YouSaid · the spoken record

Charles Angelo Savarin

lines on the record: 86
first: 2014-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“according to United Nations reports, and incalculable devastation in terms of infrastructure and built heritage. We welcome the responses of neighbouring countries and the international community to the catastrophes in both of those North African countries and urge even greater response in line with the magnitude of these natural disasters. I end by calling on all States Members of the United Nations to recommit themselves to the Organisation as an instrument of our joint obligation to the global community, and I wish all representatives to this seventy-eighth session every success during these deliberations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Finally, as one of the more vulnerable small island States that were devastated in 2015 by Tropical Storm Erika, resulting in significant loss of life and the loss of over 90 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP), and was again struck by Hurricane Maria in 2017. resulting in the loss of 226 per cent of our GDP. we empathize with the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco, who were struck by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake on 8 September, resulting in over 3.000 deaths and twice as many injuries and the complete devastation of several communities. Similarly. Dominica empathizes with the Government and the people of Libya, who experienced flooding of biblical proportions, resulting in the loss of more than 20.000 lives, with thousands of citizens still unaccounted for.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“This organ must continue to condemn that egregious violation until it is lifted, as it has severely impacted the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Cuban citizen for the past six decades. Additionally, the inclusion of that country on the United States State Department’s unilateral list of State sponsors of terrorism is entirely unjustified. Furthermore, my delegation supports the lifting of sanctions imposed on the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. That hegemonic situation constitutes a violation of the human rights of the Venezuelan people. We therefore stand in solidarity with the Government and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and look forward to a complete lifting of all such sanctions, thus allowing for the realization of the great potential for rapid socioeconomic development of that great nation.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“My delegation therefore calls on the Security Council to move decisively to offer support to Haiti in key priority areas, including security, governance, education, health, water and electricity, sustainable livelihoods and long-term development planning and advocacy. Dominica continues to stand with the overwhelming majority of the international community in calling for the removal of the 60-year-old economic blockade imposed on the Republic of Cuba by the United States. In November 2022. this organ voted overwhelmingly in favour of resolution 77/7— 185 to 2 — condemning the embargo; even Ukraine could not bring itself to support the United States in that outdated and unjust measure and abstained in the voting.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report lays bare the severity of Haiti’s food crisis, noting that nearly half of the population of 11 million is grappling with high levels of acute food insecurity. Additionally, the humanitarian situation is being further aggravated by a national security problem, including the illicit flow of arms and ammunition and gang-related violence. The Commonwealth of Dominica is of the view that a strategy that addresses the root causes of instability in Haiti will be embraced by the people of Haiti. We also underscore that such an approach cannot be pursued without the unwavering support of the international community.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The Commonwealth of Dominica aligns itself with processes outlined by the Organization of American States in August 2022 to support the people of Haiti, and decisions taken by CARICOM. at its 45th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July, to lend active support to the Government and the people of Haiti in their efforts to arrive at a Haitian-led solution to the ongoing crisis. While both those institutions have offered commendable and necessary recommendations, even collectively those will not be sufficient to normalize the current situation in Haiti. We have accepted that the crises in Haiti are not limited to food shortage and security.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Haiti faces deep-rooted crises on multiple fronts, many of them arising from its post-independence relations with the international community, poor governance over the years and the lingering effects of the catastrophic devastation visited on that country by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January of 2010. To date, while there may have been preliminary figures. I am not aware of any comprehensive assessment detailing the extent of the destruction of the 2010 earthquake or of a World Bank estimate of the cost of reconstruction, as has been done with the situation in Ukraine. The fact remains that since 2010. Haiti has been hit by several earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, pandemics and sociopolitical instability. If ever there was a cause deserving the full attention of the international community, that cause is Haiti.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“that achievement reaffirms the United Nations role in facilitating the implementation of multilaterally agreed solutions to global challenges. Dominica supports the early entry into force of the agreement, as well as its implementation. My delegation further welcomes the commitments, shared by all. to ensure capacity building and transfer of marine technology to support developing countries in their quest to implement and benefit from the said agreement. The prevailing situation in our fellow CARICOM member State of Haiti is a dire one that deserves urgent international intervention.