YouSaid · the spoken record

Stephenson King

lines on the record: 73
first: 2007-09-24
most recent: 2010-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“Now that the WTO has ruled in favour of our efforts in the services sector — I am speaking here of the favourable ruling we received on the gaming dispute referred to the WTO by Antigua and Barbuda — there is reluctance to comply. We cannot have double standards. We therefore urge all parties to agree on mutually agreed principles that govern the conduct of relations among States, large or small, in order for everyone to be treated fairly. Our world is in crisis. We face a growing, more aggressive realm where the insatiable appetite for the world’s resources has led to the subversion of justice and humanity. The tumultuous times that we live in can be weathered only through continued and increased commitment to human development. Let us all work towards that goal and the sustainability of biodiversity and humankind.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We have moved into a world where political uncertainty has been replaced by economic uncertainty. Yet a mechanism that was put in place to deal with a political issue remains today and is being used for economic strangulation, even as we appeal to everyone else for cooperation and understanding in other areas. We must respect the freely expressed wishes of the people of our region as well as their right to shape and chart their destiny. Our region is diverse, but our aspirations are shared. Only mutual respect will foster the relationship that is so necessary and vital to the development of our region. Here again, permit me to make another point regarding respect. When the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against our preferential regime on 10-54965 50 bananas, we were told that we had to comply.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The contribution of Taiwan to countries that have sought its assistance in these areas matches that of any other, and it has helped without asking for much in return. No country should be prevented from making its contribution to humankind, for they do share the world with us and their contribution to health and environmental issues know no boundaries. Increased concern for air safety also remains a global priority. We therefore hope that ongoing cross- Strait talks will lead to a peaceful solution. This is a long-standing problem that deserves an urgent resolution that is acceptable to all and in keeping with the Charter and principles of the United Nations, as well as the aspirations of peoples to self-development and progress. There are some anachronisms that still persist in this world, and one is the embargo against Cuba.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Small arms and light weapons are responsible for more deaths than natural causes in some parts of the world. In attempting to fulfil our commitments on the MDGs, we have engaged many partners, including the United States, the European Union, Canada, our Latin American neighbours, India, Japan and South Korea, to name but a few. I wish, though, to make a special appeal to this body to support the aspirations of the Republic of China on Taiwan to make its contribution to the world collaboration through membership and effective participation in the air transport and health bodies and climate change discussions, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other organizations of a universal nature.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Every State requires international cooperation to preserve its own security. We Caribbean countries take the issue of security very seriously. We suffer from an increasing incidence of crime and violence, which is compounded by relatively easy access to and use of illegal firearms. The number of gun-related homicides has jumped to unacceptable levels, and this has been aggravated by a worsened economic situation. Another great tragedy of our times is the uncontrolled illicit drug trade. We must find solutions to both problems. We are perplexed, therefore, to see the closure of the Caribbean office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. We call for a reassessment of that decision. We also call for a comprehensive treaty on small arms and light weapons, alongside the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As Members of the United Nations, we are concerned with human life, education, longevity and social inclusion. There would be no United Nations if there were no universal concern for the well-being of the collective. Respect for human rights and the protection of human security are therefore mutually reinforcing. Most people want peace, democracy and social equity, and we recognize the State’s inherent responsibility to provide these for its citizens. If Governments are to be successful, people must participate in formulating and implementing strategies to enhance their national authorities’ capacity to achieve these goals. However, with globalization, the ever-evolving threats that arise when one country falls to maintain the social order ricochet to affect the rest of the world.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We acknowledge that States remain the principal duty-bearers and cannot abrogate their responsibility to 49 10-54965 implement policies, enact national legislation and foster an enabling environment in which human rights can be enjoyed by all. When these rights go unexercised, economic growth is stunted and development is paralysed. A key role of the United Nations is to help ensure that economic growth translates into wider enjoyment of human rights for all. Without human rights, we cannot achieve the Millennium Development Goals; we cannot achieve the advancement of humankind. When we expect the United Nations to protect human rights, we hold the same expectations of ourselves. After all, we are the United Nations. Also integrated within the issue of human rights is human security.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are pleased to note that there is now acceptance of the relationship between such non-traditional security issues as poverty and health, on the one hand, and conflict on the other. Maybe with that new understanding we will help find a solution. We understand that the United Nations is incapable of solving all the world’s discordant issues and that the best solutions for conflict are home-grown. However, there are identified areas where the United Nations can realistically make a difference. Where this is the case, we need to strengthen the role of the United Nations in the promotion of peace and economic development. In this regard, and while keeping our goals realistic, we look forward to Security Council reform. We need an equitable international system and a more balanced approach to international security.