YouSaid · the spoken record

Timothy HARRIS

lines on the record: 115
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2021-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
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

“In conclusion, We are all in this together; my hope is that we will emerge from COVID-19 stronger and more united than before. There is no better place than the General Assembly to forge a positive consensus in order to build a better future for our children, our grandchildren, and their children. We are living in unprecedented times, and we have responded admirably so far. But we must continue to be proactive, relentless, resilient, and willing to share our ideas and resources as members of the same brotherhood of nations. We look therefore to the future with hope and with great expectation. Thank you.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We welcome the establishment of the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, which will serve as a consultation mechanism for people of African descent and other interested stakeholders, and as a platform for improving the quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent. We make, as other CARICOM Heads of Governments did in 2013, a clarion call for reparations and reparatory justice. We subsequently formed the CARICOM Reparations Committee and the establishment of the 10-point plan that outlines the path to reconciliation and justice for victims of crimes against humanity and their descendants. We hope that this meeting has invoked a renewed momentum to pursue action to right the wrongs that are still manifested today.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Taiwan has demonstrated that it can be a true partner in health, and we have seen its exemplary response to the pandemic firsthand in St. Kitts and Nevis and other parts of the world. My country looks forward to Taiwan being included in the UN system and its meetings, mechanisms, and activities. Reparations St. Kitts and Nevis is pleased that a few days ago, we met to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. It is important for the world to be united against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Untold suffering and evil were inflicted on millions of men, women and children of African descent, as a result of the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid and many of the other ills of our history and other crimes against humanity.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“During the last four years, the blockade against Cuba has been reinforced with more than 240 coercive economic actions and measures, reaching unprecedented levels of hostility. The Government and people of Cuba have contributed much to my country, the Caribbean, and the world, especially during these unprecedented times. One can only imagine the potential of their contribution to the international community were the embargo lifted. Furthermore, I cannot address this august body and not recognize our dear friend the Republic of China (Taiwan). St. Kitts and Nevis again renews its call for Taiwan’s inclusion in the international community. We strongly believe Taiwan has an important and continuing role to play in international development strategies given their great success in many areas.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The new challenges faced as a result of technological developments must also be taken into consideration and confronted. We will also continue to lend our voice and support to the work of the United Nations with a view to bringing about an end to the misery caused by these weapons. Partnerships St. Kitts and Nevis prides itself on continuing to build strong alliances and increasingly expand our international footprint. Our diplomatic ties are founded on mutual respect for and adherence to the United Nations Charter, the rule of international law and on the appreciation of the value of human life and dignity. For this reason, I call for the lifting of the economic, commercial, and financial embar-go against Cuba, and I note the incalculable damage it causes.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“A set of more adequate and relevant measures — encompassing social, environmental/climate-related and economic factors — should be used to regulate entitlements. The use of a multidimensional vulnerability index, for example, would be a far better judge of development than simply GDP per capita. Small Arms and Light Weapons The protection of life from violent crime is also of fundamental importance and discussions surrounding small arms and light weapons remain critical to our democracy. Our position remains that the uncontrolled proliferation of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons has significant impacts on the health and wellbeing, socioeconomic development, human rights and human development of every citizen in the world.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“But not all countries — particularly small island developing States — have the infrastructure, capacity and workforce skills to fully benefit from this revolution. Rebuilding sustainably requires us to re-evaluate digital accessibility, affordability, and technical assistance so that every country regardless of income level or geographic location can exploit the digital economy in one properly networked world. GDP per capita as the benchmark for development Another barrier to development that we face is the criteria employed to determine aid and financial support. The singular benchmark for measuring development — GDP per capita — is critical but sadly, due to bias and the omission of factors, is simplistic and flawed. For St. Kitts and Nevis it ignores vulnerabilities and prevents us from accessing critical development assistance.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“As the climate crisis intensifies, we witness the erosion of coasts owing to rising sea levels; fisherfolk struggling to maintain their livelihoods from waning oceanic diversity; families forced to relocate away from coastal areas due to the strength, intensity and relentlessness of each passing hurricane season. Sustainable Development Goals 13, 14 and 15 are of particular significance as they require us, among other things, to improve education and awareness of — as well as human and institutional capacity on — climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. ICT and Bridging the Digital Divide A less negative outcome of the pandemic has been its effect in turbocharging the digitization of our workplaces and societies.