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Moreover, mindful of the confluence of challenges confronting SIDS today, there should be no further delay in the much-needed reform of international financial institutions to address the contemporary realities of debt distress and debt solvency. Dominica therefore joins fellow States members of CARICOM in support of the Bridgetown Initiative as a core blueprint for restructuring the architecture of sovereign debt. My delegation unreservedly welcomes the adoption of the agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Building on the legacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The lack of adequate assistance from development partners and international financial institutions has forced Governments to borrow at unfavourable terms, resulting in high repayment costs and unsustainable debt levels for our fragile economies. To that end. Dominica fully supports the work on the multidimensional vulnerability index, which can contribute to unlocking the type of financing that is so urgently required. In addition. Dominica pledges its full support and participation in the upcoming fourth International Conference on SIDS, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2024. The Conference should serve as a watershed moment for all SIDS, such that action-oriented outcomes can be derived.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Accordingly, we wish to emphasize the need for the implementation of the loss and damage fund agreed upon at the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The implementation of the fund will allow SIDS to access the required resources earmarked for the recovery of our vulnerable economies post-disaster and further facilitate the creation of a vital safety net for our people. Over the past 30 years. SIDS have been advocating for resilience-building measures based on our inherent vulnerabilities and the frequency and magnitude of increase in global shocks.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The Government of Dominica recognizes the central role of its citizens in the decision-making process on major national issues and. to that end. Government has engaged the expertise of the international community in reviewing its electoral system and has embarked on a wide cross-sectoral consultation to hear varying views from every segment of society on recommendations for electoral reform in the country. It is therefore anticipated that when the final measures are brought before Parliament. they will be in keeping with the views of the majority. The Commonwealth of Dominica will continue to identify with and champion the agenda of small island developing states at the international level.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Access to quality education, clean water, food security, proper health care, decent work, proper housing and economic growth, taken altogether, must be the foundation upon which we continue to ensure that no one is left behind. The immiserating of our more vulnerable societies by the unfair trade practices, must be replaced by trade practices that reasonably benefit primary producers and support and/or encourage downstream processing and manufacturing, while international resources must be targeted at the most vulnerable and indigent among us. Only then can we be assured of achieving a society of prosperity, progress and sustainability for all. Advancement towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be people-centred and complemented by policies that allow for security and peace.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The key elements for accelerating realization of the 2030 Agenda include the harnessing of information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the role that science will play in ensuring effective decision-making. ICTs can provide a platform to get more done within a shorter period of time and further create an impetus to bridge the generational gap. allowing innovation and creativity to emerge to the fore. Our youth must be continually engaged, thereby engendering a sense of trust in their leaders and institutions. That is critical to ensuring that the significant gaps that currently exist between the haves and the have-nots are addressed and drastically reduced.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Typically, the narrow fiscal space and the increase in economic and environmental losses attributable to changes in weather patterns and other climate-related events have served to increase our vulnerabilities exponentially. The evidence suggests that we live in an imperfect world by virtue of our inherent geophysical and socioeconomic characteristics, and that some countries. Dominica included, will always be disproportionately disadvantaged by the actions of others. In that regard, we welcome the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development and the call of the Secretary-General to convene the Climate Ambition Summit. We are optimistic that this forum will be a practical demonstration of a commitment to securing the necessary funding to initiate transformative change.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The international community should pay heed to the wisdom of the leaders of the African Union, who have opposed military intervention and urged diplomatic engagement. The question is: Whose interest would military intervention serve? It is certainly not that of the people of Africa. We in Dominica and the Caribbean urge that, in all such situations, the interest of the population be foremost in any consideration of intervention by neighbouring countries and. indeed, by the international community. This year’s theme for the general debate is in keeping with the strides we should all be making at the international and multilateral levels to achieve the accelerated and progressive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The challenges faced by small island developing States in achieving that objective are considerable.