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Conflicts brought about by differences in ideology, political persuasion, religion and economic circumstance have presented challenges to global peace and security, including the many mass atrocities that the world has witnessed. Even with numerous advances in technology, education and health and an increase in material progress, the world seems to suffer from mental restlessness and discontent. We seem not to have found the formula for peacekeeping and peacemaking within nations, even after 60 years of searching. Keeping the peace and building peace are critical components of sustainable development worldwide. But peacekeeping goes far beyond civilian conflict.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“There is a greater need for advocacy and a resource- mobilization role for SIDS under the Mauritius Strategy for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. The support of the international community is therefore necessary if Saint Lucia and all other SIDS are to fulfil the goal of sustainable development and thereby improve the standards of living of their populations and meet all of the MDGs by the year 2015. Let me now touch briefly on our moral environment. Among all the disasters we face today, we can accept some as natural occurrences, yet others are of our own making.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As the focus of the global recovery efforts is aimed at laying the foundation for sustainable and balanced growth, Saint Lucia, through its new policy directives and programmes, is positioning itself to benefit from the growth prospects for the global economy. In that respect, we call for a review of the United Nations delivery to SIDS, and particularly for strengthened support measures to address the vulnerabilities of all SIDS and for support within the United Nations system for a special category. Most SIDS do not get our fair share of assistance because we fall into the middle-income country category. However, being middle-income does not reduce vulnerability.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The capacity of the private sector will be strengthened to take advantage of the opportunities presented by such trading arrangements. However, the Government recognizes that this will require a host of general improvements in the business environment, including strengthening the investment climate, expanding the skills base, promoting innovation and technology adoption, and improving international transport services and other infrastructure. All those will require large capital outlays. While the Government has responded to the challenges by developing specific programmes and projects to improve the business climate in Saint Lucia, the role of international financial institutions and bodies like the Group of 20 in stabilizing the global economy and restoring growth is crucial to small developing countries like Saint Lucia.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The plan will lay the blueprint for the development of emerging new sources of growth, such as offshore education, health and wellness tourism, and high–end information and communications technology, and for expanding existing critical sectors, such as tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. The signing of the economic partnership agreement with the European Union in 2008, the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and the Economic Union of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States will bring new sets of challenges and opportunities for Saint Lucia. The Government’s strategic priority is to develop meaningful partnerships with the private sector to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities provided.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In order to mitigate the impacts of the price shocks, the Government implemented a number of measures to protect the most vulnerable in our population. Such measures included the creation of short- term employment programmes, the suspension of import duties and other taxes on basic consumer items, the establishment of controls on retail markups and profit margins on some basic food items, and the provision of limited price subsidies on basic commodities to vulnerable groups. 10-54965 48 In its strategic response to the crisis and in laying the foundation for growth, the Government of Saint Lucia has undertaken the development of a medium- term development strategy plan for the period 2011- 2016.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Notwithstanding the decline in revenue collection, expenditure outlays increased, resulting in a deteriorating fiscal position. That outcome led to a widening of the central Government’s overall fiscal deficit to 4.8 per cent of GDP in the financial year 2009-2010, compared to a deficit of 1.9 per cent of GDP in the previous year. Public debt as a percentage of GDP rose from 66 per cent in 2008 to 71 per cent in 2009 as a result of increases in borrowing to finance the budget deficit. The adverse impacts of the combination of global and regional shocks have prompted the Government of Saint Lucia to implement a number of measures designed to mitigate the social, fiscal and regulatory challenges of the crisis.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As with most small developing countries, the crisis led to a deterioration in Saint Lucia’s economy, resulting in a contraction in GDP, a rise in the level of unemployment and a weakening of the Government’s fiscal position. The decline in economic activity was driven mainly by a fall in stay-over tourist arrivals, lower production in the agricultural sector and a sharp downturn in construction. The decline in activity in the construction sector was attributable to a fall in FDI inflows as the freeze in international credit adversely affected the financing of a number of hotel construction projects in Saint Lucia. It was also attributable to a decline in remittances, which have helped sustain the local housing sector.