YouSaid · the spoken record

Dickon Mitchell

lines on the record: 48
first: 2022-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“we can indeed achieve peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all our citizens and all peace-loving nations represented and assembled in this Hall.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In conclusion, with a challenging and complex yet dynamic global agenda, it is still incumbent on us. as global leaders, to look to our world with a renewed sense of hope and sincere optimism. It is with that renewed sense of hope that we must continue to press forward and aim not only to achieve the 17 SDGS adopted by this multilateral forum but to dramatically affect for the greater good the lives of the people whom we have been entrusted to lead. I do not take that position for granted. Along with my Government. I envision the possibility that the pursuit of those Goals in accordance with the 2030 Agenda can and will be met. With steadfast commitment, a shared vision and cooperation from all of us.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“CARICOM is facilitating those efforts by providing its good offices through a group of eminent persons consisting of three former Prime Ministers of the region. A resolution of the political crisis in Haiti is also key to enabling the free and fair elections that are needed to put the country back on a constitutional path and open the door to an improved future for its citizens. The people of Haiti deserve no less. In that regard. Grenada calls on all friends of Haiti and on the Secretary-General to continue to use their good offices to support the people of Haiti. With respect to Venezuela, we further reiterate and remain resolute in our call for an end to the imposition on that country of unilateral coercive measures, which are contrary to the rules and principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The need for robust security assistance to counter the rampaging armed gangs is clear, yet the decision to enable it is meandering slowly through the Security Council. CARICOM welcomes the Government of Kenya’s willingness to lead such a multinational force and the offers of support and contributions of personnel from Rwanda, the Bahamas and Jamaica. The Caribbean Community hopes that the establishment of the multinational force will be endorsed by the Security Council as a demonstration of the international community’s commitment to supporting the restoration of law and order and improving humanitarian conditions for the people of Haiti. Inter-Haitian dialogue is key to any progress in addressing the multifaceted crisis. For its part.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Grenada reiterates its call for the removal of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba, for Cuba to be removed from the United States State Department’s list of countries that are co-sponsors of terrorism and for it to be recognized once again among the peace-loving nations of the international community. With regard to another issue in our Caribbean community. Grenada remains deeply concerned and must also raise awareness about the deteriorating situation of the rule of law in Haiti and the very troubling escalation of violence in our fellow CARICOM member State. The urgent support of the international community needs to be ramped up. in particular in the humanitarian and security areas, where the needs are greatest.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Finally, on issues concerning the countries of the Caribbean archipelago that are part of the global South, conscious of the President’s first priority pillar of his presidency — that of peace — we renew our call for the Caribbean region to remain a zone of peace and an environment that contributes to facilitating the social, economic and environmental development of all Caribbean States and the world at large. In that regard, and in the light of the recently concluded successful summit of the Group of 77 and China, held in Havana.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is therefore up to our youth to lead the charge for the future they want to see” (A/77/PV.12, p. 14). That remains as true today as it was last year, and it will remain true for many years to come. Today I am making a further clarion call to all Member States, through their leaders and high-level representatives, to take decisive action and do what is necessary to safeguard our planet for future generations — but the time for such action is now. Now is the time for global leaders to follow through on the commitments they have made at the multilateral level. Our goal as responsible global citizens should be to leave this planet in as good a condition as we found it. if not much better.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Our adaptation efforts will be scaled up through initiatives such as our climate-smart agriculture programme and our second nationally determined contribution, which has set an emission-reduction target of 40 per cent below 2010 levels. Against that backdrop and further to our own efforts in Grenada, in my address to the Assembly last year I said. “I call on all young people to take action. It is not yet too late to do what is necessary to safeguard our planet for future generations, but the time for action is now. [We cannot continue to pay lip service to climate change when climate change is showing us every day what it is capable of doing.] The reality is that the leaders of today will not be around to feel the consequences of their decisions.