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We took action, providing social protection programmes for those in need. We implemented an EC $120 million COVID-19 stimulus package, reduced corporate income tax for employers who retained 75 per cent of their workforce, and introduced VAT and import duty waivers for pandemic related products. Climate Change The impact of COVID-19 on development more widely, in particular the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, has also been significant but instead of walking away from them we need to work, collectively, even harder to achieve them. Climate change and climate-related events continue to threaten the existence of small island developing States such as ours.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Healthy lifestyles remain a central element in our fight against COVID-19, particularly as we continue to prioritise the delivery of health care to people living with non-communicable diseases who, given their higher risk are most vulnerable to the disease. The need to continue investing in a resilient health system and comprehensive public health services is paramount. Mental health and well-being are also vital, which is why we delivered a comprehensive mental health plan to provide psychosocial support through the National Counselling Center. Sadly, the economic impact of the pandemic will be felt for years to come. When it began, tourism our biggest economic driver ground to a halt, causing significant unemployment and underemployment. Businesses suffered as a result of lockdowns.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Kitts and Nevis is just one of the many countries to have benefitted from the COVAX facility established by the World Health Organization at the start of the pandemic. I also wish to thank our bilateral partners for their generosity in providing us with vaccines. St. Kitts and Nevis has 66 percent of its adult population fully vaccinated and over 75 per cent of the target population has received the first dose. We are endeavouring to improve these statistics in the near future. Our citizens responded selflessly to our calls for social distancing and adhered to other COVID-19 protocols, playing an active role in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and helping to overcome community spread.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“It reminds us that we must keep faith in multilateralism and international cooperation to achieve our goals and rebuild sustainably. The past 18 months have challenged everyone, everywhere, yet here we are — convening once more as a General Assembly — to find global solutions to global problems. Health and the COVID-19 pandemic The battle against COVID-19 is not yet won, and its devastating impact on our societies and economies continues. We believe strongly that no one is safe until everyone is safe, that requires equitable access to vaccines and other medical products and technologies. I commend the international community for its response to calls for vaccine equity and am pleased to say that St.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished delegates, It is my privilege and honour to address the United Nations General Assembly today. On behalf of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, I extend my congratulations to His Excellency Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives, the Foreign Minister of a similar Small Island Developing State, on his election to the Presidency of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. I thank his predecessor for his valuable work during the seventy-fifth session and also take this opportunity to congratulate Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on securing a second term. I pay tribute to the diligence, commitment, and perseverance he has shown in steering the UN family as best as possible through the pandemic. The theme of this General Assembly debate is fitting.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Let us now, therefore, resolve to achieve even greater success in the years leading up to 2030.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Such nuclear tests violate Security Council resolution 2270 (2016) and the well- established regime relating to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Saint Kitts and Nevis stands resolutely with those who seek to ensure a peaceful world free of the ravages of war and violence. Despite the many challenges we face, I am convinced that we can achieve our individual goals by working together as an international community to make the right decisions and triumph over adversity. Now is the time for a bolder and grander vision of partnership. As the peoples of the world, we joined together to celebrate our achievement in the SDGs. As the peoples of the world, we achieved a landmark climate deal at the Paris Conference on Climate Change. They are examples of what we can do working together for the ultimate benefit of all.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“I therefore recommend new opportunities for Taiwan and its people to be warmly welcomed and integrated into the international fraternity of nations as a global player whose commitment to the principles of democracy, peace and people empowerment can touch many more lives. The future of our planet and our citizens cannot be outsourced to any one country or group of countries. In today’s highly interdependent and integrated world, that future is our collective commons, demanding the full engagement of all countries and their citizens. Lastly, I would like to sound a cautionary note. My Government, like most of the international community, believes that the recent nuclear tests conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea constitute a threat to peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the world in general.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Additionally, in the past three decades, the tangible support of the Government and the people of Taiwan has been remarkable. Taiwan has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Government and the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis and remains steadfast in its commitment to support our determination to meet our people-empowerment agenda. Their help and solidarity touch almost every facet of life in our twin-island federation. Such advantages and benefits should not be limited to a few countries. I know that Taiwan is eager to share its progress and development successes with the rest of the world.