Island Innovation and the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance (SCELG) launched a survey aiming to better understand how Covid-19 was being dealt with on islands globally. SCELG was soon joined by Island Innovation and together they reached out to their island network. The goal was not to undertake a research project, but to collate “raw” data from anybody who was inclined to respond and put such data at the disposal of policy makers and wider island related stakeholders in their ongoing activities to deal with and adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic. The response to the survey was very positive and so far responses from islands in 36 countries have been included in an online database where people can now find the data divided by islands and by specific survey question.
Questions included in the SCELG and Island Innovation survey:
- What actions are being taken to protect the island community from COVID-19? In particular, how are travel restrictions being put in place and enforced?
- What actions will be taken should people on the island have COVID-19?
- What actions are being taken to ensure that essential goods and services are provided to the island community?
- What actions are being taken to ensure that people working on the islands, not only in the tourism sector, are sustained financially
in the short term and in the long term? - What actions are being taken to ensure the mental well-being of people on the islands?
- If you consider it appropriate, feel free to share any data about people who have COVID-19 on your island and of people who, sadly, have passed away because of COVID-19.
- If applicable, how are lockdown measures being relaxed?
- Is there anything else you would like to share?
After just over one month from its start, the survey will now expand and attempt to collate data on what can be framed as “Phase 2” of dealing with Covid-19 and that relates on when and how to relax the lockdown and the long-term economic implications such as the impact on the tourism industry. Before SCELG and Island Innovation move towards this new territory it is time to start reflecting on the responses to the survey so far.
This policy brief was written as a collaboration between the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance (SCELG) and Island Innovation and was co-authored by Francesco Sindico and James Ellsmoor.
Island Responses Webinar Series
We invite you to join our free webinar series on island strategies for the future.
We know that the implications of COVID-19 will impact islands in many ways, particularly noting public health, self-sufficiency and the economy – tourism being a particularly important part of the discussion.
In this series we will start the global discussion looking at a selection of global islands, before moving into the specific response of the Caribbean region and then looking at the country-level response in Jamaica.
We will be exploring the current crisis’ implications for islanders around the world, and invite you to participate in the live discussion through the event chat, polls and Q&A.
Island Innovation is a social enterprise and digital media company at the intersection of sustainable development and communications, offering specialised services across various sectors. We bring together the private sector, government, utilities, NGOs and universities to advance innovation for sustainability and prosperity in islands worldwide.
At a glance , about raw data collecting of information survey but not a research action to innovation for Jamaica Island as a leisure and tourism package program initiative as remote island when Covid-19 pandemic existing outbreak. This initiative is smart ideas but hard struggle to face pandemic even more under WHO Protocoler to keep our safety and health ensure not contamined and not to spreading when contamined and suspect so staying at home to self isolating.
#. When remote Island Jamaica under globaly pandemic Covid-19 is restricted island area without Going to entrance and exit from to reduce a risky posibilities of “Virus Carer” without symptom detected.(high risk in Covid 19 pandemic context.
#. Three principles to keep safety together warning along Covid 19 pandemic ;
1. We have to commit to keeping awarenes and caring for supporting to ending this pandemic through “restricted movement” by social distancing, physical distancing or lockdown EXCEPTION to getting involved in volunteer as Covid 19 Task force together with Medical and nursery team or group.(Healthy and nursing services).
2. Social Economy emergency causing of pandemic arising problem as a real conseqwencies influencing widerly to many sectors such are lost Jobs, shuting commercialy activities and other social education and industrial need so public policy’s for Economy emergency stimulus to back up this critical condition as rational compensation by the government.
Although there is any unexpected negatif affecting apearance problems such as fake news, social justice for most vulnerable population/community, violence, abuse and discrimination without acuracy mitigating and mapping to policy enforcement and implementation.(Social Economy emergency policy Stymulus Government Responding).
3. We hope together , Covid 19 pandemic as sooner over suitable with mitigating schedule that no longer for end this year. This phase as Social Economy recovery that marking by growing and every important resources Flagship to accelerate running ,
reopening and rebuilding to producing more benefits and good again as new normal condition to achieved resillient business like before. This time is free to innovation in action to many sectors, theme or topical without fear and restricted warning to doing business and more positive Ideas to implemented orderly(new normal) such like leisure and tourism as iconique Jamaica Island for future creation.( CREATIVE and innovative in new normal condition).
Thank you very much.
Best wishes.
Radun Hakim.