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The uneven pace of the global economic recovery in countries and regions has led to differences in approach in policy responses. I have made these points because the economies of the United States, Europe and the European Union are our major sources of tourism, agricultural trade, official development assistance, foreign direct investment (FDI) and remittances, which constitute the mainstays of our economy. We therefore urge the focus on global economic recovery to be maintained for the benefit of the global community. As a small island developing State with a highly open economy, Saint Lucia has been hard hit by the effects of the global financial and economic crisis.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Over the past few weeks, the short-term growth prospects of the United States, Europe and Japan have been downgraded on the back of recently released economic data, which is below expectations. The prospects for economic recovery in Europe were dampened by the crisis in some countries earlier this year, but renewed confidence has recently emerged, spurred by the stronger-than-expected performance of the German economy in the second quarter of 2010. However, the growth prospects for Europe remain uncertain, given that fiscal retrenchment measures could pose a risk to growth and the pace of recovery. The weakened growth prospects for the United States and Europe could impede growth in emerging markets, with a slowdown in the growth of exports and investment flows.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We recognize that traditional hydrocarbon fuel usage is unsustainable and are therefore looking to make use of the alternate energy sources that are available to us. The use of hydropower, wind, solar and geothermal sources and converting waste into energy are means by which we could reduce our energy reliance, lower trade deficits and generate employment. However, those require investment in research, development and infrastructure. The other most critical factor in our development is the speed of the global economy’s return to sustained growth. Recent news of deteriorating economic conditions and a fall in house sales in the United States has fanned the flame of fears of a double-dip recession.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We cannot rely on humanitarian assistance alone, which only addresses the consequences of such events. 47 10-54965 We know that our development partners are serious about implementing meaningful mitigation action, so we call for a firm collective commitment to providing new and additional resources. Let us not continue to renege on promises made, as developing States cannot go it alone and should not be penalized for the actions of industrialized countries. We call for an understanding partnership in tackling the pressing issues that threaten to engulf our world. Despite our geographic distribution, small island developing States (SIDs) are working diligently together on shared concerns through regional and international networks, the most notable of which is the Alliance of Small Island States.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Few developing countries possess sufficient financial and human resources to address adequately the ongoing and anticipated impacts of global climate change. According to World Bank estimates, the total annual impact of potential climate change on all CARICOM countries could be, in 2007 dollar prices, $9.9 billion of our total gross national product (GDP), or about 11.3 per cent of total GDP. That means that we have no choice but to divert critical funding from our poverty alleviation programmes to trying to protect our countries from that formidable threat. There is no doubt that stable long-term funding is of critical importance to developing countries and cannot be underestimated. We urgently need to scale up new and additional resources and sources of funding to support mitigation efforts.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We thank those who have kept their pledges, while we encourage those who have shown good intentions but have not yet matched words with action to do so with some urgency. For those reasons, for the good of all humankind and indeed, for the good of all creation, Saint Lucia, like all member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is committed to lending its efforts to achieving an ambitious, just and legally binding agreement that will realize our goal of timely and successfully addressing climate change. Speaking of justice, climate change can be successfully addressed only if countries most responsible take the necessary steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide adequate financial resources for the development and transfer of technology for both adaptation and mitigation to those who have been most seriously affected.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is so despite the fact that, jointly, the SIDS contribute a fraction of one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We began this year with news that a cataclysmic earthquake had hit Haiti. The United Nations came together in solidarity with our sister island and pledged $1.5 billion in assistance. To date, Haiti’s officials report that only 10 per cent of the pledges have been funded. The same seems to be true for most appeals for humanitarian causes. We trust that the pledging conference for Pakistan, the most recent country to be hit by a catastrophe, will be more successful. Addressing the humanitarian consequences of today’s disasters and emergencies remains a United Nations priority.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Following the fifteenth Conference of the Parties, which failed to achieve consensus on a legally binding framework for addressing climate change, Saint Lucia recognizes the critical importance of the current talks in laying a solid foundation for a more favourable outcome in Cancún, one that will truly fulfil the purpose of the Convention and help to ensure the continued existence of humankind. We have long since moved past the debate over the existence of climate change to a discussion about the severity of its impacts on the nations and regions of the world. The small island developing States of the world, Saint Lucia included, are recognized as being among the most vulnerable to climate change, with that phenomenon threatening the very existence of some of our island nations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In my address on the accomplishments and shortfalls of Saint Lucia towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, I stressed that all of our gains would be useless if we could not address the threatening saga of adverse climate change. Many other nations highlighted that urgent issue, and I hope that our collective voices will receive the attention of those most capable of acting. I will therefore focus on two of the most critical factors in our development as small island developing States (SIDS): first, the effects of global climate change, and second, the uncertain economic and financial crisis. Saint Lucia notes the ongoing negotiations in advance of the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Cancún, Mexico, later this year.