners, as well as representatives from the Jamaican government, academia, and the diplomatic corps.

The Crown Prince's speech from the reception

The Crown Prince is on a three-day visit to Jamaica with UNDP. During the visit, he is accompanied by State Secretary Bjørg Sandkjær from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UNDP in Jamaica

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been present in Jamaica since 1976. For nearly fifty years, UNDP has collaborated with the government and local communities to combat poverty and inequality. They work continuously to promote gender equality and support sustainable initiatives for a safer future.

Through the current country program (2022-2026), UNDP helps communities advance social inclusion, the rule of law, and climate adaptation. The program specifically focuses on vulnerable groups to ensure that no one is left behind.