Driving Change in the Blue Economy: Project Discovery Barbados Prepares for CARYFED 2025
“Enhancing the Blue Economy Sector in the Caribbean” is the theme for CARYFED 2025, and Project Discovery Barbados (PDBds) is ready to make an impact! This mission brought PDBds executives to a productive meeting with the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) to discuss plans for the Caribbean Youth Forum on Environment and Development (CARYFED).
The Meeting: Collaboration for CARYFED
Present at the meeting were:
Project Discovery Barbados Executive Team:
Tiffany Matthew, President
Mekhi Nurse, Vice President
Renika Crichlow, Treasurer
Romario Bishop, Communications Officer
Coastal Zone Management Unit Representatives:
Dr. L. Brewster, Director
Fabian Hinds, Coastal Planner
Allison Wiggins, Deputy Project Manager
Danielle Howard, Research Officer
Alyssa White, Planning Research Consultant
Representatives from Project Discovery Barbados and the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) during the meeting to discuss CARYFED 2025.
Introducing Project Discovery Barbados
During the meeting, Tiffany Matthew led a presentation that introduced Project Discovery’s mission and vision. Key points included:
The organization’s structure and goals.
Their commitment to fostering youth-led initiatives in environmental development.
Romario Bishop, along with Mekhi Nurse and Renika Crichlow, supported Tiffany by detailing the communication strategies and outreach efforts of PDBds. Additionally, Mekhi and Renika shared their first-hand experiences from CARYFED 2024, which was held in Dominica, highlighting:
The objectives of the CARYFED Challenge.
How the initiative empowers youth to address environmental and economic challenges in the Caribbean.
Seeking Guidance from CZMU Leadership
After the introduction of Project Discovery Barbados and the goals of CARYFED 2025, the meeting shifted focus to its main objective: the activity planning stage. This was the central reason for reaching out to the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) — to seek expert advice on the activities to be organized during the forum, ensuring they would align with the theme of CARYFED 2025, Optimizing the Blue Economy.
Discussions were related to activities such as:
Hikes
Places of Interest
Seminars
The CZMU representatives praised the PDBds team for our ambitious vision and offered key feedback to guide our planning:
Encouragement to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders in the Blue Economy Sector.
Recognition of the specific areas of concern raised by PDBds.
Acknowledgment of the significant planning and disciplined execution needed to ensure the success of CARYFED 2025.
Looking Ahead to CARYFED 2025
The meeting was a crucial step in the activity planning stage for CARYFED 2025, as it provided valuable advice on the activities that can highlight the Blue Economy sector throughout the event. Project Discovery Barbados is now poised to host a landmark gathering that will unite Caribbean youth and environmental leaders in driving meaningful change.