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Many of the difficulties that I have outlined have been made less burdensome because the Government and the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis have been fortunate enough to have benefited from some durable and meaningful partnerships, which have been integral to our efforts to build resilience, transform our country, modernize our economy, upgrade our workforce, educate our people and empower our citizenry. There have also been outstanding models of South-South cooperation worthy of emulation. For example, Cuba’s support to the developing world in education and training, health care, agriculture and heritage development dwarfs the assistance of many economically advanced countries. Venezuela’s Bolivarian energy outreach through Petro Caribe is an important model. There must be a greater commitment to share prosperity.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It is essential to invest more in education in order to promote healthier lives and healthier food choices, as well as to help people make the right lifestyle choices, because several of the non-communicable diseases are preventable. In the long term, by implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, we can reduce the enormous costs of treatments associated with non-communicable diseases, which in turn could contribute significantly to meaningful economic development. It is worth the investment so that we can protect our most critical national asset — our people. In all our efforts, they matter most.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It serves to promote human security, improve individual choices and empower citizens. Saint Kitts and Nevis is grateful to the General Assembly for its continued advocacy, as well as to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS for its support to the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS, which has been declared an example of international best practices. We are also proud of the strides that we have made in reducing mother-to- child infection at birth by 97 per cent, and of our efforts to ensure ongoing and more cost-effective access to antiretroviral drugs and treatment and to reduce, through education, the stigma associated with the disease. But the battle is far from won. The Caribbean is still an area of very high prevalence.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The arbitrary classification of certain small nations, like Saint Kitts and Nevis — or Dominica, for that matter — as middle-income countries can never make sense when such a country might see its economy grow from 4 to 6 per cent in one year and then watch helplessly as nearly 100 per cent of its gross domestic product is wiped out in six hours of wind and rainfall from a tropical storm. Any new formula must include vulnerability and resilience indices. As the Prime Minister in the CARICOM quasi- cabinet with lead responsibility for health and human development, I encourage this body and like-minded Governments to join me in re-energizing our efforts to fight non-communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance, as well as communicable diseases like HIV/ AIDS. That fight is consistent with international efforts to meet our SDG targets.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Already in the Caribbean, as of the first half of this year, some 16 banks across five countries have lost all or some of their correspondent banking relationships, putting the financial lifeline of those countries at great risk. In our economies, which depend heavily on tourism and remittances as major factors in national development, such actions threaten to derail progress and undermine trade, direct foreign investment and the repatriation of business profits. Furthermore, we urge the Group of Seven, the Group of 20 and the international financial institutions to re-evaluate the methodologies used to assess whether and how a country qualifies for concessional support or access to certain types of international funds.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As we have seen time and again, a climate event that lasts only a few hours can wreak havoc on every single aspect of life on our islands. In the past we have asked that the international community address the issue of creating a strategy for the promotion of climate financing, and I once again reiterate that call. It is meaningless to say that billions of dollars are available for climate financing if the mechanisms for accessing the money are opaque, prohibitive and extremely difficult to penetrate. Again, I urge common-sense cooperation and partnership. We are being further marginalized in the global financial system.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It is important to note that on 4 July 2011, in keeping with our commitment to working more collaboratively to halt the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the Caribbean Governments adopted the Declaration on Small Arms and Light Weapons of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in my own country’s capital of Basseterre. Those weapons have had devastating effects on many young lives and families. Saint Kitts and Nevis has now signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, but we are still in need of much support. Saint Kitts and Nevis, like so many small island developing States, remains inherently vulnerable, owing mainly to our small physical size, open economy, lack of economies of scale and, of course, small population.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“By providing opportunities for the constructive engagement of young people in critical matters that directly affect them and society, we can transform their frustration into meaningful empowerment. We should tackle head-on the increased incidence of youth-on-youth violence, which is invariably symptomatic of deeper societal issues. We cannot dismiss young people’s evident despair. We have to adopt a multisectoral and integrated approach in order to find ways to make them see that violence is not the answer. In Saint Kitts and Nevis we have focused on job creation, skills enhancement, entrepreneurship, counselling and support to teenage mothers and the provision of other targeted social services.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Our response must be to develop better partnerships and find common ground. Our global challenges demand that we build bridges, not walls. We must strengthen our commitment to multilateralism and cooperation. We must empower international institutions, civil society and the private sector to play a much greater role. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a perfect platform and framework for achieving that in partnership. Empowering our young people is critically important to the transformation of our world. There is a common view that significant intervention is required in order to nurture aspiration, vision, leadership and a sense of civic responsibility.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Today in various corners of the world we see masses of people losing faith in the ability of established institutions to defend their interests and respond adequately to their needs. On an almost daily basis we witness an increase in acts of violence against innocent people. We look on, seemingly helpless, as large groups of people feel alienated and isolated in their own countries, with some of them forced to uproot their families and risk their lives to escape armed conflict in search of security and better opportunities. It is clear that the causes of many of those problems are rooted in years of social neglect and entrenched economic inequities. We cannot resolve them by simply dismissing people’s fears, stereotyping them or resorting to isolationism, xenophobia and protectionism.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“On behalf of the Government and the people of our proud Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mr. President, I would like to congratulate you on your election to lead the General Assembly at its seventy-first session, and I thank you for the honour of addressing the Assembly. We know that under your tenure, Mr. President, we will focus on striving for the key development goals for 2030 — people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. They represent broad global issues that are of particular concern to the small island developing States of the Caribbean region. Indeed, many of the problems facing our world today are linked and should be addressed holistically and multilaterally.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It is not too late for this body to go and enchant the world.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Child slavery and economic slavery impact the societies of the international community, and we need to mobilize our collective resources to combat those scourges. Only when that has been accomplished will we be able to feel that the battle waged more than 200 years ago to abolish the trans-Atlantic slave trade and all elements associated with it has been won. Finally, as we look ahead to the rest of the sixty- second session, I wish to reiterate my country’s pledge of cooperation, commitment and dialogue to address the many challenges that we will encounter in ensuring that the United Nations remains the relevant forum for international relations. The United Nations must continue to be a beacon of hope for countries in search of peace, self-determination, respect for human rights, progress, development and, very important, justice.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“My delegation wishes to see the same right enjoyed by the people of Taiwan. Taiwan has shown that it can be a true partner in development. In our view, the international community has been deprived of the gift of that partnership at a time when Taiwan’s assistance could have been so useful to many States in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. In March of this year, the United Nations observed the bicentenary of the abolition of the trans- Atlantic slave trade. My Prime Minister, the Honourable Mr. Denzil Douglas, had the distinct honour of addressing this body on behalf of CARICOM. One of the significant results of the commemoration exercise has been an acknowledgement that the injustice of slavery still exists in one form or another and that there is a need to address that problem.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“What has always been clear is that the United Nations has extended a warm welcome to all States and respected the equality of all States. In the context of the principle of universality, my country renews its call for Taiwan to become a Member of the United Nations. It is of grave concern that the 23 million people of Taiwan have been denied the right to participate in the United Nations and its related bodies. During the sixty-first session, that exclusion and isolation were pursued even more aggressively. We, the friends of Taiwan, implore the United Nations family to recognize that the people of Taiwan are a disenfranchised people. Many of us were once also disenfranchised and unrepresented; but, through international recognition of our inalienable right to participate, we are here today.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We need continued dialogue, of course. But, most important, Member States need to agree on a plan of action and its implementation, as well as on the need to get on with the job. If we do not agree, or if we remain inflexible regarding one another’s concerns, we will all be at a disadvantage. Therefore, the dialogue among civilizations must continue, and implementation must occur, if true reform of all aspects of the United Nations is to come to fruition. The United Nations must remain open to membership for all States. In that regard, experience has shown that United Nations membership is not a deterrent to unification; consider, for example, the former East Germany and West Germany. Nor is it a panacea for fragmentation, as some have argued, citing the deconstruction of the former Soviet Union.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Over the past year, nearly every region of the world has endured some form of natural or man-made disaster. My delegation believes, therefore, that we need an increase in humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. No country escapes the need for such assistance. In addition to supporting the existence and the role of the Central Emergency Response Fund, we encourage Member States to commit to that and similar initiatives. I now turn to United Nations reform. During the course of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, the issue of reform of the United Nations and, in particular, system-wide coherence received extensive attention. Saint Kitts and Nevis believes that reform is necessary. My delegation’s position, therefore, is that the time has come for agreement on the issue and on the way forward.