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Those Heads of Government have also agreed on the need for strong political advocacy from the region on key areas for action to keep the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach, focusing on finance for adaptation, loss and damage, improving access to financing for small island developing States, de-risking, debt sustainability and innovation. Grenada shares the concerns about those important issues and continues to remain vulnerable to our harsh climate crisis and its devastating effects. Grenada has implemented several policy frameworks, such as its national climate change policy and national adaptation plan, geared to assisting in advancing our strategic approach to climate adaptation and building resilience.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The States that contribute the least to the climate crisis are the ones bearing the heaviest burden, and without immediate and deep emissions cuts across the board. I am afraid that we are on a trajectory to far worse outcomes if we do not take significant action today. As we look forward to the upcoming twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, my own region and fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government have emphasized the critical importance of making urgent efforts to address financing aimed at tackling the impact of climate change.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Last year I called for accelerating the urgent task that our community of nations needs to focus on by redoubling our efforts on climate action (see A/77/PV.12). In that regard, this year’s Climate Ambition Summit was an opportunity for Government leaders and other partners to present credible and concrete action aimed at keeping the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement alive and deliver justice to those on the front lines of the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has confirmed that global emissions are at their highest levels in human history and are only continuing to rise. Those increases will continue to wreak havoc on communities, economies and businesses and create a severe strain on public finances.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Finally, allow me to further address the one subject that is arguably the most all-encompassing and predominant issue of our time. It relates to SDG 13. concerning climate action. We. the leaders of the 193 States Members of our Organization, gather here in New York every year to provide updates through our own lenses on the progress we have made in our countries and the future that we would like to see. reflecting the views of the various regions of the international community. In that context, if there is one thing that we can all be certain of. it is the likelihood of a climate disaster of some kind occurring in one or several of our Member States, with devastating impacts on their citizens and economies and inevitable effects on the state and progress of those countries’ development.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“With a ratio of forest to total land of only 35 per cent. Grenada has made progress with the measures that we have taken to protect our forests. Our forest policy provides an overarching framework to ensure the resilience and sustainability of that finite and precious green resource through a number of strategic directions. That leads me to SDG 17. which is perhaps equally important, on partnerships for the Goals. In that regard. I am pleased to state that multi-stakeholder partnerships have proved invaluable for us and have paved the way for the advancement of the SDGs in Grenada, as stakeholders recognize the need for an all-of-Government and all- of-society approach to advancing our progress towards sustainable development.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Grenada understands all too well how important our oceans are to countries like Grenada that are big ocean States and where many of our citizens, especially the fishing community, depend heavily on the ocean for their daily sustenance and livelihoods. As such, my Government has embarked on the Fiscal Resilience and Blue Growth Development Policy Credit project, which is aimed at giving support to Grenada’s transition to a blue economy. Additionally. Grenada has embarked on the creation of additional marine protected areas as well as legislative and policy frameworks, including the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Policy. Those are all geared towards protecting the integrity of our island and lending support to the management of its marine areas. I now turn to SDG 15. concerning life on land.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Grenada has sought to mitigate those harsh realities and push back against those shocks, with several projects being implemented, including our Land Bank Project, the Grenada Climate Resilient Water Sector project and the UNDP climate resilience in agriculture programme. Those initiatives and projects have served as critical activity areas that have created many forms of employment for our citizens, especially our young people, giving them a renewed sense of hope that they. too. can have equal access to employment and economic opportunities. Looking further, and as another example, on Goal 14. life below water.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“This initiative has come with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which we thank, and which is designed to focus attention, coordinate human effort and strategically apply resources to the implementation of a well- conceived comprehensive national programme to contribute to ending family violence and all forms of violence against women and girls in Grenada. Carriacou and Petite Martinique. With respect to SDG 8. on decent work and economic growth for our citizens, given what we saw and experienced during the pandemic and now in the post-pandemic world, where there were disruptions to supply chains, economic inflation and recession in many areas, we acknowledge and recognize that our unemployment rates remain a challenge and that there remains much work to be done. Notwithstanding that.