What are our priorities in the Wider Caribbean Region to achieve SDGs 2030? I shared my thoughts at the Workshop “Implementing & Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean: The Role of the Ocean” in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on January 17-19, using Montserrat's fisheries and ocean resources management as a case study on how the challenges of SDG 14 implementation and monitoring and other interlinkage SDGs are addressed in Montserrat. Would be great to hear your thoughts and suggestions? [See Presentation for more information]

1. IT TAKES A GLOBAL VILLAGE
Strengthen SDG Implementation in the Caribbean:
Turning Passion for the Ocean into Powerful Partnerships
Alwyn R. Ponteen¹*,
¹MATLHE, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries Unit, P. O, Box 272, Brades Montserrat MSR 1110.
*alwyncmrm@gmail.com, ponteena@gov.ms, LinkedIn: Alwyn Ponteen, Skype: alwyn.ponteen1
ABSTRACT
Montserrat Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) 2008-2020 like many of the Caribbean
countries was developed within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). The SDP have been used as an overarching planning and policy document to guide
Montserrat to a future of sustainable development.
As the MDG era came to an end, the Government of Montserrat (GoM) was invited to nominate
a National Focal Point (NFP) alternate, Agency and supporting Committee to develop a
Roadmap for the implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development adopted by world leaders. There have been several challenges of implementation
and monitoring. These include, a dedicated lead focal agency; national focal point and
alternate; inadequate, political and administrative will; natural hazards; ministries working in
silos; national priority; limited capacity; evidence based data; outdated legislation and policies
and inadequate finances.
Notwithstanding, the Ministry with responsibility for sustainable fisheries and oceans have
established critical partnerships and embarked on an ambitious self-sustaining Marine Spatial
Planning (MSP) programme, aimed at improving ocean resources data management systems,
knowledge and understand of the spatial distribution and characteristics of its commercial
inshore fisheries and ocean related activities in waters under national jurisdiction in the
future. These partnerships will ensure that GoM will achieve most if not all of SDG 14 and
other supporting strategic goals.
Achieving the objectives of the 2030 SDGs requires collaborative partnerships and consorted
efforts amongst all ocean dependant stakeholders including, Governments, civil society,
private sector organizations, the entire local community, international development partners
and academia.
Key words: Partnerships, Sustainable, Development, Goals, Fisheries and Ocean