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Dominica endorses the joint declaration of the Group of 20 (G20) on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other global issues, issued at the end of the eighteenth G20 Summit, held recently in New Delhi. While we in Dominica are opposed to coups and attempted coups, we are also aware that in 2010 there was a series of uprisings affecting Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa, which was dubbed in the West the “Arab Spring”. Those uprisings, with at least the tacit support of the West, resulted in the removal of several Governments. There was no talk of sanctions or military intervention to restore the ousted Governments. Today we are witnessing what I refer to as the “African Summer” and we are hearing the drumbeat of sanctions and military intervention. What is the difference between the Arab Spring and the African Summer. I ask?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Such a situation would normally be unthinkable in the twenty- first century. As the conflict escalates, the World Bank’s most recent estimate for reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine is placed at $411 billion dollars. That figure is expected to increase the longer the conflict persists. All conflicts must eventually end at the negotiating table. Dominica therefore calls for an end to the fighting and for good-faith negotiations to prevail. We join all those resolute in their international obligation to uphold peace, as outlined in the Charter of the United Nations, and we support the call for a resolution to the issues giving rise to the conflict. To that end.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Francis’s experience and knowledge of many of the current issues impacting Member States should serve him well in leading the Assembly over the next year. It is quite evident that the challenges being faced globally can be daunting. The climate crisis seemingly will not go away, as evidenced, for example, by the recent wildfires in Hawaii and Canada, thereby illuminating the discussion on the need to give even more urgent attention to mitigation and climate financing. Global inflation has had a significant impact on the livelihood of the most vulnerable, while there is justification for increasing concern over chronic non-communicable diseases adversely impacting the health and wellness of our people. The conflict in Ukraine continues unabated, amidst the global call for an end to that terrible war.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I bring warm greetings from the citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica. My delegation, and by extension the Government and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, wish to congratulate Mr. Dennis Francis on his elevation to the office of President of the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session and wish him every success during his term. As Dominica currently holds the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). I also extend to him the support of CARICOM during his tenure. His appointment is testament to the fact that the contribution of small island developing States (SIDS) to the multilateral system is of crucial importance, particularly with the innumerable challenges confronting such States globally. Having served as Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for several years. Mr.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In conclusion, allow me to reiterate my country’s gratitude to all our international partners and friendly Governments that have stood with the Commonwealth of Dominica, particularly through our darkest days following the major tropical storms and hurricanes that afflicted us. Our journey is one of building back better, sustainability and resilience. With their continued support, we look forward to a brighter future in the days ahead. I wish all participants and representatives at the seventy-seventh session every success in their deliberations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We therefore urge the United Nations family to forge an effective and unified response that brings to bear the necessary resources — financial, technical, human and otherwise — to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people. The severe and massive impacts of the various challenges we have experienced in recent times highlights the importance of multilateralism. As we raise the various issues confronting our individual States and share our hopes, fears and expectations, let us also seek to offer solutions to our various problems as a united international community, eager to realize a sustainable, transformative and fairer future for all.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“United Nations agencies report that some 1.3 million people suffer from food insecurity in Haiti and some 4.6 million from limited access to basic food supplies. While I am pleased to acknowledge the recent special meeting of the lead Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on Haiti held in Trinidad and Tobago, which sought specific solutions to the many crises that beset Haiti, the international community needs to respond as if Haiti were under invasion, as is the case in Ukraine, or as it did in the post-war reconstruction situation in Europe after the Second World War, requiring the so-called Marshall Plan. Nothing less can overcome the deep-rooted reconstruction challenges facing Haiti.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That was followed by a statement from the Secretary General of the Organization of American States dated 8 August, in which he reproached the international community for its failure to assist Haiti over the years and for leaving the country in chaos. Haiti is a country that was once the wealthiest colony in the Americas. It is now the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake of 2010 left the country totally devastated. It claimed some 250,000 lives, left more than 300,000 people injured and laid waste the capital of Port-au-Prince and most of southern Haiti. The cost of the damage done was estimated at $8 billion, and the cost of reconstruction at approximately $14 billion.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Commonwealth of Dominica again joins the voices of many other States Members of the United Nations to call for the immediate lifting of the unjustified oil embargo and other general sanctions imposed on the people of Venezuela. The political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela demands immediate attention. It is further incumbent upon all of us to provide short- and long-term solutions and opportunities for Venezuela to resolve its challenges and quickly improve the lives of ordinary Venezuelans. The current situation in Haiti continues to be of great concern to us and demands greater international attention. An editorial in The Washington Post dated 6 August 2020 called for muscular international intervention.