In a comprehensive review of 2024, Diann Black-Layne, Chief Environment Officer (CEO) at the Department of Environment (DOE), highlighted their achievements while addressing challenges which they faced throughout last year. “One of our most notable accomplishments in 2024 was securing re-accreditation to the Green Climate Fund with an upgrade from small to medium size projects.
“This achievement puts Antigua and Barbuda in an elite category, joining Jamaica as the only national entities in the region to attain this level of accreditation,” Black-Layne said. The upgraded status will enable the DOE to manage larger-scale projects with potentially greater environmental impact.
As we move forward, we’re not just focusing on environmental projects, but also on rebuilding the community spirit that has historically made our nation resilient,” Black-Layne said. However, the department’s CEO acknowledged that 2024 presented several challenges, including high material and shipping costs that affected implementation timelines We faced significant hurdles with the increased cost of materials and shipping, which impacted our ability to execute projects efficiently.
However, strong leadership intervention, particularly from the Prime Minister’s office towards the end of 2024, helped reinvigorate our implementation pace,” Black-Layne explained. The department also succeeded in balancing international commitments with local project implementation.
“We made a strategic decision to rationalize our international travel schedule, allowing our team to focus more on national implementation priorities,” Black-Layne added. As far as 2025 is concerned, the DOE head could not identify specific projects because they are still pending Cabinet approval