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Grenada can also speak to its engagement and implementation work with respect to SDG 5 and the very important issue of gender equality. In that regard, my Government continues to make numerous advancements towards achieving gender equality, including, but not limited to. having gender themes reflected in several policy frameworks, including our medium-term action plan. We have implemented the Spotlight Initiative, which aims to end violence against women and girls and which highlights the all-of-society approach required to advance the attainment of this very important SDG 5.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Also, to ensure that no one is left behind, our premier community college for youth exiting the secondary school system in Grenada, the T.A. Marry show Community College, has implemented the Skills to Access the Green Economy Programme. in partnership with a significant member of this body, to allow many of our youth to receive job-related education and training in a variety of identified vocational disciplines. Additionally, my Government has developed and commenced a free tuition policy that allows all students access to a post-secondary-school and tertiary-level education at no tuition cost to them, as part of our commitment to providing a good-quality education to as broad a cross-section of our student and wider population as possible.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We all must never forget that whenever and wherever there are severe challenges and especially human suffering, the United Nations and its Members must come together and respond to such crises with the greatest urgency through its multilateral efforts and cooperation, so that we can all come together in aid of our neighbours and citizens in their time of need. In that regard, and as Grenada looks towards to its future and casts its eyes upon its own embrace of its goals and pursuits, with hopes of achieving all 17 SDGs. I am pleased to highlight and speak briefly on SDG 4: quality education. On that front. Grenada, under my Government’s leadership, has made significant advancements in improving access to quality education for all citizens of Grenada.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In that regard, and as the world and international community continue on their way to recovery and rebuilding, and as Grenada reflects on that particular experience, it would be remiss of me if I did not emphasize and remind us all of how important it is to have international cooperation, along with the sharing of resources and information and continued dialogue through such multilateral forums as the one in which we find ourselves gathered here today. To that end. it cannot be overstated how much these last three years have allowed us to. hopefully, learn from tragedy and adversity as seen during the crisis of the pandemic.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Still, and notwithstanding the many traumatic experiences of that period, which saw the tragic loss of lives, lockdowns, mandates and. ultimately, some relief through the development and administration of vaccines; the resilience of the Grenadian people rang through and. ultimately, we prevailed as a people against an invisible enemy that during its reign took the lives of those whom we knew and called family, friends and loved ones. But we as a people survived.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In that regard, it could not be a more fitting occasion for my Government and our citizens to not only celebrate the upcoming jubilee milestone but also to take the occasion to reflect on and look ahead with respect to Grenada’s continued role in the United Nations, where we must have a reimagined and renewed commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Looking ahead, particularly in a post-pandemic world, we can report that Grenada, like many others, was not spared the devastating and blunt-force trauma effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic coming to our shores, which took a deadly toll, resulting through the loss of many of the lives of our citizens in our Spice Island.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“But what does this all mean when we continue to live in a global environment and context in which our citizens are still plagued with issues such as hunger, poverty. gender-based violence, climate-related disasters and other such issues that affect our planet, especially those that touch on and concern such aspirations as the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Against that backdrop. I am pleased to take this opportunity to announce that Grenada will soon be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary of national independence, on 7 February 2024.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It was exactly 15 months ago when the people of Grenada. Carriacou and Petite Martinique, exercising their democratic right through free and fair elections, voted my Government into office on a transformation agenda that promised to bring about fundamental change that would have a discernible and positive effect on the daily lives of all our citizens. So here we are. exactly one year removed from my own inaugural address to the Assembly, against the backdrop of this year’s seventy-eighth session’s theme of “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“My warmest greetings and congratulations go to Mr. Dennis Francis on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session. I take this opportunity to commit my delegation’s fullest support for and cooperation with him and his Office as we work towards the fulfilment of the four priority areas that he has identified: peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability, all of which I also view as important areas in this challenging and dynamic global agenda. I also commend and thank his predecessor. His Excellency Csaba Korosi of Hungary, for his leadership and guidance of the previous session of the General Assembly. It is my privilege to once again speak from this centre rostrum from which one year ago I addressed the Assembly for the very first time as Prime Minister.