Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness (right) at the UN SIDS Summit in 2019. “SIDS are a special case for sustainable development. They require concerted long-term attention and investment of the entire international community.” UN SG at 74th UNGA 2019 Guyana and Suriname, member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), are among the few countries globally which still have significant natural forest, having 60 per cent and 91 per cent coverage, respectively. In Jamaica, 26 per cent of the island is still covered by primary forest, and there is currently an ongoing controversy about protecting the remaining natural areas, such as the Cockpit Country and the Dry Harbour Mountains, from mining activities.