In St. Lucia, Britain's Prince Charles touts 'blue economy'
Britain's Prince Charles inspects an honor guard during an official welcome ceremony and parade after arriving to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
(Reuters) - On the first leg of his Caribbean tour, Britain's Prince Charles touted a "vital blue economy," built on sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, as part of the solution to climate change, noting that rising sea levels represent an especially severe threat to nearby island nations.
Charles began his 12-day tour of the region on St. Lucia and is due to visit several other islands that are also former British colonies and retain Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth, as head of state.
The prince, an outspoken environmentalist, in a speech shortly after arriving called attention to efforts to create sustainable agriculture and hailed local entrepreneurs taking risks to protect the environment
Britain's Prince Charles speaks during an official welcome ceremony and parade after his arrival to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
"Climate change... poses nothing short of an existential threat to this island as it does to every part of this region," he said at Vieux Fort at the southern tip of the island.
The British royal spoke just a few weeks after St. Lucia marked the 40th anniversary of its independence in 1979.
Charles, the heir to the British throne, pointed to a project that aims to map St. Lucia's seabed. It is supported by the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme, which was launched by the UK government in 2016 and aims to support marine economies, nicknamed blue economies, of 17 Commonwealth small island states.
Prince Charles is presented with flowers as he attends the Governor-General's Reception at the Serenity Hotel, Coconut Bay, St Lucia, at the start of his 13-day tour of the Caribbean, March 17, 2019. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERS
Charles said the initiative holds "the potential to help develop St. Lucia's vital blue economy in significant and sustainable ways."
The prince was expected to fly to Barbados later on Sunday, where he will join his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who was likely to accompany him on the remainder of the tour.
Charles will also travel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada, in addition to communist-run Cuba, the first time a British royal will make such a visit.
Prince Charles (right), with the Prime Minister of St Lucia Michael Chastanet (2nd R) as he attends the Governor-General's Reception at the Serenity Hotel, Coconut Bay, St Lucia, at the start of his tour of the Caribbean, March 17, 2019. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERS
The trip to Cuba is meant to underscore warming British-Cuban ties and was scheduled in coordination with the British government.
(This story has been refiled to add dropped word "to" in paragraph eight.)
Britain's Prince Charles greets the crowd during an official welcome ceremony and parade during a visit to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
(Reporting by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Britain's Prince Charles, next to St Lucia's Governor-General Neville Cenac and Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet, attends an official welcome ceremony and parade during a visit to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Charles, next to St Lucia's Governor-General Neville Cenac and Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet, attends an official welcome ceremony and parade during a visit to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolPrince Charles (right), with the Prime Minister of St Lucia Michael Chastanet (2nd R) as he attends the Governor-General's Reception at the Serenity Hotel, Coconut Bay, St Lucia, at the start of his tour of the Caribbean, March 17, 2019. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERSGeneral view of the Royal Air Force voyager aircraft being used by Britain's Prince Charles during his Caribbean tour as it takes of from Hewanorra International Airport in St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil NoblePrince Charles is presented with flowers as he attends the Governor-General's Reception at the Serenity Hotel, Coconut Bay, St Lucia, at the start of his 13-day tour of the Caribbean, March 17, 2019. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Charles meets with St Lucia's Governor-General Neville Cenac and Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet after arriving in St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Charles gives an award to Dorothy Phillip during an official welcome ceremony and parade after his arrival to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Charles inspects an honor guard during an official welcome ceremony and parade after arriving to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Charles greets the crowd during an official welcome ceremony and parade during a visit to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Charles greets the crowd during an official welcome ceremony and parade during a visit to St Lucia, March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
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