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is now time to consider strategic transformation if we are to achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda and safeguard our planet for future generations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We further note that if small island States are to eliminate poverty and attain sustainable levels of development, the vulnerability criteria now applicable to our countries must be comprehensively reviewed as a matter of urgency. The consequence of upper middle-income status afforded Grenada and many other small States, without consideration of our specific vulnerabilities, continues to hinder our ability to access concessionary and grant financing. We continue to call for a new multidimensional vulnerability index, which would eliminate the threat to our economic development and security, and we encourage the submission of additional proposals that seek to address similar challenges that prevent our countries from moving forward on an equal footing. The United Nations system over the past 77 years has contributed immensely to humankind.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We further remain resolute in our call for an end to the imposition of unilateral coercive measures against the Republic of Venezuela, contrary to the rules and principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The net effect of the recent and ongoing crises continues to seriously dislodge the world economy and, in turn, the ability of countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The adverse impacts on production, employment and poverty are growing, while at the same time jeopardizing fiscal management in many countries. The Government of Grenada is firm in its determination to achieve the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We call, however, for the increased inclusion of youth voices as we seek to chart the future of our planet.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Additionally, we call for Cuba to be removed from the United States State Department’s list of countries that are sponsors of terrorism. In the same way, we lament that more has not been done for our brothers and sisters in Haiti, a country classified as one of poorest amongst us. The Caribbean Community continues to pursue various initiatives to assist Haiti. However, we believe that more productive engagements must be undertaken with all stakeholders to help achieve political stability, peace and economic progress in Haiti. Grenada also reiterates its support for the ongoing judicial process at the International Court of Justice aimed at bringing a definitive end to the long-standing Guyana/Venezuela border dispute, and we reaffirm our unwavering support for the territorial integrity of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Russia’s war with Ukraine has already threatened international peace and stability and created hardships for nations unconnected with the conflict. Grenada associates itself with the call of many for Russia to relent in its war making in Ukraine and for the parties to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Mindful that peace is a supreme asset and a legitimate aspiration of all peoples, Grenada renews its firm call for the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace. We also advocate for the economic, social and environmental development of all Caribbean States. In that regard, Grenada is satisfied that the removal of the United States-imposed economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba will facilitate economic and social change there.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In particular, we intend to provide incentives to young entrepreneurs, upgrade our agriculture productions systems and bolster our export capacity. Grenada will act deliberately to attract the attention and support of the international community and the favour of friendly nations as we seek to improve the standard of living of all of our citizens through the exploration of new frontiers of economic and social development. As we emerge from the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and optimistically prepare to transform our economy, we cannot ignore the new crisis in the East that has emerged from current geopolitical tensions and conflicts, with devastating and disruptive consequences for energy and food security.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“To that end, my Government has taken the necessary steps to ensure its framework for free universal education up to the community-college level, and is committed to providing second-chance opportunities to all young people who do not complete a primary, secondary or tertiary education. Additionally, we intend to actively seek out opportunities for further studies in the digital and creative fields to support our emerging creative and digital economies. The answers will once again lie with our young people and their invaluable contributions to the future of the labour force. My Government will foster an environment where young people have access to the support and facilities they need to thrive.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In addition, the economic fallout from the worldwide closure of borders and the stagnation of tourism — a key economic driver — has exacerbated already elevated levels of unemployment and poverty. My Government intends to mitigate those dire circumstances in the future by diversifying our economy and developing a robust information and communications technology-based digital economy. Trends such as converging technologies and the digitalization of production are rapidly transforming work and life, and they must be factored into training and development opportunities for our young people. We understand that if we are to adequately equip our young people for the future, inclusive and equitable quality education is fundamental.