The Coastal Zone Management Unit of the Government of Barbados and the RPIU hosted a visit of Dr. Jim Bruce from October 25 – November 1, 1998. Dr. Bruce is the former chair of the Canadian Climate Program Board and former Co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III. During his stay, Dr. Bruce participated in discussions between CPACC and the representatives from the three University of the West Indies campuses on development of a M.Sc. course in climate change, regional climate models and the establishment of a climate change centre for SIDS in the Caribbean. He also gave a public lecture on "The Weather and the Oceans – Are They Changing?" In his presentation he covered the science of climate change, impacts areas, greenhouse gas sources and response options open to SIDS through adaptation and mitigation measures. He also gave an overview of the status of the International Agreements and negotiations dealing with climate change. Dr. Bruce also participated in a workshop to sensitize media personnel to climate change issues and in the two-day regional consultation on the CDM.

In collaboration with UNEP, UNDP and CARICOM, the RPIU organized a regional consultation on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Barbados from

October 29 – 30, 1998, just previous to the COP 4 for the UNFCCC in Buenos Aires. The consultation was expected to contribute towards advancing regional understanding of the CDM, specifying small country issues and problems and most importantly, identifying issues to be presented and further discussed at COP 4. Several papers covering issues such as institutions and governance of CDM, baselines and additionalities and links of the CDM with other financial mechanisms were presented by international experts and discussed with participants. The outcome was a communique which would inform the discussions of our regional representatives at the COP 4 meeting taking place in Argentina from November 2 – 13, 1998. In the communique major emphasis is given to the objective of ensuring equity in the operation of the CDM through the creation of a substantial financial flow to SIDS for adaptation measures in accordance with Article 12.8 of the Kyoto protocol.

Twelve students enrolled in the first module of a one year Certificate Programme in GIS. The Programme commenced in Barbados at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) of the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, the home of the RPIU. The module, "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems", was conducted by overall programme coordinator, Dr. Jacob Opadeyi and Ms. Shahiba Ali, both from the Centre for Geospatial Studies, Engineering institute, UWI, St Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago.

The course is an extension of the programme which started in 1997 at the Centre for Geospatial Studies. The execution of the course in Barbados represents a collaboration between from the Centre for Geospatial Studies and the Engineering institute, CERMES and CPACC RPIU.

CPACC has supported the programme by contributing significantly to the development of a Geospatial Laboratory. In return, the RPIU will have full access to the laboratory and two places will be made available each year to CPACC sponsored participants. In the first year, the two participants are Angelique Brathwaithe of the Coastal Zone Management Unit and Rawleston Moore of the Environment Division, both in Barbados.

For additional information on the GIS Certificate contact CERMES at tel. (246) 417 4316, email [email protected]