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We are probably best at economics, working miracles with limited resources, and literature, where our aspirations are clearly articulated — having two Nobel Laureates in these areas. We hold the view that our limited resources should be utilized and focused on improving the quality of life of our people in education, health, social services and economic opportunity. Those are our primary aims, and we believe them to be in conformity with those of this eminent Organization.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In that respect, Saint Lucia supports the call for, at a minimum, a permanent seat on the Council for the African continent, just as other continents have such a seat. Recent events are providing a vivid illustration of the need for reform of the Security Council. Large size, military power, economic power, or large population are not in themselves sufficient criteria for a permanent seat on the Council. Adherence to the principles enshrined in the Charter of this Organization should be paramount over all others. In closing, Saint Lucia is a small country with resources that would fail to register in global terms. Yet, small as we are, our people have hopes, aspirations and ambitions like any other. Moreover, we hold the firm belief that we have the capacity to contribute to the world in a measured way beyond our size.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As we struggle to address that problem within our limited resources, we call on those States that are engaged in the production and trade of small arms and ammunition to enact appropriate measures to curb that illicit trade, which threatens the stability and security of our societies. Saint Lucia remains concerned about the pace at which the matter of reform of the Security Council is proceeding. Reform of the Security Council has been on the agenda of the United Nations for much too long. We continue to support the view that it is time for the Security Council to be more democratic, in order to make it better able to deal with the increasing number and complexity of issues it must deal with and more reflective of post-1948 reality.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The 23 million people in Taiwan are inextricably linked to the world scene and have the same responsibilities and obligations as others to collaborate in the prevention of global catastrophes. We hope therefore that this body will take that fact into consideration and allow them to meaningfully participate in the United Nations specialized agencies in the fight against such catastrophes. Saint Lucia is seriously concerned about the proliferation of small arms in our part of the world. The presence of small arms in our region poses serious challenges for the security and stability of our societies.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We acknowledge the contribution that the Republic of China, Taiwan, has made to international development by its provision of substantial development assistance to developing countries in the spirit of South-South cooperation. The Government of Taiwan has provided significant cooperation assistance to Saint Lucia and other States in the areas of education, health, agriculture and tourism. We are also heartened by recent bilateral discussions that would serve to reduce tensions in the Taiwan Straits and would result in an increase in economic cooperation, investment and transportation links. Natural disasters, epidemics and food and energy crises know no boundaries.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We call on the international community to assist Haiti in the speedy implementation of the national growth and poverty reduction strategy. We therefore continue to call for the sustained release of pledged development resources so that the Government and the people of Haiti may continue to meaningfully, and in a sustainable manner, undertake measures to confront the numerous challenges to the development of their country. Saint Lucia’s relationship with its partners is based on a commitment to mutual respect and understanding for each other. In that vein, Saint Lucia 37 08-52265 pays tribute to the Government and the people of the Republic of China, Taiwan, a democratic country that has continued to abide by the very principles that the United Nations holds dear, seeking to nurture and preserve human rights and development.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Critical also to the realization of the MDGs is the delivery of aid commitments to developing countries without the burdensome conditionalities that are a typical feature of international programmes of development assistance. The sustainable development of our sister CARICOM country of Haiti continues to be a formidable challenge faced by our region and the wider international community. It is one that requires the implementation of a long-term assistance programme that ensures that economic and social recovery take root and that the people of that country can be assured of a brighter future. We wish therefore to applaud the Government of Haiti for its successful completion of the national growth and poverty reduction strategy focusing on improving democratic governance, security and justice, and the delivery of basic services.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“While developing countries have made great strides in financing their own development and the development of other countries of the South, greater cooperation in the area of technology transfer, particularly capacity-building and technical assistance, is required from the North. Capacity-building among young people is crucial to the development of the skills required to implement our commitments to achieve the MDGs. We recognize the valuable role that both South- South and North-South cooperation play in the advancement of the development agenda. However, we know that triangular cooperation can be an equally useful and cost-effective tool for furthering our development objectives. We therefore welcome efforts in that area.