The conference was organised by the UK through the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and funded by the UK government through the Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP).

The Coordinator of the River Motagua Project at the Secretary of Environment, Kessel Rosales represented Honduras. The dialogue provided an opportunity to share knowledge, experience and best practices from across the region on prevention and mitigation of marine litter, with the aim of building regional consensus towards a collective response to this challenge.

The conference allowed participants to focus on waste management on land and at sea from a holistic perspective, including common areas of concern associated with public outreach and education, and addressing removal of litter from the marine environment. Decision makers also learnt about the outcomes of CLiP’s research in Belize.

To learn more about the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP) visit this website.

Published 6 September 2019

The conference was organised by the UK through the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and funded by the UK government through the Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP).

The Vice Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Carlos Ramos represented Guatemala. The dialogue provided an opportunity to share knowledge, experience and best practices from across the region on prevention and mitigation of marine litter, with the aim of building regional consensus towards a collective response to this challenge.

The conference allowed participants to focus on waste management on land and at sea from a holistic perspective, including common areas of concern associated with public outreach and education, and addressing removal of litter from the marine environment. Decision makers also learnt about the outcomes of CLiP’s research in Belize.

To learn more about the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP) visit this website.

Published 6 September 2019

The initial £1.5 million will fund the delivery of critical aid supplies on Royal Navy ship RFA Mounts Bay that is already underway, and support the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency in its work to coordinate the international response.

The government’s response includes the deployment of Department for International Development humanitarian staff, Foreign Office staff trained to help affected British nationals, and RFA Mounts Bay, a ship which is assessing needs and delivering supplies including water and DFID shelter kits. On Wednesday (4 September), the Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter deployed with the ship rescued a British citizen who had been trapped beneath rubble for several days on Great Abaco Island.

It is estimated that several hundred British nationals live in the worst affected areas of The Bahamas. The UK Government is working hard to establish how badly they have been affected and deploying Foreign Office staff and members of the British Red Cross for emotional and practical support.

The British High Commission in Nassau has been working closely with the United Nations, United States and other partners in the region to support the Bahamian Government. The UK is also opening a reception centre in Nassau for British people who are facing difficulties in the wake of the hurricane.

The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, said:

Hurricane Dorian has devastated lives and communities in The Bahamas. The Foreign Office is coordinating the UK’s cross-government response so that we get aid and support to those who need it most.

International Development Secretary Alok Sharma said:

My heart goes out to all of those who have been affected by this tragedy and lost their loved ones. DFID experts are working as part of the cross-government team alongside local authorities, the British military and international partners to urgently get life-saving assistance to the people of the Bahamas.

Anyone worried about a loved one in The Bahamas who may need UK consular help should call 0207 008 1500.

Watch the Foreign Secretary’s statement on the UK’s response to Hurricane Dorian:

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

In a meeting today in London, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and the US Secretary for Defense Mark Esper both reiterated the historic and enduring defence relationship shared by the two countries.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

In the year that we commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the 70th anniversary of NATO it is right that we reflect on our historic and enduring relationship. Our shared values and commitment to global security are as strong now as they were all those years ago.

The UK is the US’s most reliable and most capable ally, and with our Armed Forces operating together all over world we will continue to work together to promote justice, tolerance and freedom around the world.

During the meeting both the Defence Secretary and his US counterpart restated their commitment to NATO, the cornerstone of the transatlantic partnership that has succeeded in keeping Europe at peace for over 70 years.

Both the UK and US are currently leading multinational battlegroups in Eastern Europe as part of NATOs enhanced Forward Presence demonstrating the leading roles both nations play in the Alliance. UK troops from the Scots Dragoon Guards are working side by side with their US counterparts in Poland, while over 850 UK troops are leading a battlegroup in Estonia.

Both parties also spoke of their desire to jointly tackle global threats such as the re-emergence of great power competition with Russia and China as well as traditional threats such as religious extremism. Both parties were also keen to raise further cooperation in conventional spaces such cyber and space.

The UK and the US has the broadest, deepest and most advanced defence relationship of any two nations and troops from both countries continue to operate around the world together in places such as Afghanistan, South China Sea, the Middle East, and Europe. The recent territorial defeat of Daesh was testament to how two of world’s leading military forces can come together to overcome a common enemy.