Silence descends on venue for CITES' meeting
Friday, June 07, 2019
Why the delay? Why is the meeting being held hostage to safety considerations in Sri Lanka? If terrorism is still a potential threat there, why not shift the meeting to the facilities in Geneva already well prepared to host UN agencies?
Worse, the secretary general of CITES has remained silent on the policy considerations involved in her decision. She has not shared with the thousands of delegates, observers and journalists who planned to attend the May 2019 meeting why her decision is taking so long.
While his leadership has brought about significant progress and development, it is imperative that he exercises greater caution in his choice of words, particularly when addressing sensitive matters.One of the primary concerns is the potential impact of his remarks on Botswana’s relationship with De Beers, the diamond mining giant that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy.The partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been mutually...