Hon. Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke
The Honourable Senator DR. JOYELLE TRIZIA CLARKE, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment is easily described as a Climate Action advocate, defender of youth involvement in decision-making, and a climate and gender justice specialist.
Professionally, she became one of the youngest females to become a Director of a government office, the Department of Constituency Empowerment in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Joyelle Clarke worked as an educator, bridging her passion for the environment and youth together under the banner of one of the strongest youth-led environmental programs in St Kitts and Nevis.
The Cayon High School Environmental Club members became ambassadors for the students to a project called the St Mary’s UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Project which allowed for even more advocacy and youth-led conservation work.
Dr. Clarke has been involved in Social Impact Assessments and Sustainable livelihoods research for over 15 years. During this time, she has led projects on livelihoods-transition, conducted research, and developed programs in various capacities as a government official and community activist. Her key livelihoods research focused on assessing the transition of former female sugar workers to tourism and agricultural livelihoods, post-sugar production in St Kitts.
Dr. Clarke has also been intimately involved in retraining exercises with key female groups of former sugar workers to retool and reskill women with the necessary assets for succeeding in new tourism-based livelihoods.
The Honourable Minister’s project-related work ranges from livelihood support, community-based development initiatives, sustainable tourism, and environmental conservation. She was engaged in developing and executing community-based projects in collaboration with community groups on behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Projects included climate change initiatives such as reforestation programs and the establishment of school-based agricultural programs. She has worked extremely close with female farm cooperatives, assisting with the transition from traditional farming to environmentally friendly, climate-resilient farming methods.
So far, she has co-founded a mentorship program called, “Women Empowering Girls”; She serves as a mentor in GirlsCare Jamaica; Co-founder of a consultancy firm that assists companies and communities to shape mutually beneficial relationships called Relate Consultancy. In addition to being a director and an educator, she sat on the Opposition benches as a Senator and advocated extensively for matters relating to the environment, climate action, youth empowerment, and gender justice. Added to that, Hon Dr. Clarke served as a Research Supervisor for the University of the West Indies and Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.
All of her hard work, passion and dedication have now transitioned to this period of public service as she holds the title of Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment. A portfolio aligned to her passion, her training and her advocacy.
Achievements up to July 2024
- Ministry of Sustainable Development
- Ministry of Environment & Climate Action & Constituency Empowerment
- Introduction of geothermal collaboration between Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Hosting of a National Validation Workshop which was geared towards the possibility of adding Electric Vehicles (EVs) to the Government's fleet of vehicles, beginning with the introduction of Electric School Buses and Charging Stations.
- The Ministry of Sustainable Development’s Land Allocation, Normalization and Distribution (L.A.N.D) Fair to address all matters relating to land.
- Residential L.A.N.D reset programme.
- Waiver of land cost at La Guerite.
- Resumption of Land Payments.
- 6 fully funded scholarships for civil servants of St Kitts and Nevis, through the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
- The Ministry of Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment is spearheading a National Consultation on the Management of the Invasive Green Monkey.
- Installation of plastic recycle bins at St Paul's Primary, Cayon, Sandy Point, Edgar T Morris, and Bronte Welsh Primary Schools.
- The Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Cooperatives in connection to the use of lands on the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park more commonly known as the Aquifer, to host the Ministry of Agriculture’s Annual Open Day.
- Launch of the Annual National Community Christmas Clean-up Project.
- Equipped its officers in the Department of Constituency Empowerment with uniforms and tools necessary to conduct their work in the field.
- The Department of Environment officially launched two components of the Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW+) Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- This project aims to improve wastewater management in St Kitts and Nevis.
- Wastewater is considered as water affected by domestic, commercial or industrial use.
- The implementation of a phased ban on single-use plastics in a move towards preserving the environment and advancing sustainability.
- (Phase 1 involves the ban on importation of T-shirt plastic shopping bags as of 31 December 2024. This will be followed by a ban on the sale and distribution of these bags by 31 March 2025.
- Phase 2 involves a ban on the importation of Styrofoam food containers and plastic straws effective as of 30 April 2025. While the sale and distribution of the same items will be banned as of 31 July 2025.
- The final Phase involves banning the importation of single-use plastic cups, plastic plates, and plastic utensils as of 31 August 2025, followed by a ban on the sale and distribution of the same products as of 30 November 2025.)
- Beautifying Cardin Home’s exterior as part of the Department of Constituency Empowerment SKN beautification project.
Telephone: 1(869) 467-1579
E-Mail: joyelle.clarke@gov.kn
Personal Assistant: Ms. Kezzia Daniel
E-Mail: kezzia.daniel@gov.kn