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We believe that global environmental management and multinational efforts could resolve many issues particularly at this time, when all of us have experienced environmental deterioration. We call on developed countries to provide greater support to small island developing States in combating the adverse effects of climate change. In addition, we urge far greater South-South cooperation on the important matter of climate change. We live at a time when disasters are occurring with a rapidity not previously felt. Within CARICOM, we felt the impact of the passage of Hurricane Dean, during which lives were lost, livelihoods were threatened and, in the case of Jamaica, an election was postponed. That same hurricane moved on to wreak havoc in Mexico and was followed very closely by other, equally destructive hurricanes.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The matter of climate change is of continuing and great interest to my Government. Indeed, we view the associated problems of the high frequency of abnormal weather, sea level rise, global warming and coastal degradation as matters affecting the economic and environmental security of small States such as Saint Kitts and Nevis. We are indeed heartened by the priority being accorded to this matter by the new Secretary-General. This year, Saint Kitts and Nevis signed the Kyoto Protocol, which signalled my country’s commitment to doing all that it can to reduce its carbon emissions. We urge other States to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. Indeed, Saint Kitts and Nevis will never shirk its responsibilities as a global citizen.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“No matter the merits and demerits of the debate concerning issues in relation to intellectual property rights, the evidence has shown that only with cheaper antiretroviral drugs can the HIV/AIDS pandemic at the minimum be managed and its threat to humankind reduced. Therefore, there is a need to address the issues related to the cost of these drugs so that they can be available to all who need them. The book of Genesis reminds us that man was made to coexist peacefully with his environment. The planet Earth is not an inheritance; rather, it is a loan from our children and grandchildren, who hope that one day we will return to them a clean and wholesome Earth. We must be careful, then, that our production and consumption patterns and behaviours do not surpass the environment’s capacity to sustain them.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The United Nations will hold a follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development. The State of Qatar has generously offered to host that meeting. We applaud that country for its commitment to the cause and we again call upon all countries to implement the commitments they made at Monterrey. Saint Kitts and Nevis acknowledges that the HIV/AIDS pandemic constitutes a threat to our development and, indeed, our security. Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, in his capacity as Caribbean lead spokesman for health and human and social development has often stated that this matter requires serious and dedicated monitoring and action. The fight to eradicate the scourge of HIV/AIDS must continue, and we must dedicate ourselves to that task.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Today, Saint Kitts and Nevis calls upon all States, be they in the North, South, East or West, developed or developing, to do all in their power to ensure the realization of the fruits of our united vision that proposed the Millennium Development Goals. United Nations Member States are not all equal in endowments. Those that have more resources must allocate more to the global development agenda. The developed world must meet its financing commitments, as agreed at the Monterrey International Conference on Financing for Development. That Conference represents a landmark because, for the first time, the developed world agreed that we were jointly responsible for development and that it had a special role in financing for development. That commitment, regrettably, has not been matched by real resources.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Saint Kitts and Nevis has indices on per capita gross domestic product, health and educational enrolment comparable to those of many in the developed world. Pleased as we are with our progress, we are all too aware that the journey is not yet ended. Much work needs to be done. Poverty in our Federation and in the Caribbean is still at an unacceptable level, and the turbulence of the global climate vitiates our continuing development. We are almost at the mid-point of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). If we were to evaluate ourselves as a whole, we would have to acknowledge that many of the commitments have not been met. Aid has fallen off, official development assistance has been limited, and we have seen competing initiatives divert the drive of fulfilling the MDGs.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Small island developing States such as Saint Kitts and Nevis rely on the United Nations to level the playing field in international discourse so that we can interact, contribute and benefit on an equal footing with other members of the international community. Twenty-four years ago, Saint Kitts and Nevis took the bold step of joining this body. We pledged then to do all in our power to pursue peace, security, human rights and development. Twenty-four years later, my beautiful country can boast that it has kept faith with our people and the international community. It has achieved much, and the pace and nature of its development set an example for other small island developing States. Today, the human development index of the United Nations Development Programme ranks us fifty-first out of 177 countries evaluated in the world.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I have the honour to address the General Assembly at its sixty- second session on behalf of the Government and people of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. I extend heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Kerim and his country, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. I assure him of my delegation’s full cooperation as he endeavours to chart the course of positive interaction and coordination in this international arena. I would also like to welcome the new Secretary- General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who is assisting at his first general debate of the General Assembly as Secretary- General. My delegation supports him in his all-too- important task of managing the affairs of the United Nations.