NICHOLSON... better to be at the table than to be absent

JUSTICE Minister and Attorney-General, A J Nicholson, said there were mixed results for Jamaica and other small developing countries at the just- concluded World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking with JIS News in London during a brief stopover on his way home from the conference, the minister said there was the feeling that the peculiar risks and uncertainties that affected small developing states on a daily basis were not fully appreciated or acknowledged on all sides.

"The perceived and potential benefits of globalisation still mean that many developing countries are susceptible to market forces and the capricious behaviours of large national and international corporations," Nicholson said.

However, he said there were some positive steps at the conference, including the summits implementation plan for Small Island Developing States and the adoption and endorsement of the Latin American and Caribbean initiative for sustainable development.

"In moving towards sustainable development there is need to foster energy-efficient strategies and the diversification of energy supplies and the use of renewable energy supplies. We (developing countries) deeply regret the failure to establish firm targets to move from non-sustainable to sustainable energy supplies," he noted.

Nicholson said the conference affirmed the wisdom that sustainable development should be carried out in a framework of partnership at both the development and implementation stages. He also said there should be arrangements within established parameters to involve all partners and establish mechanisms to prevent strong countries from backing out on commitments made to assist developing countries.

The Johannesburg conference has been criticised for its slow progress on a range of issues relating to poverty eradication, climate changes, biodiversity, water and sanitation and putting the interest of big business ahead of sustainable development.

Nicholson said however, that the nearly two weeks of talks and negotiations were necessary and important.

Describing the summit as a 'work in progress', Nicholson said despite the criticisms it was important for Jamaica to be at the conference.

"It is far better to be at the table than to be absent, because if you are not there your voice is not heard and you are not able to know how other countries are thinking. To stay away from the summit means you are not able to put forward your position," he said.

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