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In March 2015, the United States declared that Venezuela poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and imposed sanctions on that country. The United States has been followed by several countries in imposing sanctions, since when the good people of Venezuela have endured severe hardship and suffering as a result of those numerous financial and economic sanctions, the consequences of which prevent millions of Venezuelans from meeting their most basic needs, a situation made even worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, further impacting Venezuela’s contracted economy and an already weakened health system.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“For decades, Cuba has been training medical doctors, nurses, engineers and other professionals, as well as providing technical assistance to developing countries, as part of its South-South cooperation. Cuba also offers professional training in various disciplines to thousands of students from all over the developing world. In addition, Cuba continues to add its voice to the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the rest of the world. We therefore join all other Member States that have called for the removal of Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, and we ask instead that we redirect our efforts to combating the real threats to global peace and security in the region.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Commonwealth of Dominica continues to add its voice to those of the overwhelming majority of States Members of the United Nations to call for the immediate lifting of the unjustified trade restrictions and export bans imposed on the good people of Cuba. It has long been established that, whatever the objectives were 60 years ago, when the embargo was instituted, it can no longer be justified — if it ever was. The Government of Dominica therefore strongly urges the few States that continue to support those sanctions to heed the call of the overwhelming majority of us gathered here and lift the archaic and unfair embargo against Cuba. Let us all support the full integration of the Cuban people into the global financial and trading systems.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We embraced the signing of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty as part of our international obligation vis-a-vis the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as outlined in the Charter of the United Nations, for the maintenance of international peace and security. Dominica therefore calls on all nuclear- weapon States to abide by international law concerning the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the use of diplomacy as a tool in conflict resolution. The trade and economic embargo imposed on our brothers and sisters in Cuba continues to be of great concern to us in the Caribbean, and its lifting has become more urgent in the light of the global impact on food security of the Russia-Ukraine war.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Indeed, under Sustainable Development Goal 2 — achieving zero hunger — Governments are called on to pursue smart and sustainable food production to help alleviate the perils of hunger. Dominica is working to strengthen its agriculture sector in order to decrease the cost of the importation of food. There is renewed emphasis on growing what we eat and eating what we grow, while at the same time ensuring that affordable and high-quality produce is available for export on a consistent basis. Our aim is to develop a scientific and practical approach to reducing the vulnerability of farmers and fisherfolk through the adoption of resilient and sustainable practices.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In that regard, the Commonwealth of Dominica takes this opportunity to commend the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its commitment to contribute an additional $42 billion to the new Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, which will assist countries such as Dominica that are on the front line of the negative impacts of climate change to accelerate the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ensuring that our citizens enjoy long and healthy lives will always be a priority. Therefore, what we grow and consume has to be a critical component of our resilience agenda. Global trends indicate that issues surrounding food security are not unique to Dominica.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Tourism recovery has been supported by new infrastructure projects and improved and increased air access. At the centre of Dominica’s resilience agenda are its citizens. Across Dominica, new and modern climate-resilient homes are being constructed for low- and middle-income families, while modern and smart health and wellness centres have been built and equipped in urban and rural communities. That will allow those communities to withstand the impact of extreme weather events and remain operational, while also strengthening their response to other natural emergencies and pandemics.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“At Headquarter s two months ago, the Commonwealth of Dominica submitted its first voluntary national review in keeping with its international obligations and in the spirit of good global governance. Dominica reported on the tremendous progress accomplished in terms of both the advances made towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and its national agenda as guided by the vision of becoming the world’s first climate-resilient nation. As it continues to recover from the destructive weather events I mentioned, Dominica’s main economic industries are showing signs of positive recovery. Tourism and agriculture remain the main income-generating sectors, with GDP projected to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2023, averaging 5 per cent growth per year from 2022 to 2026.