Senator, the Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, will depart the island today (January 26, 2022), for Costa Rica, where he will represent Jamaica at the Special Session of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The special session will be held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Forum of Ministers of Environment on January 27 and 28, 2022, which in turn, is being held in tandem with the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

It will be held under the Presidency of the Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, Mrs. Andrea Meza, and will seek to increase regional cooperation in the face of worldwide threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Minister Samuda stated “issues of environmental protection and climate mitigation require coalition and partnership. As such I’m looking forward to engagement with colleague ministers as we work together for the common good”.

Additionally, it will serve to gain regional perspectives ahead of the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) which will be held from February 28, to March 2,  2022.

The Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean was established in 1982 and is one of the oldest bodies for environmental authorities in the region.

Minister Samuda will be accompanied to the Special Session in Costa Rica by Ms. UnaMay Gordon, Principal Director in the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.