UN launches RISS model for more sustainable cities

With Barbados seeking to redevelop its capital city with tourism and residential projects, the launch of the Caribbean Resilient, Inclusive, Safe and Smart (RISS) development model by United Nations Women is “relevant and timely”, says Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector Colin Jordan.

The RISS, which is geared towards Small Island Developing States (SIDS), was launched on Monday.

“We have been talking about redeveloping Bridgetown in recent times, with the recent decision to remodel the Treasury Building for housing and commercial purposes as well as other projects coming on stream within the city, so a development model like this is very important for us at this time,” Jordan said.

“Cities are places where people live as well as interact with commercial enterprises and service providers, and if people are living there and not merely passing through, we have to ensure that their amenities are up to par, for example, transportation, their personal security and so on.”

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq, explained that the RISS model “breaks down targets based on the pillars of resilience, inclusivity, safety, security and the use of smart technology, which should ultimately lead to improved public spaces owing to better planning, operation and connectivity”.

He said enhancing the quality of life for the most vulnerable groups in society will require cooperation, consultation and a forward-thinking attitude to include those who are most likely to be affected by multiple layers of risks.

“Owing to this, we have to bridge the gap between Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 11 – Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities and Communities – so we have to rethink and replan how our cities and urban spaces are designed and managed,” Trebucq said.

UN Women Multi-Country Office, Caribbean Representative, Tonni Brodber noted that sustainability was especially important in small island states where one single climate event could destroy a country’s economy and it often took years for them to recover.

Citing examples: “In the Caribbean more than 80 per cent of the countries rely on tourism as their primary economic sector. Dominica lost some 226 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product with the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Grenada, which lost 200 per cent of its GDP following the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, has only just recovered from that.” (DH)