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Saint Lucia continues to benefit from the generous economic and technical cooperation among developing countries within and outside of the Caribbean region, including Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and Mexico, to name a few, while we continue to develop closer cooperation with our Latin American neighbours. We therefore applaud the establishment of the South Fund for Development and Humanitarian Assistance approved at the second South Summit, held in 2005 in Qatar, as a financing mechanism to assist developing countries in economic, social, health and educational development, and in the alleviation of hunger, poverty and the impact of natural disasters.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Many countries have successfully developed through that route, but have failed to share their experiences with others. We therefore need the trade links to be open and fair, with greater consideration given to the very small States, so that we too can meet the hopes and aspirations of our young — and until now, patient — populations. In that respect, we call upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to play a more meaningful role in that endeavour. South-South cooperation continues to be a significant component of Saint Lucia’s approach to development.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In Doha, we expect greater momentum on the question of trade and development. Many of our countries are characterized by small size and the associated vulnerabilities. While the products and services we have to offer are few, they are nevertheless the source of our livelihood. The investments in those products and services are significant for our countries, and while the pressure of competition from larger and more diversified economies may force the consideration of a wholesale shift in production focus, the economic dislocation that would result from the pursuit of such a strategy would be too overwhelming. In addition, as small as our population may be, the youth sector is a sizable portion of our society, and they need to be given hope. The best avenue is through education and the development of small and medium- sized enterprises.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In spite of their limited resources, the members of that group have initiated prudent economic measures and have been able to make significant strides in their efforts to bring a reasonable level of economic and social benefits to their people. However, policies that are ill-conceived and ill- advised will continue to negate our efforts and reverse some of the gains that have been made, forcing a 08-52265 36 reclassification of our status. We look forward to meaningful progress at the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, to be held in Doha later this year, and call on our development partners to give practical expression to the numerous commitments that have been offered in the past, but that remain unrealized.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Accordingly, Saint Lucia reiterates its strong conviction that the United Nations should regard development as the most essential tool for eradicating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. As food prices and energy costs rise, development finance is becoming even less available. We appreciate the efforts of the countries that have met the established official development assistance target of 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product. We urge other countries in a position to do so to act quickly so that the target may not have to be shifted upwards due to increased poverty worldwide. Of particular concern to us is the difficulty facing the lower-middle-income group of countries, to which Saint Lucia and many of the small island developing States belong.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Among the issues arising from our deliberations, we emphasized the need for Governments to provide the necessary budgetary support and incentives for investment in agriculture, particularly at this time. And, given the importance and the development implications of climate change, we agreed to the establishment of a Task Force on Climate Change to give direction for the way forward. It is from that perspective that Saint Lucia and many other like-minded countries have continued to emphasize the urgent need to focus on development based on sustainable economic growth as the most effective means of transforming developing countries and enabling them to reach levels where they can realize their long-term capacity for a significant enhancement of the quality of life of their people.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That notwithstanding, we are heartened by the renewed efforts and improvements in the renewable energy agenda, but we lament the slow pace of their use in developed countries and the high cost of those technologies to developing countries. There must be greater liberalization and availability of new technologies in order to allow developing countries more access to development models. In the meantime, we must redouble international efforts to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to the levels already accepted by the large majority of the members of the international community. Last July, I joined with my fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of Government in reviewing the impact of rising global prices, the issues surrounding energy use and climate change and the implications for the region’s food and nutrition security.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The astronomical rise in energy prices has created a new challenge as the world seeks to replace fossil fuels with cleaner and more cost- effective biofuels. The trouble with that approach is that the decreased availability of agricultural production for food has resulted in higher prices for the staple foods of people around the world, especially in developing countries, but also among the marginalized of the developed world. That trade-off — food for fuel — if not carefully balanced, could cause increased poverty, hunger and economic and social marginalization, which would serve to exacerbate already unacceptable levels of poverty and hunger.