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In that regard, the Government of Grenada is pleased to be one of the 45 countries that presented voluntary national reviews of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the recently held High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Our country-led review of progress towards the implementation of the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda comes at a critical juncture in our collective efforts aimed at recovering from the extraordinary socioeconomic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Grenada, the pandemic exposed critical structural weaknesses and resource deficiencies in our health-care system. Managing the high incidence of non-communicable diseases is therefore an urgent priority, and so too is addressing the mental health of our citizens.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We are optimistic that we will achieve the mandates of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its protocols, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Government of Grenada is steadfast in its commitment to creating paths towards sustainability and promoting diversity. Evidence of our resolve can be found in Grenada’s first ever long-term national sustainable development plan for the period from 2020 to 2035 in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is the anchor for our country’s development agenda and priorities for the next 15-year period.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“As we seek to bolster climate resilience in our island home, I reiterate the call for us all to urgently scale up climate financing for adaptation and remove the challenges that developing nations face in accessing such financing. In additional, my Government calls for increased technology development and capacity-building, especially for young people. We are encouraged and indeed proud that a son of the soil has been given the responsibility to manage global climate action. The appointment of Simon Stiell as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat sends a clear message about the importance of island voices in the fight against climate change.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I could continue in this vein, highlighting the devastating consequences that Caribbean islands suffer owing to the warming climate, including the harmful effects on our rich biodiversity and underwater resources. We are truly on the front lines and know all too well the ease with which one hurricane can wipe out decades of progress. As I stand here this morning, several Caribbean islands are reeling from the wrath of Hurricane Fiona. That is the reality we face, and why it is urgent that we act. Given the focus of my address here today, it is evident that climate change is inimical to Grenada’s transformational agenda. We continue to insist on a clear road map at the global level for ambitious climate action in order to ensure that global average temperatures remain below the 1.5°C threshold.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In recent years, we have watched with horror as our brothers and sisters across the Caribbean experienced their turn, most notably with Hurricane Irma in 2017, which left the island of Barbuda nearly uninhabitable and wrought significant havoc on at least 10 other Caribbean island States, including the British Virgin Islands, which lost approximately 85 per cent of its housing stock. Then, only two weeks later, Hurricane Maria cruelly threatened to exacerbate the wounds freshly inflicted by Irma. And the global community will surely remember the destruction Hurricane Maria visited on Dominica, leaving 31 people dead and 37 missing, as well as causing an estimated $930.9 million in damages.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“With every hurricane season — and we are currently in hurricane season — that now brings increased and more powerful storms, we watch and wait, with bated breath and a silent prayer, in the hope that this year it will not be our turn. In 2004, it was Grenada’s turn, with Hurricane Ivan. In a mere eight hours we lost 34 souls. The Category 3 storm destroyed 80 per cent of our housing stock and decimated our economic and fiscal bases, with damage exceeding 200 per cent of our gross domestic product. Ten months later, in 2005, it was Grenada’s turn again, with Hurricane Emily.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“This is a unique opportunity to come together, welcome innovative ideas and tackle the problems we have struggled with for generations. Our goal as responsible global citizens should be to leave the planet as good as or better than we found it. This plea is not without urgency. As the leader of a Caribbean small island developing State, I am all too familiar with the devastating effects of climate change and the stark reality that — in the face of increasingly strengthened hurricanes and sea-level rise — we may not have a country to pass on to future generations . The small island States of the Caribbean are already experiencing significant adverse effects due to climate change.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“As leaders, the onus is also on us to create spaces where young people feel empowered to propose innovative solutions to the challenges we collectively face. That is a priority of my Administration and has been backed by gender-forward, pro-youth policies and purposeful action. The appointment of the Honourable Kerryne James as Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy, at 23 years of age, is a milestone for my country and the Caribbean region, as Ms. James is the youngest Government minister in the Caribbean. Confronting the climate crisis will require a complete transformation of our mindset and behaviours but also, and importantly, the transformation of our energy sources, economic models and land stewardship.