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Commonwealth of Dominica therefore reiterates its call on the international community, at the twenty- seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to prioritize the disbursement of climate financing to SIDS in order to support our adaptation and resiliency efforts as we seek to minimize loss and damage from extreme climate events. In that way, actions will reflect more equitable and justice-oriented responses to fulfilling the goals and promises of sustainable development. Furthermore, the continuous call for higher levels of commitment to climate justice must be reflected in tangible and effective responses.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Those experiences triggered our goal of becoming the first climate-resilient nation in the world and realigned our focus to concentrate on adaptation efforts and building back better in every sector of the economy. Our small island developing States are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change — a phenomenon that will continue to escalate with every increment of global warming. As sea levels rise, some small island States will eventually disappear, while others will experience coastal erosion that will ultimately destroy infrastructure, villages, towns and cities.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“What we need from our developed partners in the United Nations family is recognition and acceptance of responsibility that translates to a commitment to providing the funding that is required to enable our small States to become resilient. That must be readily accessible and available to all of us on grant and concessional terms, with the only criterion for access being our vulnerability to extreme weather events. We have spoken here before of the cataclysmic impact of successive disasters on our country. Tropical Storm Erika, in 2015, and Hurricane Maria, in 2017, caused more than 90 per cent and 226 per cent loss of gross domestic product (GDP), respectively, in terms of lives lost, people displaced and livelihoods shattered.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We must lay a path for development that is sustainable and people-focused. For a number of years, small States like ours have spoken from this very rostrum and many others like it across the world, seeking to convince the developed world to change the destructive practices threatening our planet and our very lives and livelihoods. Yet despite our best efforts, not enough corrective action is being taken. Not enough support is being given to us to adapt and build resilience to the effects of climate change that are already upon us. I will not stand here today to detail to the Assembly the ways in which climate change is affecting us. They are well known. We see the news reports. The evidence is all around us.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Our interconnected world means that no one is insulated or immune from developments taking place anywhere on the globe. Today planet Earth is under severe threat and stress and may very well become uninhabitable if we delay decisive corrective action further. We need to talk less and start taking the concrete and sustainable actions needed to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. In addition to tropical storms and hurricanes, we are facing prospects of droughts, warming seas and rising sea levels, all of which will affect lives and livelihoods. For that reason, we continue to champion the call for collective global action in order to build on the resilience of our small island States in the face of natural disasters that are triggered and exacerbated by our changing climate.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The theme for this year’s session, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”, is analogous to the approach and trajectory outlined by the United Nations for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Member States have individually embraced the SDGs as the ideal to be universally pursued and achieved by 2030. Small island developing States (SIDS) face more challenges than most in achieving those goals. The international community has pledged its support, but the question is to what extent such tangible support has been forthcoming. The challenge is to go beyond promises, commitments and pledges to achieve effective delivery and implementation. The various global crises do not respect national borders.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Notwithstanding the fact that most countries have managed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and consequently eased the related restrictions, public health experts have warned that the pandemic is not yet over. Furthermore, with new variants continuing to emerge, COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to the global community. The pandemic has exposed the limitations of health systems in all countries large and small, developed and underdeveloped. The reality is that not all people have equal access to vaccines and life-saving medicines, even when faced with a pandemic declared by the World Health Organization.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Commonwealth of Dominica therefore stands with the rest of the world in calling for an immediate cessation of the conflict that continues to rage in Ukraine. We welcomed the deal brokered between Ukraine and Russia, with the assistance of Turkey and ably supported by the Secretary-General, to have significant quantities of grain shipped from Ukrainian ports to various destinations and thereby alleviate the emerging global food crisis. For those reasons and in the interests of global peace, the Commonwealth of Dominica urges all the parties to continue upholding their end of the agreement so that further relief can be felt globally as a result. Like most Member States, we in Dominica and the Caribbean were ill-prepared to deal with COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In our interconnected world, what happens in one part of the world affects us all, and so it is with the war in Ukraine. We are all victims of the skyrocketing prices of oil and petroleum products and the resulting impact on the cost of electricity and all aspects of transportation. The cost of the production of goods and services is similarly adversely affected, and as Russia and Ukraine are among the leading suppliers of grain, the conflict has created a shortage in the world’s supply, with implications for hunger in countries that rely on imports from those two countries. The developments since 2014 that led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are well known. Nevertheless, we in Dominica are of the view that the invasion and the ensuing war could have been prevented.