Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent Wheatley will be traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands to attend a climate change summit on Friday.

The event will be hosted by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) under the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Agriculture, Religious Affairs and Gaming.

Honourable Wheatley said the work of the Virgin Islands towards sustainability and climate resilience is being recognised. He added that the Virgin Islands as a member of the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), has been invited to give support to other public and private entities in the region to build an informed and resilient community that is working to safeguard vulnerable islands from the effects of climate change.

“It is an honour for me to join other Overseas Territories as we face the effects of climate change and plan the way forward,” Honourable Wheatley said, adding, “It is important that we share our knowledge while learning from others, we all have to do our part as there is only one earth and we must invest in it.”

The summit is to be held on the island of Providenciales on Earth Day, Friday, April 22 under the theme “One Earth: Investing in Our Planet”.

Honourable Wheatley will leave the Turks and Caicos Islands on April 23 to attend high-level meetings on Sargassum Seaweed and Carbon Credit Legislative and Regulatory framework, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Environmental, Socials and Corporate Governance (ESGs) and Climate Financing in the Bahamas.

Minister Wheatley will visit various facilities throughout the Bahamas with officials from the Office of the Prime Minister from April 24 to 27 to observe procedures and mechanisms relating to environmental conservation and preservation. A high level meeting will be held on April 25.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration continues to effectively manage the natural resources of the Territory in a manner that ensures long-term sustainability.