By Deanna Isaac Carriacou Hillsborough, Carriacou, March 24th, 2010- The twin-island parish of Carriacou and Petite Martinique could soon benefit from United Nations funding to deal with the effects of climate change and the prevailing drought conditions. An assessment of drought-affected areas was recently conducted by a U.N. team headed by Dr. Ivan Vera, who was accompanied by colleagues Mark Bynoe and Gillian St. Bernard-James. The visit included stops at two of the most affected sites – Tibeau and a section of Petite Martinique. Tibeau’s problem is being caused by sand-mining, while a section of Petite Martinique has been experiencing constant erosion into the sea. During the two-day visit, the team also held discussions with Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime, and Policy Advisor Dr. Everson Peters. The two sides examined possible U.N. technical and financial assistance for coastal erosion projects, and for addressing the water shortage affecting Carriacou. The visit to Carriacou, which came on the advice of Environment Minister Michael Church, is part of the institutional arrangement for the coordination of activities of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). Grenada, as chair of AOSIS, coordinated a major international environmental conference that was held last year in Copenhagen, Denmark.