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It was not that long ago that I, too, was a young lawyer, seeking to evoke positive change in my community through small actions. I knew that I could no longer sit on the sidelines and wait for the leaders of the day to solve challenges that had plagued Grenadian society for well over a decade. I had to become the change. In October 2021,1 made the decision to enter political life and, shortly after, was elected as the political leader of the National Democratic Congress. Only eight months later, I led the party to victory, winning nine of 15 seats. My presence here today is testament that we can create the change that we would like to see, but it will materialize only if we step forward and accept the call to be the leaders of today.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Young people are therefore critical to the success of sustainable development policies and must play a central role in the implementation of the targets set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and sustaining peace. I call on all young people to take action. It is not yet too late to do what is necessary to safeguard our planet for future generations, but the time for action is now. The reality is that the leaders of today will not be around to feel the consequences of their decisions. It is therefore up to our youth to lead the charge for the future they want to see. I challenge all young people today to choose to be agents of change rather than victims of climate change. It can start with small actions that cause ripple effects throughout their families and friend circles, their communities and, eventually, the wider world.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Our planet is undoubtedly in crisis, but as the ancient Chinese proverb reminds us, “crisis is opportunity riding a dangerous wind.” This window of opportunity is quickly closing, however, and we no longer have the luxury to kick these issues down the road. We are now faced with the reality that tomorrow is today. We have tinkered long enough and must now accept that the solutions to the problems we face may not be found in this grand Hall or in the highest echelons of global climate discussions, but rather with the people, especially our young people, who stand to lose the most from the inaction of our current leaders. Approximately 60 per cent of the world’s population is under 35 years old. In my own country, 50 per cent of the current population is between 18 and 35 years of age.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Amid this worldwide disaster, however, our global community rallied and demonstrated what is possible when we resolve to work together towards a common goal. The pandemic taught us all the value of international cooperation, the timely exchange of information and the sharing of resources critical to avoiding and mitigating similar global occurrences. It is imperative that the matter of climate change be escalated to this level of urgency among our community of nations. The devastating effects of global warming can already be felt all over the world, with higher temperatures exacerbating many types of disasters, including storms, heat waves, floods and droughts.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is also a fitting time to review the achievements of the past decades and proffer solutions to the challenges that have stymied progress. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic brought our world to a standstill, without prejudice for the size and economic might of nations. For a time, this disease was the great equalizer and forced us all to re-evaluate our priorities and our approach to working together. Grenada notes with relief news from the World Health Organization that we might finally be entering the end phase of the pandemic. While we welcome the return to some semblance of normal, it is my sincere hope that the lessons learned from the pandemic will remain and that we will not return to business as usual. The monumental challenges posed by the pandemic were unprecedented and seemingly insurmountable.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In free and fair elections and through a solid mandate at the polls, the Grenadian people placed their confidence in me to lead our country for the next five years. Today I bring my transformational agenda to the General Assembly because, although we are an island State, our world does not exist in isolation. Successful and sustainable transformation in Grenada is inevitably tethered to the sustainable forward movement of the global community. This noble institution is nearing its 80-year anniversary, a significant milestone that is worthy of distinct recognition. As my own country also draws near to a noteworthy milestone, that of 50 years as an independent State, it is an appropriate time to renew our commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to international law.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Please accept my warmest greetings and congratulations on the election of His Excellency Mr. Csaba Korosi to the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session. I commit my delegation’s full support and cooperation to him in the fulfilment of his important duties. I also commend his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives, for his able guidance of the Assembly at its previous session. I am extremely honoured to be speaking for the first time at this important global forum on behalf of the Government and people of Grenada. Exactly three months ago today, the people of Grenada exercised their democratic right and voted for transformation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)