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly is being convened at a time when we are facing innumerable challenges with both current and long-term implications. They include climate change, the degradation of our ecosystem and loss of biodiversity, poverty, inequality and the growing challenge of chronic non-communicable diseases. All of those have occupied the attention of this body over the years, with only marginal progress in finding solutions to them. Compounding those challenges are other emerging threats, such as the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the war unfolding in Ukraine. The invasion of one country by another must always be condemned, and Dominica has condemned the invasion of Ukraine without reservation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“My delegation, and by extension, the Government and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, congratulate the President of the General Assembly on his election to the preside over the General Assembly at its seventy- seventh session and to wish him every success during his term. We also express appreciation and gratitude to his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, for the able manner with which he presided over the General Assembly at its seventy-sixth session. Permit me to express my deepest condolences to His Majesty King Charles III, the royal family and the Government and people of the United Kingdom on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty was a symbol of stability and continuity, not only for the United Kingdom but for the Commonwealth and the world at large.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Let us all adhere to the provisions of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly in this hemisphere, where we should aspire to become a zone of peace and development.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We support dialogue and negotiations to resolve the disputes in the Middle East, including the possibility of a nuclear arms race. We once again call for an end to the unjustified continued economic blockade against Cuba in order to free up the vast potential of the Cuban people so that they can take up their rightful role in the global economy and trade system. We also call for an end to the unilateral sanctions imposed against Venezuela, which we believe are serving no useful purpose and rather serve to cause misery and suffering to the Venezuelan people. We continue to call for dialogue and for countries to support peaceful mediation among the disputing parties within Venezuela to achieve an outcome that will serve the best interests of all Venezuelans.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Wherever there are uneasy tensions among States and differences in interpretations of the Constitution within a State that trigger civil unrest, we call for restraint and resorting to the negotiations table and dialogue to resolve such differences. The other options only serve to prolong and intensify human misery and suffering and violate the principles on which this august body was founded. The climate is at war with our States Members. Let us not aggravate the situation by creating hostility and war among ourselves, particularly in this hemisphere. We support the One China policy and call for dialogue to achieve the peaceful reunification of China. We support dialogue and negotiations to bring about the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“As the project stands today, a financing package totalling $27 million has been signed with the World Bank for the construction of an initial 7 megawatt geothermal plant. Construction will most likely begin early in the new year. Dominica, like all the CARICOM countries, is committed to the principle of preserving the Caribbean as a zone of peace. It is inevitable that from time to time differences will arise between and among various interest groups within a State. While we will always be available to act as mediators in resolving internal conflicts, we believe in and will forever adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States. We hold that to be a universal principle, not one to be selectively employed and discarded when ideological differences arise.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Following extensive geothermal exploration, it was confirmed in 2012 that the reservoir in the Roseau Valley, the subject of exploration, had a potential of 120 megawatts, which would not only satisfy domestic needs but could potentially produce electricity for export to the neighbouring French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, thereby reducing their carbon footprint as well. That painstaking work, conducted over six years, is an example of the arduous effort involved in developing a renewable resource such as geothermal power in order to reduce the associated risks and cause a bankable project to emerge. Notwithstanding fiscal challenges along the way, the Government stuck to its commitment to providing initial funding for the project.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We have therefore developed a low-carbon, climate-resilient development strategy that emphasizes the development and use of renewable energy both to fuel our development and as a means of earning export revenue. Our recently completed resilient and sustainable energy plan confirms that Dominica is in a position to generate about 90 per cent of the country’s electricity needs by 2029 using renewable, primarily geothermal, sources; realize a reduction in the annual cost and volume of diesel fuel used for electricity generation by 94 per cent; and reduce the total cost of generating electricity between 2020 and 2038 by at least 44 per cent. Serious initiatives to exploit the country’s geothermal potential began in 2008, with financial support coming mainly from the European Union and the Government of France.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)