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Those conditions continue to disproportionately affect small island developing States, such as Saint Lucia and the other States members of the Alliance of Small Island States, whose national territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Caribbean Sea are extremely vulnerable. Increased drought on the one hand and torrential rains and flooding on the other are affecting all parts of the globe and serve as recipes for disaster and human suffering. Those conditions are being attributed more and more to the unbridled and unsustainable use of fossil fuels and the concomitant release of greenhouse gases. A second major challenge taxing our resolve, and also associated with fossil fuel use, is the astronomical rise in energy prices.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“It is an issue that takes many forms, including 35 08-52265 gender-based violence, which should be addressed in the MDGs. The second issue is that of migration in all its dimensions, including the impact of the emigration of skilled workers — especially teachers and nurses — on national development. It is imperative that we also consider those two issues, as they affect the achievement of the MDGs and the development of Saint Lucia and many other countries. A particular challenge confronting us is the emergence of serious climate change and its detrimental impact on the environment.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“At the same time, the incidence of communicable diseases has been significantly reduced, although there is concern over chronic non-communicable diseases. The AIDS pandemic continues to be the focus of our attention, and, with the assistance of regional and international partners, Saint Lucia has made important strides in addressing that challenge. Our current HIV prevalence rate is 0.12 per cent. We continue to focus on education as one of the main instruments in this fight, even as we devote increased resources to programmes geared towards early detection and the provision of free or subsidized antiretroviral drugs. There are, however, two additional issues that are critical to development in Saint Lucia and that are not properly covered under the existing MDG framework. The first issue encompasses violence, crime and security.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Emphasis is currently being placed on improvement of quality at the primary and secondary levels, on expanded access at the tertiary level and on early-childhood education. More attention is also being given to the higher school-dropout rates among young men. In the area of health care, reform of the health sector continues to be a priority, and significant progress continues to be made towards the achievement of free health care for all. Success continues to be recorded in respect of key indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality and immunization coverage. Saint Lucia has achieved an even lower infant mortality rate than the 30-per-1,000 target set for the Caribbean by the World Health Organization, and we have already achieved 100 per cent immunization coverage.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We must ensure that our annual reaffirmations of the right to development and the rights to food, shelter, security and peace do not ring hollow. In spite of the numerous difficulties and challenges with which it is faced, Saint Lucia maintains its commitment to the realization of the MDGs by 2015 and will do all within its means to attain that objective, even as new difficulties arise. For that reason, Saint Lucia’s social indicators are fairly reasonable and reflect the investment that has been made in human development over the years. The reduction of poverty remains a top priority for my Government, and increased resources have been made available to programmes and institutions dedicated to the attainment of that objective. In the education sector, universal access has already been achieved at the primary and secondary levels.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We have passed the midpoint in our quest to achieve the ambitious but achievable Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the projected year, 2015. Since the adoption of that timetable in 2000, however, the global economy has experienced a number of shocks that have served to challenge our ability to achieve the MDGs within the allotted time. We and the rest of the international community must redouble our efforts to meet those challenges by addressing them with serious conviction. As the Secretary-General has said, we face a development emergency, and emergencies require immediate action. It is therefore imperative that the international community move with the utmost urgency to enact measures to address the challenges that have emerged. Inaction or indifference will only threaten to reverse the gains already made in some areas.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Saint Lucia is pleased to join the other Members of the United Nations family in congratulating His Excellency Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. We wish him every success as he guides these important deliberations at this most critical time. We also wish to express our appreciation to his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Srgjan Kerim, for the professional manner in which he spearheaded the work of the Assembly at its sixty-second session. In addition, we wish to acknowledge the important work undertaken by the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and his team in continuing to promote the noble principles and values of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We in Saint Lucia will continue to spend a considerable amount of our resources on our children, and we hope that the international community will come to the aid of all those who recognize the future in children, providing for them an enabling environment for advancement through opportunity, safety, love and peace.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Unless we can all maintain the development momentum achieved by previous generations, the future of our children, and indeed our societies, will be characterized by insecurity. Saint Lucia therefore looks forward to the high- level plenary meeting devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children, to be convened in December to evaluate progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and Plan of Action (resolution S-27/2, annex), bearing in mind that several of the time-bound and quantified commitments should have already been met.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)