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Financing for development will still be a major concern for all developing countries, and international peace and security will continue to affect us all. Throughout most of this year, the majority of the United Nations membership experienced the adverse impact of the energy crisis on growth and livelihoods. The United Nations family, which comprises producers and consumers of oil and energy products, must collectively address a global energy security pact incorporating best practices on energy conservation and energy sources. Finally, development is a matter of extreme importance for all of us. What we need, therefore, is a holistic approach to our global partnership. All of our critical concerns need to be addressed. However, we should begin with a careful consideration of human rights and human development.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Developing countries are still locked out of the decision-making processes of the global financial institutions, whose policies often undermine and — yes — circumscribe development. In our view, true global partnership should translate into consideration of the requirements of every Member State, whether big or small, and of the issues critical to them. During the sixty-first session, though there will not be a high-level conference on HIV/AIDS, pandemics such as HIV/AIDS continue to strike at the heart of development by crippling a nation’s most important asset, namely, its people. Without meaningful development, women, children, the elderly and the disabled will remain at-risk sectors of our societies.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“For my own country of Saint Kitts and Nevis, we ask that the international community also remain committed to the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the 06-53952 6 Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Realizing sustainable development presents a formidable challenge for small island developing States. They remain vulnerable to natural disasters, to climate change and to the effects of globalization and trade liberalization. We still need to examine the issue of graduation closely and at our own pace. Our cultural products still remain susceptible to piracy and our opportunities for reaping the benefits of science and technology are still limited.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We have actually begun that process in a very promising way with the recently concluded High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. In that regard, we agree that it is imperative that the human rights and human development of migrants be taken into serious consideration to ensure greater production and development in the countries involved. Recently, States members of the group of least developed countries (LDCs) held a review of the Brussels Programme of Action. My delegation supports the initiative of the LDCs and stresses that human rights and development must remain core principles in the partnerships of LDCs with other members of the international community.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The reform of the United Nations must be transparent. Three of the more contentious areas of the reform of the United Nations have revolved around the issue of transparency. I speak of the reform of the Security Council and of the General Assembly, and the process of selecting the Secretary-General. The United Nations has evolved. We all have to come to terms with that fact. The body that existed 61 years ago could not operate in the world of today. Full representation is necessary, and transparency is a must. This, in our view, is tantamount to a successful global partnership. For this session of the General Assembly, Saint Kitts and Nevis proposes a renewed emphasis on human rights and human development.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“During the sixtieth session, that commitment was further solidified with the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council. Dialogue continued on issues relating to the reform of the United Nations. However, more commitment and partnership are needed to see these reforms come to fruition. We must make a concerted effort. I cannot stress that enough. If we were to be honest with ourselves, we would acknowledge that the principles of the United Nations have not been at the forefront of our negotiations and that human rights and human development have not been universally preserved. I have already alluded to our diversity, but that must not continue to produce adversity. Rather, it should produce a more holistic reform agenda. Saint Kitts and Nevis remains committed to action on the reform of the United Nations.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Those landmark elections could not have occurred without a concerted effort by all concerned to undertake partnerships, while respecting each other and striving for full and comprehensive human rights and human development, along with a desire for peace. This is a fragile period for those countries, but my delegation lauds their efforts and initiatives, and we stand firm in our commitment to join in the global partnership for the development of those two countries. One year ago, the heads of State or Government of the majority of the States Members of the United Nations signed on to the World Summit Outcome Document (resolution 60/1). The document was viewed as the catalyst for a renewed commitment to a global partnership for development, security and human rights.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We, as the pre-eminent international body, owe the Republic of China and its 23 million people our support and acceptance, and we owe ourselves the benefit of having the Republic of China fully participating in the United Nations system. My delegation would like to single out and applaud the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of Haiti for striving to overcome periods of instability and uncertainty through the democratic process. For the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than two generations have passed between democratic elections. And Haiti’s 200-year history has been tumultuous in terms of its approach to democratic life. The Caribbean Community was especially pleased with the important democratic step taken by the Republic of Haiti, and we were able this year to welcome Haiti back into our fold.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)